DREAM OPERATOR

[HippieJimi]

There ought to be a law......

[pjgumby]

I keep wondering who the designer of these odious fashions were, they are really absurd, and then to create absurdity on purpose when it has to go against every artistic fiber of your being, now that is talent!

[greenmanTN]

I wish I could find this version without the clapping and dialogue.

Some people dismiss True Stories as looking down on people but it's actually a very generous film in the way it treats the characters. Take this character for instance. She looks like a Junior League tight-ass but this scene shows she can let loose, has dreams like everybody else, that even she has "soul."

[lunarmation]

on of the best parts of on of the best B movies ever.. LOL

[aBigHairySpider]

I made a video of the Talking Heads' performance with my translation of the lyrics. The message, "It's all you," means that we're all different instances of the same person. We live our life to see the world with fresh, childlike eyes... because only children can teach an old dog new tricks. The symbolism of the fashion show to me means God trying on different "clothes," living a new life, your story.

[paulism1984]

@aBigHairySpider thanks for sharing your interpretations of this symbolism. I've had quite a lot of thought on that level too. I like the line, "your face is a book, but it's not what it seems." It's perfect, take Facebook for example, "your face is a book" but it advertises not what you are, but only what it seems what you are.

I take the fashion show to be symbolic of this dance/game that we play in society. Bruce lee quote ..." the usual manipulating game of role creation."

[aBigHairySpider]

@paulism1984 I believe the fashion show is symbolic of God trying on different lives, "It's all you." I did a video that tries to translate every line of the song into what I think it means.. it's posted on my channel somewhere. I don't know if I had posted it here.

[aBigHairySpider]

@paulism1984 Oh, I've already spammed myself here. Sorry. The movie and the songs are full of pretty amazing tidbits. The part where the father at the dinner table basically lays out the Internet and how it will be used by scientists and engineers to disconnect from their corporate masters.. amazing... He calls it a new distribution network. I guess people knew about Darpanet in 86, but Byrne could foresee how it would be used... bright people bringing things directly to the public.

[aBigHairySpider]

I made a video of the Talking Heads' performance with my translation of the lyrics.

[Hanoveur]

I must have rented this film about a half a dozen times before my parents finally purchased the used copy at the video store for my Birthday. As someone who used to be bullied and made fun of for being smarter and more creative than my peers, I definitely identified with the "SpecialNESS" of the characters in this movie. Glad to find out I wasn't the only one who adores this flick.

Now if only we could convince David Byrne to re-release a special edition on Blu Ray with extras. :)

[madcapromanian]

The music was awesome! The concept of the film was awesome! ...the clothes are so terrible though...phone Lady Ga-Ga! :D

[DrewDabble]

This movie is a feeling.

[misserinchase]

this is one of my all time favorite films! love this song.

i'd sooo love to hang out with David Byrne for an afternoon.

what a genius...musical and otherwise.

[pdorn777]

Great message from this song....very accurate!!!

[silverguy00]

@pdorn777 whats the message?

[pdorn777]

@silverguy00 Music

[robwheelut]

She is so soft and tender, reminds me of being a little kid and watching your mom get you all dressed up to go see something wonderful that you never forget.

For an indie film *True Stories* had to be one of the best ever made.

And this song is so sweet and gentle, and her singing is like a soft whisper, when she says *you dreamed me a heart* Man I get teary every time, Just lovely.

[pmb1972]

@gomektampa

I feel the same way.

[darkfrankhs]

This is all about nostalgia.... It was my Mum's favourite bit and I always wanted to skip it when watching 'True Stories'. Now it's my favourite bit.

[DreamOperator]

Great to see so many fond comments on this clip. Needless to say, I love it. Saw the movie several years ago and it blew me away. Byrne is a genius and he had the right people involved in this film. A true masterpiece!

[cantecleer]

-- "Three angels above the whole human race / dream us to life, dream me a face." ... ::sighs:: Wow (;^.^)

[jeparlemal]

This is one of my favorite movie moments of all time. The song, the visuals, the crowd, the colors. Everything is so amazing.

