Once in a Lifetime Introduction
In a Nutshell
Ah, the '80s: big hair, neon everything, and spastic marionette dance moves in front of videos of tribal Africa?It seems fitting that one of the songs that kicked off the Decade of Decadence was Talking Head's "Once in a Lifetime," a weirdly political New Wave tune that was perfect for MTV when it launched a few months later.
You may find yourself wondering why people were so weird in the '80s. You may find yourself laughing at the ridiculous fashions and hairstyles. You may find yourself looking at photos of your parents and dying of embarrassment. You may find yourself cringing whenever they play their music.
You may ask yourself: Well, how do I know my kids won't do the same thing in 30 years?
About the Song
| Artist | Talking Heads | Musician(s) | David Byrne (vocals), Chris Frantz (drums), Jerry Harrison (guitar), Tina Weymouth (bass) |
| Album | Remain in Light | ||
| Year | 1980 | ||
| Label | Sire | ||
| Writer(s) | David Byrne, Brian Eno, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth | ||
| Producer(s) | Brian Eno | ||
| Buy this song: Amazon iTunes | Try Listen and Learn (BETA) | ||
Shmoop Connections
Talking Heads was one of those super influential bands of the 1980s that inspired countless bands who came afterward.They were a quirky New Wave band, and their videos were perfect for newly established MTV. They often worked with Brian Eno, the legendary producer famous for making music with the likes of David Bowie, U2, and Coldplay.
On the Charts
Even though it was released on Remain in Light in 1980 and on its own as a single in 1981, "Once in a Lifetime" didn't crack the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. until 1986 when a live version of the song was released and hit #91. The song did make it to #14 on the UK Singles Chart in 1981, though.Remain in Light hit the #19 and #21 spots in the U.S. and UK charts, respectively. Rolling Stone named the album #129 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and many other publications and websites include the album on their lists of greatest songs of the '80s.
Lastly, NPR named "Once in a Lifetime" of the 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century.