O Superman

September 14, 2001 8:40 AM

O Superman I went to the Laurie Anderson show last night in Toronto. I seriously didn't want to and was praying for a cancelled show. I ended up enjoying it fully. Art really can heal. She began the show by dedicating the music to "everyone who died Tuesday, freedom and sanity." Strangely, many of her songs make reference to airplanes and fire. Spookiest moment of the night: during her signature song "O Superman," the lines "Here come the planes. They're American planes, made by Americans." Read the lyrics - the song is loaded with eerie references.
posted by davebush (10 comments total)

Big Science, the album with O Superman, begins with From the Air, which kicks off with these lyrics:

Good evening. This is your Captain.
We are about to attempt a crash landing.

I can't wait for the wackos to pick up on Laurie Anderson as the next Nostradamus.
posted by turaho at 8:59 AM on September 14, 2001

When love is gone, there's always justice.
And when justice is gone, there's always force.
When force is gone, there's always mom.
Hi mom!
posted by argybarg at 9:25 AM on September 14, 2001

I just bought her new album yesterday. A song called "Statue of Liberty" contains these lines:

Freedom is a scary thing
Not a lot of people really want it.
posted by dnash at 9:40 AM on September 14, 2001

Laurie Anderson is so much more a real prophet than Nostradamus, because the real meaning of the word "prophet" has nothing to do with fortunetelling: "A person gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression." I think that fits Laurie Anderson like a glove.
posted by jdbanks at 10:18 AM on September 14, 2001

Last night, Laurie changed the lyrics of "Statue of Liberty" to "Freedom is a scary thing. So precious." As soon as she began the song, I began to anticipate that line and how I would react when she sang it. I was quite surprised to hear the lyrics changed.
posted by davebush at 11:01 AM on September 14, 2001

Anderson is scheduled to play Philadelphia next month at the TLA; really have been considering going, but wasn't sure what she was touring... thanks for the tip, dnash.

How is it? 'Ugly one with the Jewels' monologues, or is she trying at the musical thing again?
posted by Perigee at 11:06 AM on September 14, 2001

Perigree, if you're asking how is the new album, it's the most musical one since Strange Angels. Though, I wouldn't call it lyrically her best.
posted by dnash at 11:40 AM on September 14, 2001

Thanks, d - I'll pick up a copy before I stop in for tickets, just in case it's not my cuppa... ~smile~
posted by Perigee at 12:07 PM on September 14, 2001

"Sharkey? He's not at his desk right now...."

Damn, I ought to repurchase some of this stuff on CD.
posted by ilsa at 1:38 PM on September 14, 2001

Speaking of prophetic music, does anyone here own P.J. Harvey's "Stories from the city, Stories from the sea"?

I think there are a ton of eerie coincidental lyrics in light of things.

"The Mess We're In" (a beautiful song) starts with these lyrics:

"Can you hear them?
The helicopters
are in New York
no need for words now.
We sit in silence.
You look me in the eye directly
You met me
I think it's Wednesday
The evening
The mess we're in."

(Helicopters, New York, Wednesday (the day after))?

And then there is, of course, the song "Kamikazee" which starts:

"How could that happen? how could that happen again? Where the fuck was I looking?...You build an army of kamikazee."

The P in P.J. is for prophet.
posted by adrober at 1:42 PM on September 14, 2001