Here Lies Love by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
20/05/10 17:08 Filed in: Pop
Released April 10, 2010, Nonesuch.
Reviewed by Stephanie Attebery
On David Byrne’s newest album, Here Lies Love, he teamed with Fatboy Slim to create a modern musical story about the lives of a former Philippine ruler and his wife; Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos.
The story centers around the infamous Imelda, as evidenced by the album's cover photo of the “princess,” but it's also about the people who strongly influenced Marcos’ life, such as her mother Remedios, her childhood nanny Estrella, and Ferdinand’s doomed political rival Ninoy Aquino. The songs center on various important events in their lives, such as Ferdinand's courting of Imelda, his betrayal and her triumphant rise, and the eventual political ousting of this power duo.
Byrne proclaimed the album's theme to be power and what makes the people who hold it tick. Marcos’ very public and vivacious history makes her an easy study. Byrne goes into great detail in the liner notes about how this idea evolved into a double CD “song cycle.” I found myself enjoying the songs on their own, particularly Disc 2, which is the more lively of the two.
A few of my favorites are:
Dancing Together - Sharon Jones brings her sexy R&B sound to this song about a flashy woman who is constantly the life of the party.
The Whole Man - Kate Pierson of the B-52S, brings fun, fun, fun and really transports the listener into the dance era in which Mrs. Marcos thrived. Pierson sings Imelda’s philosophies in a playful Q and A:
What Makes a Home?/ The answer is love.
What is love when its real?/ The answer is beeeaaauuutyyyy
Never So Big - Artist Sia’s lovely coffee house vocals sweeten this very sad song about a woman’s moment of desperation and doubt. It is impossible not to sing out loud. What was I thinking of?/ what am i doing here?????? wa-ooh. wa-ooh. wa-oooooh.
Solano Avenue - Nicole Atkins. Whining sorrowful rant about a bitter, slighted Estrella, who more than money, just wants to be acknowledged by the princess with whom she shared a personal history.
Why don’t You Love Me? - Beware the dynamic duo of Cyndi Lauper and Tori Amos- It is of course always nice to hear Amos’ beautiful voice, but it's even better when joined with Lauper’s raspy goth one (reminds me of Marianne Faithful). In a relentless back and forth, the two women demand to know why they have been wronged.
While Byrne is the mastermind of this project, and Fatboy Slim brings it all together, with catchy dance tracks and beats, it's the women who really rule this album. Byrne very appropriately shored up his bets when he selected such a fine choice of female artists to express the emotions of such a dynamic lady as Imelda Marcos.
This is well worth a listen!