I saw them in the mid-90s (Pere Ubu opened for them-- phenomenal!!). Not only did They Might Be Giants rock their quirky awesomeness, they did a fierce cover of Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein." It was incredible to see them flex their "rock hard" muscles. It was an absolutely amazing show all-around!
Yep. They were my first concert, and I've seen them several times since. Evey single time, they bring their A game. And TMBG fans are always so thrilled to meet other TMBG fans (nice to meet you!! Put away your big blue cigars!). Reddit's r/tmbg sub is filled with friendly people, I've never seen a rude comment. Not one. I don't expect Brad & Lex to dive super deep into their catalog because it would take quite awhile and they've got lots of other stuff to check out, but I'm so happy this song got chosen. But yeah, if anyone is reading this and hasn't seen them live, do yourself a favor. Even if you don't know most of the songs they play, you will have an absolute blast. And I can guarantee you won't get beat up.
these guys are absolutely huge in alternative rock. they were just so talented and quirky and witty and I saw them three times live and I even opened for them once early on since I was in a local band on the bill with them.
These guys were a great quirky indie band in the 80s and 90s until they started focusing on songs for kids. They did the theme song for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Songs I’d love to hear you react to: Don’t Let’s Start, Ana Ng, Particle Man and Birdhouse in Your Soul.
This is actually a cover of a novelty song from the fifties. It easily out shines the original. And New York was indeed New Amsterdam, from 1625 to 1664 when the British renamed it New York after the Duke of York.
They Might Be Giants are a great band. I think their biggest album might have been their album Flood. Filled with a ton of great songs. in the early 90s they had their songs Istanbul and Particle Man in the Tiny Toon Adventures cartoon. I'd love it if you guys checked out any of these songs Letterbox, Particle Man, Birdhouse in Your Soul, or Dead
Minimum wage always makes me laugh. one of my friends at college had the album and introduced me to it. The fun thing was trying to figure out (come up) with deep meaning to their songs. Oh I see a birdhouse in your soul . . .. oh that is . .. It was fun.
@@carlpeterson8182 Yeah that's a funny one. They are kind of like a Ween that doesn't do drugs lol They have some catchy quirky songs like "Everybody wants a rock to wind a piece of string around..."
These guys are such a quirky, weird, fun indie band. They really like to experiment and try different things. They do a LOT of songs with educational themes science and history. They've contributed music to a lot of movies and tv and other projects. They're one of those scrappy cult bands that have been around forever.
I learned this song in elementary school in the 70's. it was a song from the 50's. Nobody else I've asked has ever heard it. And then this band covered it.
Yes they're all goofy but extremely creative, excellent production, wild instrumentals and great lyrics. One of my favorites is Your Racist Friend. They are worthy of multiple listens.
I saw them in Columbia, Missouri at the Blue Note in 1998 during the Severe Tire Damage tour. They are fantastic live! And yes, New York was once called New Amsterdam. It was changed after the Duke of York captured it in 1664.
Thanks for doing TMBG!! They are such a fun band and have sooooo much to explore! I would start with "Bird House in Your Soul", "Ana-Ang", "I-Palindrome-I", "The Mesopotamians", and "Purple Toupee". Brad, Lex is right again! They have a TON of goofy songs!! And yes, they do have a sh*#-Ton of educational songs, like "The Sun" and "Time is marching On". They also wrote and performed the theme song for Malcom in the Middle, "You're not the boss of Me" and they are incredible to see in concert!
They Might Be Giants is a very quirky and fun band who are definitely worth a few more listens. They also did the theme for the TV show Malcolm in the Middle.
The two man band of they might be Giants are both to be said musical geniuses. Supposedly between the two of them they know how to play over 500 instruments
Finally!! This band, especially the album Flood, shaped my high school years. Please check out Birdhouse In Your Soul, Particle Man, Dead, Your Racist Friend, Ball & Chain
TMBG is awesome, and this is a good intro to them, but they are covering an old song from the 50s. They have many others that Brad would probably enjoy analyzing the lyrics for. Try "Birdhouse in Your Soul", "They'll Need a Crane", "Ana Ng", "Replicant", "The Lady and the Tiger", "Sensurround", "They Want a Rock", "Spiraling Shape", "Metal Detector", "Thermostat", "Distant Antenna", "South Carolina", "Night Security". For educational songs, try "James K. Polk".
