They Might Be Giants: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

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13 жыл бұрын

A glance into the crowd assembled for the show in the NPR Music offices reveals just how far-reaching They Might Be Giants' appeal has become. Watch the band perform two of its brand-new songs, as well as "Fingertips," a classic 1992 chestnut.
Set List:
"Can't Keep Johnny Down"
"Cloisonné"
"Fingertips"
For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts.

Пікірлер: 423

@bobdole8830 3 жыл бұрын

John did an amazing job, but John was truly mindblowing!

@ssemo 7 ай бұрын

Marty crushed it

@bd9299292 6 ай бұрын

John has been carrying John for years and everybody knows it.

@NxDoyle 6 жыл бұрын

In my humble opinion, John Linnell is one of the greatest lyricists in the history of popular music. And his pipes seem to be getting better with age.

@dinkdankly 5 жыл бұрын

Hard agree. Last time I saw TMBG live, Linnell talked between songs about his lifelong quest to write the perfect pop song, and I think the reason he's so damn good is because he doesn't realize he's already done it about thirty times.

@playasadonejoe 4 жыл бұрын

Vocalist or lyricicist?

@dergos05 4 жыл бұрын

@@playasadonejoe Yes

@lamestudiosinc418 4 жыл бұрын

@@playasadonejoe He's the vocalilist and the lyricicist

@eliresnick 4 жыл бұрын

It's funny because I really shared your opinion, before I discovered Mono Puff. :)

@rykaro69 4 жыл бұрын

It's incredible how Linnel's voice hasnt changed in 30 years

@recordcollector0665 3 жыл бұрын

Oh it’s changed alright. Notice how his voice isn’t as nasally as it was back in the 80s-90s

@mppugliazzo 3 жыл бұрын

He perfected it

@CopenhagenRayne 3 жыл бұрын

His vocal improved massively, his "sound" stays the same they both do

@junkyardblaze189 2 жыл бұрын

He took great care of his voice while maximizing it’s benefit

@junkyardblaze189 2 жыл бұрын

@@recordcollector0665 linnel’s voice has always inspired me. It’s as nasally as day one but so deep too. The 80’s stuff was independent and self produced so the quality makes it seem he was extra nasally but in truth linnel always had this gift. Farnsworth has the better range but he can’t make the sound like linnel. What a perfect pairing though!

@billpholde4816 Жыл бұрын

These two guy went to the same high school I did, in Massachusetts. Two years younger than I am. I remember seeing Linnel's cartoons in the school newspaper, well-drawn, ironic, one-panel stuff. They seem to be having fun.

@polygawn 8 ай бұрын

WAIT THATS SO COOL do you have any stand out memories of the comics? Like what any of them were about? No pressure :)

@billpholde4816 8 ай бұрын

I can only remember one of them. It was a single panel cartoon. It showed a man, shot from below, hands on his hips, a bunch of warplanes in formation in the sky above him. What I remember most was his drawing style. It was more sophisticated-looking than art by other teen contributors to the high school newspaper. Influenced by R. Crumb or someone like that. He had obviously studied other cartoonist's work. His single panel image seemed to have a lot of irony and snarky humor. Sort of making fun of a dictator or something like that. @@polygawn

@colinhawco6153 10 жыл бұрын

Fingertips was, at the time, a really innovative song, in that each part was encoded on the CD as a separate track. At the time, CD players, with shuffle, were new. The idea here was to listen to the CD on shuffle and occasionally get these tiny songs. At least that is my understanding of the story behind the song : )

@suggestedlistening4018 5 жыл бұрын

Though many of us ended up reciting it as a whole track :)

@Larsernmarkable 4 жыл бұрын

@@suggestedlistening4018ME! ME! ME!

@PatrickRob82 4 жыл бұрын

Huh, never thought about doing that. It's all kinda one long song in my mind. I can't hear one without my ears demanding the next one.

@wayneheyward900 4 жыл бұрын

I have that copy of Apollo18. I think I heard that later copes removed the separate tracking. And yes, I did play it on shuffle more than once.

@gardenvariety9957 3 жыл бұрын

I saw them do that song live...

@StealYourFace7731 9 жыл бұрын

there is no one like TMBG. I am amazed at how they maintain such a high level of creativity throughout their career and keep producing great songs.

