This song is a beautiful expression of heartbreak and disappointment, masked by that cynical sense of humor present throughout all of The Roches' catalogue. Though most of us haven't had the opportunity to be on TV and potentially become huge stars, I'm sure we can all think of a time where we were very excited about something that ended up being a tremendous letdown. The type of disappointment that is almost extravagant; a "big" nothing. While a lot of people find this song funny and a bit cheesy (very 80's), I think at its core this song is very tragic and sad. It can come across as a knee-slapper, didn't-win-the-lottery, back-to-reality song, but I think if you really listen to the harmonies and the chords, it's deeper than that. It's an expression of feeling crushed, heart broken, and devestated. We all want to believe our dreams can come true. And when we get as close as we can to those dreams coming true, only to realize that we'll never be closer and yet so far away, I feel there is nothing more tragic. This is one of my favorite songs.
I just discovered this song less than a week ago, and you expressed so well everything I hear in it. And the sadness is most evident in the harmonies and chords, which you mentioned. I can hardly listen to it without wanting to bawl, particularly watching the video and knowing that the beautiful and exceptionally talented Maggie Roche is no longer with us. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who hears this. Thank you.
There's something about this song... I have listened to it 100 times at least, I can listen to it 10+ times in a row and I never get tired of it. It's like it's been infused with this essence, outside of this world , that makes it a perfect amount of listenable , but still bringing this joy and something to every listen. I can't explain it. Like entities from another universe with intelligence lightyears beyond current human understanding chose this song to put their something into and makes it so magical. Does anyone else feel this way about this song?
There’s nobody else like The Roches...true originals. I think they were always too left-of-center to become household names, but at least they’ve always had a small but devoted fan base. I love their early work but I also love their later stuff like this when they went in a poppier, more produced direction. It’s all fantastic.
I hung out with their touring sound man in SF many years ago. I said, you have the greatest job in the world. He said they fight like a bag of cats. :)
Maggie, Terre and Suzzy performed at various clubs in Greenwich Village in NYC, as well as on many TV shows, like Saturday Night Live and , I take it, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Soundstage, Austin City Limits and Evening at Pops!
Inspired by this wonderful song, my husband and I have a catch phrase around the house when we meet with disappointment. "Well, that was a Big Nuthin'."
The Roches - artists first. Happy to see them on RUclips because they were unique and had a real vision. Sort of sad though because their work and vision wasn't fully appreciated. Blessings.
This is video's a work of art, hands down. It's different, that's what makes it stand on its own, plus those perfect harmonies by The Roches...can't get no better, nah.
I remember the Roches performing this song on the US cable network VH-1 during the late fall of 1989 and the early winter of 1990. I loved watching their video.
yes, but how sad I was they chose to sing this song: they could have sung anything else from the album (e.g. the a capella songs), and it would have been magical. instead maybe they were going for self-deprecating/anti-climactic irony? A shame...
❤❤as long as you can eat and work and have fun and work make friends enjoy your life as an artist ..enjoy ...😅 This is funny Roches are hilarious 🎉love them
They were undeservedly virtually unknown in Britain and I'd only heard of them because of a radio interview with Johnny Walker when they played this song, the only media appearance I ever heard with them. I didn't know she'd died till today, RIP.
@brontotherium1 In 1979, this group (the Roches) appeared on "Saturday Night Live" and expected big things to result from their appearance. After all, they had already captured the attention of both Linda Ronstadt AND Phoebe Snow (which is how they got on "Saturday Night Live" in the first place). They spent virtually ALL of the '80s in obscurity, only their friends and family knowing who they were. They debuted this song on "The Tonight Show" in 1989.
Saw this video once when I was about 11.. trying my hardest to find Indie/Folk bands on early morning MTV (they just didn't play that stuff in Industrial-town Ohio). I hated the video lol but the tune always stayed with me. Popped in my head 5 mins ago. Can't believe I just found this.
I recall enjoying this quirky video when it first came out. Years (OK, decades) later, I tried to recall who did it and went searching for it without any luck. Now I stumbled upon it quite by accident.
@@Wizardofgosz I did not know that, but it makes sense. I thought it might have been Letterman. And they were truly amazing in person. Saw them once in a bar/concert site setting and once in a formal theatre. RIP Maggie.