@@HeavyTopspin That is also a cover from a 1959 album called Space Songs that (if memory serves) both Johns had as children. They also cover "What is a Shooting Star?" from the same album.
Omg this is great. And Lex I have said it so many times but I think you would make a great musician just based on the way you identify with stuff and physically acted out and then your observations about it, you catch so much stuff but when you started doing your parody of Middle Eastern dancing or something which was kind of mixed with some Latin moves as well, it just put a huge smile on my face. And you better believe that people danced to this. people just went freaking nuts.
Alright... this got a subscribe instantly. Ol' girl must be a musician, she picks up on so many nuances and also appreciates something about just about everything
Great and super fun song. TMBG have such interesting, intelligent, and quirky musicianship. Caught their show last night in St. Louis with a 3 piece horn section. Sooooo good.
These dudes are incredible! For a truly educational They Might Be Giants song, check out You’re Older Than You’ve Ever Been. And Brad, get ready to be surprised. They’re pretty goofy.
It was fun song during tiny tunes growing up in the 90s. They also did particle man from TMBG. New York was once call New Amsterdam when the Dutch settled there
More More More! To date they have released 23 albums and still tour to sold out venues! Check out: "Birdhouse in Your Soul", "Your Head's on Fire", "Ana Ng", "The Guitar"
I had an old History Professor in Germany (he was an Irishman) who would occasionally sing a bit of this in class (If Constantinople came up during discussion).
This song goes way back, to the 1950's, or something. They Might Be Giants did a great version. Their whole album "Flood" is incredible. They have an educational album, for kids, "Here Come The ABC's", try "The Alphabet Of Nations".
I've enjoyed the versatility and diverse range of musical styles from They Might Be Giants (TMBG), ever since they started out as just 2 guys (John Flansburgh & John Linnell) with a guitar, an accordion and a drum machine! I also love how their sound evolved after they added members to become a 5-piece band! More to check out from TMBG: "Hypnotist of Ladies", "Twisting", "Birdhouse In Your Soul", "Particle Man", "Hotel Detective", "See The Constellation", "Boat of Car", "Your Racist Friend", "Don't Let's Start", "I Palindrome I", and "Dig My Grave"
Can confirm New York formerly being New Amsterdam. Everything around here has a Dutch name. "Van-" prefixes (lots of family names) and "-kill" (indicating a river) suffixes.
Yes, here on Staten Island, we still have a Dutch name, and lots of waterways called Kills. Kill Van Kull, Arthur Kill, Fresh Kills, Great Kills... And a lot of Vans buried in Moravian Cemetery, including the "Van" -derbilts.
This cd got us through several difficult car pool days back in the 1980’s! All the kids liked this one. I love Birdhouse in Your Soul. TMBG is a fun, and smart, band.
Lol i love Brad questioning the validity of the song. Yes, the song is accurate and New York was once called New Amsterdam because it was originally founded by the Dutch.
I was half-expecting to see the Tiny Toon Adventures version of this video, lol. There is also a Tiny Toons video for the song "Triangle Man" by They Might Be Giants. And yes, the facts presented in this song are true. Although this is actually a cover of a song from the 1950s.
Hek yea one of the best bands ever. If you know the movie Coraline they played the song sung by the dad. They've been in a lot of soundtracks for animation.
Between 1626 and 1664, the main town of the Dutch colony of New Netherland was New Amsterdam, now called Manhattan. The Dutch established colonies and trading outposts around the world in the early 17th century. In 1609, Henry Hudson was hired by the Dutch for a voyage of exploration. He came to North America and sailed up the soon-to-be-named Hudson River. Within a year, they had begun trading for furs with the Indigenous peoples along this and the Connecticut and Delaware River Valleys. They established Fort Orange at present-day Albany to take advantage of the lucrative fur trade with the Iroquois tribe. Beginning with the "purchase" of Manhattan, the town of New Amsterdam was founded as a way to help protect trading areas further upriver while providing a great port of entry. Peace out.
