Glittering Cloud

Album: Plague Songs (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was Imogen Heap's contribution to the compilation Plague Songs, a musical retelling of the 10 Plagues of Egypt from the Old Testament's Book of Exodus. The project was commissioned by the British arts organization Artangel, and Heap was tasked to cover the Plague of Locusts. For the album booklet, she described her experience creating the song: "My mission, should I choose to accept it was 'to write a song about locusts.' That had to be the strangest request I've ever had so of course I took it on! What I had no idea of is that for the most part our locust is actually a pretty nice solitary kinda guy. It's only until the rains fall and they're forced to hand out together to eat and breed they become the creature we all know and hate ... Our locust is battling between his two sides. In the verses he's trying to explain that he's misunderstood, that he's not really like that and in the chorus, he's become the tribal crop-eating warrior! I thought that when they are swarming they're probably having a fantastic time about it. Hedonistic even. I imagined them all at some huge rave or something." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Caitlin – South Dakota
  • Rufus Wainwright, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, and Scott Walker also appear on the album, among others.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Maria Muldaur

Maria MuldaurSongwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.

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.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.