I hate, hate, hate They Might Be Giants

Cafe Society
1

I’m hanging out with my brother, he has told me about a dream he had that had a song lyric from that group about Istanbul, which in his dream morphed into this song.

I returned as a bag of groceries
Taken off the shelf before the expiration date

Later in the night he plays a that song

Sung in this annoying nasal voice (and I like Bob Dylan).

But then, there are these final lines-

Now I’m dead and I haven’t done what I wanted to do
Or I’m still alive and I’ve done everything I wanted to do.

Might have to rethink my opinion of the band

2

I love their covers of Destiny’s Child’s “Bills Bills Bills” (They Might Be Giants cover Destiny's Child's 'Bills, Bills, Bills' - YouTube) and “Tubthumping” (Tubthumping - They Might Be Giants & The AV Club Chorus - YouTube)

3

They seem like a pretty bland band unworthy of any strong emotions. Good or bad.

4

Not to put too fine a point on it, “Birdhouse in Your Soul” is a great song.

But other than that… :shrug:

5

You got the lyrics wrong.

Now it’s over, I’m dead and I haven’t done anything that I want,
Or I’m still alive and there’s nothing I want to do.

And for the record, they’re great.

6

Yes, no, maybe…I don’t know.
Can you repeat the question?

7

Although TMBG may have popularized Istanbul/Constantinople, They did NOT write the song, and it has been sung by MANY folks (including Bette Midler)

Brian

8

Not my favorite band, but “Ana Ng” is probably in my top 100 favorite songs of all-time. Birdhouse is probably in the top 200.

9

They’re definitely quirky. And quirky things, in general, tend to elicit strong emotions: Either people will love it, or not care for it at all, depending on how you feel about that particular sort of quirk.

10

I have a copy of “Flood”, and I enjoy listening to it every once in a while, but towards the end it all starts to sound the same. I’ve never been inclined to seek out any more.

“Birdhouse in your Soul” and their cover of “Istanbul (not Constantinople)” are great. However, “Minimum Wage” may be my favorite song on that album. Heee-yaw!

11

TMBG fall into the category of Groups I Thought Were Really Cool in The 1980s, But Who Now Get On My Last Nerve. Foremost in that group is Talking Heads. Also Timbuk 3 and The Beautiful South. What they all have in common is that, lyrically, they’re all too clever for their own good. Elvis Costello, post-1986, same deal.

12

Why does that upset you so?

Is it that you’re older than you’ve ever been? And now you’re even older? And now you’re even older?

Maybe?

PS. Now you’re older still!

Music video for TMBG - Older

13

I love TMBG, but love, hate, and anything in between are all totally legitimate responses to the band.

Flood, the most successful of their many albums, recently turned 30, prompting appreciations like The AV Club’s They Might Be Giants defied the major-label curse with Flood and Spin’s They Might Be Giants’ Flood Turns 30: Musicians Extol the Landmark Album.

14

I opened this thread wondering why a movie that has fallen into obscurity would inspire such hatred.

15

Put me in the “Appreciate Little Birdhouse, no use for them otherwise” camp with all the other people.

16

You’re not the boss of me now.

17

Don’t Let’s Start, y’all.

18

I am a fan.

19

I liked them back in 1990 when Flood came out. I have not heard an album from them in 25+ years.

Oh, I saw them in concert once as well. They were fine, nothing special. I think they were, by 2000, very tired of the songs on Flood. They did what I would call a “Flood medley” of songs spliced together and got it out of the way. Very going-through-the-motions feel.

20

I love Istanbul.