The Power of Repetition in 'Once in a Lifetime'

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Music appearing in this episode:

Talking Heads - “Once in a Lifetime” (1980)

Talking Heads - "Don't Worry About the Government" (1977)

Talking Heads - "Take Me To The River" (1978)

Fela Kuti - “Zombie” (1976)

Talking Heads - “Right Start (Unfinished Outtake)” (2006)

Robert Palmer - “Addicted to Love” (1985)

Talking Heads - "Cities" (1979)

Kathryn Kuhlman - “My First Encounter with the Holy Spirit” (unknown date)

Brian Eno & David Byrne - "The Jezebel Spirit" (1981)

Steve Reich - “It’s Gonna Rain” (1965)

The Velvet Underground - “What Goes On” (1969)

Talking Heads - “Once in a Lifetime” from The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads (1982)

Talking Heads - “Once in a Lifetime” from Stop Making Sense (1983)

David Byrne - “Once in a Lifetime” from David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020)

Smashing Pumpkins - “Once in a Lifetime” (2022)

Angélique Kidjo - “Once in a Lifetime” (2018)

PM Dawn - “Fantasia’s Confidential Ghetto: 1999/Once in a Lifetime/Coconut” (1995)

Mike Wofford - “Once in a Lifetime” (2013)

DJ Chuck Chillout & Kool Chip - "Rhythm Is The Master" (1989)

Bassheads - "Is There Anybody Out There?" (1991)

Memphis Bleek and Jay-Z - “Alright” (1998)

Gigamesh - “Once in a Lifetime (Gigamesh Remix)” (2012)

The Reflex - “Once in a Lifetime [The Reflex Revision]” (2017)

Talking Heads - “I Zimbra” (1979)

References:

* Uncut Magazine on the making of “Once in a Lifetime”

* NPR 100 - “Once in a Lifetime”

* Multitrack stems

* Diana Deutsch - The Speech-to-Song Illusion

* Ted Gioia - Is the Three-Minute Song Bad for Music?