They also did a lot of kids' songs for Disney. They are also really catchy and quirky. I got to know the band with their album Flood but found them again when my kids were watching TV. I was like . . . that sounds like They might be Giants. Ha!
I LOVE TMBG! They are accurate, though this is a cover. With a baby on the way definitely check out their Kids albums. Catchy and educational! My favorite song and their biggest hit is "Don't Let's Start." I also love their stranger stuff. Particle Man forever. When they first started in Brooklyn, they're from MA, you could "Dial A Song" daily for a different song or snippet on their answering machine. The number was in the Ad's in The Village Voice.
It's been sooo long since I've heard that song! I never knew the song title or artist because I've only been shazaming songs that I liked for about 10 years now and I'm trying to find all these random songs that I've heard as a kid, but I never remembered anything about except the chorus or guitar riff. Thank you so much for choosing that song. It really took me back.
Yes New York was New Amsterdam. It was a Dutch settlement then sold to the British, who then named it After York in England thus New York. The Country New Zealand was also settled by the Dutch, and named after Zeeland.
Wonderful Band. Saw them in the early 80’s, early in their career when it was just John & John & TMBG participated in a KROQ AIDS Benefit concert at The Forum along with Tone Loc, Paula Abdul, & Dinosaur Jr.
They also did a song about James K. Polk (and other bigger hits). This song was originally done by The Four Lads in 1953. A history professor always started class with a song--on cassette! Anyway, yes, Istanbul had been Constantinople, which had been Byzantium before that. New York was settled by the Dutch, so it was New Amsterdam at the time.
I’m so happy you chose to listen to these guys You should check out a Group Called The Residents One of my favorite alternative bands that began in approximately 1972… Check out their “commercial album “ which is only short pieces about one minute long
Why nobody recommend "The Statue got me High"???? That's definitely one of their best songs. All the quirky musicality, odd ostensibly funny lyrics, which then get a very disturbing layer when you listen more closely ... pure genius.
FYI, they have a whole bunch of educational albums for kids. Here Comes Science, Here Comes the ABCs, etc. And so many other songs are based on facts (Mammal etc.)
I love tmbg, discovered them in high school ,have seen them live a few times,when they make it to Australia. they also did the theme song for the tv show Malcolm in the middle. Some other songs you might enjoy by them are ana/Ng, rhythm section want ad,number 3, they'll need a crane,I palindrome I,lie still little bottle
I remember hearing this version when I was a young kid. It was instantly stuck in my head and when I went middle school geography class thought I was so smart because I knew where Istanbul was. When I tried to sing the song everyone had no idea what I was talking about and thought I made the song up.
Oh yes... the endless rabbit hole that is TMBG. Kudos for reacting to this, please do more. Love your reactions. Did that sound like shameless begging? Because I guess it was.
Not quite the 20's flappers area but the original is much closer to the 1920's. This is a cover of The Four Lads recording from 1953, which is a bit slower.
I'd never heard of them until my high school US history teacher played us "James K Polk" by them and I became obsessed (yes it was a song about a US president and yes I was a nerd lol)
Compare the official video to the one made for Tiny Toons Adventures and the dance sequence in Bunheads and then Umbrella Academy (although that uses a new version of the song)
The song was written in 1953, as noted below. That was the 500th anniversary of when the Ottoman Empire took Constantinople from the Byzantine Empire in 1453. That's a major plot element in Cloud Cuckoo Land, and 2021 novel by Anthony Doerr. I recommend it. As for New Amsterdam, it was a Dutch settlement and fort in Lower Manhattan. The city wall was where Wall Street is now (thus the name). The English took it away from them in a war in the 1660s and then renamed it.
