I’ve always loved the fact this song doesn’t sound like other songs. It’s unique and it stays in your head, where some songs are just a throw away song, and easily forgotten
Since you liked the video, you might want to watch the Talking Heads concert film "Stop Making Sense" (1984). Some consider it the best concert movie ever made. Band members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz met as students at the Rhode Island School of Design. Their background in design comes through in their look. The band needed a bass player when they were getting started, so Frantz encouraged Weymouth to learn the instrument by listening to Suzi Quatro records. Weymouth auditioned three times before she became a band member. I think it worked out pretty well for her. Weymouth and Frantz formed another band called Tom Tom Club that was active at the same time as Talking Heads. Their biggest hit in the U.S. was "Genius of Love," which has a really good animated music video. The band and song were also featured in "Stop Making Sense." David Byrne directed the movie "True Stories" (1986), and wrote the music for "The Last Emperor" (1987), "Married to the Mob" (1988), "Young Adam" (2003), "This Must Be the Place" (2011), and "Contemporary Color" (2016). Other songs by Talking Heads: - Psycho Killer - Take Me to the River - Wild Wild Life - Once in a Lifetime - Road to Nowhere BTW, the lyric "leave those kids alone" is from "The Wall" by Pink Floyd.
You mentioned Genius of Love by The Tom Tom Club. The song peaked at #31 on the BILLBOARD Hot 100. However, Fantasy by Mariah Carey and Big Energy by Latto both sample Genius of Love and both hit #1 on the Airplay chart.
As others have noted, the Talking Heads made one of my favorite concert films, "Stop Making Sense," which was recently restored and re-released. I remember one of the television ads for the film in which David Byrne interviewed himself. Q: "Why is the film called "Stop Making Sense?" A: "Because it's good advice!"
They met at the Rhode Island school of Design. I’m friends with Chris (drums) and Tina (bass) who are married and live near me. They also started the band the Tom Tom Club and play in our area. In 1977 their first hit was Psycho Killer-fantastic.
Several year ago, I volunteered as medical personnel at concerts. I got to work a David Byrne (lead singer) concert, and his stage performance was outstanding!
Above a striped shirt is Diane’s talking head Her lips began moving and some words were said A wide range of expressions, is what her face made Arty and experimental, were some thoughts she conveyed
I have to say that I continue to be blown away by their live performance of "Life During Wartime". So funky and so physical... besides being a total jam.
Talking Heads - Life During Wartime (live) from Stop Making Sense is one of the best live performances you could see from ANY band. Extraordinary and worth checking out!
"Life In Wartime" is really good lyrics. Slice of life from someone trying to survive the war. Talking Heads were Rhode Island School of Design. Pioneers in new wave and on MTV a lot.
Another 80s band/song that I know nothing about because it was during the years when I was overseas serving in the Navy. So this is my 'first time' hearing it too. It's cute.
Happy Friday Diane! Cool song here. I saw Bonnie Raitt do a cover of this song live at the Ravinia Festival (near Chicago) back in 2016. Great song. And Highly Recommend Bonnie Raitt, she's brilliant. Have a great weekend!
Love me some Talking Heads. You might want to check out Tom Tom Club and their song Genius of Love. It's a band started by Tina Weymouth (bassist) and Chris Franz (drummer) of the Talking Heads.
Diane- great video reaction selection. I am a big Talking Heads fan (brings back a lot of great memories from the 80's). During the college years you could always count on hearing Burning Down the House at any house/frat party.
David Byrne is uber talented, the rest of the band did a magnificent job accompanying him, they were major talents in their own right. Stop Making Sense, is in my opinion, one of the better and most interesting of the concert films.
Talking Heads music is addictive. And so are their videos and concert film. The genre label "New Wave" was created (by their manager) to describe their music. They are to the "New Wave" genre what Pink Floyd is to "Progressive Rock". They rule. Once you start listening you just keep going through their catalog, multiple times over.
Love this song. Local band in Portland, Oregon (ORY-GUN) did a very good cover of this song. This song always brings back memories of that night the band sang this song,
While I don't celebrate the Talking Heads catalog.I do like some of their songs. If you're gonna check out more I would listen to Psycho Killer or Take Me To The River.
Randy Bachman (yes that is his real name) has released a documentary at this year's TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). In recognition of his musical talent, here are two bands he played in and a song they are known for: The Guess Who (yes that is the name of the band): American Woman (a tune that was written while tuning a guitar at a live concert). BTO (aka Bachman, Turner Overdrive): Takin' Care of Business (which is also the name of the documentary)
Talking Heads is so unique, and they have so many great songs that you might recognize it you want through their catalogue. Once In A Lifetime, Psycho Killer, And She Was, Life During Wartime, and Wild Wild Life will get you going on your Talking Heads journey, and I'd be surprised if you didn't recognize at least some of them.
