I actually spoke to Bradford Cox directly about this song. Last night he had this webcam chat where you could ask him questions one-on-one via webcam. It was absolutely amazing.
My question regarded how "Helicopter" came about, and he told me that he was reading a story about some specific and tragic event that some German had to endure. He told me that the story resonated with him so much that he actually felt what this person was going through, so he wrote this song and the lyrics as a representation of how it would have been if he had experienced it.
He didn't go into details about what that tragic event was though.
The measure of Deerhunter's fuzzed-out beauty is how it trancends the the band's damaged subtext, centering upon volatile frontman (and Marfan syndrome suffer) Bradford Cox. Though lacking the immediate sonic kick of 2008's Microcastle, this prolific collective's latest album has greater intrigue, from opener Earthquake's phased beats and reverberant guitar pools onwards. The fizzing jaunt of Revival suggests Grateful Dead warped by Eno, a key touchstone throughout but especially the pellucid scales of Desire Lines, the album's glorious centrepiece,...
The measure of Deerhunter's fuzzed-out beauty is how it trancends the the band's damaged subtext, centering upon volatile frontman (and Marfan syndrome suffer) Bradford Cox. Though lacking the immediate sonic kick of 2008's Microcastle, this prolific collective's latest album has greater intrigue, from opener Earthquake's phased beats and reverberant guitar pools onwards. The fizzing jaunt of Revival suggests Grateful Dead warped by Eno, a key touchstone throughout but especially the pellucid scales of Desire Lines, the album's glorious centrepiece, written by guitarist Lockett Pundt. Cox is a fan of the transgressive author Dennis Cooper, whose account of the shocking death of a teenage gay prostitute in Russia inspired Helicopter and its heartbreaking refrain "Now they are through with me". There's no shortage of US outfits seeking new conduits for the blown mind, but with Halcyon Digest Deerhunter are dealing in an altogether different kind of tension.
Keith Cameron."
I am SOOOOO glad you posted this. The first verse makes so much sense now. Thanks for relaying this brief, but substantial information. Deerhunter is the next Radiohead.
I am SOOOOO glad you posted this. The first verse makes so much sense now. Thanks for relaying this brief, but substantial information. Deerhunter is the next Radiohead.
I actually spoke to Bradford Cox directly about this song. Last night he had this webcam chat where you could ask him questions one-on-one via webcam. It was absolutely amazing.
My question regarded how "Helicopter" came about, and he told me that he was reading a story about some specific and tragic event that some German had to endure. He told me that the story resonated with him so much that he actually felt what this person was going through, so he wrote this song and the lyrics as a representation of how it would have been if he had experienced it.
He didn't go into details about what that tragic event was though.
this is what Mojo had to say about the album:
this is what Mojo had to say about the album:
"Mojo - 4 out of 5
"Mojo - 4 out of 5
Fourth album from Atlanta pop-psych quartet.
Fourth album from Atlanta pop-psych quartet.
The measure of Deerhunter's fuzzed-out beauty is how it trancends the the band's damaged subtext, centering upon volatile frontman (and Marfan syndrome suffer) Bradford Cox. Though lacking the immediate sonic kick of 2008's Microcastle, this prolific collective's latest album has greater intrigue, from opener Earthquake's phased beats and reverberant guitar pools onwards. The fizzing jaunt of Revival suggests Grateful Dead warped by Eno, a key touchstone throughout but especially the pellucid scales of Desire Lines, the album's glorious centrepiece,...
The measure of Deerhunter's fuzzed-out beauty is how it trancends the the band's damaged subtext, centering upon volatile frontman (and Marfan syndrome suffer) Bradford Cox. Though lacking the immediate sonic kick of 2008's Microcastle, this prolific collective's latest album has greater intrigue, from opener Earthquake's phased beats and reverberant guitar pools onwards. The fizzing jaunt of Revival suggests Grateful Dead warped by Eno, a key touchstone throughout but especially the pellucid scales of Desire Lines, the album's glorious centrepiece, written by guitarist Lockett Pundt. Cox is a fan of the transgressive author Dennis Cooper, whose account of the shocking death of a teenage gay prostitute in Russia inspired Helicopter and its heartbreaking refrain "Now they are through with me". There's no shortage of US outfits seeking new conduits for the blown mind, but with Halcyon Digest Deerhunter are dealing in an altogether different kind of tension. Keith Cameron."
I am sorry, yes it was Russian.
I am sorry, yes it was Russian.
I am SOOOOO glad you posted this. The first verse makes so much sense now. Thanks for relaying this brief, but substantial information. Deerhunter is the next Radiohead.
I am SOOOOO glad you posted this. The first verse makes so much sense now. Thanks for relaying this brief, but substantial information. Deerhunter is the next Radiohead.
A part of the actual story seems to be in the liner notes of the album if you're looking for it.
A part of the actual story seems to be in the liner notes of the album if you're looking for it.