Beatrice Lang
Body Electric is a song by multiple artists, including Lana Del Rey, The Sisters of Mercy, and Rush. The song directly references Walt Whitman's 1855 poem I Sing the Body Electric, which celebrates the human body and its capabilities. The song has been featured in various media, including Lana Del Rey's short film Tropico and the 1980 movie Fame, where it was performed by the graduating class during the final scene. With its theme of endings and beginnings, Body Electric has become an iconic song that brings together different musical genres and showcases the dynamism of the human body.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Body Electric (also referred to as "I Sing the Body Electric") |
| Artist | Lana Del Rey |
| Year of Release | 2012 |
| Album | Paradise |
| Genre | Pop, Rock, Gospel, R&B, Classical |
| Theme | References Walt Whitman's 1855 poem "I Sing the Body Electric"; celebrates the sensuality and capability of the human body, interconnectedness, and the idea that singing is galvanizing and uplifting |
| Lyrics | "I sing the body electric, I'm on fire, sing that body electric. Whitman is my daddy, Monaco's my mother, Diamonds are my bestest friend. Heaven is my baby, suicide's her father, Opulence is the end." |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
'I Sing the Body Electric' by Cast of Fame
"I Sing the Body Electric" is a song by the cast of the 1980 movie musical "Fame". The song was written by Michael Gore, the film's musical supervisor, and Dean Pitchford, who also helped Gore write the title song and "Red Light" for the movie.
The song was inspired by the poem of the same name by Walt Whitman, published in 1855 as part of his collection "Leaves of Grass". Pitchford explained in a 2012 interview that he wrote the first verse while walking to a friend's dinner party, knowing that he wanted to write something that would work for an orchestra, a rock band, a gospel choir, and soloists, and that would involve dance. He wanted to showcase all the abilities of the kids in the high school of performing arts. Pitchford also wrote the lyrics to the song while still working as an actor, which helped him relate to the kids who perform it in the movie.
The poem by Whitman is divided into nine sections, each celebrating a different aspect of human physicality. The line "I sing the body electric" was not added until the 1867 edition of "Leaves of Grass". The song has also been referenced by Lana Del Rey in her song "Body Electric" from her 2012 EP "Paradise".
The song "I Sing the Body Electric" was performed at the 2020 Grammy Awards as longtime Grammy telecast producer Ken Ehrlich's swan song. Ehrlich chose the song because it is "incredibly interdisciplinary" and because it celebrates the importance of music education.
The Electric Chair: A Cruel and Unusual Punishment?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Lana Del Rey's 'Body Electric'
"Body Electric", also referred to as "I Sing the Body Electric", is a song by Lana Del Rey from her second major-label EP, Paradise. The song's title and theme are a direct reference to Walt Whitman's 1855 poem, "I Sing the Body Electric". Del Rey has cited Whitman's poetry as a major inspiration on several occasions. In the song, Del Rey alludes to the poet in the lyric, "Whitman is my daddy".
The song explores Lana's struggle to get over the loss of her boyfriend. She puts on a brave face, pretending not to be hurt, but in reality, she is trying to escape from her pain and have fun on a Friday night. This interpretation is supported by the lyrics "I pretend I'm not hurt/And go about the world like I'm having fun" and "We get down every Friday night/Dancing and grinding in the pale moonlight".
The song also hints at the presence of cultural icons like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Jesus, with whom she imagines spending time. This is reflected in the lyrics "Elvis is my daddy, Marilyn's my mother/Jesus is my bestest friend". The mention of these iconic figures adds a layer of fantasy and escapism to the narrative of the song.
"Body Electric" is a melancholic yet defiant anthem, with Del Rey singing about her determination to enjoy herself despite her heartbreak. The contrast between her emotional state and her attempts to move on create a complex and relatable narrative that has resonated with many listeners.
Tri-County Electric Outage: Reporting a Power Cut
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Walt Whitman's poem
"I Sing the Body Electric" is a poem by Walt Whitman, first published in 1855 as part of his collection "Leaves of Grass". The poem is divided into nine sections, each celebrating a different aspect of human physicality and exploring the interconnectedness of body and soul. Whitman's work prizes the body for its generative qualities, and he makes a deliberate case for the inclusion of women in the democratic body.
