Beat Is Up

Album: Funstyle (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This upbeat techno track features an Indian self-help guru who doles out advice as Phair impersonates a deceptively positive go-getter who prattles on about lattes and tabloids. As a single mother to a teenage boy, Phair understood the pressure to keep up appearances.

    She explained to American Songwriter in 2010: "That was actually in reaction to the fact that I'm a mom, a full-on mom. Not a young mom. My son's almost 14 so I've been doing that for a minute. There are so many people in America who are just ferociously positive. 'Yes, I'm doing great! How are you,' you know, that kind of thing. 'Our children are involved in water polo, and soccer! They're constantly on the go and constantly being better and better and better!' I love to poke fun at that. At the same time I'm guilty of it myself. I think it's sort of running away of the basic unpredictability of life, and the fact that none of us really know how long you can go along being positive all the time before life kicks your ass. There's a lot of falsehood about it, too. That's what the Indian guy is doing for me, you know. 'You haven't slept with your husband in a while, you're drinking and taking pills,' it's just something I've noticed in a lot of us these days, and I think it's funny."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.