The Sixsters from the Ukraine is still a band you need to listen to. First “Feel” then “I Stare at You” to see just how talented these young ladies are. Two completely different genres of music from them.
A good starter point for Talking Heads is the album 'Stop Making Sense.' Which has live versions of some of the better known and loved TH songs. (I assume from the aforementioned Stop Making Sense live tour? I'm no big TH fan so I'm not sure.) AHA! I see many commentors have beaten me to that comment. So it's obviously good advice as Dave says. lol
Talking Heads did a song called "Take Me to the River", which was actually a remake of an Al Green song. But the version you should check out is by Big Mouth Billy Bass.
If you ever feel like checking out another one of their songs, Once in a Lifetime is the perfect blend of bizarre and beautiful! Kermit the Frog even did a cover for it on the Muppets Tonight Show, equally bizarre and beautiful.
Since music reactions always get copyright claimed and make no money, support through Patreon and channel membership helps keep these videos coming. Talking Heads were one of my favorites from the late 70s through 1980s.I got to see them perform live a few times. While they came out of the same New York punk scene (centered around the club CBGB's) as The Ramones, their music was very different and helped develop what would become known as New Wave. As you can tell from the music video, they were very theatrical. I recommend watching their concert film "Stop Making Sense" (directed by Jonathan Demme) for a better idea of how they combined visual elements with their music. The iconic "Big Suit" that David Byrne wears in part of that film was inspired by Japanese Kabuki theater. You note that they are very arty, which makes sense since David Byrne (singer/main songwriter), Chris Frantz (drummer), and Tina Weymouth (bassist) all met at art school - The Rhode Island School of Design. I always thought that some of the poses/actions of the little kid portraying David Byrne's alter ego in this video were nods to 1930s/1940s singer and bandleader Cab Calloway. (not the part where he's climbing on Byrne's back though.) It is a shame the band broke up, but from all accounts David Byrne was a control freak. Frantz and Weymouth (who are married) had a side project known as Tom Tom Club. I highly suspect that somewhere along the line you have heard their song "Genius of Love." It would make a good reaction some day. (as would several Talking Heads songs - I'm partial to "Psycho Killer," "Girlfriend is Better," and "Once in a Lifetime." Their cover of Al Green's song "Take Me To the River" is great as well.) You might also check out the quirky film about small-town Texas that David Byrne directed in the mid-1980s called "True Stories."
I saw them at CBGB's in 1977. This was before Psycho Killer was a hit on the radio. I remember CBGB's was crowded, hot and stinky! And the men's bathroom was, well let's say unique. They became my favorite band of the late 70's and early 80's. Unfortunately I never got to see them live again. Stop Making Sense is still my favorite concert film and I watch it at least once a year. I was 18 when I saw them, I'm now 65 and still listen to them!
I've never forgotten the surreal music video since I first saw it, especially the house projected onto the wall. Tom Jones also has a decent cover of it with the Cardigans.
Burning Down The House was one of those songs you heard all the time on the radio. Catchy chorus, and beat. Never saw the video till today, and it was kind of disjointedly trippy. It is a new wave song, and I never really got what new wave was. A song I'd heard, but never paid much attention to. I didn't know what the song was by the intro until the first drum flourish, and then I immediately knew it. Diane answered all the questions that I'd never even thought to ask. Your reactions were expressive, so a great reaction video.
I remember seeing the video on mtv, and people playing it at parties and graduate school in the mid-80s. But I never would have thought of them as new wave. I always thought of New Wave in association with heavy synthesizer sounds
Fun song, delightful video. I never thought this song was about arson. I like how your Irish accent was a bit stronger at end of this video. Happy Weekend
Very unique band, as you suggested, and David Byrne is a very unique dude! I feel like their most iconic video was probably "Once in a Lifetime." It's possible you've heard that one too. It may not have been as big of a hit, but I think it was a bigger music video.
Way back in the day, David Byrne produced a long video (movie actually) of the Talking Heads and his performances. I had been working long hours, but my friends convinced me on a Saturday to go see it. I was so tired, I fell asleep about half way through. My friends woke me up, but I was OUT. Good times. 😁 I enjoyed what I saw though.
Love your reaction to Talking Heads. I hope your next reaction is Atarashi Gakko, First Take. Also Band-Maid, live version of Freedom. I am obsessed with these groups, as you can see. ❤
Song was not in ghostbusters. Did You know? Talking Heads Song Burning Down the house is in the movie. Revenge of the Nerds (1984) and 13 Going on 30 (2004). Talking Heads Song And She Was in the movie Look Whos Talking (1989) and Bewitched (2005). Those are all some good movies.
