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Adrian Belew — Young Lions
Album: Young Lions
Avg rating:
5.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 903









Released: 1990
Length: 3:24
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Hot tribal night
underneath florescent skies
bonfires rage strange
wild waving shouting Picasso faces

In the guise of a lioness
the wind kisses her burning dress
you can fell her animal eyes
you can hear them cry,
"Be the jewel around my neck,
never a tear on my burning dress"

Lying, paralyzed,
a brave prey who lays dying
and is surrounded by angry spirits
hunters, guns, drums, and elephants

Why is this night quiet?
filled with trees filled with eyes
as she prowls around my feet
she throws back her head dress and cries,
"Now you will be mine,
be my young lion"

Why is this night quiet?
why the trees filled with eyes?
as she prowls around my feet
she throws back her head dress and cries,
"Be my young lion"
Comments (124)add comment
Germany, 9:00, and I have to leave! RPs, this, your musical linup, has to be repeatet! Thanks in advance!!!
Ooooo what a beautiful surprise! I love Mr. Belew.
When this started out it sounded like Sweet.
Excellent!!  Thanx RP!   
This really works. Wow.

*edit 3 weeks later: god I love everything about this batshit crazy song
Saw him "solo" right before the pandemic - he was great! See him if you can. A range of tunes including a handful of Crimson.
"Young Lions" seems like a good band name.
Parker Fly guitar.
 BKardon wrote:

One of the coolest, most inventive guys in the business.  Love his "Here" solo album.  Check out the song Fly if you aren't familiar, it's transcendent.



Agreed! That's one of my faves of his. Nice to know someone else digs it. 
Had a good run, somewhat by chance, where I got to see AB in three different cities and three different bands in a relatively short period in the mid-80s:  With the Bears at a small club in New York City, solo at another fairly small club in Ann Arbor, MI, then with King Crimson at Blossom (outdoor pavilion - summer home of Cleveland Orchestra).  All great shows.
Seen Adrian and he's always fantastic, interesting...  amazing performer.
Fantastic.
Songs like this make RP great, not that John Cougar or Tom Petty  fodder .
 aspicer wrote:
How about Momur, Twang Bar King, or Lone Rhinoceros...?
 
Big Electric Cat. Bought Lone Rhinoceros for my hubby because of that one track.
 aspicer wrote:
How about Momur, Twang Bar King, or Lone Rhinoceros...?
 

Momur & 1967 my personal Belew fave's
 MattRudely wrote:
No, this backwards noise isn't a good idea.
 
Yeah I'm not feeling it either...
King Crimson meets Adam & the Ants
No, this backwards noise isn't a good idea.
Adrian Belew!!  Please find a way to play "Fear is Never Boring" from his Raisins days. Such a gem. 
 CamLwalk wrote:
I'm seeing Adrian in two weeks at Revolution Hall in Troy!
 

...and 11 years after that at the Colony in Woodstock with Mr. Levin and Mr. Mastellotto
For the first time in 2 years listening I’m going to have to turn this off. Sorry just not my thing! Enjoy and back later...
I remember getting this CD when it first came out so I could listen to Belew and Bowie sing Pretty Pink Rose, but this song caught my attention and I couldn't listen to it enough.  My husband was working afternoon/nights, so I'd be home alone in the evenings, and I would turn this up so loud that it rattled the windows.  And I would dance.   
ACHOO!
Not by far a favorite Belew track, but I've always hear a heapin' helping of later-stage Beatles in his music. 
How about Momur, Twang Bar King, or Lone Rhinoceros...?
WTF?  PSD material, for sure. 
Very irritating music, so repetitive and corny!
I was perusing the wikipedia entry for Adrian and as I read this bit:

"He has worked extensively as a session and touring musician, including periods with Frank ZappaDavid BowieTalking HeadsKing CrimsonLaurie Anderson, and Nine Inch Nails, as well as contributing to hit singles by Paul SimonTom Tom Club, and others."

