Song: "Birdhouse in Your Soul"
Writers: John Flansburgh and John Linnell
Original Release: 1989
Band: They Might Be Giants
Album: Flood
They Might Be Giants is the dorkiest rock band of all time and I love them for it. What can I say? It takes one to know one. By the time I discovered them at college in the early '90s, they'd already built a significant underground following. Flood, their third studio album, was certified platinum which undercuts any act's claim to "alternative" status. So do the two Grammys they've won. In the years since, they've found new audiences through television theme songs and outstanding children's music, the rare sort that condescends to no one and is equally enjoyable for both tots and their Yanni-suffering parents. Through it all, they have remained delightfully true to themselves.
"Birdhouse in Your Soul" is still their best-selling single. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a nightlight, portraying itself as a guardian angel - admittedly one with limits. The song is sweet and unapologetically quirky, which really describes most of the band's music fairly well.
Filibuster vigilantly, my friends.
Want to hear all of the songs I have featured in a convenient playlist?
Enjoy: A Window Above
What are you listening to these days?
Nice post !
ReplyDeleteListening to some oldies. Nick Drake, Blue Merle and anything by Etta James.
cheers, parsnip and badger
"At last..." Sort of like the Judy Garland story. Etta James had a deeply troubled life. But for 3 minutes in 1960, she was perfect.
DeleteNot to put too fine a point on it, this is one of my favorite songs! Flood is a great album. I'll be happy to have this one in my head all day!
ReplyDeleteI love TMBG.
DeleteI had your post open all day yesterday with the idea that I would listen to the song at some point because I'm not sure if I know it, but that never happened. I think it's probably not going to happen today, either. :(
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll get to listen sometime.
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