NEW YORK (AP) — David Byrne has taken
his share of musical journeys in three decades, turning Talking Heads
from egghead rockers into a funk orchestra, playing Latin music and
scoring films and a ballet. But opera? Even his new record company
was suspicious when Byrne submitted a disc that includes a piece
from "La Traviata," sung in Latin, and a duet with Rufus
Wainwright on a Georges Bizet piece sung in French. Yet the tracks
are oddly compelling, and play a key role in "Grown Backwards," Byrne's
most melodic and accessible solo album. "I think they were the
crowbar that I used to open myself up emotionally and vocally," Byrne
said. More >>