This is the second time I've seen that music video. The first time was way back in 1990 when I was at a video tape rental store and this video was playing, along with other music videos. While I cannot remember the others, it was hard not to forget this one. How can one forget three woman on wires and the title "Big Nuthin'?
Wore a big smile on my face for 4:24. Had the pleasure of seeing Maggie and Suzzy perform live in 2004 for Why The Long Face. They were fantastic. R.I.P. Maggie Roche. The Roches and Kid Creole and The Coconuts, similar but different. Sisters.
I think this is the first Roches song I ever heard, over 35 years ago, but I'd never seen this video clip. As expected, it's funny/whimsical/harmonious.
sqaat asked what Maggie sings at the end (starting at 3:46). It was years before I caught it, but she is spelling out Big Nuthin' with an "ah" at the end: "B-I-G-N-U-T-H-I-N-Ah!"
@@yeticoreone I don't know about mclarke, but me, yes! Someone else had answered that right after I commented nine years ago, though until then I couldn't make it out. I thought she was saying something about Brioshi, the antacid. Yes, have a laugh at my expense on that one, I certainly do. I love the misheard lyrics website, I've made quite a few entries myself.
@@sqaat You know it's got to be a giant... Ah! There's a bathroom on the right. 'Scuse me while I kiss this guy. Ah, mondegreens, a whole other dimension of the joy of song!
@@sqaatme too, damn! I just figured it out myself after listening to it for days,having scoured the web for an answer and only seen the question above. I was so excited to post the answer and it was there all along. Oh, well. What a big ---
I love this video! It's such a brilliant parody of the craptastic vids of the early-mid 80s. (Love Terre in the Debbie Gibson hat!) Great song, hilarious video. (Don't tell me if they weren't being funny on purpose. I don't want to know.)
@A1l2l2e2n4 I dunno about 'obscurity'. Those of us who knew searched them out, bought their records, and followed their careers and personal lives with avid interest. Honestly cannot speak for the taste of others, but the Roches were so far above all of the crap of the eighties that most folk probably couldn't care to pull their noses out of the stink long enough to find out who they were.
The video is supp. to look "fake", folks. Goes with the theme of what the song is about. Pop art. Also, Roches have always been a little silly and campy. Lighten up, and enjoy or don't enjoy the song. For the video is a big nuthin' really. :)
@laurenschmelkin Oh, DUH-UH!!!! All these years I've thought she was speaking some dead language or something. Thank you Lauren, you saved me several house of sleep!
@paulpaxman Perhaps I shouldn't have used the word "obscurity". But I saw their performance on "Saturday Night Live" as well as their performance on "The Tonight Show" ten years later. (Why Johnny Carson waited that long to have them on his show, I don't know. Did either Linda or Phoebe hire them as an opening act? Did they do anything besides perform in a nightclub in NYC?)
The whole album wrestled with the problem of how to give their label the signals that said they were not being uncooperative or purposely trying to make an uncommercial album. 1989 was not a great time for sibling harmony with acoustic guitars.
Yes, the choreography was horrible, and I think that is part of the point. The Roches were known for being a bit quirky ("The Death of Suzzy Roche", anyone? Plus, they didn't expect this to be the big breakthrough anymore than SNL was (strangely, it was their biggest hit, if you could call it that). I think they figured that nobody would take them seriously, so why do a serious video?
@UncleCharlieOakley And you butt into my comment, when it's none of your business. You're starting trouble. Go find something to do and leave me alone.
Oh noooooooooo that commercial at the beginning just is horrible. Ruins the Roches intro with its loud and annoying blather. Why is that necessary????????
Видеоклипы
![XO (Only If You Say Yes) - ENHYPEN エンハイプン 엔하이픈 [Music Bank] | KBS WORLD TV 240712](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wBT1bKKwPTo/mqdefault.jpg)
This song is a beautiful expression of heartbreak and disappointment, masked by that cynical sense of humor present throughout all of The Roches' catalogue. Though most of us haven't had the opportunity to be on TV and potentially become huge stars, I'm sure we can all think of a time where we were very excited about something that ended up being a tremendous letdown. The type of disappointment that is almost extravagant; a "big" nothing. While a lot of people find this song funny and a bit cheesy (very 80's), I think at its core this song is very tragic and sad. It can come across as a knee-slapper, didn't-win-the-lottery, back-to-reality song, but I think if you really listen to the harmonies and the chords, it's deeper than that. It's an expression of feeling crushed, heart broken, and devestated. We all want to believe our dreams can come true. And when we get as close as we can to those dreams coming true, only to realize that we'll never be closer and yet so far away, I feel there is nothing more tragic. This is one of my favorite songs.
