TMBG's string of Dunkin Donut ads were one of my very early introductions to the band. I was actually aware of the ads before I knew they were TMBG and was very excited to learn this fact later. While some call these little commercial ditties selling out, I call them not only clever and catchy advertising but also just fun and silly little songs that stand on their own even outside the ad. I really appreciate that TMBG does not compromise on their music no matter what they are writing. For the most part, these are fully realized 30 second rock songs. And the DD folks didn't due to bad with the visuals either. These two are my favs. I especially love the turtle in the second one.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
#23 - The Kids Videos
When TMBG does kids music they do it right, with visual accompaniment. I love the kids songs. I LOVE the kids videos. They are adorable, funny, educational and enhance the music rather than distracting from it. They showcase a wealth of talented animators who often include smart little in jokes that make me giggle. It Might Be Pizza anyone? My favorite buddies, the puppets pop up now and then. And the occasional live videos are stellar. Don't tell anyone but I think I may like the Robot Parade video better than any of the rock videos. Shhhhh.
Here are a few of my favorites.
P.S. One of the kids videos (One Two Three Four) is also responsible for what is by far the best design note I have ever heard: "Linnell sees tugboats." You might need to know the little known fact that I LOVE tugboats (I even got to ride on one last year!) to understand why I find this so funny.
Here are a few of my favorites.
P.S. One of the kids videos (One Two Three Four) is also responsible for what is by far the best design note I have ever heard: "Linnell sees tugboats." You might need to know the little known fact that I LOVE tugboats (I even got to ride on one last year!) to understand why I find this so funny.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Stage Announcements - 8/20/2010
Two pieces of news today.
First, Flansburgh offers some quotes to this article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Unfortunately, the rest of the article reads like it was culled from Wikipedia.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/entertainment/ci_15823585
And second, They Might Be Giants have written a possible theme for Madeleine Brand's radio show on NPR. She's collecting comments on the theme and seems unconvinced as to whether it is appropriate for a morning radio show. Take a listen and see what you think.
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/brand-new-day-madeleine-brand/2010/08/18/they-might-be-giants-theme/
If any of you are in California and planning to attend any of the three TMBG shows this weekend, I would much appreciate setlists, show reports and most especially pictures. I would pretty much give my right arm to be there right now.
Oh, and don't forget to tune in to Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child tomorrow to hear the new theme song TMBG has written for them. 8:00am Eastern.
First, Flansburgh offers some quotes to this article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Unfortunately, the rest of the article reads like it was culled from Wikipedia.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/entertainment/ci_15823585
And second, They Might Be Giants have written a possible theme for Madeleine Brand's radio show on NPR. She's collecting comments on the theme and seems unconvinced as to whether it is appropriate for a morning radio show. Take a listen and see what you think.
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/brand-new-day-madeleine-brand/2010/08/18/they-might-be-giants-theme/
If any of you are in California and planning to attend any of the three TMBG shows this weekend, I would much appreciate setlists, show reports and most especially pictures. I would pretty much give my right arm to be there right now.
Oh, and don't forget to tune in to Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child tomorrow to hear the new theme song TMBG has written for them. 8:00am Eastern.
#24 - Marty's Many "Drumming Faces"
Marty makes the most entertaining faces while he drums, possibly without even realizing it (I've always kind of wondered about that - whether it is completely unconscious or not). The percentage of time he spends drumming with his tongue sticking out is highly amusing. And while I partly love watching him screw his face up because it's funny, I also love it because it shows just how into it he is. It doesn't matter what he is playing, he throws himself into every song with such force and wild (yet controlled) abandon that it shows on his face. This is never better illustrated than when he attempts to wreck his drum kit at the end of each show, but look at him at any point in a show and he probably has a fantastic expression on his face. I'm going to let the following pictures illustrate my point.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
#25 - Audience Participation
I am a fan of audience participation (as long as it does not involve me being singled out and humiliated in front of a large group of people). I like feeling like I am a part of what is going on and the solidarity of doing something (usually quite silly), with a large group of strangers.
At a TMBG show, I sort of feel like the audience participation parts are my roll in a piece of theater. I feel it is my civic responsibility as a front row fan to execute this roll to the best of my ability so as to act as an example and motivation for all those standing behind me. Also I am afraid to say no to Flans when he tells me to do something.
