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Imelda Marcos, the music industry's colourful new muse
Posted Dec 18, 2009
Set to be released on Feb 23rd 2010 on Todomundo/Nonesuch Records - the concept album tracks the rise and fall of former First Lady Imelda Marcos featuring former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, British DJ and big beat musician Fat Boy Slim, along with 22 guest performers that include Santigold, Cyndi Lauper, Roisin Murphy, Sharon Jones, Alice Russell, Martha Wainwright and Tori Amos.
The album's title "Here Lies Love" takes its name from a Marcos quote she wanted inscribed on her tombstone. Each vocalist performs a different track on the album which follows Imelda “from her childhood spent in poverty and her rise to power to her ultimate departure from the Palace.” states Byrne on his website.
The album will explore the theme of unadulterated extravagance - which is natural, considering Imelda and her husband, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, once amassed $28 billion U.S. in foreign debt. It is believed Imelda Marcos had acquired up to 3,000 pairs of shoes by the time she and her husband fled the Philippines to Hawaii after Ferdinand Marcos' regime was toppled in 1986.
Byrne says he wanted to explore Imelda Marcos' motives and her $5 million U.S. spending sprees.
"I thought to myself, wouldn't it be great if - as this piece would be principally composed of clubby dance music - one could experience it in a club setting? Could one bring a 'story' and a kind of theater to the disco? Was that possible? If so, wouldn't that be amazing!" reveals Byrne on his site.
The music from Here Lies Love was showcased at New York's New York City Carnegie Hall in 2007 and Australia Australia's Adelaide Festival in 2005.
Kerry Olsen
Source: David Byrne
TAGS: david byrne fat boy slim imelda marcos here lies love music art
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