I just discovered this song less than a week ago, and you expressed so well everything I hear in it. And the sadness is most evident in the harmonies and chords, which you mentioned. I can hardly listen to it without wanting to bawl, particularly watching the video and knowing that the beautiful and exceptionally talented Maggie Roche is no longer with us. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who hears this. Thank you.
There's something about this song... I have listened to it 100 times at least, I can listen to it 10+ times in a row and I never get tired of it. It's like it's been infused with this essence, outside of this world , that makes it a perfect amount of listenable , but still bringing this joy and something to every listen. I can't explain it. Like entities from another universe with intelligence lightyears beyond current human understanding chose this song to put their something into and makes it so magical. Does anyone else feel this way about this song?
They are adorable.
the outfits in this video ... giving me life
Sad day. May perpetual light shine upon you, angel Maggie.
+
amen
How have I never heard of this band before?
3:40 - I love the look on Suzzy's face when she says "I just never knew how big nuthin' can be".
Never missed a Bottom Line show! Wherever you are, Margaret Roche, know that you are loved.
They never got the credit or the sort of career they deserved.
There’s nobody else like The Roches...true originals. I think they were always too left-of-center to become household names, but at least they’ve always had a small but devoted fan base. I love their early work but I also love their later stuff like this when they went in a poppier, more produced direction. It’s all fantastic.
I accidentally discovered them watching an old SNL episode last month. This is my favorite song at the moment.
I hung out with their touring sound man in SF many years ago. I said, you have the greatest job in the world. He said they fight like a bag of cats. :)
RIP, beautiful Maggie, big sis. You wrote the best songs.
I agree.
+
Back in that innocent time in so many ways. Love The Roches.
Maggie, Terre and Suzzy performed at various clubs in
Greenwich Village in NYC, as well as on many TV shows,
like Saturday Night Live and , I take it, Mike Douglas, Merv
Griffin, Soundstage, Austin City Limits and Evening at Pops!
I discovered The Roches when their track Hammond Song was sampled by The Avalanches - my goodness what sublime voices!
Maggie looks so lovely.
RIP Maggie
+
😔
maggie looks amazingly fantastic in this vid.
Inspired by this wonderful song, my husband and I have a catch phrase around the house when we meet with disappointment. "Well, that was a Big Nuthin'."
Lurve The Roches - I played their albums to death in the 1980's 💕
The Roches - artists first. Happy to see them on RUclips because they were unique and had a real vision. Sort of sad though because their work and vision wasn't fully appreciated. Blessings.
The bridge that starts right after the 2:00 mark is something you scream off rooftops
This reminds me of my college days at The University of Georgia. REM, The B-52s, Love Tractor, etc.
i was a baby when this came out and now i am old but this makes me feel like the baby i don't remember that i was
terre kicks suzzy's shin
@@philbabb6460 If you were a baby then, you are not "old" quite yet. Believe me. I on the other hand was kind of old then and am REALLY old now.
This is video's a work of art, hands down. It's different, that's what makes it stand on its own, plus those perfect harmonies by The Roches...can't get no better, nah.
❤❤💔
I remember the Roches performing this song on the US cable network VH-1 during the late fall of 1989 and the early winter of 1990. I loved watching their video.
Yep. Me, too. Loved it, thought it and stuff like it would lead us in different directions than what we've become. Work in progress, I guess.
Johnny Carson loved this band and had them on The Tonight Show more than once! I love them too by the way.
yes, but how sad I was they chose to sing this song: they could have sung anything else from the album (e.g. the a capella songs), and it would have been magical. instead maybe they were going for self-deprecating/anti-climactic irony? A shame...
@@unclejohnthezef They were singing the single. It's the standard thing: bringing attention to the product that's out there.
❤❤as long as you can eat and work and have fun and work make friends enjoy your life as an artist ..enjoy ...😅
This is funny Roches are hilarious 🎉love them
Love these ladies sooooo much
Remembering Maggie. ❤️❤️❤️
They were undeservedly virtually unknown in Britain and I'd only heard of them because of a radio interview with Johnny Walker when they played this song, the only media appearance I ever heard with them. I didn't know she'd died till today, RIP.
