Happy Birthday David Byrne: Singing ‘Bid You Goodnight’ & More
By Andy Kahn May 14, 2016 • 9:33 am PDT
Today is the 64th birthday of musician, artist, activist and cyclist David Byrne. Best-known for his contributions in the late 1970s and early 1980s as the leader of Talking Heads, his subsequent solo career has been equally impressive and eclectic. The world certainly still needs Byrne’s ever evolving contributions to music and beyond and for his birthday here’s a look back at a collaboration with a brass ensemble that includes a performance of a familiar traditional song.
Byrne wrote the score for Robert Wilson’s opera the CIVIL warS and an album was recorded and released in 1985 entitled Music for “The Knee Plays”. Inspired by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, arrangements for both new originals and reworked traditionals were written for a brass ensemble. A tour took place soon after and video of one the concerts is presented below.
Backed by Les Misérables Brass Band Byrne can be seen singing the traditional hymn “I Bid You Goodnight” – a favorite encore choice for the Grateful Dead at points in their career – along with other traditionals such as “In The Upper Room,” “Theodora Is Dozing” and “Things To Do (I’ve Tried).” Originals such as “Tree (Today Is An Important Occasion),” “The Sound Of Business,” “Social Studies” and others were also performed. Though it closed the program, the first video below is of “I Bid You Goodnight” followed by nine additional clips from the show, watch:
