Houdini

Album: Torches (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Harry Houdini (1874-1926) was a Hungarian-born American stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. His repertoire included escaping from ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and prison cells. When Mark Foster introduced this upbeat track at the 2011 Coachella Festival he said it was about his "favorite magician." The song finds Foster comparing how a magician like Houdini can hide behind their tricks, whilst as a musician he is unable to escape when performing.
  • The band performed this song, together with "Pumped Up Kicks," on the Saturday Night Live episode broadcast on October 8, 2011. American saxophonist Kenny G guested on "Houdini."
  • The song appears on the soundtrack for the snowboarding video game SSX.
  • The song's music video was directed by Daniels (The Shins, Chromeo), and shows the band dying in a horrible production accident, when a lighting rig crushes the trio. However, they are reborn as rocking cyborgs, whose arms and heads are manipulated as if they were puppets.
  • Here's some more musical connections to Harry Houdini:

    (1) "Houdini" by Kate Bush. Written from the perspective of the great escapologist's lover.
    (2) "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Part-inspired by Houdini's debunking of spiritualists exploiting the bereaved.
    (3) "Moonlight Shadow" by Mike Oldfield. Part-inspired by the Tony Curtis-starring Houdini movie.
    (4) "Laughing With" by Regina Spektor. Contains the lyric: "And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini. Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus God can be so hilarious. Ha ha. Ha ha."
    (5) De-loused in the Comatorium, Mars Volta's 2003 album, was recorded at Harry Houdini's house, which is said to be haunted.

Comments: 1

  • Siahara Shyne Carter from United StatesGet Ready to be BLOWN AWAY!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.