I also love knowing what my part in the show is. I guess it makes me feel like a real fan somehow. I know when to clap and jump and stomp my feet. I can holler back "drink" and demand cake on cue. I have learned to count to nine and clap on the back beat even when the music stops. I will always wave as the lion says goodbye. I dutifully chant for Danny and scream until my throat is sore for Marty. When pressed I will even do jazz hands and conga. Do I look like an idiot doing these things? Probably. Do I care? Not in the least. Does it make me feel good to bounce in the air with 500 other fans? Every frickin' time.
Incidentally, I have lately been listening to a recording of the Apollo 18 show at LPR from a couple years back. I must say that, while I did not appreciate it at the time because I was so distracted by the obnoxious asshole behind me, that show has some of the best uninstructed audience participation I have ever heard. There are entire songs where the audience is providing the harmonies and the backing vocals. There is the stellar See the Constellation where the audience provides the "hey" samples in all the right places. Mammal, where you can beautifully hear Linnell sing "Mammal" and the audience reply softly, "mammal". Turn Around, where the audience provides the backing "round" in each chorus. And my personal favorite, in the middle of Fingertips when the audience is singing along so purposefully that they beat Linnell to the punch on "Mysterious Whisper" so loudly that he stutters and comes in halfway through the word "mysterious" in an attempt to catch up with the crowd. I realize that these aren't quite true instances of audience participation in the sense I was referring to, but I have to say I am so proud to have been part of a crowd that was that familiar with every note of every song, even if I was too much of a newbie at the time to participate myself.
Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap, Stomp, Stomp, Stomp, Stomp, Jump, Jump, Jump, Jump, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
At a TMBG show, I sort of feel like the audience participation parts are my roll in a piece of theater. I feel it is my civic responsibility as a front row fan to execute this roll to the best of my ability so as to act as an example and motivation for all those standing behind me. Also I am afraid to say no to Flans when he tells me to do something.
I also love knowing what my part in the show is. I guess it makes me feel like a real fan somehow. I know when to clap and jump and stomp my feet. I can holler back "drink" and demand cake on cue. I have learned to count to nine and clap on the back beat even when the music stops. I will always wave as the lion says goodbye. I dutifully chant for Danny and scream until my throat is sore for Marty. When pressed I will even do jazz hands and conga. Do I look like an idiot doing these things? Probably. Do I care? Not in the least. Does it make me feel good to bounce in the air with 500 other fans? Every frickin' time.
Incidentally, I have lately been listening to a recording of the Apollo 18 show at LPR from a couple years back. I must say that, while I did not appreciate it at the time because I was so distracted by the obnoxious asshole behind me, that show has some of the best uninstructed audience participation I have ever heard. There are entire songs where the audience is providing the harmonies and the backing vocals. There is the stellar See the Constellation where the audience provides the "hey" samples in all the right places. Mammal, where you can beautifully hear Linnell sing "Mammal" and the audience reply softly, "mammal". Turn Around, where the audience provides the backing "round" in each chorus. And my personal favorite, in the middle of Fingertips when the audience is singing along so purposefully that they beat Linnell to the punch on "Mysterious Whisper" so loudly that he stutters and comes in halfway through the word "mysterious" in an attempt to catch up with the crowd. I realize that these aren't quite true instances of audience participation in the sense I was referring to, but I have to say I am so proud to have been part of a crowd that was that familiar with every note of every song, even if I was too much of a newbie at the time to participate myself.
Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap, Stomp, Stomp, Stomp, Stomp, Jump, Jump, Jump, Jump, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
There's A Picture Opposite Me - 8/18/10
Roy G. Biv - They Might Be Giants
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
#26 - The Unreliable Narrator
This guy gets a lot of play in interviews as one of the staple tools of the They Might Be Giants song writing. Essentially, he is the anonymous character telling the story in a lot of their songs but he has a tendency to forget things, twist the truth or just flat out lie a lot. Oddly, I see a lot of parallels with the persona Flansburgh cultivates on stage. Hmmmmm. I wonder where he got that idea from?
There are probably dozens of songs from the point of view of the unreliable narrator, most of them wonderful, but I don't think he ever appears more prominently and brilliantly than in Purple Toupee, twisting and confusing his memories of the 60s into one flat out awesome song.
I look forward to future encounters with this well traveled character. He seems to have led such an interesting life. Can't wait to hear his next story.
There are probably dozens of songs from the point of view of the unreliable narrator, most of them wonderful, but I don't think he ever appears more prominently and brilliantly than in Purple Toupee, twisting and confusing his memories of the 60s into one flat out awesome song.
I look forward to future encounters with this well traveled character. He seems to have led such an interesting life. Can't wait to hear his next story.
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