Lol you definitely need to hear more. They Might Be Giants are irreverent and funny and topical, they explore a lot in their music. Please listen too "They'll need a crane", or "purple toupee"...
New York indeed used to be called New Amsterdam
Why did they change it?
@@tommycochran1019because it was a dutch colony, hence why they named it after Amsterdam. when the english took it they renamed it after York.
Because people liked it better that way~@@wellplayod1957
@@Arkhalis404 sadly we can’t go back to constantinople. it’s a long time gone 😞
@@wellplayod1957 Actually it was named for the Duke of York which is weird lol
Saw them live once. They rocked surprisingly hard. One of my favorite live shows ever.
Agree wholeheartedly, a great live show!
Fantastic live, especially with the horn section!
I saw them in the mid-90s (Pere Ubu opened for them-- phenomenal!!). Not only did They Might Be Giants rock their quirky awesomeness, they did a fierce cover of Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein." It was incredible to see them flex their "rock hard" muscles. It was an absolutely amazing show all-around!
Yep. They were my first concert, and I've seen them several times since. Evey single time, they bring their A game. And TMBG fans are always so thrilled to meet other TMBG fans (nice to meet you!! Put away your big blue cigars!). Reddit's r/tmbg sub is filled with friendly people, I've never seen a rude comment. Not one.
I don't expect Brad & Lex to dive super deep into their catalog because it would take quite awhile and they've got lots of other stuff to check out, but I'm so happy this song got chosen.
But yeah, if anyone is reading this and hasn't seen them live, do yourself a favor. Even if you don't know most of the songs they play, you will have an absolute blast. And I can guarantee you won't get beat up.
I've seen the, 13 times! They often will pull out a radio and then play the first song they find. Its whack.
these guys are absolutely huge in alternative rock. they were just so talented and quirky and witty and I saw them three times live and I even opened for them once early on since I was in a local band on the bill with them.
These guys were a great quirky indie band in the 80s and 90s until they started focusing on songs for kids. They did the theme song for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Songs I’d love to hear you react to: Don’t Let’s Start, Ana Ng, Particle Man and Birdhouse in Your Soul.
Also theme song from Malcom in the middle. Good song suggestions, I was hoping to see them react to my personal favorite, Dr. Worm
They did some kid's albums, but they hardly focused on song's for kids. Check out "I'm Impressed" and tell me that's for kids.
@@submandave1125 - Exactly. ‘When the Light Comes On’ and ‘Last Wave’. Sing along kids!
They got awesome new stuff dont count them out or as a kids band
That's how I found about them! Particle Man & this song CAUGHT ME. I went out & bought Flood immediamenté! I've bought all their stuff since!
Birdhouse in your Soul is another great song from this group
I listened to that song too many times before I realized it's about a nightlight
This is actually a cover of a novelty song from the fifties. It easily out shines the original. And New York was indeed New Amsterdam, from 1625 to 1664 when the British renamed it New York after the Duke of York.
Interesting! I always thought it must be a 20s or 30s song.
No it doesn't. Not even not close.
@@steveellis7174 Pfft, yes it does. Who are you even trying to fool? Nobody's gonna be willing to die on that hill with you, yo xD
@@josephschultz3301 have a good day!
They Might Be Giants are a great band. I think their biggest album might have been their album Flood. Filled with a ton of great songs. in the early 90s they had their songs Istanbul and Particle Man in the Tiny Toon Adventures cartoon.
I'd love it if you guys checked out any of these songs Letterbox, Particle Man, Birdhouse in Your Soul, or Dead
Minimum wage always makes me laugh. one of my friends at college had the album and introduced me to it. The fun thing was trying to figure out (come up) with deep meaning to their songs. Oh I see a birdhouse in your soul . . .. oh that is . .. It was fun.
@@carlpeterson8182 Yeah that's a funny one. They are kind of like a Ween that doesn't do drugs lol
They have some catchy quirky songs like "Everybody wants a rock to wind a piece of string around..."
