David Byrne was the musical guest on this week’s Saturday Night Live, where the former Talking Heads frontman was joined by his American Utopia troupe.
After being introduced by host and comedian John Mulaney, Byrne used his first performance slot to play the fan-favorite “Once In A Lifetime” from the Taking Heads catalog. This rendition served as a first-glance for much of the TV audience who haven’t been able to see Bryne’s broadway production of American Utopia. Byrne, ever the performance artist, began the number by wandering around the stage in a haze as the music slowly built behind him. Immediately, Byrne distinguished this performance as not simply a Talking Heads homage, but rather made it his own through updated vocal phrasing of the familiar lyrics — similar to how Bob Dylan doesn’t sing his old songs the same way. Byrne has never been one to ride the coattails of his past successes, and last night’s Saturday Night Live performance was no exception, as he incorporated choreographed movement and an expanded lineup of musicians to the familiar hit.
For his second number later in the show, Byrne chose “Toe Jam” by The BPA which featured Byrne on the electronic outfit’s 2008 album I Think We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat. This lesser-known song was obviously a much riskier call than returning to the Talking Heads catalog, but after putting the audience at ease with “Once In A Lifetime” earlier in the show, viewers were ready for something less familiar. With the opening line, “I was asking in New York City, do you like my clothes,” Byrne made apparent, in case audiences hadn’t yet noticed, that everyone on stage was wearing matching grey suits and running around barefoot. The jovial number came to a close with the repeated phrase “in between my toes”, as the cast kicked their bare feet in the air like some alternate version of The Rockettes.
Byrne also appeared later in the program in a musical sketch about Laguardia Airport where he played a baggage handler who led the cast in a parody version of “Road To Nowhere” by Talking Heads.
Watch David Byrne perform “Once In A Lifetime” and “Toe Jam” on Saturday Night Live with the cast of American Utopia, as well as when he tried his hand at comedy in the sketcb “Airport Sushi”.
David Byrne – “Once In A Lifetime”
[Video: Saturday Night Live]
David Byrne – “Toe Jam”
[Video: Saturday Night Live]
Saturday Night Live – “Airport Sushi”
[Video: Saturday Night Live]
David Byrne’s American Utopia will return to New York’s Hudson Theatre on September 18th and run through January 17th, 2021. For those who can’t make it to New York, Spike Lee recently announced that he will direct a film adaptation of the Broadway musical. Click here for American Utopia dates and information.