american utopia (2020)
Director: Spike Lee
Screenplay: David Byrne
Genre: broadway show/Musical
length: 1h 45m
release date: September 15, 2021
watched: February 14, 2025 (first viewing)
As a new Talking Heads fan, I’m in the middle of devouring every project David Byrne has taken on thus far. I’ve read many good reviews of American Utopia, so I figured I’d see what the hype was about.
American Utopia is a multifaceted project consisting of a Broadway musical, an album, and a film, all written and performed by David Byrne—the former leader of Talking Heads. The show centers on optimism, unity, and hope for a better world, while juxtaposing them with themes of isolation, alienation, and despondency. The album received overwhelming praise from fans and critics alike. The Broadway show was a critical and commercial success, winning a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. The film, directed by Spike Lee, highlighted the show’s impact and reach.
As much as I want to sing its praises, some aspects of American Utopia were bothersome. What I take issue with, among other things, is the political commentary. Byrne makes his side of the immigration debate known when he introduces the band and the different places they come from—including himself as a naturalized citizen. He delivers a voter PSA for the local elections and shares a few facts about voter turnout, urging the audience to do better because climate change is going to kill us. He performs the protest song, “Hell You Talmbout” by Janelle Monáe—listing the names of various Black people who died from racial violence.
Although Byrne may be earnest with his political convictions, his approach wasn’t as inspiring as I had hoped it would be. It’s the same old virtue signaling perpetuated in social media by millennials and Gen-Zs—a phenomenon that’s getting tiresome to witness. I was hoping for something more original and less performative; less Hollywood, I would say. Byrne’s social commentary on old records like “Swamp” is more thought-provoking than the political bits planted on this show. Moreover, telling other people what to do or believe in is not only ineffective, but repulsive.
The title American Utopia may also be too ambitious. Unless it’s a satire, it will be difficult to uphold this concept without it being cheesy. While Byrne captures his existential yearning beautifully in songs like "Everyday Is a Miracle” and “Everybody’s Coming to My House,” he offers no clear resolution to the divisiveness of the world, or even the divisiveness within himself. One could argue that his ambiguity is intentional and that using “Road to Nowhere” as the closing number is the resolution. However, if you’re going to title your musical American Utopia, it has to deliver on the grand vision.
There was too much talking throughout the show; It was as if I was sitting through a TED Talk. Byrne’s explanation of neural connections as a metaphor for human connections is profound but went over my head. He tries to explain the sublime—that feeling of awe in the face of something beautiful—by asking the audience why looking at people shouldn’t be any more interesting than looking at a bicycle or a sunset. While I understand his point, it was watered down with too much analysis. I would rather that he conveyed these musings through music, dialogue, acting, choreography, or stage props. Byrne can be quick-witted, but his joke about the audience meeting in apps wasn’t amusing. The crowd didn’t laughed because his joke is funny; the crowd laughed because he’s David Byrne.
As far as his rendition of Talking Heads’ greatest hits, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, “Once in a Lifetime” seemed like a Nickelodeon version of the Stop Making Sense performance. The choreography, with its synchronized movements and clean lines, lacked the creative spontaneity of the original performance. While American Utopia featured a diverse band, it didn't match the chemistry and ecstasy that permeated the first film. Ironically, Stop Making Sense was a more utopian experience. It exuded a sexual, almost primal energy that American Utopia, with its more sanitized and controlled presentation, couldn't replicate.
On the other hand, the opening of “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” brought shivers down my spine. It felt like coming home as a Talking Heads fan; maybe even a deeper remembrance of something familiar. The music evokes a sense of peace and comfort. The lyrics speak of wanting to be home and realizing you already are. In the case of American Utopia, Byrne could’ve used this same concept in the context of being at home within himself and in the world. “Heaven” could’ve been added to the setlist to add more spiritual depth to this same concept. While I’m conflicted about the use of Talking Heads numbers, there were also opportunities in reinterpreting Byrne’s old songs that fit the overall theme.
American Utopia didn’t connect with me as much as it did for others. Given how creative and meticulous Byrne is, I did expect more for such a bold concept. All things considered, I still enjoy and appreciate it. David Byrne is still sexy, vital, looking and sounding good at 67. His punkish, tense-and-nervous DNA still lives on in his music and idiosyncratic dancing. I loved the stripped-down aesthetic, from the minimalist stage design to the monochrome gray outfits to the wireless equipment. This concept allows the music to breathe and highlights the communal aspects of the performance. Spike Lee’s film direction made the show all the more theatrical and visually stunning.
Overall, American Utopia is technically, musically, and visually excellent, but still misses the mark. I think my ambivalence stems from the fact that Byrne doesn’t realize that heaven on Earth already exists. He’s been too much in his head throughout the show about the dysfunctions of the world that he fails to see that American Utopia is right there in front of him. This may seem like a tall order, but can he accept life as it is at this moment amidst all the suffering? At the end of the day, isn’t unconditional love acceptance without judgment? After all the feelings of alienation, existential terror, and emotional catharsis, I would’ve ended the show with that realization.
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