Black Screen

Album: American Dream (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • LCD Soundsystem mainman James Murphy closes the band's American Dream album with this 12-minute epic in which he recalls his friendship with his hero David Bowie.

    I had fear in the room
    So I stopped turning up
    My hands kept pushing down
    In my pockets
    I'm bad with people things
    But I should have tried more


    Murphy was approached to co-produce Blackstar, Bowie's final record. He declined, lacking confidence in his abilities, a decision he regrets now: "It takes a different kind of person than me to walk into that room and be like, I know exactly… I belong here," the LCD frontman told BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac. "I should definitely insert myself in this relationship because they just can't manage to make a record without me."
  • Been watching images
    From the station
    Earth one from satellites
    All streaming
    Feels slow at seventeen thousand miles an hour
    You could be anywhere
    On the black screen


    Murphy references Bowie's frequent use of space-related themes such as "Space Oddity" and "Starman," as well as the Black Star album title.
  • Murphy planned to borrow Leonard Cohen's services for a spoken word section on this song, before the Canadian passed away. "When I worked on the last song of the record, I said I wanted a spoken word bit done at the end", he told Crack Magazine.

    "I said it would be amazing to have Lou Reed on the end of that song but he'd died. But then I said 'I feel like I could talk to Leonard Cohen, let's call Leonard Cohen and maybe he'll do it' and then he died like three days later and I'm like… 'f--k off'. I'm not going to ask anybody else because they're just going to die."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

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."

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

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.