Remember that time when David Byrne was really into his cartoonishly oversized suit? Well, after last night when Byrne covered Biz Markie’s “Just A Friend,” for an “Artists Pay For Radio Play” benefit held by the Content Creators Coalition – NYC in New York, I have a farfetched theory about whose plus-size apparel that may have been. I am definitely not right, but that doesn’t make this cover any less incredible. David Byrne raps, sings, shouts, and dons overalls! Huzzah!
Byrne performs “Just a Friend” with Tift Merritt and others in support of the Content Creators Coalition “Artists’ Pay For Radio Play” @ Le Poisson Rouge in NYC, 02/25/14
http://bit.ly/byrnenyc
David Byrne:
Mr. Markie didn’t write that tune (although he did probably write the rap). The drum and keyboard loop was lifted from a Freddie Scott recording, but the song was written by Gamble and Huff, the great songwriting team that wrote for The O’Jays and The Spinners. So chances are Biz Markie didn’t see any royalties from all the radio play that song got.
In the U.S., unlike most other countries, performers don’t get paid when their work is played on radio. Many of us think this is a good time to change that.
Sign the CCC-NYC Petition for Artists’ Pay for Radio Play here:
http://ccc-nyc.org/takeaction
Oh baby you, you got what I need.
Overalls.
Dude. That was fun! Respect for the material and makin some fun drankin music! I’m down.
What is he doing? This is a better use of his time than playing with Tina and Jeffrey….Idiot!
I didn’t think it was possible for me to love Byrne more than I do. I was clearly wrong.
One of my favorite performance artists!
david byrne’s willingness to try new things is so pleasing. i like the part where he messes up.
Amazing! This is on par with his cover of Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”
Awesome!
The epicness of this simply can’t be denied. Can we get more of David covering songs he doesn’t know? PLEASE!!!!