Errors-To: owner-tmbg-digest@tmbg.org Reply-To: tmbg-digest@tmbg.org Sender: owner-tmbg-digest@tmbg.org Precedence: bulk From: owner-tmbg-digest@tmbg.org To: tmbg-digest@tmbg.org Subject: tmbg-list Digest #18-17 tmbg-list Digest, Volume 18, Number 17 Thursday, 17 June 1999 Today's Topics: TMBG: tmbg-list FAQ TMBG: STD + Bonus Tracks @ CDNOW ( --Also Lincoln Results--) TMBG: Re: tmbg-list Digest #18-16 TMBG: New Info Letter TMBG: Happy Bloomsday! TMBG: New Info Letter -Reply Re: TMBG: New Info Letter -Reply TMBG: Re: tmbg-list Digest #18-16 TMBG: Re: STILL need more songs... TMBG: my back hurts like a whore Re: TMBG: my back hurts like a whore Re: TMBG: STD + Bonus Tracks @ CDNOW ( --Also Lincoln TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 Re: TMBG: Fairfax pictures RE: TMBG: Fairfax pictures TMBG: DFB Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 TMBG: tmbg dream, etc. Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 TMBG: DFB questions Re: TMBG: DFB questions TMBG: John Mercury? Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 Re: TMBG: John Mercury? Re: TMBG: DFB questions TMBG: Re: tmbg-list Digest #18-16 TMBG: Maybe I Know mp3 - Lesley Gore version TMBG: need help... TMBG: more fairfax pictures Administrivia: If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing send mail to tmbg-digest-request@tmbg.org for instructions on how to be automatically removed. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. --------------------------------------------------------------------- tmbg-list is digested with Digest 3.5b (John Relph ). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 03:15:00 -0400 (EDT) From: Majordomo Message-Id: <199906160715.DAA19349@ussenterprise.ufp.org> Subject: TMBG: tmbg-list FAQ *** ADMINISTRIVIA *** This notice is posted twice a month to tmbg-list and tmbg-digest, as well as sent to all new users. Please read it if you have questions about the list. The TMBG mailing list is administered by Leo Bicknell . It provides a forum for discussing They Might Be Giants and Their music. 1) Unsubscribing from the list It is easy to unsubscribe from this mailing list. If you are subscribed to the regular, or "bounce" list, send the command unsubscribe tmbg-list e-mail@address in the body of a message to . To unsubscribe from the tmbg-digest digested version of the list, send the command unsubscribe tmbg-digest e-mail@address in the body of a message to . "e-mail@address" stands for the email address that is subscribed to the list. If you are sending the command from the email account that is subscribed, this part of the command is optional. If you have problems, send mail to . 2) Subscribing to the list Follow the instructions above for unsubscribing but send the word 'subscribe' rather than unsubscribe. :-) Keep in mind that tmbg-list will send you a copy of each message as it's written, which may be a lot. tmbg-digest will send you all the messages written in a day in the middle of the night. See http://www.tmbg.org/mail-news/ for more information. 3) Sending messages to the list To send a message to the list just mail it to tmbg-list@tmbg.org and it will get sent out to everyone. Please don't mail any chain letters, make money fast schemes, "me too" messages, or anything else that doesn't contribute to the discussion about TMBG. IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT When you send a message to the list you are sending messages to hundreds of people. Make sure that your message is one that hundreds of people need to read. Do not send "me too" messages to the list. Do not send messages about non-tmbg topics to the list. Hold private conversations in private e-mail. Sending messages that the list administrator deems off topic will result in your being removed from the list. 4) The TMBG FAQ The They Might Be Giants Frequently Asked Questions list is a compilation of the most requested information about the Johns. It is maintained by John Relph . To get the latest copy of the FAQ, you can do any of the following things. First, it is available on the World Wide Web at: http://reality.sgi.com/relph/music/TMBG-FAQ.html and, for a plaintext version: http://reality.sgi.com/relph/music/TMBG-FAQ Second, it is posted regularly on the newsgroup alt.music.tmbg. Third, if you can't get to one of those places, you can mail me and I'll send you a copy. 5) The websites The unofficial web site, http://www.tmbg.org/ has all sorts of good TMBG information including information on this mailing list (http://www.tmbg.org/mail-news/) as well as pointers to where you can read the list via news. You'll also find lyrics, chords, and interpretations for many of the songs. Also try out the Official TMBG Website at: http://www.tmbg.com/ As always, thank you for your mind. *** ADMINISTRIVIA *** ------------------------------ Message-ID: <37677107.95D85421@pacificnet.net> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 02:40:26 -0700 From: Bongo Subject: TMBG: STD + Bonus Tracks @ CDNOW ( --Also Lincoln Results--) "Steel, W Lee" wrote: >Let me state for the record that the copy of Severe Tire Damage + Bonus >Tracks being advertised at CDNOW for way too much money is nothing more than >a Japanese Import of the very same STD that we all know and love. Please >rest assured that this copy is already in the mail headed back to CDNOW >un-opened. Hey....I tried. That's strange. Why would it say "+Bonus Tracks" if there were none? (Unless of course they meant the Ape stuff). Was the cover at least different? Every time I see the Japanese Dr. Worm single, I'm tempted to buy it. Even though it has no new tracks on it. On another note, thanks to those of you who entered the LINCOLN contest. Seven people responded. I wish I could give all of you CDs but unfortunately I only have two extras. I'll keep the runner-ups names in case I find more one day. Winners will be notified by email. Thanks for playing. -B O N G O ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 11:21:19 +0100 (BST) From: Kate Kersley Subject: TMBG: Re: tmbg-list Digest #18-16 Message-ID: The Famous Polka works pretty well at double speed - you have to be damn good to be able to do that!!! Love Kate ------------------------------ From: "Erik J. Chuss" Message-ID: <85256792.00468A78.00@notes949.cc.bellcore.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 08:50:32 -0400 Subject: TMBG: New Info Letter I don't know if this has been posted yet. I get the digest, so I may be a little late. I came home from work yesterday and what did I find laying on the table but a new TMBG info club catalog with A LOT of new material. Most of it is on www.theymightbegiants.com but there are a few new items for sale and two full articles, one by each John, are included! JF wrote "Four-eyes About To Rock, I Salute You" and JL wrote "Everyone Into the Pool". Hopefully everyone will get their copy soon. Erik J. Chuss "All the people are so happy now their heads are caving in..." ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 05:00:37 -0400 From: The Great Quux Message-ID: <376767B5.8237BDB1@stardatecomputer.com> Organization: Stardate Computer Systems Subject: TMBG: Happy Bloomsday! Just thought I'd wish all the beautiful people out there a very happy Bloomsday! Who's going to Symphony Space in NY for the big marathon reading of "Ulysses"? Unfortunately not me, as I have a fever and am going to snuggle up in bed reading my favorite chapters again... (that would be all of "Circe" of course). -- Mike Russo, www.walrus.com/~stardate, Brooklyn, NY -- "It's kind of silly when [fans are] making pie graphs about set list openers. But then, I always liked a good graph." --Mike Gordon, interview with Detroit Free Press 12/5/97 ------------------------------ From: rhilton@bitc.org.uk Message-Id: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:10:40 +0000 Subject: TMBG: New Info Letter -Reply For those of us who don't get the catalog how difficult would it be to post the 'full artices' on the list? Please! Richard >>> "echuss@telcordia.com" 16/June/1999 01:53pm >>> I don't know if this has been posted yet. I get the digest, so I may be a little late. I came home from work yesterday and what did I find laying on the table but a new TMBG info club catalog with A LOT of new material. Most of it is on www.theymightbegiants.com but there are a few new items for sale and two full articles, one by each John, are included! JF wrote "Four-eyes About To Rock, I Salute You" and JL wrote "Everyone Into the Pool". Hopefully everyone will get their copy soon. Erik J. Chuss "All the people are so happy now their heads are caving in..." ------------------------------ Message-ID: <003501beb808$4be1f020$c5b3a4c1@squid> From: "Uncle Squid" Subject: Re: TMBG: New Info Letter -Reply Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:55:30 +0100 >For those of us who don't get the catalog how difficult would it be to >post the 'full artices' on the list? Please! Richard, why don't you just sign up for the info-club? I did and have got some great stuff through the post. A good example being the TMBG poster that was on the back of the last info-club mailout. Uncle Squid's Final Thought:Treat your wife, treat somebody else's wife, it's a lot more fun if you don't get caught The Uncle Squid site [ http://i.am/uncle_squid/ ] Carter USM, Pharmacy & more [ http://members.xoom.com/_out_there_/ ] ||| ICQ: 12605535 ||| Tel: (01206) 502043 ||| Fax: (01206) 514682 ||| ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 08:38:36 -0700 (PDT) From: Nicole Carlson Subject: TMBG: Re: tmbg-list Digest #18-16 Message-ID: On Wed, 16 Jun 1999 owner-tmbg-digest@tmbg.org wrote: > The sooner I get them all, the quicker the studio stuff comes down. This is > the last request I am going to make, so please act now! Adam, my friend, I keep getting this weird blackmailing vibe from your posts. You should be taking the studio stuff down because it's unethical to keep them up, NOT because you have nothing else to put there. > Let me state for the record that the copy of Severe Tire Damage + Bonus > Tracks being advertised at CDNOW for way too much money is nothing more than > a Japanese Import of the very same STD that we all know and love. Please > rest assured that this copy is already in the mail headed back to CDNOW > un-opened. Hey....I tried. So what are the bonus tracks? Did they take them from Live!! In New York like they did for the John Henry import? > Ah, dammit!! Now I really want to go to that concert!!! But here I am, > stuck in California, no car, no license, no ride, no parents (including > fathers) willing to go to New York to see a "stupid band play". Arrgghh..... > I've never...I repeat...NEVER seen them in concert! And this concert sounds > excellent! Superb! From what the email suggests, it's a once in a lifetime > opportunity!!!! Nah... they visit California roughly once a year. Fret not, you'll get to see them soon enough. :) Although probably not for free in Central Park. :) --nicole twn *** "Some people say I'm neurotic and all, but I'm not; I just like to think about things over and over and over and over again."