"Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads

It's time to return to Talking Heads, and their inimitable 1980 song "Once In A Lifetime." The subject of this episode was selected by the annual Strong Songs Patreon bracket vote. Thanks to everyone who voted!

Written by: Talking Heads and Brian Eno

Produced by: Brian Eno

Album: Remain In Light, 1980

Listen/Buy via Album.Link

ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

• “Life During Wartime” and “I Zimbra” by Talking Heads from Fear of Music, 1979
• Stop Making Sense dir. Jonathan Demme, 1984
• The 2021 Strong Songs episode about Stop Making Sense
• “Take Me To The River” by Al Green and Mabon Hodges recorded by Talking Heads on More Songs about Buildings and Food, 1978
• “The Great Curve” by Talking Heads from Remain in Light, 1980
• “Jeun Ko Ku” by Fela Kuti from Afrodisiac, 1973
• “Zombie” by Fela Kuti from Zombie, 1977
• “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer from Riptide, 1985
• “Kids” and “Time to Pretend” by MGMT from Oracular Spectacular, 2007
• Jad Abumrad's exceptional podcast series Fela Kuti: Fear No Man
• Kirk's 2025 interview with Jad about the Fela series 
• Rick Karr's 2000 NPR feature on the song as part of the "NPR 100" retrospective series

--------------------SEPTEMBER 2026 WHOLE NOTE PATRONSDave Florey - AccessViolation - Jeremy Dawson - Sami Samhuri - Paul Delaney - Jenness Gardner - Melanie Andrich - Ken Hirsh - Joe Laska - David Mascetti - Christopher McConnell - Jamie White - Christopher Miller - Daniel Hannon-Barry - Jay Swartz - Damon White - Catherine Warner - Pablo Castro - Ben Barron - Corpus Frisky - Cesar - Robyn Metcalfe - Scott Lystig Fritchie - Lisa Crotty - Andy - Melissa Lucas - Greg - Julie Rowe - Rich Fish - Greer Bevel - Butch Vig - Greg - Matt R - Wendy Moore - Cerise Gay - Erica Smolinski - Brute Farce

SEPTEMBER 2026 HALF NOTE PATRONSColin Hodo - Paul De Surra - James Johnson - Arjun Sharma - Justin McElroy - Alexander Polson - Richard Toller - Melanie Stivers - Matt Betzel - Jeffrey Olson - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Bill Thornton - Andrew Fair - Andrew Baker - Amanda Furlotti - Brad Callahan - Jennifer Bush - AJ Schuster - Tanner Morton - Gavin Doig - Chris K - Alexander - David - Naomi - Dave Sharpe - Caro Field - Jonathan Daniels - Jake Roberts - Eric Helm - Melmaniac - Dhu Wik - Tom Coleman - Diane Turner - Clare H - Randy Souza - Pascal Rueger - Joshua Hill - Stephen Tsoneff - Michael Casner - Diane Hughes - Angela Livingstone - cbalmain - Eric Prestemon - Lauren Reay - Nathan Gouwens - Nell Morse - Karma Jay - Dallas Hockley - M Shane Borders - Kevin Potter - Eoin de Burca - Bonnie Prinsen - Ryan Rairigh - Achint Srivastava - Doug Belew - Abbie Berg - Jason Pratt - Geraldine Butler - Bernard Khoo - David Joske - Donald Mackie - Steve Paquin - Mino Capossela - Kelli Brockington - Adam W - Josh Singer - Rob Tsuk - Michael Livingstone - Ailie Fraser - JRRJ - Jeffrey Bean - Rishi Sahay - Zak Remer - Adam Stofsky - Kenneth Jung - Bruno Gaeta - Paul Wayper - Lisa Turner - Wendy Gilchrist - Doreen Carlson - Janice Berry - Christian Hessmann - Richard Sneddon - Portland Eye Care - Deebs - Michael Shain - Jamie - David Futter - Jeff Ulm - Aaron Wade - Greg Henion - KenIsWearingAHat - Ethan Bauman - Catherine Clause - Charles McGee - Tim Sheehan - E