Young Lions - Adrian Belew (1990)

"Young Lions" was the title track of Adrian Belew's fifth solo album which was released in the spring of 1990. I've always been a huge fan of Adrian Belew's distinct and unusual guitar playing...especially the work he did with King Crimson, David Bowie, and the Talking Heads. I collected his first 6 solo albums on CD as they were released and still enjoy listening to his work. I tried to catch the rhythm and lyrics of the tune on the video. If you're familiar with the song, I hope you enjoy the vid I made for it, but I hope the effort gives this amazing song some attention and finds it at least a few new fans! *Cc lyrics pending About the Artist/Album/Song: From Wikipedia: Adrian Belew has worked with or been associated with is incredible; King Crimson, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, Tom Tom Club, David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, Tori Amos, The Bears, and many more. One of the things he's known for is the ability to make his guitars sound like animals...and "Young Lions" is only one example. Young Lions is the fifth solo album by Adrian Belew released in May 1990 by Atlantic Records. The album featured David Bowie singing on two tracks, "Pretty Pink Rose" and "Gunman", the latter of which Bowie and Belew co-wrote since he was acting as musical director and lead guitarist on the Sound+Vision Tour with Bowie. Two cover versions appear on the album: "Heartbeat", a song Belew had co-written and performed with King Crimson while he was a member; and "Not Alone Anymore", a Traveling Wilburys song from Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. This was Belew's tribute to Roy Orbison who had recently died. The other songwriting "collaboration" on the album is with Nashville radio evangelist Prophet Omega. Working decades-old tapes of Omega's broadcasts into "I Am What I Am", Belew, "listed him as a co-author, so in case a couple of hefty guys drop by my place some day, I can say 'here's your money.' " Al Kooper, who collects "oddball" recordings, gave a 47-minute recording of Omega preaching and Belew made two further recordings: "I Know What I Know" on Coming Attractions and "Troubles" on Side Three. Belew was pressed for time for the cover artwork and it was hurriedly completed by Atlantic's art department. It features a then five-year-old Robert S. Belew on his way to Sunday school carrying a stuffed animal. About the audio: Sparky spent quite a bit of time on this one and I think it sounds fantastic! About the video: This is another update to one of my old vids: https://youtu.be/DxWPtJIsreM and even though I was never happy with the original version, it got the job done and moving forward I'm going to really need to try and prioritize more popular songs to put the time, effort, and $ into...which is kinda disappointing because of course probably the primary reason for the channel was to give some attention to the more obscure tracks. I can't resist making vids for tracks like; "Blackheart Man", "Feelin' Higher", "Kelpie", "Empty Promises" when I know they will never be as popular as more well-known tunes, but the return on the effort is often quite disappointing (even with lower expectations for performance). I was always planning to make a video for Bowie's similar "African Night Flight" after this one...and actually was starting something for that song when I decided to update this one first...."African Night Flight" hopefully still happening! [Lyrics] Hot tribal night underneath florescent skies bonfires rage strange wild waving shouting Picasso faces In the guise of a lioness the wind kisses her burning dress you can fell her animal eyes you can hear them cry, "Be the jewel around my neck, never a tear on my burning dress" Lying, paralyzed, a brave prey who lays dying and is surrounded by angry spirits hunters, guns, drums, and elephants Why is this night quiet? filled with trees filled with eyes as she prowls around my feet she throws back her head dress and cries, "Now you will be mine, be my young lion" Why is this night quiet? why the trees filled with eyes? as she prowls around my feet she throws back her head dress and cries, "Be my young lion"

Added 12 Jul 2026