The Talk of Creatures

"The Talk of Creatures" is the 35th track from The Residents' Commercial Album. It appears as track 15 on the album's B-side.
== History ==
"The Talk of Creatures" made its debut appearance on The Residents' Commercial Album on October 29th, 1980. One of the later tracks on the album, "The Talk of Creatures" is an intentionally ominous, discreet piece with leading vocals from Hardy Fox. The lyrics of the song tell of "creatures" living in the spine of the singer, constantly arguing but never coming to conclusions.
In 1989, the song was briefly considered for the group's conceptualized 10th Anniversary Show, but was ultimately shelved from the setlist as the tour concept evolved into The Mole Show. A live rehearsal for the track was recorded by the band, but ultimately left out of the Assorted Secrets track listing. It wouldn't be until 2019 for this version to see an official release on The Commercial Album pREServed edition. A demo for the 10th Anniversary version was also recorded around the same time. This version would be released on a November 2022 issue of Cherry Red Records' mailing list newsletter, and would then be included in the streaming release LS1 - Sketches For A Live Show in 2023.
== Music video ==
A "one minute movie" for "The Talk of Creatures" was created in 2004 for the Commercial DVD, directed by Bulk Foodveyor with assistance from Niffer Desmond (who also provided assistance for "Possessions" and directed "Margaret Freeman"). It blends stop motion animation with real practical effects.
The video begins with a shot of a man with a bizarre, malformed head, standing in a diorama of a dilapidated city. He sings the lyrics of the song as he unbuttons his coat, while the day quickly turns to night. The inside of the man's spine is then shown to be a misty white void inhabited by a pair of abstract, geometric creatures. The two beings argue with each other by sketching scribbles in the books they hold and presenting them to the other, much to their horror.
The two beings then open their palms and begin forming a ball of metal scraps whilst fusing into each other. The man finally opens his coat and reveals his full body to the audience as the two beings finally converge into one. The frightened creature is last shown gasping, connected to a metallic sphere adorned with multicolored buttocks.
== Lyrics ==
 Mumbling weighs upon my mind
 The talk of creatures in my spine
 A contest fought between two souls
 To know which thought that each controls
 They argue deep into the night
 Displaying wrongs, inciting rights
 They sing their songs with unknown tones
 And keep the beat upon my bones.Ima Buddy, Ima Buddy's Totally Impartial Companion to Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated BIG MAMAS, 1992
== List of releases ==
* Commercial Album (1980) 1980 Studio Version (1:00)
* In Memoriam Torso (1994) 
* Commercial Album pREServed CD edition (2019) Grove Street live studio rehearsal recording, 1982 (1:04)
* LS1 - Sketches For A Live Show (2022) Grove Street studio demo recording, 1982 (1:11)
=== List of versions ===
== Buy Or Die! ==
=== Listen online ===
* "The Talk of Creatures" on Spotify
* "The Talk of Creatures" on Apple Music
== External links and references ==
* Commercial Album at The Residents Historical
* Commercial Album at RZWeb (archived via archive.org)
Category:Songs
Category:Commercial Album
Category:The 10th Anniversary Show