Stop Making Sense

Today's post is dedicated to a band that never ceases to put a smile on my face when I pop in one of their CDs: Talking Heads.

I remember when I first "discovered" them. I mean really listened to them. Those of us who grew up in the '80s couldn't escape the song "Burning Down the House." The video was all over MTV, back when that channel actually showed music videos. But I digress.

I'll never forget the visceral impact the music had upon me in 2002 during a solo trip I took across Japan when I studied there. It was a 10-day journey of a flight from Tokyo to Nagasaki, followed by winding my way back via train, checking out important cultural sites.

I had just arrived in Osaka, and was trying to navigate the cavernous station there, when my MP3 CD happened upon the album "Sand in the Vaseline," a retrospective of tunes that spans the band's 1976-1992 career. The track was "Blind," and I'll never forget the funky rhythms that provided the soundtrack to the crush of people swarming around me. I decided at this point that I had to further explore this band.

I promptly bought all their CDs, and I wasn't disappointed. It's hard to pick my favorite songs, but here's my attempt.

5 Favorite Talking Heads Songs

"More Songs About Buildings and Food" 1978

The Big Country - Such a smart, tongue-in-cheek observation of middle America. "I wouldn't live there if you paid me to."
Artists Only - In your face, you pompous, self-important artists! The irony of this song is that the band members met while studying at an art school in New York. Touché!

"Fear of Music" 1979

Cities - A fun, upbeat tune extolling the virtues of points on the map around the globe.

Life During Wartime - Was David Byrne ever a CIA operative? It sure sounds like it from this song.

"Remain in Light" 1980

Houses in Motion - I dare you not to shake your booty to this tune.

I guess it's quite obvious from the length of this post that I really, really like this band. I haven't liked a band this much since I discovered The Smiths in junior high, and NIN in high school.

But wait, there's more! Here's some bonus points for those with time to kill.

• Talking Heads produced a string of videos, one of which MTV would not air. It seems the music channel was worried about fatcat advertisers balking at the obvious message against conspicuous consumption. Check out the "Love For Sale" video here. Many flashbacks for us '80s kids.
  
• What indie mainstay (and another one of my favorite bands) culled its name from a song off the Heads' 1986 "True Stories" album? Click here to find out.
• Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz (the bassist and drummer for the Heads, respectively) lend their musical talents to what "virtual hip-hop group" that debuted in 2001? Click here to find out.

Hey, thanks for hangin' in there on this monster post.

Now go listen to some music!