These guys are such a quirky, weird, fun indie band. They really like to experiment and try different things. They do a LOT of songs with educational themes science and history. They've contributed music to a lot of movies and tv and other projects. They're one of those scrappy cult bands that have been around forever.
I just saw them in Minneapolis. Yes, all their songs are fun like this. Birdhouse in your soul is another good one.
This is not their song, it's from the 50s.
@@DerEchteBold I know
@@DerEchteBold we all know. been listening to them for 30 years
I learned this song in elementary school in the 70's. it was a song from the 50's. Nobody else I've asked has ever heard it. And then this band covered it.
this is actually an old song from the jazz era. i love it!
This was also covered by by cast during an episode of Tiny Toon Adventures!
That episode was how I "discovered' TMBG for myself. I went to Waxxy Maxxie's & got a tape copy of "Flood" ♥️.
Yes they're all goofy but extremely creative, excellent production, wild instrumentals and great lyrics. One of my favorites is Your Racist Friend. They are worthy of multiple listens.
Goofy as they are they fit very well in my pantheon of great postpunk bands.
Yes, that's a favorite of mine as well.
Maybe they'll reveiw that next.
I couldn't get Don't Let Start out of my head for 2 weeks.
this is wheeeere the party ends
i can't stand here listening to you and your racist frieeeeend
I saw them in Columbia, Missouri at the Blue Note in 1998 during the Severe Tire Damage tour. They are fantastic live! And yes, New York was once called New Amsterdam. It was changed after the Duke of York captured it in 1664.
Austin TX was once called Waterloo...same vein
Absolutely a blast live. Saw them in Philly with Violent Femmes back in '96. Wish I could go back and experience it again.
Saw them like once. Don’t remember exactly when but so much fun
I loved this band for many years. I had their "Flood" album on repeat for a good year. My favorite song of theirs is Birdhouse in Your Soul.
Why is the world in love again? Was in high school at the time, saw that gig in Phoenix, was awesome.
A history lesson in the form of a song.
Like Oliver Cromwell...
Thanks for doing TMBG!! They are such a fun band and have sooooo much to explore! I would start with "Bird House in Your Soul", "Ana-Ang", "I-Palindrome-I", "The Mesopotamians", and "Purple Toupee". Brad, Lex is right again! They have a TON of goofy songs!! And yes, they do have a sh*#-Ton of educational songs, like "The Sun" and "Time is marching On". They also wrote and performed the theme song for Malcom in the Middle, "You're not the boss of Me" and they are incredible to see in concert!
They Might Be Giants is a very quirky and fun band who are definitely worth a few more listens. They also did the theme for the TV show Malcolm in the Middle.
Didn’t they also do a song for the Wild Thornberrys movie? I may be wrong.
Your not the Boss of Me!!!
The two man band of they might be Giants are both to be said musical geniuses. Supposedly between the two of them they know how to play over 500 instruments
Finally!! This band, especially the album Flood, shaped my high school years. Please check out Birdhouse In Your Soul, Particle Man, Dead, Your Racist Friend, Ball & Chain
just went to the 30th anniversary of flood concert. a couple years delayed due to the wuhan
They were so refreshing in the 90s. Quirky, not guitar heavy like grunge, smart lyrics. Just fun!
TMBG is awesome, and this is a good intro to them, but they are covering an old song from the 50s. They have many others that Brad would probably enjoy analyzing the lyrics for. Try "Birdhouse in Your Soul", "They'll Need a Crane", "Ana Ng", "Replicant", "The Lady and the Tiger", "Sensurround", "They Want a Rock", "Spiraling Shape", "Metal Detector", "Thermostat", "Distant Antenna", "South Carolina", "Night Security". For educational songs, try "James K. Polk".
"Why Does the Sun Shine?"!!!
@@HeavyTopspin That is also a cover from a 1959 album called Space Songs that (if memory serves) both Johns had as children. They also cover "What is a Shooting Star?" from the same album.
This is actually a cover of The Four Lads version from 1953.
