The magnetic fields is the principal creative outlet of singersongwriter stephin merritt and the book of love is backed by merritts cover of gabriels not one of us. I will stay if you let me stay and ill go if you let me go but i wont go far away because youre my only home and i will hide what you want hidden and ill. The book of love is long and boring no one can lift the damn thing its full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing. Merritts recognizable lyrics are often about love and with atypical or neutral gender roles, and are by turns ironic, tonguein. Merritt also plays many of the instruments, concocting a sort of indie popsynth rock. In 1999, his eclectic indiepop vehicle, the magnetic fields, put out 69 love. From stephin merrits gay and loud publishing comes the first volume of the magnetic fields 69 love songs, a misleadingly quiet epic of a thing. The magnetic fields recent albums released under the name the magnetic fields usually consist of synthpop music in a 1980s style underlying clever lyrics which are often heavily ironic. I mean, i know it ends with the line about wedding rings, but it. He is the groups primary songwriter, producer and vocalist, as well as frequent multiinstrumentalist. In 1999, the magnetic fields released 69 love songs, a threedisc set. I do believe our love s in danger i might as well be loving air you look at me like im a stranger you look at me like im not there i gaze. This twosided design features the album artwork graphic on the front and the full track listing in alphabetical order on the back.
Magnetic fields are an indieelectropop band led by singersongwriter stephin merritt. Ive been beating around the bush to comment this album. The magnetic fields love is like jazz lyrics genius lyrics. Peter gabriel first recorded the book of love for the soundtrack of the 2004. Merritts lyrics are often sarcastic, bitter, and humorous the magnetic fields provides examples of the following tropes. Love at the bottom of the sea, however, simply sounds like a magnetic fields album this is the band going back to basics, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it seems as if merritt has forgot to write inspired, richly melodic pop songs as consistently as he has done in the past.
As its title indicates, 69 love songs is a threevolume concept album composed of 69 love songs, all written by magnetic fields frontman stephin merritt. Peter gabriel the book of love magnetic fields cover lyrics. The magnetic fields lyrics, music, news and biography. Adapted from the terrifying childrens book by neil gaiman author of the international sensation sandman, this tale of menace and mayhem was set to music and lyrics by smartrock iconoclast stephin merritt of the magnetic fields, and boasted a book by celebrated downtown actorplaywright, david greenspan she stoops to comedy, dead mother. The magnetic fields the one you really love lyrics. This song is gabriels cover of a magnetic fields song from their 1999 threevolume concept album, 69 love songs. For nearly 25 years, magnetic fields singersongwriter has made. Stephin merritt of unconventional american indie band the magnetic fields visits the guardian studio with his ukulele to perform his tragic love song. The magnetic fields detail new album 50 song memoir, share. The book of love is long and boring no one can lift the damn thing its full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing but i. The magnetic fields is the principal creative outlet of singersongwriter.
The book of love is long and boring no one can lift the damn thing its full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing but i, i love it when you. The book of love by peter gabriel song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart. The magnetic fields named after the andre bretonphilippe soupault novel les champs magnetiques are an american band founded and led by stephin merritt. Andre bretons the magnetic fields, written in 1919, is a wonderful piece of writing. The magnetic fields named after the andre breton novel les champs magnetiques is an american indie pop group founded and led by stephin merritt. Recent albums released under the name the magnetic fields usuall. Cover song of the book of love by the magnetic fields from the album 69 love songs. Wonderful images cascade upon wonderful images that i want to hold in my brain and try not to forget. Over the course of his rich 30year career, his crowning achievements have been marked by his ability to work within a framework. The book of love appears on magnetic fields threevolume concept album 69 love songs, which contains 69 tracks described as love songs, 23 tracks in each of the three volumes. The original magnetic fields band stephin merritt, sam davol, claudia gonson, john woo, and shirley simms are joined by members of the 50 song memoir band, and special guests, for two evenings of magnetic fields music from the last three decades, including the premiere of new magnetic fields material. Magnetic fields biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Stephin merritt albums from worst to best stereogum. While synthpop often forms the foundation of their music, the magnetic fields music borrows from many other styles, notably country, folk and indie pop.
The book of love the magnetic fields song wikipedia. The book of love by the magnetic fields guitar youtube. The book of love is a classic song written by stephin merrit and originally performed by his band the magnetic fields. The single was released digitally on january 30, 2010, the. On the magnetic fields new album, 50 song memoir, merritt. Mar 02, 2017 slated for released on march 3, 2017, the magnetic fields latest offering finds merritt attempting to equal, if not surpass, his previous chefsdoeuvre, and succeeding in it. Love is like jazz you make it up as you go along and you act as if you really knew the song but you dont and you never will so you flaunt your mistakes and you.
