Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)

2024-05-15T02:50:48Z

PosmodernaDb: Created page, brief(very brief) summary at the beginning and description of the song, cite added for the bit about the solo, cites for the rest being recompiled

{{Infobox song|name=Born Under Punches|cover=Bornunderpunchessingle.jpg|alt=|caption=Cover art of UK 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl singles|type=single|artist=[[Talking Heads]]|album=[[Remain in Light]]|B-side=* ''[[Cities (live version)]]''|released=* October 1980 (''[[Remain in Light]]'' version)
* Late 1980 (Japanese single)|recorded=July–August 1980|studio=* [[Compass Point Studios|Compass Point]], [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]]
* [[Sigma Sound Studios|Sigma Sound]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]]|genre=New wave, funk, rock, art pop|length=5:46|label=[[Sire Records|Sire]]|writer=* [[David Byrne]]
* [[Brian Eno]]
* [[Chris Frantz]]
* [[Jerry Harrison]]
* [[Tina Weymouth]]|producer=[[Brian Eno]]}}'''''Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)''''' is a song by [[Talking Heads]], produced and cowritten by [[Brian Eno]]. First released on October 1980 as the first track on their fourth album [[Remain in Light]], and later on as a single in Japan sometime in 1980 following the release of the album.

The song was developed through a series of jams and put together ideas, like much of the Remain in Light album.

== Music and Lyrics ==
The song features much of what would define the rest of the album, at the forefront is a prominent Funk bassline backed by digital sound effects and a notable rhtythm guitar line. The presence of multiple rhythmic elements was inspired by the work of [[Fela Kuti]] and [[Afrobeat]], which was an approach first used by the band on the song "[[I Zimbra]]" from their previous album [[Fear of Music]].

The song features a guitar solo performed by [[David Byrne]]<ref>https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/its-still-a-record-that-stands-up-today-very-very-well-adrian-belew-and-jerry-harrison-talk-remain-in-light</ref> (frequently cited as being performed by [[Adrian Belew]], who worked on the album) recorded with a Lexicon Prime Time Delay and recording it in pieces, adding to the digital undertones of the song.

The lyrics predominantly follow the stage set by the Watergate Scandal, creating a pseudo-conversation between a screaming, ranting "Government Man" and civilians supplicating to be able to exist and coexist with each other and the "Government Man".

Similar to the song Once in a Lifetime, Byrne utilized a ranting and frantic delivery for the part of the "Government Man" based on the speeches of Watergate related politician John Dean, and employing a softer and more consistent tone for the civilians

== References ==
<references />

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Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)