The last time I saw TMBG in concert I was pregnant with my first daughter. She’ll be 21 soon and TMBG is her favorite band. 😁
This video was posted 8 minutes ago and I may or may not be the first commenter to say that this song was originally done by The 4 Lads in the1950s.
I have the four lads version of this song. It's one of my favs from that Era...
Omg this is great. And Lex I have said it so many times but I think you would make a great musician just based on the way you identify with stuff and physically acted out and then your observations about it, you catch so much stuff but when you started doing your parody of Middle Eastern dancing or something which was kind of mixed with some Latin moves as well, it just put a huge smile on my face. And you better believe that people danced to this. people just went freaking nuts.
Alright... this got a subscribe instantly. Ol' girl must be a musician, she picks up on so many nuances and also appreciates something about just about everything
Little Birdhouse in Your Soul is an absolute delight from them 🙂
Great and super fun song. TMBG have such interesting, intelligent, and quirky musicianship. Caught their show last night in St. Louis with a 3 piece horn section. Sooooo good.
Yes! The entire album is PERFECT!
These dudes are incredible! For a truly educational They Might Be Giants song, check out You’re Older Than You’ve Ever Been. And Brad, get ready to be surprised. They’re pretty goofy.
You do realize this was a cover of a song from 70-ish years ago right? Not that I want to downplay these guys, like a bunch of their stuff.
@@BlackSmokeDMax oh I know, but it’s amazing and they’re goofy and wonderful. Flood is such a fantastic album.
I always play Older for people on their birthdays.
@@BlackSmokeDMax their original songs are 100 times goofier than this cover. This was just old timey swing music with eucational lyrics.
TMBG are a load of fun live - I've seen them a few times. This song is completely insane and it's impossible to not love it as such.
By the way, this was a cover of a song from the 50s.
It was fun song during tiny tunes growing up in the 90s. They also did particle man from TMBG. New York was once call New Amsterdam when the Dutch settled there
I love their cover.❤ Also their song, 'Ana Ng'
so many great songs, did the theme for Malcolm In The Middle too
As well as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
@@knightni73 cant get more Goofy than that
More More More! To date they have released 23 albums and still tour to sold out venues! Check out: "Birdhouse in Your Soul", "Your Head's on Fire", "Ana Ng", "The Guitar"
I had an old History Professor in Germany (he was an Irishman) who would occasionally sing a bit of this in class (If Constantinople came up during discussion).
I saw them with my son a few years ago, it was a really fun show.
I am blessed that I got to see them do Istanbul (not Constantinople) live. Top 3 favorite songs by them.
I can actually picture Lex with finger symbols on both hands, working them lol. Such a good reaction from you
This song goes way back, to the 1950's, or something.
They Might Be Giants did a great version. Their whole album "Flood" is incredible.
They have an educational album, for kids, "Here Come The ABC's", try "The Alphabet Of Nations".
I've enjoyed the versatility and diverse range of musical styles from They Might Be Giants (TMBG), ever since they started out as just 2 guys (John Flansburgh & John Linnell) with a guitar, an accordion and a drum machine! I also love how their sound evolved after they added members to become a 5-piece band! More to check out from TMBG: "Hypnotist of Ladies", "Twisting", "Birdhouse In Your Soul", "Particle Man", "Hotel Detective", "See The Constellation", "Boat of Car", "Your Racist Friend", "Don't Let's Start", "I Palindrome I", and "Dig My Grave"
Can confirm New York formerly being New Amsterdam. Everything around here has a Dutch name. "Van-" prefixes (lots of family names) and "-kill" (indicating a river) suffixes.
Yes, here on Staten Island, we still have a Dutch name, and lots of waterways called Kills. Kill Van Kull, Arthur Kill, Fresh Kills, Great Kills... And a lot of Vans buried in Moravian Cemetery, including the "Van" -derbilts.
This cd got us through several difficult car pool days back in the 1980’s! All the kids liked this one. I love Birdhouse in Your Soul. TMBG is a fun, and smart, band.
Ana Ng was another popular one by them that is really fun.
