We have a serious love affair going on over here. It’s a musical passion, one that has ignited from a long burning ember. A long time ago, in high school, I listened to some music that completely twisted me all around. I honestly couldn’t tell if I liked them, or hated them, or what I should do with them. But I hadn’t ever heard anything like it ever. Was I mad? Was I happy? Frustrated? Just who were “They Might Be Giants” and why couldn’t I get them out of my head?
Where does one GO with a verse like this: “I’m your only friend, I’m not your only friend, but I’m a little glowing friend, But really I’m not actually your friend, but I am….” and that continues with a little nightlight singing from his ‘electrical well’ about his ‘primitive ancestry which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck free.” Of course, all this little light wants to do is love and care for the little kid in the room. At least, that’s what I think is going on.
I loved them immediately, but found that others were confused and angered by all the accordions, harmonicas, and other dysphonic clanging that sometimes occurs. Hubby can’t listen to them for more than 3 minutes before getting a migraine. So, TMBG haven’t been a big part of our CD rotation in the past.
Happily, TMBG made a foray into children’s music and sing Higglytown Heroes and Mickey Mouse theme songs on Disney, among other things. I watched as The Sassy Princess flipped for them. I played ‘Particle Man’ for Naturalist, to see how she’d handle obscure songs that don’t mean anything and yet mean a lot all at the same time. She flipped for them. All that was left was the Golfer. “Istanbul (not Constantinople)” and “Why Does the Sun Shine” for him. He heard them once and added them onto his ipod.
Hubby, who doesn’t flip for them, gets aggitated after too long. But…maybe…..I could put them back in rotation during our day.
First, I started with No!
We can’t wait for Here Come The 123s
Friday Night’s Family Podcast.
My favorite TMBG stories come from Mama Podkayne….both how she met John Flansberg and how she used one of their songs to get through a rigorous graduate school class.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: "Here Come the 123's", "Here Come the ABC's", Birdhouse in your Soul, Great kids music, Particle Man, TMBG, we love They Might Be Giants.
AGH! How did I not know about the free family podcast!? ????????
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
Also, I used to be the same way as your hubby, I didn’t get them, they annoyed me, my DH singing/playing/quoting them all the time bugged me……..and then something clicked. Also, they have so many styles of music it is impossible to hate all of their songs! Once I found a set I liked, I was hypnotized by the rest…….
OH, I love TMBG! I have been to 2 concerts and have one of John’s saxophone reeds somewhere in my keepsake collection. We have NO! I can’t wait to check out their other children’s CD’s and the podcast. If I play “Mammals”, I can count it as a Science in our homeschool, right?
Hey! I play They Might Be Giants for my kids too! Just yesterday we were listening to “Instanbul (Not Constantinople)”