Who ACTUALLY Played Genius of Love's Bass Line?
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- #bass #basshistory #transcription #analysis #paulthompson
Let's jump into one of the most famous sides of the past 40 years: "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club (1981). Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth were on a break from Talking Heads when they recorded one of the most iconic (and sampled) songs, EVER.
I'll break down why this bass line (and groove) is so good, this song's surprising influences (Bootsy?), and finally solve the mystery of WHO ACTUALLY PLAYED BASS ON THIS RECORDING!
Let's celebrate Tina Weymouth's legacy as a bassist and badass on the bottom!
00:00 Intro
00:25 The Musicians
00:51 The Bass Line
01:11 Analysis
02:07 Influence
03:09 Tina's Confession
03:46 The Actual Bassist
04:31 Tina's Legacy
Website: www.paulthompson.us
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Видеоклипы
![Tom Tom Club - Genius Of Love (Official Music Video) [4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aCWCF19nUhA/mqdefault.jpg)
Love hearing Tina get accolades. She was so iconic in Talking Heads, and her bass was integral to their sound. Such a talented group.
9qllllll1
“Once In a Lifetime” is a masterclass in bass line concept, concision, and concentrated power. Two pitches, one pattern. Utter simplicity, maximum impact.
And the greatest music video of all time.
hell yes
A record that will forever sound like the sound of next week. Peerless!
Three pitches though ;) But apart from that I very much agree :)
Tina is one of my main bass inspirations. She proved that you don't have to be a virtuoso to be brilliant. Example: the bass line to Talking Heads' "Found A Job." I don't think anyone else could've come up with a better line for that song, no matter how skilled.
I was writing almost the same thing when I saw your comment! Great and very unique bass line!
Hell yeah. And that song's got all kinds of time changes which she dances right through.
I've never heard of Talking Heads refered to as "early hip-hop"(?). That's a good one. I can see the funk connection via BernIe Worrell, but hip-hop?
Except she is. And she Was
@@evhbombastic think he means Tom Tom Club as a bit hip hop/funk
I opened (or rather closed) for Tom Tom Club at CBGBs once. I was leading a somewhat psychedelic country band with some funky lines thrown in. (Hilly Kristal) called me and asked me to play the show. They were fun and afterwards, Chris (Tina's husband and the drummer) bought me a drink and asked "what they hell was that?". Chris and Tina were such an amazing, locked in rhythm section it was a joy to experience.
Who was the girl that worked with Hilly doing bookings, I forget her name she had dark hair.
"Wordy Rappinghood" is another Tom Tom Club song worth a listen to
I also like " Kiss Me When I Get Back" and "Suboceana".😊
Tina was a key inspiration for picking up the bass a few years back and the first song I self-taught myself was Psycho Killer.
I think it was my second.
The first? ruclips.net/video/VmyxdlRoYY8/видео.html
Also try searching for "best bass player in the world" "1982".
Forbsie says "Hold My G&T!" (Allegedly, his little grin at 00:30 is because he spotted Iggy Pop by the bar holding it for him already. 😼)
Still love Tina's style, though! See also Sara Lee (not only playing bass with some of the best of the best bands, but also enjoying a nice glass of bubbly in the bath in the Love Shack video...).
Tina's basslines always been a favorite of mine. Had no idea she was not playing on this particular track though!
Wowwwww, this was incredible information. I can honestly say that I've listened to this song thousands of times throughout my life. I'm a Parlament Funkadelic fantastic, I thought it was so cool that they name-checked so many artists in the song, including Bootsy. All these years, I missed the George Clinton shout-out. Thank you so much.
One of my most influential bassist. Tina and Janice Marie from Taste of Honey and Carol Kaye were the 1st ladies I saw play bass.