Lol i love Brad questioning the validity of the song. Yes, the song is accurate and New York was once called New Amsterdam because it was originally founded by the Dutch.
I love that you even took the time to sample TMBG! Great band!
I was half-expecting to see the Tiny Toon Adventures version of this video, lol. There is also a Tiny Toons video for the song "Triangle Man" by They Might Be Giants. And yes, the facts presented in this song are true. Although this is actually a cover of a song from the 1950s.
Hek yea one of the best bands ever. If you know the movie Coraline they played the song sung by the dad. They've been in a lot of soundtracks for animation.
Also from them: Why Does The Sun Shine, Dirt Bike, Dr. Worm, Whistling In The Dark, She's An Angel,The Statue Got Me High,
Between 1626 and 1664, the main town of the Dutch colony of New Netherland was New Amsterdam, now called Manhattan. The Dutch established colonies and trading outposts around the world in the early 17th century. In 1609, Henry Hudson was hired by the Dutch for a voyage of exploration. He came to North America and sailed up the soon-to-be-named Hudson River. Within a year, they had begun trading for furs with the Indigenous peoples along this and the Connecticut and Delaware River Valleys. They established Fort Orange at present-day Albany to take advantage of the lucrative fur trade with the Iroquois tribe. Beginning with the "purchase" of Manhattan, the town of New Amsterdam was founded as a way to help protect trading areas further upriver while providing a great port of entry. Peace out.
I just went to see them at first ave in Minneapolis on friday. Iv'e seen em many times in the last 25 years and they did not disappoint!
They also did a lot of kids' songs for Disney. They are also really catchy and quirky. I got to know the band with their album Flood but found them again when my kids were watching TV. I was like . . . that sounds like They might be Giants. Ha!
I love thier song Particle Man.. twisting in the wind the Flood album is good🥰
Birdhouse in Your Soul...a cool one my 3 yr old Daughter LOVED...we would sing together.
Bought the cassette tape on the strength of this song and was not disappointed.
Birdhouse In Your Soul & Particle Man are also quite excellent. 👍
Gotta love a quirky song that teaches history and geography.
Yes. New York was once New Amsterdam. Was even once New Orange.
I LOVE TMBG! They are accurate, though this is a cover. With a baby on the way definitely check out their Kids albums. Catchy and educational! My favorite song and their biggest hit is "Don't Let's Start." I also love their stranger stuff. Particle Man forever. When they first started in Brooklyn, they're from MA, you could "Dial A Song" daily for a different song or snippet on their answering machine. The number was in the Ad's in The Village Voice.
It's been sooo long since I've heard that song! I never knew the song title or artist because I've only been shazaming songs that I liked for about 10 years now and I'm trying to find all these random songs that I've heard as a kid, but I never remembered anything about except the chorus or guitar riff. Thank you so much for choosing that song. It really took me back.
Yes New York was New Amsterdam.
It was a Dutch settlement then sold to the British, who then named it After York in England thus New York.
The Country New Zealand was also settled by the Dutch, and named after Zeeland.
I love this band! Thanks.
Wonderful Band. Saw them in the early 80’s, early in their career when it was just John & John & TMBG participated in a KROQ AIDS Benefit concert at The Forum along with Tone Loc, Paula Abdul, & Dinosaur Jr.
They also did a song about James K. Polk (and other bigger hits).
This song was originally done by The Four Lads in 1953. A history professor always started class with a song--on cassette! Anyway, yes, Istanbul had been Constantinople, which had been Byzantium before that. New York was settled by the Dutch, so it was New Amsterdam at the time.
And Harlem (Haarlem) and Brooklyn (Breukelen) are Dutch towns too.
I’m so happy you chose to listen to these guys
You should check out a Group Called
The Residents
One of my favorite alternative bands that began in approximately 1972…
Check out their “commercial album “
which is only short pieces about one minute long
I remember that song from when I was a kid and I also learned something .
I also heard it as a kid ...in the 70s, the song was already twenty years old then.