The book of love magnetic fields cover as written by and george malone. The book of love is long and boring no one can lift the damn thing its full of charts and facts a. They are a band fronted by stephin merritt, including sam davol, banjo playersecond guitarist john woo, and percussionistpianist claudia gonson. The fivecd fivelp set chronicles the 50 years of songwriter stephin merritts life with one song per year. The magnetic fields the book of love lyrics genius lyrics. James first covered the song during the recording of his live album. Aug 25, 2011 magnetic fields 69 love songs the modestly recorded, immodestly conceived grand revue that is the magnetic fields 69 love songs still doesnt get the credit it deserves. From the inside, it sure felt like a cult stephin merritt of the. Oh sure, they may borrow songs, writings and items from the book of love and enjoy giving and getting them, but ultimately each story is different.
The followup to 2012s love at the bottom of the sea is out march 3 via nonesuch. Translation of the book of love by the magnetic fields from englis. The magnetic fields celebrate their new release quickies with special residencies at intimate city winery venues in seven citiesatlanta, chicago, nashville, boston, new york, washington, and philadelphiafrom june 1 through july 1. Magnetic fields biography, albums, streaming links. The magnetic fields is essentially a vehicle for merritts songwriting, as are various sideprojects including the 6ths, future bible heroes, and the gothic archies. Claudia gonson is the magnetic fields secret weapon. Their best known work is the 1999 triple concept album 69 love songs. Meaningful simplicity in music is an art few can harness. The magnetic fields lyrics, songs, and albums genius. The magnetic fields may be a bona fide band, but in most essential respects they are the project of studio wunderkind stephin merritt, who writes, produces, and generally sings all of the material.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of 69 love songs, we are reviving the magnetic fields 1999era tshirt. The book of love is long and boring no one can lift the damn thing its full of charts and facts and figures and instructions. You can read me anything the book of love has music in it in fact thats where music comes from some of it is just transcendental some of it is just really dumb but i. The songs of the album all start with the letter i and are all sung by stephin merritt. The magnetic fields albums, songs, and news pitchfork. Written at the end of a five year relationship, smoke and mirrors.
Nov 17, 2016 the magnetic fields detail new album 50 song. Simply by overlapping the various words, he is deconstructing the western ontology that holds these words to represent different entities. The airborne toxic event the book of love the magnetic. Merritts recognizable lyrics are often about love and with atypical or neutral gender roles, and are by turns ironic, tongueincheek, bitter, and humorous. The magnetic fields 69 love songs releases discogs. Stephin merritt of the magnetic fields performs the book of love live in studioa. Peter gabriel the book of love magnetic fields cover. The magnetic fields music, videos, stats, and photos. I do believe our love s in danger i might as well be loving air you look at me like im a stranger y. Also, keep in mind, gabriels version is a tribute from a legend to an indie band. The book of love is long and boring, full of words, songs and items that are supposed to show you the way and tell you how its supposed to be. A very good chunk of the songs on 50 song memoir sound like a worldwise 50 year old writing songs in the style of holiday.
She is stephin merritts manager and best friend and served as the band s earliest. The phrase masterpiece has become somewhat inflated in time, but still this best describes this album. The book of love is a song written by stephin merritt and attributed to the magnetic fields, an american indie pop group founded and led by him. The book of love is relivent to all as it is a catalog of personal attachment. Stream 69 love songs by the magnetic fields and tens of millions of other songs on all your devices with amazon music unlimited. The book of love as written by and george malone warren davis.
The magnetic fields is a new yorkbased group fronted by stephin merritt. The book of love is long and boring no one can lift the damn thing its full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing b. Printed in red and white ink on a black unisex royal apparel tee. It includes often described fairytale like moments as well as the moments of boredom that exist between emotional high peaks. Wonderful images cascade upon wonderful images that i. While the magnetic fields albums draw upon the electronic textures of vintage acts like abba, kraftwerk. The magnetic fields the book of love lyrics songmeanings. Magnetic fields no one will ever love you honestly. Im one of those who feel holiday was one of the magnetic fields best moments, so the plethora of melodic synthheavy tracks on these discs is quite welcome especially see disc 3 in this regard. Merritt is the groups primary songwriter, producer, and vocalist, as well as frequent multiinstrumentalist. The book of love is long and boring no one can lift the damn thing its full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing discovered using shazam, the music discovery app. As the title suggests, the band s eleventh album is comprised by 50 songs, chronicling the first 50 years of merritt. General commentthrough the use of multiple voices and contrasting rhythm schemes, merritt is making a postmodern statement about the decentering of subjectivity.
The magnetic fields is a band led by the new york city singersongwriter. The magnetic fields meaningless lyrics metrolyrics. In this interview, pitchfork s marc hogan sits down with singersongwriter and multiinstrumentalist stephin merritt of the magnetic fields to discuss his career, his latest album, and more. The shows will feature a mix of songs from quickies along with fan favorites from 69 love songs, 50 song memoir and their other albums. The book of love is a song written by stephin merritt and attributed to the magnetic fields. In fact, the book of love is a complete an integrated account of attachment. Recent albums released under the name the magnetic fields usually consist of synthpop music in a 1980s style underlying clever lyrics which are often heavily ironic. The magnetic fields 50 song memoir is out now on nonesuch records. The threevolume album was released in 1999, with the book of love appearing in volume 1 as track number 12. The magnetic fields stephin merritt excels with a prompt.