The majestic presence of They Might Be Giants

They Might Be the only "cool" band I still listen to. They Might Be the reason I watch the opening credits to "Malcolm in the Middle." And They Will Be calling me on the phone next week to chat.

They Might Be Giants is coming to Tampa Bay next month, but before they can play their March 11 gig at Jannus Landing, John Flansburgh and John Linnell will have to join me for a special Stuck in the 80s podcast interview.

I'm one of many fans who joined the TMBG kingdom in 1990 with the release of their album "Flood." Only after hearing that disc did I go back and hear the real gems from the '80s. These days, I pre-order every album they record and dutifully take off the day from work -- aka "pull a Ferris" -- when it arrives so that I can sit home and play it a dozen times.

So how will I ever narrow down the 3,000 questions I'd like to ask them? The answer: By asking you to leave comments below with your suggestions for questions. What do you want to know from They Might Be Giants?

In the meantime...

TOP 5 THEY MIGHT BE GIANT SONGS FROM THE 80s:

5. PUT YOUR HAND INSIDE THE PUPPET HEAD: "It's a mighty zombie talking of some love and posterity."

4. PURPLE TOUPEE: "I shouted out, 'Free the Expo '67 'til they stepped on my hair, and they told me I was fat."

3. DON'T LET'S START: "When you are alone you are the cat, you are the phone, you are an animal."

2. SHE'S AN ANGEL: "Somewhere they're meeting on a pinhead, calling you an angel, calling you the nicest things."

1. ANA NG: "We still haven't walked in the glow of each other's majestic presence."

[Official publicity photo]

Comments

[jane]

TMBG is literally the only band that gets play here at chez jane on a daily basis. And while I contribute to that statistic fairly often ("Istanbul" and "Ana Ng" are faves), it's the Kiddo that is the really big fan. No joke. Thanks to their work with Playhouse Disney. And the fact that he loves the theme to Malcolm in the Middle (although it becomes a parent/child conundrum when he tells me that I'm not the boss of him, now)

My question is not really '80s-based -- but I'd love to know how and why they ended up with the Disney gig. Because they've made listening to Kiddo music really tolerable. And this child of the '80s is thankful that her child of the '00s has good quality tunage with which to grow up.

[Spears]

Hey gang -- the questions do NOT have to be 80s related. They only had a toe-hold in my decade, but I love them nonetheless.

My favorite album was actually Apollo 18.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Do the two Johns see anyone on the media-homogenized, American-Idolized, culturally-marginalized pop music scene who might be the next great eclectic, art-over-fame act?

[Bassnote]

Steve, I SOOOOOOOO want your job! TMBG are awesome. I saw them in 1990 on the Flood tour, at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago. The Two Johns put on a great show (just the two of them). I like your top 5, but I'm partial to some of their early b-side: Hey Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had a Deal, and We're the Replacements (a tongue in cheek ode to the Minneapolis band).

Favorite album cuts:
1) (She Was A) Hotel Detective
2) Don't Let's Start
3) Ana Ng
4) Purple Toupee
5) Youth Culture Killed My Dog

[Mike in Austin]

Jane,

You stole my thunder. My kids sing along with their number/abc songs, etc. I was very surprised when I heard their music on disney.
I'd ask, what inspires their lyrics? Any rhyme or reason?
What is behind the song Everything Right is Wrong Again? I swear that songs has some elements of an I LOVE LUCY episode or Disney cartoon.

[Bassnote]

Not too long ago Dunkin' Donuts did a bunch of commercials that featured music that sounded like TMBG ('Perhaps Fratalian!'). Was it them, and if it was, how did that gig come about?

[Jeff in Cuba]

We had a group of California National Guardsmen deployed here about 18 months ago, and they always requested "We Want A Rock".

I probably played it on every show for about 3 straight months.

[Neil]

I always love "The Statue Got Me High", that song came out the year I graduated college and was working "a real job". This guy I worked with, just walked out and left work one day, and he came back and everyone asked him, where he was and he just said he was out looking at statues. I asked him if the statues got him high, but he didn't get the reference.

[Bassnote]

Every time I go to this blog (or Sean's), it costs me money. I just ordered Apollo 18 because Steve said it was his favorite, and a few days ago I got a bunch of Van Halen. Not that I mind picking up more music, but start talking about stuff i already have.

[Manchester Mike]

TMBG played a big role in two of my relationships, including my wife. I judged the women I met by their familiarity with TMBG. I've also seen them play numerous times and I enjoy their witty banter instead of the usual concert patter. I have a "They Might Be Dead" Concert T-shirt with a dead cockroach. They are probably one of my favorite all-time bands.

My question is that I've always heard that the part of Ana NG where the woman says "I don't want the world, I just want your half" was painted on an overpass near Boulder, Colorado. I've always wondered if that was true.

[LegoMovieMan]

Quite an awesome interview you've scored here, Steve! Apollo 18 was my first TMBG album, and is a classic.

I guess I'd like to know if they've ever heard from (or about) Gloria again.

[LegoMovieMan]

Elaboration: http://tmbw.net/wiki/Untitled

[Princess Di]

Since my cell phone only has two 'cool' ringtones - "Back in my clamshell" and "Put a little birdhouse in your soul" (I thought TMBG 'phone-phone-phone-phone' ringtones were WAYYYYY too cool for my co-workers) I am psyched you're going to talk to John and John. Got to meet one of the Johns live and in-person at an L.A. Lebowski fest, and Chunk (from GOONIES) was there too. I just wish I could find a shoehorn with teeth or grow up to be a triangle player.

[Princess Di]

Okay, mia culpa, it's MAKE a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul...maybe you can ask them "What's that blue thing doing there???"

[Spears]

I've read a few interviews with them and they're much more conservative and quiet than their music would lead you to believe. It's going to be a challenge.

[DaveFromMN]

I remember seeing them in the 80s when they were supporting their first album. Working at a record store I picked up on them early (their first album was released on the local Twin Tone label originally so, being in Minneapolis, we got promos early on). We used to call the song-of-the-day phone line almost every day. What's so great about them is their humor and the fact that they're not afraid to write intelligent music which is also why I think they are so big with the kiddie crowd as well. I brought my son to see the 'No' show and it was a great time! So, as far as questions go, besides asking them if they will play a show at my house, what got them to start writing specifically to kids? Did one or both have a kid or did they see that their previous music was already popular with kids and they chose to zero in on it? Are they totally sick of hearing questions about the kids?

[Jeff in Cuba]

Maybe you should ask them some of the suggested questions that Sean is getting for his Jonas Brothers interview. I think they would appreciate the silliness.

[Bassnote]

Years ago 'Animaniacs' did a show where they did videos for 'Istanbul...' and 'Particle Man'. Find out how that came about, and if Steven Speilberg had anything to do with it.

[discolapin]

I have to agree with Neil. "The Statue Got Me High" popped into my head immediately when I read this post.
"My coat contained a furnace where there used to be a guy".