Why nobody recommend "The Statue got me High"???? That's definitely one of their best songs. All the quirky musicality, odd ostensibly funny lyrics, which then get a very disturbing layer when you listen more closely ... pure genius.
FYI, they have a whole bunch of educational albums for kids. Here Comes Science, Here Comes the ABCs, etc. And so many other songs are based on facts (Mammal etc.)
their other big hit was "Birdhouse In Your Soul"
I remember baking cookies to this song in the early 90s. The cookies were so bad the birds wouldn't even eat them during our harshest winter in years.
I love tmbg, discovered them in high school ,have seen them live a few times,when they make it to Australia. they also did the theme song for the tv show Malcolm in the middle. Some other songs you might enjoy by them are ana/Ng, rhythm section want ad,number 3, they'll need a crane,I palindrome I,lie still little bottle
Great group nice music this kid to learn about the past
If you are interested, here is a link to the recording by the original artists (The Four Lads) back in 1953:
ruclips.net/video/Uqnb_nU7RBE/видео.html
I remember hearing this version when I was a young kid. It was instantly stuck in my head and when I went middle school geography class thought I was so smart because I knew where Istanbul was. When I tried to sing the song everyone had no idea what I was talking about and thought I made the song up.
Proof my childhood was great
Dr. Worm is another awesome one. Cartoon Network even used to air the music video during some commercial breaks :D
Birdhouse in your soul is another great TMBG song; particle man is another one that is quirky and oddly educational.
My best friend played this every Friday night when we were trying to find something to do to drive us crazy.
Oh yes... the endless rabbit hole that is TMBG. Kudos for reacting to this, please do more. Love your reactions.
Did that sound like shameless begging? Because I guess it was.
Even during my metal years i loved they might be giants.
The Sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace. Where hydrogen is turned into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees.😁
Lex needs to hear "hell" by squirrel nut zippers
Not quite the 20's flappers area but the original is much closer to the 1920's. This is a cover of The Four Lads recording from 1953, which is a bit slower.
You mentioned "flapper dancing" - quite correct - this is an excellent song for dancing an energetic version of the Charleston!
That makes sense, I think the original from the 50s was meant to have some sort of a retro-vibe.
I'd never heard of them until my high school US history teacher played us "James K Polk" by them and I became obsessed (yes it was a song about a US president and yes I was a nerd lol)
I’m Turkish.. this song makes me feel so much pride! ❤
The Dutch settled it as New Amsterdam.. when the British took it over they renamed it after the Duke Of York and it became New York…. Look it up…
Specifically for the Duke? Not just for the city of York? I know you finished with "Look it up" but I trust you more than google
@@bluebird3281 I didn’t look it up.. I was just spitballing
Yeah, their songs are unique. Others: Metal Detector, Particle Man, Birdhouse in Your Soul, James K. Polk...
What a great fun song... "goofy just like you"!
There’s version of this song from the 1950s by “The Four Lads”
It’s a bit slower than this one, but it’s it’s a good one!!
Great reaction. Maybe try their song “Build a little birdhouse” thanks
What can I say. Great song 👍😁🤪
Many of my generation first heard this song on Tiny Toon Adventures.
Yes, this is awesome! Please check out some of their other songs, like Birdhouse in Your Soul, Particle Man, Minimum Wage
Compare the official video to the one made for Tiny Toons Adventures and the dance sequence in Bunheads and then Umbrella Academy (although that uses a new version of the song)
The song was written in 1953, as noted below. That was the 500th anniversary of when the Ottoman Empire took Constantinople from the Byzantine Empire in 1453. That's a major plot element in Cloud Cuckoo Land, and 2021 novel by Anthony Doerr. I recommend it.
As for New Amsterdam, it was a Dutch settlement and fort in Lower Manhattan. The city wall was where Wall Street is now (thus the name). The English took it away from them in a war in the 1660s and then renamed it.
Lol you definitely need to hear more. They Might Be Giants are irreverent and funny and topical, they explore a lot in their music. Please listen too "They'll need a crane", or "purple toupee"...
Absolutely love them. Another quirky band you may like is Aquabats.