A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun

Album: Postcards From A Young Man (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song title is taken from a passage in writer J.G. Ballard's 1996 novel, Cocaine Nights. Ballard wrote: "A billion balconies facing the sun; still, it means a final goodbye to wars and ideologies. But how do you energize people, give them some sense of community? A world lying on it's back is vulnerable to any cunning predator."
  • As befits a song title referencing JG Ballard, this pulsing rock assault blames technology and lambasts today's laptop generation.
  • Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan guests on this track. Bassist Nicky Wire told Q magazine: "We were derided for wearing Guns T-shirts when we first moved to London, but they were such an important group for us growing up."
  • "A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun" was previously used in 2008 by American rock band God Fires Man as the title of their debut album.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.