Song of the Day 1/31: Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, “Pablo Picasso”

Google Maps claims I live an 11-minute walk from the Picasso Museum in the Marais, but if I pace myself to this song it’s more like eight minutes. You can tell from the lyrics that Jonathan Richman is a true art lover.

Richman recorded the song in 1972, but it wasn’t released until the first Modern Lovers LP in 1976. That’s producer John Cale on the piano, future Talking Head Jerry Harrison on bass and future Car David Robinson on drums.

The scenes of Picasso painting on glass come from “Visite à Picasso,” a 1950 film by Belgian Paul Haesaerts. Dude was only 5 foot 3 but girls could not resist his stare.

The tune was used to excellent effect in the 1984 film “Repo Man” via a cover by the Burning Sensations.

Three years after producing the song for the Modern Lovers, John Cale recorded it for his 1975 “Helen of Troy” LP, marking its first official release.