Talking Heads were hot during the MTV video era. I strongly suggest any song from the concert movie called, Stop Making Sense. Seeing them live with a full band and background singers is a thing to behold.
Talking Heads have been a favorite band of mine since my early teens. Something about the interesting melding of different musical styles, polyrhythms, funky basslines with quirky art pop sensibilities. The song title is an homage to George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic.
"Burning Down the House" was the lead single from their fifth album, Speaking in Tongues, released in 1983. I was a sophomore in high school and the song was popular with the kids. 🤪Jonathan Demme filmed the shows in Los Angeles during their tour promoting this album and released it in 1984 as the concert film Stop Making Sense. It ranks high among the best concert films ever made. When you're ready for more from Talking Heads check out a couple of the other choice tracks from that record, "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" and "Girlfriend Is Better", or sample a few treats from their earlier records, "Pulled Up", "Heaven", and "Crosseyed and Painless". Heh. 😃 PS "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town" -- Television meets Motown.
The video for 'Wild Wild Life," is taken right from the movie"True Stories." If I'm not mistaken it was written, produced, & directed by David Byrne, who also stars in the film along with John Goodman.
Played Talking Heads a lot in the car; remember my son who was 4 at the time thinking this song was so funny, he’d say play it again, Mom! I’d think is he going to burn down the house? 😂😂😂
I like this song very much, and they have more fine ones. I would go with the live video of "Life During Wartime" from the Stop Making Sense movie for your next Talking Heads reaction.
Listen to Fela Kuti and you will hear their influence. David Byrne actually ended up helping to get Fela out of prison. Long story, but the main influence for this period of the talking Heads is 1970s west African music.
My unpopular opinion is that the Talking Heads were better in the 80’s than the 70’s, with the exception of “Life During Wartime”. Try “And She Was” or “Stay Up Late”.
Hard Rock fan here, 1st time I heard this band was at a cottage I went to for the weekend. As we pulled up this was blasting on their pa system and I sat in the car wondering what to F--k I had got myself into.... for the whole weekend! After a night of Duran Duran, Culture Club etc. I left in the morning🎼🎸 slapped Kill 'em all into my player and cranked🎸 "Whiplash" 🎸🎶on. Still not my cuppa tea, but to each their own my mamma says.
You do realize that the younger RU-vidrs consider you a shark now take it as a compliment in other words they all want to reach your level of success love the music you bring to the table and your reactions 👍
Oh I hope you see this comment. You MUST review this so I can see you see it. Talking Heads - Wild Wild Life (True Stories, 1986). And if you get a chance to see the whole movie, I think you'll like it a lot. Thanks for considering it. 💋💖
The drum rhythm in this song is FIRE even though it sounds repetitive on the surface, it sells great because if you listen close it actually has constant subtle changes that keep you hooked, line and sinker.
My sister and I call him Ricky Riccardo on LSD. Saw them in ATL at two outdoor concerts, but later saw him in Denver two times at really small venues. Small like maybe 200 people or so. Amazing one of a kind genius that is David Byrne.