--Eddie From Ohio Visit Nicolopolis! http://wwwcsif.cs.ucdavis.edu/~carlsonn nmcarlson@ucdavis.edu ana.ng@tmbg.org ncarlson@mail.arc.nasa.gov ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 12:07:22 -0500 From: Bob Scott Message-ID: <3767D9C9.B5ED35A7@tmbg.org> Organization: They Might Be Giants, Unofficially http://www.tmbg.org Subject: TMBG: Re: STILL need more songs... Adam Varn wrote: > I want anything not commercially available (or not EASILY commerciably available). > TDK has done a great job with live stuff, so I will pass on that. Right now > I only want mp3s. If the quality is bad, oh well. Anything not live and not > from a major album, upload it! > > The songs will go live next week, after using this week to amass as much as > possible. > > MrSparkle > http://xooming.to/tmbgland > > >What stuff exactly are you looking for? I've already uploaded a few > >B-Sides, but I have some other stuff which you might want. I've > >converted most the das-online stuff to mp3 (all of the movs, only some > >of the old wavs), I have some semi-rare stuff thats available on other > >sites, and I have half of L!!NYC (mostly in 22khz). Is that stuff I > >should upload? When are you going to make the uploaded stuff > >downloadable? I would really like to hear the Hello the Band stuff, and > >I only have some of the Linnell stuff. > > > >By the way, if that SenSurround mp3 is the same one someone uploaded > >yesterday renamed, you might want to specify that its the MMPR > >soundtrack one, because the S-E-X-X-Y EP one is quite different. > > > >-scratch > > > >Adam Varn wrote: > >> > >> Wow! I got an overwhelming response yesterday, recieving 28 new songs. Well, > > >> that is great, but I know that there are more still out there, mainly Dial-A-Song > > >> stuff. If anyone has mp3s of songs, please upload them at > >> 199.44.121.138 > >> login: tmbg > >> pass: tmbg > >> > >> The sooner I get them all, the quicker the studio stuff comes down. This > is > >> the last request I am going to make, so please act now! Not to sound... um... well, actually, I guess it won't sound like it isn't anything, but here's what I'm gonna say: Aren't 28 songs (I believe that's how many rare mp3's you said you'd gotten) enough for you to take down the album stuff from your site? How many do you expect you'll need before you finally 'cave in' to the giving of all these mp3's? If you post 10 per week, you've already gotten nearly 3 weeks worth, so i really don't see where the problem lies. Just a thought... > >> MrSparkle Bob "If I could remember a single line from that Mr. Sparkle commercial, I would use it here, and it would be funny" Scott ------------------------------ From: filthyscarecrow@webtv.net Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 12:59:01 -0500 (EST) Subject: TMBG: my back hurts like a whore Message-ID: <25239-3767E5E5-1093@postoffice-123.bryant.webtv.net> i got home from summer school today and found a copy of dfb sitting by the vcr. it appears that my brother bought it (and we werent even looking for it ). i watched it and now im happy. does anyone know of a song with vocals by mr. john flansburgh that has the lyric "your mosaic stare"? i keep hearing those words in his voice in my head. dream: i had a dream that i played piano while whoever played felicity shagwell, jeff buckley, elvis costello, bjork, and busta rhymes sat in a cafe and discussed different types of doorknobs and their varying degrees of usefulness. then, felicity shagwell and jeff buckley fell in love and left to buy a house. elvis costello and bjork went into the bathrooom together. busta rhymes looked at me and said "every tool is weapon if you hold it right". fin "life is a banana tree and you are a mango." ------------------------------ From: Kaylum@aol.com Message-ID: <1489d2c0.24994225@aol.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 14:08:37 EDT Subject: Re: TMBG: my back hurts like a whore In a message dated 6/16/99 1:00:02 PM EST, filthyscarecrow@webtv.net writes: << does anyone know of a song with vocals by mr. john flansburgh that has the lyric "your mosaic stare"? i keep hearing those words in his voice in my head. >> In the song "I Just Found Out What Everybody Knows" on It's Fun to Steal, Flans sings "She had a prosaic stare..." I don't know if that's the line you're thinking of, though. Kay ------------------------------ Message-Id: <4.1.19990616060659.00936100@130.127.28.14> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 06:07:48 -0400 From: Adam Tyner Subject: Re: TMBG: STD + Bonus Tracks @ CDNOW ( --Also Lincoln At 02:40 AM 6/16/99, Bongo wrote: > > That's strange. Why would it say "+Bonus Tracks" if there were