There’s a reason this was sampled for 200 songs, it’s genius. Period. Kendall put his stamp on it with that killer groove and bend-up. I’m sure Tina would have played rings around it that day if she could of. She’s one of the finest musical monster talents of our time. I know that I ran out and bought that album in fall 1981.
could have or could've
Bootsy ,in my opinion, is the greatest bass player of all time and has inspired so MANY people/genres.....Thank you👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Defitenly one the very best but James Jamerson was hands down the best and you cannot fail to consider Jaco Pastorious, Ray Brown and others. There is also Pino Palladino as well as John Entwhistle. So JJ was clearly number 1 and then people can go back and forth on the others I have listed including Bootsy( and i have a fairly large collection of Bootsy's work)
When James Brown kicks you out of his band because you're getting more shine than he is..............datz all you need to know about Bootsy's greatness!!!!
Victor Wooten and Les Clayppol have entered the chat. 😮
Yeah. It must have been a bit of a shock for Bernie.
Actually Bernard Edwards is officially the best bass player
Ha ha, at the S.F. Giants game tonight, the pre-game DJ sampled "Genius of Love," much to my delight. Get home and this video is on my feed! Awesome!
Never forget the first time I caught this on MTV, and for years thought it was 'Genus of Love,' like a scientific category.
Another excellent video analysis, Bassman! I’ve always loved Tina’s bass lines. Great insight into the history and context of the track too 😊🎵🎶🙌❤️
This is motivating me to get out my bass and start playing again. I've been avoiding practicing because I don’t have the same chops as I did when I was playing in my high school jazz band. It was discouraging to think I would have to start over with the basics when I want to play like Jaco. This is exactly what I needed. I’m off to start listening!
Tina is brilliant. Funky, elegant bass lines. She is the slippery backbone of The Talking Heads.
This is such a great tribute to Tina Weymouth´s bass playing! Well done & well deserved.❤
I never gave this song much consideration. I should have listened more closely. This is an awesome tune. Thank you again for expanding my horizons
Tom Tom club have a lot of good tunes
i had a father-figure who would do this as we drove to work. music history, theory, rumors, scandals . . . love it.
I got hooked on Tom Tom Club immediately.Still my jam after all these yrs🗽♥️
Your homage to Tina is wonderfully done. Thank you!
Tina Weymouth is one of my all-time favorite bass players; she was hugely influential to my own early bass playing. Great video!
Tina Weymouth is known for some of my fav 80’s bass licks
People know her as one of your favorite bass players?
@@michaelpacinus242 try harder.
@@michaelpacinus242 and some non-people
Tina's bass lines are so human and expressive: her unique articulations and the way she frequently bends between cracks of the notes (like she does in this line) mimic the human voice in a way that I think is super compelling and funky.
Just like Tina’s bass-lines, your videos are focused. They are concise and informative. I look forward to every video you make. Thanks for the hard work and great content!
My favourite Tina Weymouth bass line is probably New Feeling. I can't get enough of it.
Excellent choice. She has dozens of really cool basslines.
For what it's worth, most funk in the 100-108bpm tended to be top shelf rollerskating music. I speak from experience.
And the bass and kick drum provided the bounce that fueled many a lap in the rinks I frequented back in the day.
Skateland veterans represent
@@imbykji Though I grew up in Harlem, Skatin' Palace in the Bronx was my old skating haunt. Loved it!
*Cue "More Bounce to the Ounce"*
One of my favorite songs ever... The lyrics are weirdly funky...the synths bounce left and right...and that bass line...? Gotta love it!
Never tire of Genius of Love…The whole album was a blast….
Wordy Rappinghood
Love the album but incredibly sick of this song. Just heard it too much.
sonically it's one of the most sort of modern yet timeless songs ever; it could have been recorded anytime within the last 50 years and sounded at home
I just love Tina! She and Chris created such incredible rhythm tracks. Albums like Remain in Light ride on their sound. Love that Genius!
I love this Paul! and well put, me being from the old school DJ wise, we were so busy back in the day locking that funky track in with so many other things because of the timing of the tempo and by way of the technics 1200's we could do magic, but I love how even though Tina didn't play the studio version she still gave up the props and backed up later on until this day.
Tina and Chris -- the heartbeat that grounded the Heads. Thank you for another classy reminder, Paul. 🙂
Absolutely love this breakdown. I think your analysis is spot on. I didn't know she didn't play on the record, but I had noticed that their live tracks varied slightly from the line on the record, and I have wondered why. Genius of Love is one of the great dance tracks of all time. Thank you so much for this insight. You are appreciated.