I couldn't help but think 'and you can hear bits of all of those artists in this song' (though I suppose quite a bit of that must be the other way around).
Gesundheit.
That feeling when you get excited to have some old Adrian Belew added to the RP playlist and then you see you've already rated it.  

God, this is horrible.
 bacampbe wrote:
Am I the only one who thought I was hearing Jeff Lynne? I had to run to the computer to make sure ELO wasn't back.

 
Maybe early ELO; there's definitely a Jeff Lynne-type of histrionics here. I was listening from the other room and thought Adrian sounded a bit like a mix between Bowie and the Talking Heads. 

Great song, amazing guitarist.  
I love other stuff that Belew has done but not this.
Am I the only one who thought I was hearing Jeff Lynne? I had to run to the computer to make sure ELO wasn't back.
 pops364 wrote:
Adrian Belew? Oh, yeah. He was told by Bowie's producer to "play anything, in any key" on Bowie's Lodger LP, and hey presto, the hit single "Boys keep Swinging" materialized.
 

Never heard that story before. Thanks :)
... ps - from the three comments you've posted since 2006, you sound like a real music lover. I'd sure like to read your comments more often.


 mgkiwi wrote:
Who the hell is this - he obviously never made it big!
 
Made WHAT big? {#Roflol}  Sorry - couldn't resist.  I really love this song, and your sense of humor... {#Mrgreen}
Well, what do you know? Here I am thinking.. Adrian Belew? Oh, yeah. He was told by Bowie's producer to "play anything, in any key" on Bowie's Lodger LP, and hey presto, the hit single "Boys keep Swinging" materialized.
So there's me thinking, ho hum, a session guitarist. So what....
And Mr Goldsmith spiked my interest. As he ALWAYS does with RP's playlists, so I did a bit of checking and guess what ... Belew is quite amazing. And I've been missing this for all those (30+)years.
Time to catch up BIGTIME. Thank you, thank you, Bill !!

I remember seeing him years and years ago at Carnegie Mellon. I think his drummer had played with Elvis Presley—he was mobbed by people at the end of show who wanted to hear stories about The King. All in all a great show—think Adrian ended it with "Big Electric Cat." 
One of the coolest, most inventive guys in the business.  Love his "Here" solo album.  Check out the song Fly if you aren't familiar, it's transcendent.
mgkiwi wrote:
Who the hell is this - he obviously never made it big!
{#Lol}A couple of people bit - nice one!

I've never heard this one before, and I really like it!  Great segué from Santana's "Jingo"  - I couldn't tell where Jingo faded and Young Lions began.  Artistry, Mr. Goldsmith! {#Notworthy}{#Sunny}
 superfido wrote:
Do you think this guy ever head David Bowie?{#Drunk}
 
If you meant "...heard David Bowie", he certainly has.  They have worked together on many occasions - in the studio and on stage.


...cool!..

...does anyone remember his experimental CDi project from the mid-nineties?..
Truly amazing musician, and puts on a kickass rocking show!!! More Adrian, RP{#Bananajam}!!!
Great guy - great guitar!

No singer, no composer!
This is rubbish, Adrian!
Love this tune!! Play it LOUD!

The man with the rubber neck, Adrian!


{guitar neck, that is...}


Some say 60's and 70's, I will at this moment say, RP....thx
Musical coincidence:  On an iPod with almost 10,000 songs, another Adrian Belew track from Young Lions played on the way into work this morning.
The background reminds me of that old film Zulu with Michael Caine. Very stirring. A bit Adam & The Ants-like, but livable with in a kitsch way. 7 from the Nottingham jury.

I saw Adrian when he toured with the expanded Talking Heads tour back in the day...and I have had the good fortune to meet him ...twice.  On both ocassions he was both approachable and charming.  He's both a great musician and a real gentleman!
I like this!
Yo' Adrian!
 mgkiwi wrote:
Who the hell is this - he obviously never made it big!
 
just showed your ignorance. should have done some research first before posting that

 countyman wrote:

Ever hear of King Crimson?
Didn't think so.
 