none? I think they must've shipped the wrong version or something. GEMM pulls up a *ton* of hits for Japanese imports of STD with 2 bonus tracks. That, or the company that pressed 'em really, really screwed up. -Adam -- Adam, fighting the forces of crappy web sites! http://www.he-man.org/ (Masters of the Universe) http://www.daddies.org/ (Cherry Poppin' Daddies) http://www.clemson.edu/~ctyner/ (Everything else!) ------------------------------ From: HallOfEyes@aol.com Message-ID: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 14:46:50 EDT Subject: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 There is a FRONT PAGE article about TMBG in the Art section of the 6/16 issue of The New York Times! It talks a lot about Dr.Evil, (it mentions Mike Meyers seen wearing TMBG shirts), and about all the projects They have been working on. It mentions a theme they did for a new Nickelodeon show called "Stewy the Dogboy." I may transcribe the whole thing (for tmbg.net) if no one else before me does. Jordan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 14:59:35 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Anne McClanahan Subject: Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 Message-ID: Ok, nobody transcribe anything. :) Go to http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/arts/giants-pop-music.html You MIGHT have to register with the NY Times first, I'm not sure. Colleen Anne On Wed, 16 Jun 1999 HallOfEyes@aol.com wrote: > There is a FRONT PAGE article about TMBG in the Art section of the 6/16 issue > of The New York Times! > > It talks a lot about Dr.Evil, (it mentions Mike Meyers seen wearing TMBG > shirts), and about all the projects They have been working on. It mentions a > theme they did for a new Nickelodeon show called "Stewy the Dogboy." > > I may transcribe the whole thing (for tmbg.net) if no one else before me does. > > > Jordan > ------------------------------ From: LimeZinger@aol.com Message-ID: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:04:31 EDT Subject: Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 In a message dated 6/16/99 1:49:26 PM, HallOfEyes@AOL.COM writes: >There is a FRONT PAGE article about TMBG in the Art section of the 6/16 >issue >of The New York Times! aww, you could have scanned it, jordy boy. :) here tis, anyway: http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/arts/giants-pop-music.html June 16, 1999 They Might Be Giants: From the Fringes to Everywhere Forum Join a Discussion on Popular Music By ANN POWERS ohn Linnell answered the door of his bandmate John Flansburgh's work space in Williamsburg on Sunday with the slightly dazed grin of someone caught in the middle of the creative process. The two Johns, who make up the bravely offbeat pop duo They Might Be Giants, had been mixing songs in the room they call the kitchen, not because they think it is a cool rock name for a recording studio, but because that's where the stove was when Flansburgh lived there. Over 18 years, the Giants have passed through many Brooklyn apartments, from the Park Slope tenement with the hole in the ceiling to the duplex over the Fort Greene barbecue joint where they could play really loud. They have gone from releasing their songs via Flansburgh's answering machine (they dubbed the call-in service Dial-a-Song) to becoming stars of the college circuit with seven albums and a touring band. Now each John has a separate residence and rehearsal space, reflecting not only the needs of married men but a prosperity that exceeds what most pop nonconformists can expect. "I love your air conditioner, Flans," Linnell said as he sat between a xylophone and a bank of recording equipment. "Mine just blows hot air." As the vintage contraption cooled the room, the conversation drifted through various happy topics. There was the Los Angeles premiere of "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," whose brilliantly Bond-like opening theme, "Dr. Evil," was composed by the Giants and sung by Flansburgh's wife, Robin Goldwasser. Then there were the five musical segments they created for "Brave New World," a science-and-technology series that will be broadcast on ABC this summer. And their recent work with hit-making producers and the former Ruffhouse Records co-owners Joe and Phil Nicolo, as well as their appearance at Central Park Summerstage, headlining a show that starts at 3 P.M. on Sunday. Flansburgh popped one tape after another into his stereo. "This is a theme we've done for a new Nickelodeon series, "Stewy the Dogboy," he said as human barking filled the room. He switched to the exhilarating "It's so Loud in Here," from the Nicolo sessions. Next came "She Thinks She's Edith Head," a witty portrait of a woman with delusions of being "an obscure cultural figure," which appears on "Long Tall Weekend," the Giants' forthcoming album and the first to be available only on MP3, the digital audio compression format. This sampler was impressive, but it overlooked some things, like the duo's recent appearances on public radio's "This American Life." Not to mention the children's album they plan to release on Rounder next year, the theme they composed for the new Fox television sitcom pilot "Malcolm in the Middle" and the song on Disney Home Video's