Talking Heads frontman David Byrne paid tribute to David Bowie and Madonna last weekend along with the New York public choir. He performed "Heroes" in honour of Bowie's birthday and the anniversary of his death.
Byrne inducted Bowie into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, however, the award was accepted by Bowie's friend Madonna in his absence. Byrne also performed "Borderline" – a nod to Madonna.
David Byrne recently announced his first solo album, since 2004’s Grown Backwards, titled American Utopia, out on March 9.
The new album started with longtime collaborator Brian Eno, and later David was joined by producer Rodaidh McDonald.
David says:
“These songs don’t describe this imaginary and possibly impossible place, but rather they attempt to describe the world we live in now – and that world, when we look at it, as we live in it, as it impacts on us – immediately commands us to ask ourselves, Is there another way? A better way? A different way? This group of songs is indirectly about those questions. And what drives us to ask those questions. The songs are sincere – to answer the question above, the title is not ironic. The title is not so much about a utopia, as it is about our longing, frustration, aspirations, fears, hopes regarding what could be, what is possible. How and what could we be. Surely, we ask ourselves, it doesn’t have to be like this. There is a longing for possibility – and I have a feeling that is what these songs touch on. I am as mystified as any of us – I have no prescriptions or sure fire answers – but I sense that I am not the only one asking, wondering and still willing to hold on to some tiny bit of hope, still willing to not succumb entirely to despair or cynicism. It’s not easy, but music helps.”
The first track “Everybody’s Coming To My House” is out now.