LOL! 
 Jamunca wrote:

I had to check to see if this wasn't some long-lost Bowie. Very fresh sound. I dig, and I'd listen again.


 
 
Belew manned the guitar on a Bowie tour some twenty years ago.  It would have been a trip even without the psylocybin.

Ah-CHOO. Ah-CHOO.
 Jamunca wrote:

I had to check to see if this wasn't some long-lost Bowie. Very fresh sound. I dig, and I'd listen again.


 
My first thought was Roger Waters. I've got it low cause it's Sunday morning.

THE twang bar king!
 mgkiwi wrote:
Who the hell is this - he obviously never made it big!
 
Ever hear of King Crimson?
Didn't think so.

I had to check to see if this wasn't some long-lost Bowie. Very fresh sound. I dig, and I'd listen again.


From Santana's Jingo to Young Lions


snakefinger likes!
 sholtzma wrote:

Truly bizarre.


 
yeah.  But I like the voice... I like the rhythm...

impossibly smooth transition from santana's jingo track!
If his voice was more gutteral to go alone with the background, I would have went looking for a spear. As it is, a 5.

Truly bizarre.


Who the hell is this - he obviously never made it big!
Do you think this guy ever head David Bowie?{#Drunk}
Wow, forgot about this...I heard Phone Call From The Moon on the radio 18 years ago and made a mental note to buy this.  Guess I should get around to that {#Wink}