forthcoming sequel to "Peter Pan." Knee-deep in movies, television and the Web, the Giants are riding a multimedia wave. Especially exciting is the attention connected with the heavily promoted "Austin Powers." After the premiere, the Giants had 20 meetings with film and television representatives in two days. "It was interesting to see how many people involved in the creative side of the film industry are genuine fans of what we do," Flansburgh said. Fans Who Ponder Their Lyrics They Might Be Giants is a classic cult band with an unconventional approach to music and business. Fans spend hours dissecting their lyrics and posting interpretations on the Internet, discussing whether "Ana Ng" might be a critique of the Vietnam War or whether "S-E-X-X-Y" has something to do with a sex chromosome disorder. Aspiring individualists are attracted to the Giants' blithely idiosyncratic sound, and they have helped the band thrive. "They probably have the highest-selling downloadable album of all time," said Gene Hoffman, president and chief executive of Emusic, formerly Goodnoise, the on-line company distributing "Long Tall Weekend." "The Giants have never been afraid of trying new things and they have an adventuresome fan base. That combination makes it work." Changes in the entertainment business brought by technologically driven entrepreneurship are pushing the Giants beyond their familiar realm in the margins. From another perspective, the margins themselves are proving increasingly important, offering antidotes to an overbearing mainstream of Backstreet Boys. New outlets like MP3 and cable television are allowing discerning consumers like Giants fans to choose their niches. At the same time, the cultural center is raiding the edges for novelty at an ever increasing speed. And Generation X, a cohort that grew up negotiating its supposed irrelevance, now fills those entertainment industry cubicles in Hollywood and New York, not to mention producing some of today's biggest stars. "I can confirm that I've seen Mike Myers wearing a They Might Be Giants T-shirt lounging around the house," said John Houlihan, the music director for both Austin Powers films. Houlihan was one of many show-business players to relay his devotion in phone interviews. Joe Nicolo, the producer, called himself a devotee. Hoffman said that the band's connection to Emusic was "born of my own appreciation; I'm a lifelong fan." So is Sarah Vowell, who brought the musicians to "This American Life" through her feature on Dial-a-Song. "We feel a shared sensibility with them, and not just because of their songs," she said of the staff members of "This American Life," for which she is a contributing editor. "It's because every aspect of their project is done with purpose and humor and love. Every album cover, every coffee mug, and the songs, too, are all considered. They treat everything as art." High School Friends With a Lot to Learn Flansburgh and Linnell, who grew up together in suburban Boston and reconnected in Brooklyn after college, made their first demos, powered by drum machines, in 1982. "I couldn't sing and play the guitar at the same time," Flansburgh recalled. "We were not calculating a career path." They were, however, steadfastly developing their sound and sensibility. "All through the 1980's and early 1990's we did two shows a week and had this strangely rigorous routine where we would rehearse for exactly one hour every single night," Flansburgh said. "It was like a homework assignment or going to the gym. We got a lot of material together and had a really tight show." Linnell added, "It wasn't that we were technically that good." The two are now adept multi-instrumentalists. "We were very mediocre singers, but it didn't really matter. As far as the audience was concerned it was a fun show." In the early 1980's quirky bands ruled pop, empowered by punk's anarchistic spirit and the trendy marriage of high art and rock hi-jinks. The Giants felt free to pun with abandon and explore endlessly arcane subjects in songs like "Youth Culture Killed My Dog." With their science-fair style, confidently nasal voices and perverse talent for catchy melodies, they became the idols of young brains and wallflowers. But pop soon grew out of this awkward phase, and most bands who suited it changed or faded away. The Giants persisted, going from the independent label Bar/None to a major, Elektra. They scored a couple of modern-rock hits; one, "Birdhouse in Your Soul," was written from the perspective of a night light. The eight years the Giants spent on Elektra were a fairly long run; they were not surprised when the company cut them loose after a series of corporate power shifts in the mid-1990's. By then the Giants had firmly established themselves as innovative marketers as well as musicians. Their Dial-a-Song gimmick added to their reputation as self-starters, as did the Hello Music Club, a subscription service run by Flansburgh from 1993 to 1997 that released 10 CD singles a year by the Giants and other bands. Promotional items like T-shirts and bumper stickers featured either the work of renowned comic book artists or a postwar Americana look that reflected the duo's fascination with subjects like the 1964 World's Fair. Their videos