[Deianeira26]

I know exactly what you mean!

[Deianeira26]

I know exactly what you mean. Most people I know have never heard of it. This is one of my parent's favorite movies that is now one of mine and I like to make my friends watch it.

[poneil69]

Oh,addendum,Talking Heads were/are a Punk band,the socio-political message is very clear in the song.Shopping is a feeling?Buy happiness?

[poneil69]

Or,download it for free!

[jmit9991]

well said... I agree... great movie...

[poneil69]

Fight the banality of consumerism,great song

[w0mblemania]

Fight the banality of consumerism, buy a CD today! ;-)

Come on, Talking Heads were a fantastic band. But they were a commerical operation, first and foremost.

Anyway, this is such a fantastic song. It sounds better when it doesn't carry the movie's baggage and socio-political statements.

[BerlinBunker1]

Let's all go down to Virgil Texas with David and live a "Wild Wild Life".

[jmit9991]

also... it takes me back to a time when I lived in Houston in the mid 70's, a growing promicing place back then...

[Chasval]

I feel it too, mate.

[Bernankruptcy]

Or you just need to be from Texas...

;)

[thrash5409]

Idea for this scene is from Fellini's ROMA (1972). Watch it on YouTube, search "fellini roma fashion show", the complete one is 9 minutes

[paulism1984]

the "dream operator" is the shopper that dream is personality across what this mall is going to offer them. But in the dream, the dreamer realizes that he spent his whole life or "story" in some silly dream.

The "dream operator" is symbolic of how advertising reminds us that we need this, and that we can control what WE want to buy.

David Byrne is letting us know that we are losing our grasp on our own values and replacing them with with whatever a store want to sell to us.

[LincolnFerland]

This is the greatest song ever. Ever. No one dispute this.

John Goodman doing People like us is probably a close second. Great movie.

[Chesterton7]

This and the pop staples clip are superb.

[dcarr84]

I love this song sung by her. Beautiful voice. Who is she ? I would like the soundtrack to this movie because I like her singing and Pop Staples. I have the studio version of True Stories. God bless Talking Heads

[bennydreadful]

Haha, Byrne would probably agree with you. Love this song and version.

[Ruby1978]

i saw the movie in 1986, i still get a tear from this song

[fraginat0r]

this shit is so weird lol

[hiimandi]

where can u find the actuall talking head version with the guy singing

[Norskboy76]

I'm so glad to find this video. It's my favortie song from one of my favorite movies. I grew up just north of where the movie was filmed. I left decades ago, so I watch the movie when I get homesick for Texas.

Here's some interesting trivia about this scene. I have the "True Stories" book, and it mentions that David Byrne's wife designed the costumes for the fashion show.

[satweavers]

Yeah. They shot this sequence at Northpark Shopping Center at the East end near Tiche's.

[elgranpedro]

Original, funny and beautyfull, what else can you ask to a movie? It is sad that David Byrne don´t keep on in the art of make movies. For me this is one of the great films of the 80`s, but nobody never recognise it.

[dtoeppen]

This is too much! I love it.

[dasdydasdy]

Flipping around Rogers "pay per view" and I couldn't believe that this movie was on the list, I haven't seen it in years, I enjoyed is so much better this time around, I think I tried to hard to "get it" in the 80's but years later... I loved it, definitely an original and awesome movie.

[mattthecat03]

I remember thinking David Byrne was so whack.I love the grass suits

[mirvfez]

So great, reminds me of my childhood. Raised on the The Talking Heads.

[malvolio29]

...hasn't been another movie like it. my sister and i send each other this clip yearly...

[lunarvision]

The "Dream Operator" clip is a little taste of heaven...

Ever since I first viewing, I loved it & cannot get it out of my head. It seems to have this strange, hypnotic/magical effect on people. Embrace the 1950's middle-America kitsch.

The charming innocence & honesty lull you into something much deeper going on here...

[bitemyballz]

Just surrender to the beauty. It's easier than fighting the inevitable.

