Music / Simple Man

"Ride side by side when worlds collide and slip into, slip into, slip into, slip into the Martian tide..."

Simple Man is a 1982 album by Klaus Nomi, the second and final album in his catalogue released during his lifetime. "Simple Man" and "Falling In Love Again" were released as singles.

Sadly Nomi died two years later, casting an eerie shadow over the final track of this album, which is called "Death".

Tracklist

Side One

1. "From Beyond" (2:51)
2. "After the Fall" (4:43)
3. "Just One Look" (3:19)
4. "Falling In Love Again" (2:39)
5. "ICUROK" (4:24)
6. "Rubberband Lazer" (4:20)

Side Two

1. "Wayward Sisters" (1:43)
2. "Ding Dong" (3:03)
3. "Three Wishes" (3:18)
4. "Simple Man" (4:18)
5. "Death" (4:18)
6. "Return" (2:07)

Rubberband Troper

• After the End: "After the Fall".
  But I'm telling you hold on, hold on
  Tomorrow we'll be there
  After the fall we'll be born, born, born again
  After it all blows away
  After the fall, after the fall
  After it all blows away
• Alliterative Title: "Ding Dong"
• As the Good Book Says...: "After The Fall" mentions that "the freak will inherit the Earth", which is a pun on "the meek" in the original sermon of the mountain given by Jesus Christ.
• Bilingual Bonus: "Falling In Love Again" is sang partially in English, partially in German.
• Cover Version: "Wayward Sisters" and "Death" are lifted from Henry Purcell's "Dido & Aeneas". "Ding Dong" is a cover from the Harold Arlen and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg song from The Wizard of Oz. "From Beyond" and "Return" are based on compositions by John Dowland. "Just One Look" is a cover by Doris Troy.
• Classical Music: Two tracks are by composers Henry Purcell and two others by John Dowland.
• Death Song: "Ding Dong" and "Death"
  But death invades me
  Death is now a welcome guest
  When I am laid in earth
  May my wrongs create no trouble
  No trouble in thy breast
• Epic Instrumental Opener: "From Beyond"
• Face on the Cover: Nomi's face in a frame.
• The Future Will Be Better: Contrary to "Total Eclipse" from his previous album Klaus Nomi "After The End" has a more hopeful message for people on Earth after the nuclear explosion. Well, kind of:
  Well, the freak shall inherit the earth now
  No matter how well done or rare
  But I'm telling you hold on, hold on
  Tomorrow we'll be there
  We'll build our radioactive castles
  Out in the radioactive air
• Mundane Made Awesome: "Simple Man" a song about a simple man "doing the best he can".
• One-Man Song: "Simple Man"
• One Countertenor Wail: "From Beyond" and it's reprise, "Return."
• One-Word Title: "Death" and "Return"
• Opera: Just like his previous album.
• The Power of Love:
  • "Falling In Love Again".
  Love's always been my game
  Play it as I may
  I was made that way
  I can't help it
  They cluster to me
  Like moths around a flame
  And if their wings burn
  I know I'm not to blame
  • "Just One Look"
  Just one look
  And I knew I'll get you some day
• Record Producer: Ron Johnsen.
• Single Malt Vision: "ICUROK"
  I see double, you are two
• Song of Song Titles: In "After the Fall":
  So I told you about the total eclipse now, but still it caught you unawares...
• Three Wishes: "Three Wishes"
  In a flower there was a fairy
  And the fairy said: "3 Wishes!"
  Mother got a pool
  Daddy got a horse
  And I got a dress
  Sailing in the blue ocean
• Title Track: "Simple Man"
• Touched by Vorlons: "Rubberband Lazer"
  Travelling through the galaxy
  Looking for a home
  Interstellar tragedies
  Living like a gnome
  Stretching like a comet trail
  From star to star and back
  Intergalactic happy trails
  Keep me on the track
• Word Salad Lyrics: "ICUROK"
  Icurok2c
  Icurok2
  Icurok2c
  Icwr2

---