So many of you in radio land are not stretching out.
One of my favorite AB songs. Pretty Pink Rose is another amazing track off this album.
Adrian toured with Zappa, Bowie, and the Talking Heads. That's BEFORE his 25 years+ with King Crimson... Not too mention that the guy is an incredibly friendly and funny human being- I have spoken with him several times. If you don't know who he is by now I'm sorry for your (lack of) musical education. He's the man!
I'm seeing Adrian in two weeks at Revolution Hall in Troy!
This scares me.
...this is interesting; fun...
Channeling Bowie? I like it.
japanmoran wrote:
What's with the sneezing in the background?
It's called cedar fever. If you were in Austin right now, you'd know.
Flippin' awesome, as usual.
It saddens me that any Adrian Belew song would rate lower than a 9 on here. C'mon people- respect.
egg-banjo wrote:
Tango in the Night?
Yes, that's comes close! ... And the terrible repeating sound of the phone bell in between shouldn't appear.
MrMan wrote:
Yay, Adrian!!! Can't get enough of him, no matter how he's playing...prog with King Crimson, power pop with the Bears, or experimental on his own. See him live if you can!
Yes, Yes, Yes. Adrian adds distinctive character into any project he participates. Bowie, Talking Heads, K Crimson, and of course his solo work. Thanks for playing Adrian!
Nabla wrote:
Do I sound out a bit of Fleetwood Mac here...?
Tango in the Night?
Do I sound out a bit of Fleetwood Mac here...?
AlienRelic wrote:
Love those background vocals!
And the elephants! :o)
Is it just me again or did anyone else think 'I WILL WALK 500 MILES' or BENNY & JOON when this started?? I'll still 9 it
olsaltybastard wrote:
I think the real genius is when they have to transition from Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata". They certainly know what they are doing!!
"They" be Bill.
kazuma wrote:
Not to mention some excellent and very essential contributions to Remain in Light era Talking Heads.
He also did some cool work with Caifanes, (out of Mexicali, who now go by the name Los Jaguares), on their excellent record, El Silencio, in the 90s. The man is definitely a Mr. Musichead!
walkerpub wrote:
Two great classic unheralded hard driving tunes in a row..great stuff.
If you're referring to that ghastly Tokoloshe Man song we just heard as the other classic unheralded hard driving tune, I gotta disagree. This one ain't so hot either...
Two great classic unheralded hard driving tunes in a row..great stuff.
Yes! What drewcam said.
Love those background vocals!
What's with the sneezing in the background?
dmax wrote:
Adrian Belew is the worst thing that ever happened to King Crimson.
I couldn't disagree more -- I like all KC periods. After the brilliant change of direction Belew helped bring to the three '80s KC albums and after their long hiatus that followed, "Thrak" was a monster album and another great shift in sound. It was all about the double-trio, but Belew clearly had a big hand in the sound. I find much of Belew's solo work to be engaging, especially "Here" and "Op Zop Too Wah," the latter a wildly creative venture. Granted, "The Construction of Light" was a big letdown, but I find "The Power to Believe" to be interesting again. KC is such a fluid vehicle for ideas that I think it's wrong to blame or credit any one individual for the things you dislike or like. Fripp has been the only constant! -Synth80s
One of the most passionate vocalists, not to mention guitarists- in rock
Vogelfrei wrote:
petition to curtail posting cowbell.gif on songs that don't have cowbell
petition to curtail the petition to curtail posting cowbell.gif on songs that don't have cowbell
My vote is as much the segue from John Kongos-Tololoshe Man to Adrian Belew-Young Lions as it is for the songs. The programming is what makes RP so special... There's some thought behind the music, not just some marketing flack robot programming songs.
Shesdifferent wrote:
I often wonder who it is that sits around all day and listens, I mean really listens to music, so that when RP mixes one song into the other it is practically FLAWLESS.....such is the case of these last two..John Kongos-Tololoshe Man and Adrian Belew-Young Lions. I 've always been impressed with RP's ability to do this...but this one is genius!
I think the real genius is when they have to transition from Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata". They certainly know what they are doing!!
Saw Belew playing on the B/W Bowie tour. He deserves more recognition... his fretless electric is unmistakeable. Big Electric Cat, please. =]
I often wonder who it is that sits around all day and listens, I mean really listens to music, so that when RP mixes one song into the other it is practically FLAWLESS.....such is the case of these last two..John Kongos-Tololoshe Man and Adrian Belew-Young Lions. I 've always been impressed with RP's ability to do this...but this one is genius!
skyguy wrote:
I miss the bears
Well, I uploaded three tracks from them in the LRC... so far they have not been added. Hopefully! They were a great band!
I miss the bears
Vogelfrei wrote:
Don't forget his brief appearance with Zappa.
Not to mention some excellent and very essential contributions to Remain in Light era Talking Heads.
petition to curtail posting cowbell.gif on songs that don't have cowbell
greg6494 wrote:
nothing some cowbell can't fix...
NEEDS MORE COWBELL.
great song, great musician. looking forward to seeing him in a very small venue called the duck room in st. louis on sunday...the same place fripp played at last month. place only holds about 100 people or so. tasty.
The Momur Rocks!
MrMan wrote:
Yay, Adrian!!! Can't get enough of him, no matter how he's playing...prog with King Crimson, power pop with the Bears, or experimental on his own.
Don't forget his brief appearance with Zappa.
nothing some cowbell can't fix...
i hate the guys in the background going "ACHOO!" i'm getting really somewhat not happy... "ACHOO!"
Great musician - boring songs!
Very interesting group; discovered thanks to RP.
this needs to be played real loud - for the big full on jungle effect. Great house cleaning music.
Similar to "Big Electric Cat" song...
Toured with David Bowie on his Sound and Vision Tour. Saw them together in Denver. Great show.
MrMan wrote:
Yay, Adrian!!! Can't get enough of him, no matter how he's playing...prog with King Crimson, power pop with the Bears, or experimental on his own. See him live if you can!
Too much treble...I like him better when he's working with others and not taking center stage.
Love the trill on the clarinet... :)
Yay, Adrian!!! Can't get enough of him, no matter how he's playing...prog with King Crimson, power pop with the Bears, or experimental on his own. See him live if you can!
8)