further developed a kitsch-savvy visual esthetic. Flansburgh stumbled into a second career when he directed a few Giants videos. He now can list clips featuring Frank Black, Harvey Danger, Edwyn Collins and others on his resume. Flansburgh also has a side band, Mono Puff, which includes Ms. Goldwasser, and Linnell is completing his first solo album, "State Songs," to be released on Rounder Records later this year. "Mono Puff and 'State Songs' are things we get to do without looking over each other's shoulder," Linnell said. "They're what we call 'the Ringo walk," like the part of the movie "Hard Day's Night" where Ringo Starr is walking around by himself, just wrapped up in his own Ringo-ness. They also feed back into what we're doing. We get to define They Might Be Giants better, and it helps our songwriting." A more conventional rock album is in the Giants' future, possibly on a new label headed by Nicolo. "We would like to make this a creative statement and a financial statement," Nicolo said. "We're not going to sacrifice quality, but it would be great for a lot of people to rediscover them." A Surge in Exposure Thanks to 'Dr. Evil' Thanks to "Dr. Evil," hordes of moviegoers already are. Like so many of their lucky breaks, the Giants' "Austin Powers" theme song came about because of their relentless productivity. Before Houlihan had made a decision on whether the Giants should be involved in the film, "the band just took action and wrote a very inspired song," he said. "It was intended to be a demo, but when we got it we just loved it and we put it in the very first frame of the picture." Flansburgh and Linnell admit that they did "Dr. Evil" without instruction. But they are delighted that it may lead to more Hollywood assignments, especially because they are starting families and would like to reduce their touring. There is one catch, however. They have to be able to follow their recipe for success. "Most people who do commercial work are calculating about their relationship to their audience," Flansburgh said. "We've chosen to assume that people listening to our songs are as smart as we are, or smarter. I think that's why people like us." ** ~sarah http://members.aol.com/limezinger np. blur - modern life is rubbish ------------------------------ From: HallOfEyes@aol.com Message-ID: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:15:37 EDT Subject: Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 In a message dated 6/16/99 3:12:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, LimeZinger@aol.com writes: << "I love your air conditioner, Flans," Linnell said as he sat between a xylophone and a bank of recording equipment. "Mine just blows hot air." >> I love that part...I also like that Linnell calls him "Flans" Jordan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 14:20:48 -0500 From: Mike Leffel Message-ID: <3767F910.862D3208@dragondata.com> Organization: They Might Be Giants, Unofficially http://www.tmbg.org Subject: Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 LimeZinger@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 6/16/99 1:49:26 PM, HallOfEyes@AOL.COM writes: > > >There is a FRONT PAGE article about TMBG in the Art section of the 6/16 > >issue > >of The New York Times! > > aww, you could have scanned it, jordy boy. :) here tis, anyway: > > http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/arts/giants-pop-music.html > Thanks East Coasters for posting/alerting us of things like this! ^__^ Mike "I am smarter than the Johns." Leffel >FLUSH!< ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 16:41:12 -0400 (EDT) From: Lawrence P Solomon Subject: Re: TMBG: Fairfax pictures Excerpts from internet.music.tmbg: 15-Jun-99 TMBG: Fairfax pictures by Keem Bearlee@hotmail.com > I don't mean to bug you, but do you have any pictures scanned yet? pictures: http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~lps/gfx/tmbg Lawrence Solomon http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~lps/ zaph@tmbg.org "Just because you're floating doesn't mean * This space inadvertently you haven't drowned." -They Might Be Giants * left with stuff in it. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "kgreenwell@sa.kevric.com" Subject: RE: TMBG: Fairfax pictures Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:55:38 -0500 Organization: KEVRIC thank you so much for posting those pictures. i keep forgetting how hot the johns are. rawr!!!! especially http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~lps/gfx/tmbg/soloud.jpg krist gotta go take a cold shower now On Wednesday, June 16, 1999 3:41 PM, Lawrence P Solomon [SMTP:lps+@andrew.cmu.edu] wrote: > Excerpts from internet.music.tmbg: 15-Jun-99 TMBG: Fairfax pictures by > Keem Bearlee@hotmail.com > > I don't mean to bug you, but do you have any pictures scanned yet? > > pictures: > > http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~lps/gfx/tmbg > > Lawrence Solomon http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~lps/ zaph@tmbg.org > "Just because you're floating doesn't mean * This space inadvertently > you haven't drowned." -They Might Be Giants * left with stuff in it. Kristi Greenwell PRO-ACT Researcher DSN: 240-4240 Comm: (210) 212-6161 Fax: (210) 212-5432 E-mail: kgreenwell@sa.kevric.