@ZoeAlexa11 6 жыл бұрын

DS B look up Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five. He’s just as amazing. I love TMBG and BF5 both equally

@annacooksey7276 6 жыл бұрын

I don't think I REALLY appreciated them until my 4 year old became interested in music.

@mike-7620 5 жыл бұрын

Agreed. Through my life I have not respected a band more than these folks, as far as continuity. I had Apollo 18 in my tape player as a kid delivering papers, Im almost 40 now and still love them to death.

@Logomachus 3 жыл бұрын

The band Sparks bears a lot of similarities to TMBG.

@hippogriffgrrl10 9 жыл бұрын

I love how much fun they have with each piece. Especially Linnell, since he seems like a generally shy guy, but he's totally cool doing all that weird and fun stuff.

@thebrutusmars 3 жыл бұрын

I love that Flansburgh is still wearing his visitor pass.

@JillKnapp 6 ай бұрын

I also love that Linnell stuck his to the front of his keyboard. 😍

@robmckennie4203 7 жыл бұрын

Marty Beller must be one of the most intense musicians ever. It's called "Tiny Desk Concert", but the guy is still giving it 110%

@kornobi_3165 4 жыл бұрын

Rob Mckennie he is such a pro. I don't think he has ever mailed in a performance.

@eastportland 3 жыл бұрын

Isn't that Dr Worm?

@apostrophe.t 3 жыл бұрын

@@eastportland I think it's Whitney Houston actually

@lapinpuff 2 ай бұрын

John Linnell seems so extra comfortable performing here omg. His big smiles and leaning over the keys just b4 the "gas cap is unscrewed"...it's just pure sweetness. And Flans and Marty look like they were having so much fun!! This is such a gem of a video.

@casanovafrankenstein4193 6 жыл бұрын

Coolest dorks in the world. I've been a fan since Flood. I love that they played "Fingertips"! Fantastic!

@professormancaptain4210 5 жыл бұрын

Kyle Laurent I freaked out over that. Was shocked.

@mythical2551 3 жыл бұрын

I didn't expect Can't Keep Johnny Down to sound as good as it does with the acoustic guitar.

@0okamino 10 жыл бұрын

That's awesome. It seems odd to not hear _Space Suit_ after _Fingertips_, though.

@Mystakaphoros 7 жыл бұрын

I know it's been 3 years since you made this comment, but that was my FIRST THOUGHT! bwyeeeeoooooOOOOOOOOWEEEEEE! bwyeeeeoooooOOOOOOOOWEEEEEE! bahn-banana bahn-banana bwyeeeeoooooOOOOOOOOWEEEEEE! bwyeeeeoooooOOOOOOOOWEEEEEE!

@kornobi_3165 4 жыл бұрын

It's true! It's part of fingertips to me also. I start humming it every time....

@willcox5285 2 жыл бұрын

I love how Linnel keeps on his visitor's pass, as if he isn't a recognizable musician. Really on-brand for him.

@manyregrets8650 9 ай бұрын

"Linnel"?

@adventuretimeness222 7 ай бұрын

That’s flans lol

@landonvincent7974 2 ай бұрын

That one's Flansburgh. Womp womp.

@Employee00765 22 күн бұрын

They both have them. Linnell's is on the front of his keyboard.

@josephd183 11 жыл бұрын

I just realized earlier today that the reason I'm such a strange human being is that these guys provided the soundtrack to my childhood. I listened to "Fingertips" more times than I can describe. And any six year old partying around the living room to "Cowtown" isn't going to turn out 100% normal.

@mr.drearygiraffe6005 4 жыл бұрын

i grew up with their children's albums.. maybe that's why i'm such a science nerd now...

@evegasse6999 2 жыл бұрын

@@mr.drearygiraffe6005 That's wonderful. I was already an adult when their first kids' album (No!) came out, but I was thinking 'man, how great would it be to grow up with their kids' music and then discover as a teenager / young adult that they have 30+ years back catalogue of amazing songs you've yet to discover'. You're lucky!!

@bennyfifeaudio 9 ай бұрын

I kept fellow scouts and leaders awake in an overnight cave stay in the early 90s until 3 am or so with my renditions of Particle Man.

@GreanePin 5 жыл бұрын

God damn linell has some serious pipes. Mysterious whisper was always my favorite finger tips song, just because he can belt out a note with comparable power to freddie mercury. It's nuts, but very amazing. His voice has so many dynamics. Truly an underrated vocalist

@evegasse6999 2 жыл бұрын

I think a lot of people get put off by his nasal tone (fair enough, I guess it's an acquired taste, I personally love his voice) and for that reason they don't realise how incredible his range, pitch and projection are.

@christopherquinn8457 8 жыл бұрын

I used to not like them much, but seeing them perform in such a humble environment really helps me connect with them more. It's also nice to put a voice to a face. Love his voice, it sounds way to big to fit such a small guy lol

@businessgoose6057 5 жыл бұрын

See them live dude. Its a party!

@jfrey1 12 жыл бұрын

there's nerds, and there's supernerds, and there's They Might Be Giants.

@cwhig 3 жыл бұрын

I was thinking almost exactly the same thing.

@osodemird4729 3 жыл бұрын

And also there's Weezer

@FirstnameLastname-mb2ek 3 жыл бұрын

TMBG are all three

@kornobi_3165 3 жыл бұрын

@@osodemird4729 while I love Weezer’s blue album.. well one album doesn’t equal a career like TMBGs

@notveryniceatall 2 жыл бұрын

yes they do were glasses and say things

@TheLandWin 12 жыл бұрын

Of all the songs they chose to play, I was so happy they played the string of songs from Apollo 18. I want to ask why they would do it, but at the same time, I love this recording of those songs too much to question.

@gulpispulp 4 жыл бұрын

I didn’t know John played bass clarinet 😩💕 they’re so talented smh

@steelingcable6350 Жыл бұрын

Bass clarinet!!!

@CabbageTalks 8 жыл бұрын

I liked the video but what's that blue thing doing there?

@Grayham4 8 жыл бұрын

+CabbageTalks something grabbed ahold of my hand while I was watching this video, but I didnt know it had my hand

@jessytallent8585 6 жыл бұрын

All alone, all alone all by myself

@amycurtiss9770 6 жыл бұрын

Don’t let’s start...

@myyoutubepage1 6 жыл бұрын

That's just John

@numberq1134 5 жыл бұрын

I don't know, but it came on and wrecked my car

@danielcropp8553 7 жыл бұрын

TMBG and NPR. Two acronyms that I like.

@x2f01mick 7 жыл бұрын

Daniel Cropp initialism not acronym

@danielcropp8553 7 жыл бұрын

+x2f01mick we get it, you majored in English.

@danielcropp8553 6 жыл бұрын

I gotcha though, thanks for the heads up. You're right, those are initialisms, not acronyms. You wouldn't say "tum-bug" or "enn-purr". Like we say the individual letters in FBI, and not "eff-bye".

@raulstinkfinger7986 6 жыл бұрын

Daniel Cropp I

@gardenvariety9957 3 жыл бұрын

@@danielcropp8553 "finale of seem"

@pauljohnson8847 3 жыл бұрын

The best pop star hand I ever shook was John Linnelle's,. What a treat. Took my little ones to their kids' shows two years in a row in Chicago. These guys are magic. Go when you can.

@candiduscorvus 7 жыл бұрын

It says something for how well played my copy of Apollo 18 was that I knew every last bit of Fingertips and could sing along.

@mikekirkman1513 6 жыл бұрын

Me too. Great in concert.

@PatrickRob82 4 жыл бұрын

Seems to be the case with a lot of TMBG fans. You don't often hear of folks thinking they're just "ok". Mostly, their fans are HUGE fans.

@Deggey 12 жыл бұрын

Linnell's glasses are so adorable xD They make him look like he has big bug eyes! =D

@BrianBlock 12 жыл бұрын

Rumor has it they were born in Ancient Egypt have been behind ALL awesome music since that time, using magic and various shapeshifting abilities. That would put them up in the late 2000s or early 3000s. They look good for that age

@PaulGraneck 10 жыл бұрын

I am from Ukraine, and you're my favourite band! Nobody writes so brilliantly simple and funny!

@businessgoose6057 5 жыл бұрын

All the best to you in Ukraine!! So awesome that you like TMBG! You must be very interesting 😀

@JillKnapp 6 ай бұрын

Greetings from December 2023. I hope you, your family, and your friends are safe.

@paulgraneckofficial 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Jill, thank god we're all okay and safe@@JillKnapp Merry Christmas!

@jessss27 Жыл бұрын

The keyboard part of Can't Keep Johnny Down is SO beautiful

@toddness305 13 жыл бұрын

These guys are genius. Especially that John fella. And Marty is a fun drummer to watch. He's hilarious.....

@okrajoe 9 жыл бұрын

No, they are giants.

@Hard2heart2heart 9 жыл бұрын

Maybe.

@colleenmccluskey2182 9 жыл бұрын

They just _might_ be.

@Hard2heart2heart 9 жыл бұрын

It's certainly a possibility. We can't rule it out. But at the same time, we can't quite prove it.

@ironic1 9 жыл бұрын

okrajoe If we determine if they are or are not, in fact, giants, then the waveform would collapse. I don't think anybody wants that.

@JDKrug 9 жыл бұрын

okrajoe In the words of A Deranged Millionaire "They really Are Might BE Giants

@markmancini4265 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for showing "The Love Garden"--and by extension the awesome city of Lawrence, KS--some love, TMBG!

@suggestedlistening4018 5 жыл бұрын

Did it happen to be in the background at NPR or did TMBG bring it in?

@Droidzey 3 жыл бұрын

0:00 - Can't Keep Johnny Down 2:38 - Cloisonné 4:40 - Fingertips

@marshallbrooksmusic 11 жыл бұрын

This is a perfect introduction to the band for someone who hasn't heard of them before. Pulling no punches, right in your face, TMBG.

@uncleflansy5621 3 жыл бұрын

Wait, whaaaaaaaat. How have I not seen this already? I watch tons of TMBG stuff, and tons of tiny desk concerts. Hey KZfaq, you really dropped the ball here.

@TriCkYiCe Жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more. Just saw them in San Diego the other day, and now this finally arrives for me. The amount of Tiny Desks I've watched, I honestly have no idea how I didn't know this happened! Now we just get to appreciate it from now until the end of time.

@siwynjones 2 ай бұрын

KZfaq was great with recommendations until Algorithm started hanging out with the wrong crowd and became “Alcorithm”. Don’t do it, kids!

@johncalcerano5460 5 жыл бұрын

I love the commentary Flans adds to I'm Having a Heart Attack

@besttedschmidt 11 жыл бұрын

Jesus, i saw them 25 years ago the 2. LP "Flood" was comming out. Nice to see them alive!

@IrvoDominguez 3 жыл бұрын

I'm astonished to hear "Fingertips" perfectly sequenced as in Apollo 18. I bought the cassette so for me it was a always a lengthy track with all those random verses & chorus.

@lilclerk 11 жыл бұрын

I like Cloisonne more every time I hear it. Such a neat song.

@miawco 8 жыл бұрын

They've been a favourite of mine since high school.

@McNealPerspective 10 жыл бұрын

I love the visitors pass on Professor Flans, awesome!

@businessgoose6057 5 жыл бұрын

Here come the ABCs!

@nightfrailer 13 жыл бұрын

I saw them last week in 1989.

@Scurrow 6 жыл бұрын

Best rendition of Fingertips I've ever seen.

@TSELDART123 6 жыл бұрын

my brother, john, suffers from mental issues and sometimes i like to play the first song (Can't Keep Johnny Down) loudly in my house as a reminder to him that no matter what anyone says to him, they can't keep him down.

@samrawle9114 5 жыл бұрын

John Smith your parents called you both John? I’m not sure if that’s genius laziness or just desperately limited imagination.

@turtleneckless 5 жыл бұрын

They were tmbg fans

@garrywindshield1 12 жыл бұрын

What beautiful voices they have! Expecially the begging, can't stop repeating it

@benjaminhawthorne1969 2 жыл бұрын

I have not heard a band vocalize and harmonize since the bands of the 60's like CSN, Carpenters, Mamas & Papas, The Association etc. TMBG got me through some very down times. I love you guys! (In a manly way, of course!)

@jackdoe3990 6 жыл бұрын

They're so fucking great, I love their unique sound.

@samkniffen4760 3 жыл бұрын

Marty's really feelin' those darkened corridors

@net8floz 8 жыл бұрын

Omg the drummers face during darkened corridors!

@dcamerona 7 жыл бұрын

i saw that too! hilarious!

@rachels9035 6 жыл бұрын

Cracking me up!!

@ZeCockOfTheWalk 6 жыл бұрын

thats marty. thats what he does. he's the man.

@daveidmarx8296 6 жыл бұрын

That's really Whitney Houston, you know..

@PatrickRob82 4 жыл бұрын

8:25 for the lazy. 😂😂

@raspberry_wiskey6999 12 күн бұрын

seeing these guys this November! im so excited

@SageGrim Жыл бұрын

i think ive listened to this version of fingertips more than the original at this point. it makes my brain happy.

@floridaflamingogirl3119 9 ай бұрын

Flansburgh's "girl you know it's true" takes it to the next level

@ItsybitsyspiderMamma 13 жыл бұрын

still crazy after all these years.

@starsky51 11 жыл бұрын

Wow. Such a great sound from just three guys! Love em.

@user-uz9ys7ry1w Жыл бұрын

I can’t love this enough. Acoustic TMBG is something amazing!! ❤️

@MozzStk 5 жыл бұрын

When you write a song for every caller, you get pretty good at writing songs.

@MozzStk 5 жыл бұрын

Can't Keep Johnny Down belong's in the 80's so much it hurt's. I love how much keyboard-John/any-instrument-John loves playing it.

@lamestudiosinc418 4 жыл бұрын

@@MozzStk Lol keyboard john.

@ChristopherRauh 6 жыл бұрын

Just discovered this. Feel better now :-)

@AlderDragon 8 жыл бұрын

My favorite performance of Fingertips!

@corylamond6294 2 жыл бұрын

Join Us has been one of their best modern albums

@taffy3595 6 жыл бұрын

i listen to a lot of music, these guys are forever my favorite.

@panchobehrmann 12 жыл бұрын

@tubeboob San Francisco? The only time I've seen them, in January 2001, was at the SF Fillmore. Some band named OKGO opened.

@tristanthompson5269 5 жыл бұрын

How come Flans is the only one wearing a visitor's pass. I mean ever, in any tiny desk concert?

@seanfennel4845 5 жыл бұрын

You can see Linnell's on his keyboard.

@businessgoose6057 5 жыл бұрын

@@seanfennel4845 they like to cover the Roland branding with stickers anyway. Its distracting

@kornobi_3165 4 жыл бұрын

It's simple. John and John are the most humble musical geniuses ever.

@vitrify 10 жыл бұрын

Great. Now I'm going to have to listen to Apollo 18 on shuffle... again. :-)

@TracksWithDax Жыл бұрын

Man I can't believe I've been a TMBG fan since before Nanobots (youngin) and I'm just now finding this!! They sound absolutely fabulous, especially surprising with such a sparse group. Of course this performance is very much for the fans!

@BigBewtieHoles 3 жыл бұрын

I was so surprised to hear they were from Brooklyn they definitely give off a midwestern vibe

@MagicTurtle643 7 жыл бұрын

Just noticed they have the book written by David Barnes, the brother of Kevin from of Montreal on the back shelf. Niiice.

@debb8321 9 жыл бұрын

"Sleestak: a race of reptilian bipedal humanoids." (.."creatures that evolved from the peaceful Altrusions.") Thanks, guys! :D

@lowlyfe_pops 6 жыл бұрын

They might be regular size, It's the desk that s tiny.

@CurtisdenOtter 3 жыл бұрын

They're actual size, but they seem much bigger to me.

@QuinnArgo 3 жыл бұрын

@@CurtisdenOtter Joke much appreciated

@samueljenkins3636 2 жыл бұрын

I love watching Marty's funny expressions.

@harperschannel567 4 жыл бұрын

love how flans starts to smile as soon as he hears “dicks”

@joelcurtis562 2 жыл бұрын

Exhilarating. Love their songs so much.

@luutse 13 жыл бұрын

They are definitely giants! :) Love it!

