Expert: Bong Santos - 8/7/2006

Question
no band was from 80's lead singer was david's cousin
perhaps song was subways...???

Answer
Dear El,

Now I think I got it right. It's all clear now. The band is none other than THE URBAN VERBS. Their sound, style and everything is very much like the TALKING HEADS. This fascinating but overlooked band from Washington, D.C. were an arty quintet whose lead singer is TALKING HEADS' drummer CHRIS FRANTZ's brother. And there lay the bands' problem: while their guitarist ROBERT GOLDSTEIN guided the band through striking modern instrumental pieces of depth and quality, RODDY FRANTZ's urban alienation lyrics, delivered much like DAVID BYRNES' vocal style, typecast the group as second string HEADS. The band's members were ROBIN ROSE (keyboards), RODDY FRANTZ (vocals), LINDA FRANCE (bass), ROBERT GOLDSTEIN (guitar) and DANNY FRANKEL (drums). SUBWAYS is from their self-titled album released in 1981.

SUBWAYS / URBAN VERBS

SUBWAYS

Every morning I go under the city
Handful of change takes me away from it all
I leave my problems up on the street
And ride the subway where it's always warm
Subways, we're all going the same direction
Subways. we're all going the same speed
Subways, it all gets obscured
Then it begins to make sense
See that man read his morning paper
See that woman fiddle in her purse
Even though I've never ever met them
I can assure you they're my best friends on this
Subway,'cause we're all sharing the motion
Subway, you know it's vaguely enticing
Subway, I'm under confusion
Now I can relax
Down here I don't have to say anything
I just sit & look out my window
Miles flashing gray & white past my face
It's good to get away from these pressures
Down here I have never felt guilty
Theres no sun screaming at my eyes
On this train I'm never ever lonely
People smile from pictures on the wall
[Repeat 2nd verse]
[Repeat 1st verse]
Subways the driver's voice says'uhn-uhn-uhn''
Subways. now I'm back at my stop
Subways. I can't face what's out there
So I'm not getting off

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines