Wallet

Album: Far (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • On this song about a lost wallet, Spektor sings about tracking down its owner via their Blockbuster Video card. Spin magazine asked if this actually happened to her? She replied: "Well, I don't want to destroy someone's relationship with my songs by talking about them - why limit something that could be so limitless? But the one thing about that song that perplexes me the most is what's going to happen in 10 years. Will anyone even know what the hell I'm talking about? Do you think Blockbuster will even exist anymore?"
  • Spektor told Pitchfork Media: "I wrote that song a bunch of years ago and I remember playing it on tour and thinking, 'Do they even know what Blockbuster is in other countries?' Now I might need to change it to Netflix. [laughs] It's like one of those songs that you listen to from the 20s and ask, 'What's a kaputnik?' It's this thing that was obviously very important because they're singing about it, but it just doesn't exist anymore. That's why Bach and Mozart had it right by not putting in any words and making timeless instrumental music. In 300 years, when our great-great-great-grandchildren are checking out music by putting their finger into entertainment sockets, they're not going to know what 'Blockbuster' or 'Netflix' or 'Juicy Fruit' are. They'll be like, 'What's fruit?' They'll probably be living in a cement pod and eating food through intravenous tubes. They're not going to know any of this s--t."
  • This was one of the tracks on Far that was produced by Jeff Lynne, who Spektor requested after discovering he produced Tom Petty's Highway Companion album.

Comments: 2

  • Cj from Oak Creek, WiI literally lol'd at Regina prospects of the future children. Entertainment sockets. What's fruit? Regina, you're too adorable. :)
  • Kimmie from Dallas, GaI was so glad to see this song make the cut for her new cd. The quality is infinitely better than the original (cell phone recorded) version I have.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.