@Fillerspace 2 жыл бұрын

I never miss a show when they come around. Caught em in the bookstore once

@synergyblayze Жыл бұрын

Borders Providence? I was there!

@tubeboob 12 жыл бұрын

See y'all tonight at the Fillmore. First time seeing y'all in 20 years!

@MasterOfKnowledge. 5 жыл бұрын

Never did I think I'd see anything from Love Garden in the same room as They Might Be Giants. LFK!

@bamailand 10 жыл бұрын

Reppin' Lawrence, KS in the background, hell yeah! I have the best home town. LFK

@psi_sig 13 жыл бұрын

@nfields03 actually its a bass clarinet, but your comment still hold true

@LemmingsReign 12 жыл бұрын

i love that they were in that tv show Home Movies

@MVDied 10 жыл бұрын

I wish I had a voice like them

@YusufAbdullahZamora 9 жыл бұрын

so do i...

@gamechanger416 3 жыл бұрын

I love this song 😍❤️🙏👋🎶😘👌🏼

@TheyCodeWeDestroy 11 жыл бұрын

Marty just chillin' in the back there

@randyisnot 9 жыл бұрын

Hearing this opener. Watching F lean into the mic on Cloisonné and L do proper pointing when he has the hand free during Fingertips...I don't need anything else.

@dbregman85 9 жыл бұрын

I like the Love Garden representation in the back! Lawrence is awesome.

@suggestedlistening4018 5 жыл бұрын

The thumbnail made it look like he was holding the Love Garden slipmat. I wonder how it ended up at NPR tiny desk!

@daleneff8410 11 жыл бұрын

totally lost my shit at Linnell's funny faces at MYSTEEEEEEEEEEEERIOUS WHISPERR

@rogerd3051 5 жыл бұрын

They always remain inventive and watchable above all very entertaining

@sandubantas2 13 жыл бұрын

what kind of microphone do you use?

@alfalfa_art 7 жыл бұрын

Does Linnell use a double lip embouchure?? (I do when I play sax/clarinet because I mainly play bassoon) It really looks like it :0!

@motty32 6 жыл бұрын

contra alto clarinet iirc

@mrtulipeater 3 жыл бұрын

If any band was made for a tiny desk concert ....

@GrandFunalleyMedia 7 жыл бұрын

"They Might Be Sleestaks"

@tierfreund780 3 жыл бұрын

even where they're off and sloppy, they're a delight to listen to

@businessgoose6057 5 жыл бұрын

Im filled with glee to see this!!!

@longlivehellokitty 12 жыл бұрын

I used to listen to them when I was a little kid. They are awesome! But how old are they? They gotta be getting up there.

@TheBestBoyyeeehehe 10 жыл бұрын

What kind of a guitar is that Flans is playing? I love the sound of it

@StefanGBucher 9 жыл бұрын

Looks like a Gibson L1, but the "The Gibson" logo is slanted, so I'm not sure if it's a reissue or a vintage guitar.

@thepuppethead1188 6 жыл бұрын

I believe it's a reissue with the logo looking funny because Flans has it flipped for his left handed sensibilities

@daveidmarx8296 6 жыл бұрын

Did Flans have a Tobias Funke moment @4:28?!?

@hatorigirl1202 3 жыл бұрын

Something about TMBG always makes me feel simultaneously not cool enough and too cool to understand what's happening.

@markgordon4368 Жыл бұрын

I love finding lovely unexpected nuggets of goodness for the soul 😊

@PaddyWolfe 11 жыл бұрын

Oh I don't mind the randomness at all. :) I just think they're music is much more approachable these days. I still love it.

@playgirlc 5 жыл бұрын

fingertips has always been my favourite - great to see it live!

@fattyk32 12 жыл бұрын

All people get old. They Might Be Giants get old with style.

@torta31 8 ай бұрын

i *love* *love* the faces marty makes

@blueprintsymphonic 9 жыл бұрын

my favorite band!

@danielcropp8553 6 жыл бұрын

me too!

@businessgoose6057 5 жыл бұрын

Me too!

@jorymil 3 жыл бұрын

:heart: to the Love Garden sign in the background. Great shout-out to a great independent record store.