18. Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtCittJyr0&feature=kp Talking Heads were a beautifully self-indulgent art pop band who emerged in the 70s, but were the band for whom modern day multimedia was ideal. Once videos came into vogue they were in their element and they created their defining moment with Road to Nowhere. Drawing on the funk of the 70s, Talking Heads possessed one of the best rhythm sections of all time in Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, and had a modern day beat poet in frontman David Byrne. Road to Nowhere was an anti-yuppie anthem and raged against what they saw what was not only the rampant commercialism of society but also of the corruption of music. Ironically the video was part of MTVs breakthrough; another medium to further expose artists and make everyone more money. But aside from this, Road to Nowhere pitched one of the artiest bands of the late 70s post-punk scene firmly into the limelight. This was their battle for the intellects to win the day, a battle that would be continually waged in the 80s, which was ultimately as much about brawn as it was about brains, and the final battle of the pop of the decade would be won by both; an unstoppable force meeting an unmovable object - so lets call it a draw. But these were the words of intelligent dreamers that are still worth listening to And we're not little children, and we know what we want, and the future is certain, give us time to work it out.
Ed Nash
Contributor
What makes music fantastic? Star quality, amazing music, breathtaking lyrics and the ability to bring something new to the table, even if that means a new take on the classics. That's what I love to listen to and write about.
As well as writing for What Culture, I occasionally write a blog http://tedney.blogspot.co.uk and sometimes use Twitter, but sparingly @TedneyNash
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