In the poem, Whitman explores the themes of the body, its parts, and its whole. He celebrates the human body as a divine and interconnected entity, capable of transcending its physical limits and connecting with a greater, spiritual energy. Whitman asserts that there is no soul separate from the body, thus elevating the body to a status traditionally ascribed to the soul. By referring to the body as "electric", Whitman alludes to the dynamism of the body and presents a scientific view that does not require the concept of a soul separate from the body.
Whitman's poem has been described as highly structured, with anecdotal and propositional sections that allow him to explore various issues surrounding the body. The poem does not strictly follow a head-to-toe or exterior-to-interior organisational principle, but rather mixes categories as it gathers speed towards the end. This mixing of categories reflects the way in which various body parts and functions come together to form a greater whole, mirroring the structure of the poem itself.
"I Sing the Body Electric" has been referenced in popular culture, including in the song "Body Electric" by Lana Del Rey, who weaves themes of self-discovery, self-expression, and overcoming personal struggles into her work. The poem has also been alluded to in the 1988 movie "Bull Durham", where Susan Sarandon's character reads it to Tim Robbins' character.
Designing Electric Conveyor Belts: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song in the film 'Fame'
"I Sing the Body Electric" is a song performed by the cast of the 1980 film Fame. The song was written by Michael Gore, the film's musical supervisor, and Dean Pitchford, who also co-wrote the film's title song and "Red Light".
The song was inspired by the 1855 poem of the same name by Walt Whitman, which celebrates the glories of existence, explores themes of the body, its interconnectedness with the soul, and the equality of all people. The line "I sing the body electric" was not added to the poem until the 1867 edition.
In a 2012 interview, Pitchford explained that he wrote the first verse to "I Sing the Body Electric" while walking to a friend's dinner party. He said:
> "I wrote the first verse in the course of a walk that I was making from my apartment to a friend's dinner party. I had been working and working on this idea of how we were going to finish the motion picture Fame and what was going to be written about, and I knew that we wanted to write something that would be there for an orchestra, but for a rock band as well, and for a gospel choir and soloists and that would involve dance - it had to be a lot of things to a lot of people in order to showcase all the abilities of these kids in the high school of performing arts."
In the film, the graduating class performs the song during the final scene at their commencement ceremony. The song has also been referenced and performed outside of the film, including by Lana Del Rey in her 2012 song "Body Electric" and at the 2020 Grammy Awards as a tribute to longtime producer Ken Ehrlich.
Electric Shopping Carts: Sam's Club's Offerings Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Other songs and albums with the same name
Several songs and albums share the name "Body Electric" or "I Sing the Body Electric", which directly references Walt Whitman's 1855 poem "I Sing the Body Electric".
Songs
- "Body Electric" by Lana Del Rey, from her 2012 EP Paradise.
- "Body Electric" by The Sisters of Mercy, released in 1982 and appearing on the compilation album Some Girls Wander By Mistake.
- "The Body Electric" by Rush, from their 1984 album Grace Under Pressure.
- "Electric Body" by A$AP Rocky featuring ScHoolboy Q.
- "Sing the Body Electric" by Astrid Williamson, from the album Here Come the Vikings.
Albums
- I Sing the Body Electric, the second album released by the jazz fusion band Weather Report in 1972.
- We Sing the Body Electric, the debut album by American hardcore band Sincebyman.
- We Sing the Body Electric, a live EP by Australian post-rock band Sleepmakeswaves.
- I Tweet the Birdy Electric, an album by Icarus released in 2004.
Rug Risks: Electrical Cord Safety
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The song references Walt Whitman's poem "I Sing the Body Electric" and celebrates the sensuality and capability of the human body and the interconnectedness of all people.
This line could be interpreted as Del Rey admiring Whitman and his praise of the body and its sensuality.
The title "Body Electric" evokes the idea of the body being energized or electrified by the act of singing, and celebrates the dynamism of the physical body.