[gnbnt]

Isn't it assuring to come across a video/film/click that you adore, having thought all these years you were some sort of freak and all alone in the world, only to discover there are so many freaks like you who identify with this film too. I saw this movie, way back in the 80's and though David Byrne had been reading my mail. It's so comforting to know I'm in a company of many.

[Logan5v]

Hey man, you are not alone.

I watched this film a few years back and it was the first time since the late 80's early 90's but unfortunately I was watching it with a friend of mine who just talked all the way through and just did not get the film at all.

I Had to put up with him telling me how stupid the film was. Wanted to be left alone to watch the rest of it which was the last half hour. It's great to be responding to a fan of the film.

[BlakeVII]

To hell with him... I watched the movie. I Wasn't gonna miss it for him, especially this scene. No way. That must have been more than six years ago and I haven't seen the movie since. So imagine if I'd let him have his own way and missed it. Would never have forgiven myself... or him for that matter!

[demarconia]

"I stole it off of a space ship"

Brilliant scene, brilliant movie.

[Heirophant69]

Watched this on acid once. Not the music, the drug.

[dralbertqnixon]

this movie is too trippy for acid, how'd it treat you?

[Heirophant69]

OK - Papa Legba was absolutely remarkable. When he said 'discharge the negative energy you have involuntarily received'......That was when I realised they knew who I was and what I was doing. It was a long time ago.

[AllieCurry]

Can someone please put on Youtube the part when the town lip synchs "Wild Wild Life"?

[james91ocr]

this scene always reminds me of that scene in the film Amelie in which the greengrocer hides all the old mans caviar/champagne etc and slowly reveals them. something about the idea of uplifting creativity being brought into unlikely situations, such as greengrocers or fashion pageants. lovely.

[lamon001]

I was very familiar with the album version of all the songs when I finally saw the movie, with the actors singing them, so it was a new way of hearing it all. This scene makes me cry, too. Something about the surreal pageant featuring ordinary non-actors. Her voice is so innocent and hopeful, and the words, "shake it up dreams, had it all dreams, fix it up dreams," tear me up.

[andygeneva]

I totally agree. This scene has me choked every time. The faux religion of fashion and shopping exposed perfectly. Real meaning-of-life stuff. And the strings in the background....! wow.

[steeltoecowboy]

it iseasy to gain attention nude. but to present yourself dressed either appropriatly or individualy requires conciousness. a true reflection of the psyche.

[cadmiumheights]

I just discovered this film. This scene moves me to tears...beautiful.

[Logan5v]

Why does this film move you to tears as you said?

I hope you can tell me sometime.

I really do.

[theinfiniteroad]

I'm alone in mexico, looking for comfort, and here it is. This is the best movie ever made.  Right now.

[simmonster]

Major points to you for uploading this.

[Logan5v]

Absolutely!!!

[andygeneva]

Kay Culver rocks in this movie. Love her use of prompt cards and the cinematic string accompaniment - so mcuh better than the David Byrne version!

[reverendslaughter]

Lying Woman always tells the truth - she is Eris.

[looseyfur74]

grazie!

[coreysomething]

This movie is one of my favorites.

[Logan5v]

This is also one of my favorite films. The reason why I'm telling you this because you sound like someone who appreciates this type of film.

[Ratbas]

Logan5v wrote:

"This is also one of my favorite films."

Other faves along these lines?

[Logan5v]

I can't think of any films that are like this one, but I do like films with original plots/storylines. Chasing Amy, The Interpreter, Sitting Ducks, Gloria(1980), Alice doesn't live here any more, Hair, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Little Shop Of Horrors, Alien, The Medusa Touch and alot more. You may like some or none of them but these are my choices.

[birdiejoehoaks]

I also love this movie.

I didnt get Alien though. at least not as a horror film

[BlakeVII]

Its more like Sci Fi-Horror such as The Thing, Event Horizon, etc.

[bitemyballz]

I swear to god, the Lying Woman is a paranoid schitzophrenic with histrionic traits! It's the only way to explain her bizarre behavior. OMG, this movie is so fun to watch stoned. Hmmm!