By the way, thanks, Maggie, Terri & Suzzy, for the great music in the past 30 something years...still fresh.
How did I not know about these ladies! I love them! They make me cry and laugh at the same time - awesome.
@brontotherium1
In 1979, this group (the Roches) appeared on "Saturday Night Live" and expected big things to result from their appearance. After all, they had already captured the attention of both Linda Ronstadt AND Phoebe Snow (which is how they got on "Saturday Night Live" in the first place). They spent virtually ALL of the '80s in obscurity, only their friends and family knowing who they were. They debuted this song on "The Tonight Show" in 1989.
crossing delancey introduced me to the roches. and for that, i am eternally grateful. rip, maggie.
An excellent film, and the Roche music adds so much, as does the acting of Suzzy.
Beautiful
Their best song.
Saw this video once when I was about 11.. trying my hardest to find Indie/Folk bands on early morning MTV (they just didn't play that stuff in Industrial-town Ohio). I hated the video lol but the tune always stayed with me. Popped in my head 5 mins ago. Can't believe I just found this.
Thank you for your music, Maggie.
I hadn't heard this in years and it popped in my head recently.
This comes from a fantastic album, that I listen to often.
What other albums do you listen to in Heaven? Or maybe Hell. : )
Don’t know what anyone’s complaining about. This video is really fantastic
I love everything about this. So bizarre!
Wasn't this song a response to their gig on SNL?
Yes, it was. It was an anticlimactic experience.
I recall enjoying this quirky video when it first came out. Years (OK, decades) later, I tried to recall who did it and went searching for it without any luck. Now I stumbled upon it quite by accident.
Saw them live more than once. I am so grateful.
Amazing! You're so lucky!
I only saw them on SNL, which is what this song is about.
@@Wizardofgosz I did not know that, but it makes sense. I thought it might have been Letterman. And they were truly amazing in person. Saw them once in a bar/concert site setting and once in a formal theatre. RIP Maggie.
so goofy & so straight on ! I Love you 3 wonderful girls
YES
Maggie was so cute during this period.
She looks like a 1930's Hollywood starlet here, so gorgeous.
This video fits the song concept perfectly!
Have not seen this since 1989 when it came out, Thanks RUclips!
I only ever listened to the first three albums but I gotta say this sounds pretty darn good too!!
This is the second time I've seen that music video. The first time was way back in 1990 when I was at a video tape rental store and this video was playing, along with other music videos. While I cannot remember the others, it was hard not to forget this one. How can one forget three woman on wires and the title "Big Nuthin'?
Where is the world.Simply amazing and under appreciated.Love them.The Roches/SNL and party time 24/7.Crazy Carol Sings is RUclips all kind.
Bliss. one of my favourite songs by this terribly talented trio.
Rock on!
That wedgie wasn't a big nothing. Poor Maggie! Love this band and love this song so much. Wish there was more video of these guys!
Wore a big smile on my face for 4:24. Had the pleasure of seeing Maggie and Suzzy perform live in 2004 for Why The Long Face. They were fantastic. R.I.P. Maggie Roche. The Roches and Kid Creole and The Coconuts, similar but different. Sisters.
This group shold have become bigger than Springsteen.
Such a great song and video!
I love this song and the way they sing it!
Always loved the song; the video however?!? 😀 So grateful for their music!
Love these girls
Wow!!! 🤩🤩🤩 - Beautiful vocal harmonies and superb communicative “madness”!!! - Bravo and thank you 👏👏👏
I think this is the first Roches song I ever heard, over 35 years ago, but I'd never seen this video clip. As expected, it's funny/whimsical/harmonious.
very nice, thanks sisters
THAT. IS SO...COOL! I've been wanting to know that, too! Thank you, Miss Lauren!!
I Still Love So Much XXOO
Masterpiece
Great harmonies. Very evocative. So unique.
Does anyone know who played guitar for them?
genious!
miss you, maggie,
Me love them long time!
Very catchy.
wow
That was the whole idea behind the concept. Who can blame them.
@ClarenceFisher I agree! Must have listened to "Can We Go Home Now" a thousand times.
i remember this song playing on vh1
sqaat asked what Maggie sings at the end (starting at 3:46). It was years before I caught it, but she is spelling out Big Nuthin' with an "ah" at the end: "B-I-G-N-U-T-H-I-N-Ah!"
