Stephin Merritt's Project Song at NPR

From a group of six photos and six words, Magnetic Fields guru Stephin Merritt picked "1974" - and an image of a man wearing a kind of suit covered with baby dolls. Two days later, the song they inspired was finished.
Learn more at: www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

[@merrittfan]

Man, dude is such a genius.

[@jeffreykelly7269]

I keep coming back to listen to this song again and again. Years after first watching this video.

[@BethGoth15]

I can't get over how amazing it is to watch him do this. It's really beautiful. I'm just blown away.

[@kittycatelena]

This is absolutely wonderful, and one of the best things ever posted on RUclips. Merritt is extraordinarily talented, and it's mesmerizing, watching him work. I'd love to see more of the footage from this project.

[@Booma151676]

Truly a unique songsmith

[@kentneumann5209]

My god what an incredible opportunity to access all of that equipment. That would be a dream come true for me to just be in there. Watching and learning how to operate all of it. Learning the structure of how a song is built.
Then, when I have a basic grasp of the recording and overlaying of tracks...
Being in there at night, by myself, in my preferred state of altered creative mindset.
Writing and recording and having fun.

[@Ezhuks]

This is some kind of music I've never heard before, but it mesmerizes!

[@srenrimbaud6135]

The story line of this song is exactly like an original episode of the Twilight Zone called 'The four of us are dying' in Which a criminal keeps changing his face.

[@TheVikingBlues]

.. Mind blown.

[@MrContrapuntal]

Good show, I always like watching musicians work.

[@ultimaetsolder]

This is true talent. Bravo.

[@bjoxers]

lo amo

[@aaandroide]

He is the BEST!

[@chansonjoy]

purchased this song from iTune immediately after watching this video

[@andreastherapper]

sounds like this would fit in the 'Distortion' lineup

[@jackodonnell3463]

If the song weren't burried 5 minutes into this video it would have so many more views. This was a treasure

[@antvic123]

Sounds like vintage Kraftwerk!

[@fennertime]

@8xngc looks like it... i am going to try that right now.. i think that's what gives it that chimey sound

[@platinumdynamite]

4:43 start of song

[@fennertime]

1-9-7-4 !!!!

[@8xngc]

is that a penny he is using as a pick? 6:15

[@twerk182]

@ 8xngc... He had his guitar player use a quarter in a scene in Strange Powers... I think it's a quarter.

[@Snapdragontank]

i noticed that too!

[@alexswearingen2398]

Is that a real shiny pick or a coin?? Please tell me he played that all with a coin…

[@RafaelSanchesSF]

hehehe i see pearl jam playing this

[@ianiles1722]

Almost Simpsonian in its prediction of the Trump administration. It's eerie, I'm weary, and life in NY is dreary.

[@workshoptelescope]

cringe