Thanks for this insight. I am disappointed to learn that she didn't play on the recording but at least she wrote the part! She is a great groovy player!
Still have my original 12 inch vinyl copy of this…..fabulous!
I love watching your programme and how you explain the technique of the bass, it's so interesting. It makes me want to learn how to play the bass.
Thank you for these well-researched and passionated videos about great music!
Wooooo!! I have to say the same thing that someone said in the comment section " thank you for expanding my horizons Pd" Love the work that you're doing man. Genius Of Love is a song that I've loved from the 80s from the second I heard it back then.
Watching from Greece.hi everybody.
Kudos for her honesty.
Yay! More Tina!!! I'd watch a breakdown of every song on Speaking in Tongues a hundred times. Making Flippy Floppy has that same kind of awesome bend after those choppy notes. Just perfect two bar grooves you can subtly alter, uh, forever.... & Slippery People 😍
The entire "Remain in Light" album is a fantastic Tina Weymouth showcase.
One of the greatest albums ever. Tina rocked the crap out of that album.
The whole Eno trilogy of Talking Heads albums are timeless.
Thank you Paul. I love your commentaires ! So informative and insightful. Keep on keepin on !
Yesssss! Great focus on an incredible bass player! Thanks
Momma always said you should learn something new every day. I just did. Thanks for dropping the knowledge!!!
Tony Bongiovi, 77’s producer, told a gal of mine long ago that he replaced her bass lines on that debut album. I like her!
I really dig your RUclips show . You always answer the questions that we think about,and some we never thought of
Wow! I knew about session musicians (The Wrecking Crew) (Muscle Shoals) playing on tons of records by other big name acts but I didn't know this. Albeit, I'm not surprised. This channel never gets old.
I'm so ecstatic I found you!!! I'm going to learn all these bass grooves! Cheers!💖💥💖
Tina Weymouth is a BAAAAAAAD-ass bassist! Her stuff in Talking Heads is just as good, the line to Found A Job is one of my all-time favourites.
Oh wow, great video! Once again, educated and inspired by pdbass. 🙏🏽
Damn, that music from Night Hawks is funky as hell.
Used to mix Genius and More Bounce into/out of each other makes sense. Tina is a GOAT bassist!
Recently, a TV commercial got me into this song again. But I had no idea about the background. Thanks for this one Paul. 😎👍
I always love your essays. bravo, sir!!
Really good, informative video. Great analysis and fun.
Tina is a wonderful artist and musician! My favorite bass line is from “Once In A Lifetime”. Maybe you could address that one in a video? Love your format and style!
it's just 2 notes. and it's brilliant.
genius of love was one of the cassettes my older brother advised me to listen to when I was a kid because as he said 'this music will change your life'. keep up the excellent work
You covered so much information in a little less than 6 minutes. What an amazing content creator you are. You answered every question just before I had it, every question anyone else would have if I were to cover it myself on my music channel (not this one). Excellent job. And of course, yea Tina and Chris, yea Bootsy! I'm a big Sly fan, I'm a big PFunk fan.
Wow, thanks for this Paul, super interesting and great details! My older brother had Talking Heads 77 and my first bass line that I ever learned was Psycho Killer on my older brothers Hofner Solid body bass. I love that you teach that bass line to all of your students! Agreed on the Tina Weymouth front, she is amazing!
Man I love these music videos that tell great stories. Thanks for sharing 🤟
Well done, sir! Loved the analysis, with examples!
Kendal Stubbs played bass on this song. He also did work with Kool and the Gang.
What a fascinating channel. I had to subscribe after this post. (I really liked that Keith Emerson Night Hawks snippet with Stubbs's bass playing. Go figure!)
Thank you for the wonderful explication. You've deepened my appreciation for both bands. My lovely wife and I saw them at the Roxy in 1978. Siouxie and the Banshees and X were on the same bill.
what a wonderful concise and informative video, 10/10 . Thank you so much for this, I had no idea LOL .
