Once In A Lifetime Apr 2026

David Byrne’s lyrics are delivered with the "blood-and-thunder" intensity of a Southern televangelist.

Released in , Talking Heads' " Once in a Lifetime " is a landmark of art-pop and new wave that explores the disorientation of modern life. Co-written and produced by Brian Eno , the track is famous for its innovative use of African polyrhythms and David Byrne’s iconic, preacher-like vocal delivery. Musical Composition & Production Once In A Lifetime

The track features a "bubbly" synthesizer line by Jerry Harrison, a spacey production from Eno, and a "dumb" but essential driving bassline from Tina Weymouth. Lyricism & Meaning Musical Composition & Production The track features a

The song was developed through spontaneous studio jams, heavily influenced by the sounds of Fela Kuti. a spacey production from Eno

The band used a technique they called "human sampling," where they would record a long jam, isolate the best parts, and then learn to play those specific loops repetitively.