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May 28, 2009

New Regina Spektor Video - "Laughing With"

thumbnail icon: New Regina Spektor Video - "Laughing With"

What I think Regina's trying to say in "Laughing With" is that no one laughs at god. Because she says it a lot of times. The somber piano ballad doesn't tackle theological ontology with quite the same FM-oomph as Joan Osbourne did, but its weighty "life is like this"isms will probably register with the same sort of yearning-for-meaning demo. The video plays on the album art imagery, Spektor strolling through charcoal doodles and art pieces in the vein of M.C. Escher and René Magritte, decapitating herself with a smile at one point and going for yogic sun salutation in another. God can be funny, but this one's pretty straightforward and serious.

It's not the only religious song on the album -- apparently the David Kahne-produced "Human Of The Year" is even heavier on religious imagery -- and according to Regina, "Laughing With" is a good intro single because this album's a lot more introspective. For now, in addition to "Laughing With," try "Blue Lips" in studio and Jools Holland form.

Far is out 6/23 via Sire.

Posted at 1:17 PM by amrit in
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13 Comments

more magritte than dali.

Posted by: tp at 05/28/09 1:58 PM  | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

That's a fair distinction, I'm taking you up on it.

Posted by: amrit profile link  in reply to tp's comment at 05/28/09 2:03 PM  | Reply
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I know this artist through Attic Jam...

Posted by: The Dirty Jobs at 05/28/09 2:40 PM  | Reply
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Can 'gum do us all a favor and stop reporting on these Grey's Anatomy artists?

Posted by: Mr. Bubbles at 05/28/09 3:21 PM  | Reply
Score = -37 Vote up Vote down

Take it easy there, Mr. Bubbles.

Posted by: TC  in reply to Mr. Bubbles's comment at 05/28/09 3:53 PM  | Reply
Score = 11 Vote up Vote down

regina was known way before that show was and she's an incredible musician

didn't mean to burst your bubble but...yeah I did

Posted by: EnchantingWizardofRhythm  in reply to Mr. Bubbles's comment at 05/28/09 4:52 PM  | Reply
Score = 9 Vote up Vote down

You need to spend some time doing you're homework before you make stupid comments like that. I don't respect your music IQ if you can't tell Regina Spektor from The Fray.

Posted by: kozy  in reply to Mr. Bubbles's comment at 05/28/09 7:15 PM  | Reply
Score = 6 Vote up Vote down

you know, i was waiting for a regina spektor video with stop-motion like movements, and now it's finally arrived. oh wait. that's every single one of them.

"In Communist Russia, motion stops YOU!"

Posted by: eponymoushipster at 05/28/09 4:35 PM  | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

Honestly, that was an incredibly boring video. Regina Spektor is a fantastic artist though, I can't wait for Far.

http://bonafidewithheadphones.blogspot.com/

Posted by: BONA_FIDE profile link at 05/28/09 6:45 PM  | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

I love Regina. I can't wait for the new album. Mr Bubbles should be popped!

Posted by: karl at 05/28/09 7:23 PM  | Reply
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While Regina is in fact an excellent artist who has done some amazing things, I've got to continue with the sentiment that this video is about as cliche as it gets in the indie world. Stop-motion, 3-D Regina in a 2-D world, putting on a mask, leaving the mask on, removing your head, playing a piano made out of the sky. This used to be original. I'm slightly worried about 'Far' because neither 'Laughing With' nor 'Blue Lips' have been great.

Posted by: Jeff@PopSense at 05/29/09 10:14 AM  | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

I have a feeling that this song exists for the people that know little Regina beyond Fidelity, Better, and On the Radio. Blue Lips is certainly better, and I'm digging Dance Anthem of the 80s. Of course, we haven't seen a Pavlov's Daughter or Reading Time with Pickle off of this album yet, but a song like that would never be released as a single anyway. If this album is even a little bit more like Songs and 11:11 than Begin to Hope was I'll be happy.

Posted by: Joel at 05/30/09 1:21 PM  | Reply
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The rhyme schemes in this one (as in Blue Lips) are so complex and good.... I love her phrasing, and I am loving this more with every listen.

Also, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that she didn't make it for you, Joel or Jeff, for your own personal happiness meters. (I just remembered why I never visit the 'Gum anymore! Thanks for reminding me!)

Posted by: KarneAsada at 06/23/09 3:48 PM  | Reply
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