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990616212358.417.qmail@hotmail.com> From: Keem Bearlee Subject: TMBG: DFB Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 14:23:58 PDT I was at Best Buy today looking for the Pixies tribute album. They didn't have it, but instead I decided to go look for Direct From Brooklyn. I can't believe they had it! And between a video on the Temptations and a video called Thug Life. I got it on sale too, $12.99 + tax. ======= -Keembearlee "Obiwan Kenobi told be in the lobby" http://visitweb.com/keembearlee ===== _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 17:46:15 -0400 Subject: Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 Message-ID: <19990616.174616.18718.0.hotel_detective1@juno.com> From: "Cap'n eriKa rae" First of all, I want to deeply thank Sarah for posting the actual article, as I most certainly don't get the New York Times, and I don't have web access (ooh, look at this - www.somethingcoolerikacan'tsee.com!). I'm a happy captain. >Fans spend hours dissecting their lyrics and posting >interpretations on the Internet, >discussing whether "Ana Ng" might be a critique of the Vietnam >War or whether >"S-E-X-X-Y" has something to do with a sex chromosome disorder. Okay, so maybe we did discuss S-E-X-X-Y, but we didn't spend hours... we're not all that sad, are we? They make us seem pathetic. I'm not pathetic, dammit. DAMMIT! ever-sincere, eriKa, wrapped up in my Ringo-ness. "It's been cool to be cool for too long now and now it's cool not to be cool." - Ben Folds "Dammit! It's my turn to say 'dammit!'" - Daria ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. ------------------------------ From: DKocar@aol.com Message-ID: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 17:58:00 EDT Subject: TMBG: tmbg dream, etc. Well...I feel a little out of things, I've been gone for awhile. I just got on summer vacation about a week ago, and I haven't checked my mail once. I'll now be on the list at this address btw. Anyway, the reason I'm writing this message is to tell you all about my TMBG dream I had the other day! I've never had one before, so it's pretty exciting stuff. :-) Well. Here it is: I was at a TMBG concert, and it was at Ohio State. For some reason it was in the courtyard by my dorm, in the daytime. I don't remember the concert much. After the concert, everyone left like all of the sudden, and I found myself looking at a tired-looking John Flansburgh, who was getting ready to leave, and there were no other people around him for some reason. So I went right up to him, and I talked to him. I didn't say much, other than "I really like your music, can I have your autograph, etc." Then he was like, "I've gotta get going," and he left. I stood there feeling silly and wishing I'd said something more interesting to him. Sigh, it turns out that I won't be going to New York City for the June 20th concert. My friend just went and bought tickets for us for BFF in Pittsburgh without really asking me about doing both first, I really don't think we can swing it. Ok, my mom doesn't think we can swing it. But I get to see a full set by BFF for the first time so I'm not too sad about it. three days from New York City...uh, I mean Pittsburgh, Diana Kocar ------------------------------ From: Batbrain99@aol.com Message-ID: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 19:11:43 EDT Subject: Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 In a message dated 99-06-16 17:47:37 EDT, hotel_detective1@juno.com writes: << >Fans spend hours dissecting their lyrics and posting >interpretations on the Internet, >discussing whether "Ana Ng" might be a critique of the Vietnam >War or whether >"S-E-X-X-Y" has something to do with a sex chromosome disorder. Okay, so maybe we did discuss S-E-X-X-Y, but we didn't spend hours... we're not all that sad, are we? They make us seem pathetic. I'm not pathetic, dammit. DAMMIT! >> Sure we are!!! That's what makes us us! I would rather they say we spend hours and make us sound pathetic than to say we spend minutes and make us sound mediocre. Hours isnt days after all, and those fat cats dont know everything! Lets just be glad we were mentioned. Someday when They are world renowned, and very famous, we will look back at ourselves and say we started it all... Bat ------------------------------ From: Batbrain99@aol.com Message-ID: <98f9bd22.24998ae1@aol.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 19:18:57 EDT Subject: TMBG: DFB questions Yes, I am one of the lucky ones to have found a copy of DFB at the local Best Buy. It was the last one they had too! It was kind of cool cuz i was walking around with it and a guy that worked there said "excuse me, but when did that come out? i didnt even know we had it. i love them!" So I'm like "yeah! im not the only geek in this wretched town!" Anyway, to the questions... 1. Who is that wierd guy that pops in every so often? The face used in DLS, Statue, Puppet Head, and others. 2. Who is that really cute girl in The Guitar video? She seems quite beautiful to me. Even in black and white! 3. There is a recurring theme of numbers in Ana Ng. Anyone know why? (Speaking of Ana Ng, I really liked that video. It was well done and goes along well with the feel and emotion in the song. Doctor Worm was rockin too) Bat ------------------------------ From: LimeZinger@aol.com Message-ID: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 19:40:47 EDT Subject: Re: TMBG: DFB questions In a message dated 6/16/99 6:34:59 PM, Batbrain99@aol.com writes: > >1. Who is that wierd guy that pops in every so often? The face used in >DLS, >Statue, Puppet Head, and others. william allen white. he also makes a cameo on one of my geocities splash pages: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Highrise/1999 >2. Who is that really cute girl in The Guitar video? She seems quite > >beautiful to me. Even in black and white! hey, you know, there are really cute girls on this list, too! hmph. ah, that'd be laura cantrell. >3. There is a recurring theme of numbers in Ana Ng. Anyone know why? didn't notice. >(Speaking of Ana Ng, I really liked that video. i luhhhve the part where j&j are synchronized slo-mo running. i could watch that for days. ...maybe not. sarah who just injured her right ankle ------------------------------ From: GhostKrabb@webtv.net (Dexter Flansburgh) Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 16:55:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: TMBG: John Mercury? Message-ID: <13132-3768396F-678@postoffice-242.iap.bryant.webtv.net> Is it just me, or does John Linnell really look like Freddie Mercury (of Queen) in his first profile shot from the Snail Shell video? Go watch it, and you'll see the resemblance. The hand movements, the attitude, the teeth, it all resembles the late, great Queen frontman. -dex ------------------------------ From: LimeZinger@aol.com Message-ID: <397b46c6.24998eac@aol.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 19:35:08 EDT Subject: Re: TMBG: TMBG article in NY Times 6/16 In a message dated 6/16/99 6:15:42 PM, Batbrain99@aol.com writes: > Lets just be glad we were mentioned. oh, yeah, speaking of that; anyone catch this on the back page of the newsletter, regarding the central park show?: "car pools may be forming now at TMBG.org." hehe, sarah ------------------------------ From: LimeZinger@aol.com Message-ID: <73f8f54e.2499945c@aol.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 19:59:24 EDT Subject: Re: TMBG: John Mercury? In a message dated 6/16/99 6:56:08 PM, GhostKrabb@webtv.net writes: >Is it just me, or does John Linnell really look like Freddie Mercury it's just you. ------------------------------ Message-Id: <199906170255.WAA20860@fellspt.charm.net> From: "Matt James" Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 22:54:29 -0500 Subject: Re: TMBG: DFB questions > >(Speaking of Ana Ng, I really liked that video. > > i luhhhve the part where j&j are synchronized slo-mo running. i could watch > that for days. ...maybe not. > I rather enjoy the part with their heads hanging and they just shake each other's hands. It cracks me up, can't stop laughing for some reason. > sarah who just injured her right ankle Sorry, limpy *grin* /Matt Matt James mattj@charm.net ------------------------------ From: JJRRutgers@aol.com Message-ID: Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 23:50:44 EDT Subject: TMBG: Re: tmbg-list Digest #18-16 I listened to the MP3 of Dr. Evil frm the Bowery, and the quality is amazing. You must have the bootleg from this show. I have figured out the chords to this song, so here they are. 1st part: C Ab (Repeats) 2nd part: Fm Cm Fm G 3rd part: C Ab/C Adim/C Cm7 Fm Db/F Ddim/F G7 4th part: Fm G7 Cm Abm Cm Abm G 5th part: C Ab (repeats ) I absolutely LOVE this song, and it's even more fun to play it on the accordion, which I have!!! Hope you have fun playing it too. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <37687C08.5C89@asan.com> Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 00:39:36 -0400 From: "Robert J. Plass" Organization: Schick Technologies, Inc. - The Leader in Digital Radiography Subject: TMBG: Maybe I Know mp3 - Lesley Gore version Hello exquisite living people, You can listen to the ORIGINAL Lesley Gore version of "Maybe I Know" on mp3!! It features hand clapping, a little bridge left out of the TMBG version and gender-switched lyrics (he/she). Go to my website and click on the link. http://i.am/announcement/ Love, Rob Plass --- ----- ------------------------------ Message-ID: <00ec01beb882$87a5c580$99330904@aah1084-access> From: "Amy :)" Subject: TMBG: need help... Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 01:30:31 -0400 Ok this is actually kind of TMBG related, because I'm having trouble with an image file on my bootleg web page...the image works just fine when I look at the page on Internet Explorer, but in Netscape it comes up broken. Any ideas? Amy :) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990617060155.4740.qmail@hotmail.com> From: Keem Bearlee Subject: TMBG: more fairfax pictures Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 23:01:55 PDT http://members.tripod.com/Dr_Worm/concerts.html Those were taken by the person beside me at the show. Too bad he can't spell Hickey correctly. ======= -Keembearlee "Obiwan Kenobi told be in the lobby" http://visitweb.com/keembearlee ===== _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ End of tmbg-list Digest #18-17 ******************************