Why don't you love me?

March 30, 2010 2:20 PM

Featuring Nellie McKay, Cyndi Lauper, Tori Amos, Martha Wainwright, Steve Earle, Annie Clark (St. Vincent), Kate Pierson (of the B-52s) and many others, Here Lies Love is the result of a recent collaboration between David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. 22-tracks long, it tells the story of the Iron Butterfly, aka Imelda Marcos, first lady of the Philippines, and her relationship with her childhood servant Estrella Cumpas. Its official release is April 6th, but until then you can listen to the whole thing on NPR Music. The double-disc set will also feature a 120 page booklet and a DVD of historical footage.

David Byrne wrote briefly about his collaboration with Annie Clark in this journal entry featured in this previous post.

posted by Lutoslawski (15 comments total)

*checks* Yep. Already on the Pirate Bay. For more than a week now.
posted by egypturnash at 2:24 PM on March 30, 2010

Lutoslawski: "22-tracks long, it tells the story of the Iron Butterfly"

So, one of these tracks is "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", I assume?
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:27 PM on March 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

I hope there are two different songs; one ABOUT the shoes and one TO the shoes..
posted by The Whelk at 2:36 PM on March 30, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up laying out for this album but I'm glad I'll get a chance to listen to it first. I could be wrong in my operating assumption that this will be full of awesome; all the female vocalists I like plus David Byrne and Fatboy Slim (both of whom I like a lot as individual artists) could add up to far less than the sum of their parts.

Also, it may make me an imperialist, but I have to admit I hope this reminder of who Imelda Marcos was stomps all over her current attempt to return to politics.
posted by immlass at 2:46 PM on March 30, 2010

Just finished reading The Bicycle Diaries which was written while he was making this. Thanks for the post.
posted by fixedgear at 3:00 PM on March 30, 2010

Big Audio Dynamite's "2000 Shoes"
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:03 PM on March 30, 2010

This is disgusting. Byrne didn't just elide the shoes, but the thousands of murdered and disappeared victims of the Marcos regime.
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:17 PM on March 30, 2010

I remember when I first read about this, I felt like I was playing Mad Libs - "DAVID BYRNE and FATBOY SLIM are making a MUSICAL about IMELDA MARCOS in NIGHTCLUBS?" Now there are apparently no nightclubs, and it's not so much a musical, and it actually sounds pretty good.
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 3:31 PM on March 30, 2010 [2 favorites]

I gotta say, I've never heard of a compiliation or theme album like this before. Off to listen.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:56 PM on March 30, 2010

The first song sounds very bright and teflon.
posted by Red Loop at 5:06 PM on March 30, 2010

So far, I like but for some reason I can't help but feel that needs more...well, David Byrne.
posted by hwestiii at 5:55 PM on March 30, 2010

Memories. All alone in the moonlight.
posted by tighttrousers at 7:47 PM on March 30, 2010

It's strange how Imelda is basically the one thing from the Philippines that has made it into popular American culture. (well, besides the word "boondock")

Agree with ursus_comiter that apoliticizing the story is too bad. On the other hand, the Marcoses were pretty par for the course in the Philippines, just a bit more audacious. It does make a good story.

Check out In Our Image for an excellent read on US/Philippine relations.
posted by ropeladder at 8:16 PM on March 30, 2010

Been listening to this all day; thanks Lutoslawski.


(Even if it does, as everything does, need more David Byrne.)
posted by Neofelis at 11:09 PM on March 30, 2010

Yeah, after listening to it a few times, I really liked it. Go figure.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:46 AM on March 31, 2010