This takes me back to being at my aunt’s house in 1981; the hot sun and cool vibes listening to her children’s music played throughout the house, dancing in the kitchen while preparing dinner. I hadn’t yet heard it on the radio, but knew it would always stay with me and remind me of Aunt Pauline. The heavy reggae bass line was iconic even then. I thought who the hell came up with this? Not the guys from Talking Heads - Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz? Who would have guessed two Americans produced funk/reggae like this. Massive love to them and thank you for keeping it real during the 80s, a tumultuous time during the Reagan era. It sure made my life easier hearing music that defied convention. 🎉❤
Dude! Thank you! A great blast from the past!
I got 'Genius of Love' as a 12" import. I was the coolest kid on the block until it got a general release in the UK.
David had a hell of a band at all times. He's a lot like George Clinton and James Brown in a lot of ways, he was the director and had the direction and had all the great talent behind him to make it happen, Tina one of the most underrated (but greatest) bassists of all-time.
Great video, I've always loved her bass lines.
My favorite song. Wonderfully informative video. Thanks!
This is why pdbass is my favourite channel on the RUclipss. It's also why you're just a few K away from 100,000 subscribers!!! 🙌🏾My man!
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Great video, very well done.
I was one of the first who bought the album, and I totally loved it. At that time I was a soldier of the German Bundeswehr in Kiel.
Thank you for your excellent presentation, as usual!!!
Great video, and interesting history!
I didn't know that - respect for Tina!
Thanks again for a great breakdown of a nice bass line!
Thank you for the video. I really loved Chris's book. And I love any time Tina gets her deserved credit.
Very good piece of rock trivia. Awesome stuff as always
Whoa, I NEVER knew this! That CD was the first CD I ever bought when I was a kid. Best bassline ever!
This video just lead me down a rabbit hole of music that I grew up with, thank you!
Cool....I always wanted to learn that bass line...
Time to practice....thanks.
Oh man remember seeing the movie Nighthawks in Manhattan back then.Think that has to be my all time fave cop movie ever.🗽♥️
Thanks for this great, short, crisp and enlightening commentary.
1981?! Way to make me feel old!
Amazing breakdown and analysis! Thank you once again!
As an aside, any plans to cover The Funk Brothers from Motown? I’d love to hear your analysis.
I did this one: ruclips.net/video/o7r2pNhZFek/видео.html
More coming on Jamerson for sure!
Super informative video! I love the deep cuts too. Keep it up. Subscribed.
That was a iconic bass. Thanks for the content.
Credit where credit is due, to both musicians. Well done.
Your videos are always so tight relevant and clear
Gotta admit that I don’t know much about the backgrounds of Talking Heads members but I have always enjoyed them and been impressed by their grooves.
OMG that was a rollercoaster! I've always loved Tina. I was afraid I'd love her less as a result of your video. I almost didn't watch! But I did and I'm glad. Clearly you are even a bigger fan!
Very interesting video, Imagine being under so much time pressure to cut a record. Now days, probably just do it on your laptop in the comfort of someone's home.
Fantastic video, thank you!
Man.
I can't believe that was 1981. I had just graduated High School. And the year before that, saw Talking Heads twice (Central Park and Radio City Music Hall. Also a few years later at Forest Hill Tennis Stadium). Followed that band since their first record. If you were a "Wanna-Be Musician", it was like you were learning with them. Especially Weymouth. Whose Basslines were so simplistic, yet crafty.
Weymouth has been finally getting accolades for her Bass playing after years of being underrated.
Another GREAT Vid!
Great video and info as always, Sir!
If you knew how many studio musicians were involved in major hits, you would be astonished. But Tina has talent and also a great sound, on many records. And a signature sound is so difficult to play by others. Even if it's written by the original artists. And that bass sound on psych killer is what it makes such a mega hit. A good example from Janice-Marie Johnson from a taste of honey. Women who plays bass always intrigued me, because they are so rare. Playing that big guitar.
Indeed. Carol Kaye is said to have played bass on most of the hit records of the 60's and 70's.
Great piece. I love madam Weymouth's playing and even though I' not a bass player think I'll follow your instructions and learn that psycho killer line.
Superb presentation. Note no head movement and direct eye contact, Salute...
This is a brilliant you tube site. Thanks from jolly Old England.