Irresponsible Tune

Album: Swing Lo Magellan (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Dirty Projectors frontman and songwriter Dave Longstreth told Pitchfork about the background to this song about the artist's preoccupation with creating images in a screwed up world. "That song asks a question about how we all spend so much energy creating and consuming these images of ourselves," he explained. "That's the substance of our lives right now. And that's what any kind of art-making is as well - you're just creating these emblems, images, pictures. The song is meant to be a question about what that is; I'm not sure if it's an affirmation or not. That's the tricky thing: Lyrically, I wanted the album to bring up specific things that we could all be on the same page about. But then, when it comes down to it, I don't feel like I have any answers. I don't know s--t. What I found out is that I have a lot of questions and weird, murky equivocations."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.