David Byrne made an appearance on The Late Show to deliver a captivating performance of his song "When We Are Singing" and to engage in a conversation with Stephen Colbert about his latest album, Who Is the Sky?
The iconic frontman of Talking Heads was accompanied by a troupe of musicians and dancers, all dressed in blue, for a performance that combined music and choreography, showcasing Byrne's theatrical style. "When We Are Singing" is a track from Who Is the Sky?, which Byrne released in September.
In reflecting on his decision to perform this particular song, Byrne shared, “I really don’t like writing songs about my business, but I thought, ‘Oh, you know, when people are singing they look kind of funny. You can’t tell if they’re in ecstasy. They just have their mouth open.' It’s all the same look.”
During his conversation with Colbert, Byrne elaborated on his approach to reimagining his concerts and the process behind assembling his current touring ensemble. “I knew I wanted it to be colorful,” he noted. “The last one was grey. It was not a sad show, but it was grey. I thought, ‘No, the times we live in, we need some color.'”
Byrne’s current tour features a blend of his solo work alongside classic Talking Heads tracks, including “Psycho Killer” and “Life During Wartime.” Colbert inquired whether these songs feel contextually different in today’s landscape.
“‘Life During Wartime,’ yes,” Byrne acknowledged. “I licensed some ICE footage to show at the very, very end of the song. If we showed it for the whole song it would be kind of sad and depressing, but we show it at the very end.”
In previous interviews, Byrne has tempered expectations regarding a potential Talking Heads reunion. He mentioned to Rolling Stone his contentment with incorporating select hits into his set list as it suits the performance. “I can mix and match and have it adapt to the sound that I’m doing at the moment without completely destroying the integrity of the older songs,” he explained. “But I’m also aware that there’s a real trap. If you do too much of the older material, you become a legacy act that comes out and plays the old hits. You cash in really quick, but then you’ve dug yourself a hole.”
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