When it comes to popular music, Albuquerque is well represented. From Weird Al Yankovic to Albuquerque’ own, The Shins, Albuquerque is sung about with humor, hubris, and honor. A cursory Google check shows over twenty songs with Albuquerque in the name or within the lyrics.
Choosing the top songs about Albuquerque is subjective, but here’s three to chew on, based on artistic merit.
The most popular song on the list, Neil Young’s Albuquerque, is a classic. Taken from the album Tonight’s the Night (1975), Young’s song has been covered by many—from The Shins to Iron & Wine.
The song is about a person driving a rental car between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, roughly a 45 minute drive. In the song, the narrator states it takes under 90-minutes, which, I suppose, it does… at a snail’s pace. However, in the song, the narrator is “flying down the road…starving to be alone.” Musically, Albuquerque provides an acoustic-electric soundscape, sweeping guitars capture the high desert landscape with simplicity and dreamy beauty.
Next, Englishman David Sylvian is the founder of the rock group, Japan. As a solo artist, his music encompasses many genres and styles from jazz-pop oriented albums to soundtracks (including the hit song, Forbidden Colors, from the movie Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence) to avant-garde compositions and a partnership with Pulitzer winning poet Franz Wright (There’s a Light That Enters Houses with No Other House in Sight).
The most sonically complicated song on the list, Sylvian’s Albuquerque (Dobro #6) is unique among the three songs in that Sylvain has a direct connection to Albuquerque.
Sylvian’s ex-wife, Ingrid Chavez, was born in Albuquerque. As the co-songwriter of Madonna’s hit song (along with Lenny Kravitz), Justify My Love, Chavez married Sylvian in 1992. Also, Sylvian spends time in the state, and recorded a video for his song Do You Know Me Now?
Some may find Albuquerque (Dobro #6) disorienting, with its expanding dobro harmonies sounding out of tune. But once one understands that famed jazz guitarist Bill Frisell performed the piece in an improvisatory manner, with Sylvian adding lyrics and melody shortly after, the song takes on a deeper provenance.
As a matter of fact, Sylvian became renowned for his work with improvisatory musicians on his albums Blemish (2003) and Manafon (2009) both highly praised in jazz and experimental music circles.
In Albuquerque (Dobro #6) Sylvian sings of a man arriving at night, exchanging words with a woman. The man is in hiding. When he leaves Albuquerque, the man takes books representing “shades of mid-life crises.”
Finally, Albuquerque, a song by Australian Nick Cave. He is an anomaly: part creative genius, part sinister saint.
Cave started his rise to fame in the post-punk band The Birthday Party but found his form as a solo artist. Many people have covered Cave’s songs, including Johnny Cash. After kicking a heroin habit, Cave’s music soared to new heights.
Like Sylvian, Cave is a broad creative, writing novels, movie scripts, soundtracks, poetry, and creating visual art. His Red Hand Files—blogs dealing with real life issues—are read by many. After the death of two sons, Cave has become a champion for kindness and deep understanding.
Albuquerque is on the Carnage album, released in 2021. According to his bestselling book Faith, Hope, and Carnage, the song was written during Covid lockdown. It’s a love song to his wife, Susie.
Of all the songs on the list, Cave’s Albuquerque is stunning. With melodic piano, sweeping strings and chorus, the song peaks in beautiful melancholy. But to get the full effect of the composition, see the documentary, This Much I Know To Be True.
I was able to attend the premier opening in Albuquerque. The people who gathered to watch the biopic sat in silence until the final credit rolled away. I even heard sighs and tears. Albuquerque touched a nerve.
Three songs naming Albuquerque by three superb musicians and creatives. Though millions around the world know Albuquerque through Bugs Bunny and Breaking Bad, it’s time we recognize the inspiration Albuquerque provides for brilliant minds.
Brian C. Nixon, Ph.D., is Chief Academic Officer and professor at Veritas International University in Albuquerque. As a writer, musician, and artist, his interests surround the philosophical transcendentals: truth, beauty, and goodness.You can contact Brian via his Bandcamp email address: https://briancharlesnixon.bandcamp.com
Neil Young. Press photo.
David Sylvian. Press photo
Nick Cave. Press photo