***** did it really take you years to solve that one?? LMAO
@@yeticoreone I don't know about mclarke, but me, yes! Someone else had answered that right after I commented nine years ago, though until then I couldn't make it out. I thought she was saying something about Brioshi, the antacid. Yes, have a laugh at my expense on that one, I certainly do. I love the misheard lyrics website, I've made quite a few entries myself.
@@sqaat You know it's got to be a giant... Ah! There's a bathroom on the right. 'Scuse me while I kiss this guy. Ah, mondegreens, a whole other dimension of the joy of song!
@@globalheartwarming I thought it may have been "giant" at one point too.
@@sqaatme too, damn! I just figured it out myself after listening to it for days,having scoured the web for an answer and only seen the question above. I was so excited to post the answer and it was there all along. Oh, well. What a big ---
I love this video! It's such a brilliant parody of the craptastic vids of the early-mid 80s. (Love Terre in the Debbie Gibson hat!) Great song, hilarious video. (Don't tell me if they weren't being funny on purpose. I don't want to know.)
I'm Seeing this ugh.
@A1l2l2e2n4 I dunno about 'obscurity'. Those of us who knew searched them out, bought their records, and followed their careers and personal lives with avid interest. Honestly cannot speak for the taste of others, but the Roches were so far above all of the crap of the eighties that most folk probably couldn't care to pull their noses out of the stink long enough to find out who they were.
@UncleCharlieOakley I saw them on SNL, and I became obsessed with how absolutely talented but weird they were. I'm better now, though.
The video is supp. to look "fake", folks. Goes with the theme of what the song is about. Pop art. Also, Roches have always been a little silly and campy. Lighten up, and enjoy or don't enjoy the song. For the video is a big nuthin' really. :)
These are the girls that went to band camp
@laurenschmelkin
Oh, DUH-UH!!!!
All these years I've thought she was speaking some dead language or something. Thank you Lauren, you saved me several house of sleep!
I just read this reply I wrote eight years ago. Of course that should be "several hours" not house!
I need to go to the house of sleep... where people SPEAK only in mondegreens 😴🎶
@paulpaxman
Perhaps I shouldn't have used the word "obscurity". But I saw their performance on "Saturday Night Live" as well as their performance on "The Tonight Show" ten years later. (Why Johnny Carson waited that long to have them on his show, I don't know. Did either Linda or Phoebe hire them as an opening act? Did they do anything besides perform in a nightclub in NYC?)
Does anyone know what Maggie sings at the end, starting at 3:46? I've been wondering since 1989.
The whole album wrestled with the problem of how to give their label the signals that said they were not being uncooperative or purposely trying to make an uncommercial album. 1989 was not a great time for sibling harmony with acoustic guitars.
No? Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman? This was the best window they had.
Great song. A disappointing date is a metaphor for their SNL performance. Or is it the other way round?
@TheInvincibleViolet ...define necessary? ...but yes, i agree. luckily we can skip it after x number of seconds... :0|
Sour Grapes.
The blonde is cute
I know they have numerous videos of live shows. Was this their only scripted and acted video?
Everyone is Good has a video, incredible song
@UncleCharlieOakley But only after you teach me how to be as clever as you are.
cute marionettes
looks painful
Like The Nualas and The Dooleys, The Roches always seemed like a massive in-joke.
Yes, the choreography was horrible, and I think that is part of the point. The Roches were known for being a bit quirky ("The Death of Suzzy Roche", anyone? Plus, they didn't expect this to be the big breakthrough anymore than SNL was (strangely, it was their biggest hit, if you could call it that). I think they figured that nobody would take them seriously, so why do a serious video?
@UncleCharlieOakley And you butt into my comment, when it's none of your business. You're starting trouble. Go find something to do and leave me alone.
Unfortunately, this song, its hook, and its arrangement are a "big nothin" -- from a group of really good musicians.
+africkinamerican What is its "hook"?
+africkinamerican I think it's their most memorable song, so shucks.
I couldn't disagree with you more. I can listen to this song over and over again. The harmonies are amazing.
The early bridge of this song legit transports souls into heaven
Great song. Mediocre video. Who the h--- did this to the wonderful Roches? Sad.
Oh noooooooooo that commercial at the beginning just is horrible. Ruins the Roches intro with its loud and annoying blather. Why is that necessary????????