I GET KNOCKED DOWN
July 8, 2011 10:08 AM Subscribe
They Might Be Giants cover Chumbawamba’s "Tubthumping," with help from the Onion A/V Club team. An episode from The Onion's A/V Undercover Project, (Previously) in which bands take turns covering a popular song from a master list. Last year, 25 bands covered 25 songs in the A/V offices. (Click "View All Episodes" to see the complete list below the video) To date, there are 26 episodes in 2011.
Deep in my soul, a hunger I did not even know existed has at last been satisfied.
(Of the 2011 entries, I'm still partial to the Mountain Goats' cover of "Boxcar", but that says more about my everlasting man-crush on John Darnielle than anything else.)
posted by Zozo at 10:13 AM on July 8, 2011 [7 favorites]
(Of the 2011 entries, I'm still partial to the Mountain Goats' cover of "Boxcar", but that says more about my everlasting man-crush on John Darnielle than anything else.)
posted by Zozo at 10:13 AM on July 8, 2011 [7 favorites]
TMBG got old since I saw them in college. I didn't get old too, right? Right?
posted by smackfu at 10:16 AM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by smackfu at 10:16 AM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
Yeah, this is pretty much the best thing. Though my favorite of the Undercovers is Wye Oak's cover of "Strangers" by The Kinks.
posted by Kattullus at 10:17 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 10:17 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
"Tubthumping" has become a sort of indie rock punchline, but it's still a damn catchy chorus. Especially in the hands of TMBG and a room full of fun loving office folks. It has also been lodged in my since seeing it yesterday.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:18 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:18 AM on July 8, 2011
Those people are having fun. More people should have that much fun.
posted by Wolfdog at 10:18 AM on July 8, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 10:18 AM on July 8, 2011 [10 favorites]
I watched Tubthumping yesterday and have been humming it ever since.
A teen friend put this evil Kreayshawn earworm in my head 9 days ago. It's still not gone!
posted by dobbs at 10:18 AM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
A teen friend put this evil Kreayshawn earworm in my head 9 days ago. It's still not gone!
posted by dobbs at 10:18 AM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
smackfu: "TMBG got old since I saw them in college. I didn't get old too, right? Right?"
But somehow Dan Miller still looks like a college freshman.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:20 AM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
But somehow Dan Miller still looks like a college freshman.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:20 AM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
Man, I was thinking about doing a post on AV Club undercover. Some of the ones this year have been disappointing, but some are excellent. My favorites:
Iron and Wine covers George Michael
Wye Oak covers Danzig
Rocky Votolato and Matt Pond PA cover The Human League
Sharon Van Etten covers Fine Young Cannibals.
Basically the genre-bending ones.
posted by muddgirl at 10:20 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
Iron and Wine covers George Michael
Wye Oak covers Danzig
Rocky Votolato and Matt Pond PA cover The Human League
Sharon Van Etten covers Fine Young Cannibals.
Basically the genre-bending ones.
posted by muddgirl at 10:20 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
When hipsters are goofy, they can be goofier than anyone and yet still come across as their regular selves.
posted by orange swan at 10:22 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by orange swan at 10:22 AM on July 8, 2011
TMBG always appeal to me, but for some reason I find that Starbucks ad, and the big long intro with the Starbucks logo plastered everywhere, particularly distasteful.
posted by JHarris at 10:23 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 10:23 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
TMBG got old since I saw them in college. I didn't get old too, right? Right?
They're in their 50's now. But I saw them play in Toronto last month, and by every appearace, they're still having fun.
See, that's the way to do it.
posted by bicyclefish at 10:27 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
They're in their 50's now. But I saw them play in Toronto last month, and by every appearace, they're still having fun.
See, that's the way to do it.
posted by bicyclefish at 10:27 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
TMBG always appeal to me, but for some reason I find that Starbucks ad, and the big long intro with the Starbucks logo plastered everywhere, particularly distasteful.
AV Club stuff is so saturated with ads it's become almost unreadable. Even with No-Script running it's sometimes literally impossible to read the damned articles cause of the fighting ad videos and overlays and god knows what else.
posted by The Whelk at 10:30 AM on July 8, 2011
AV Club stuff is so saturated with ads it's become almost unreadable. Even with No-Script running it's sometimes literally impossible to read the damned articles cause of the fighting ad videos and overlays and god knows what else.
posted by The Whelk at 10:30 AM on July 8, 2011
How come I never get to go into a tiny, crowded room and sing a song with TMBG? Because I now realize that doing so is a dream of mine.
posted by Shohn at 10:32 AM on July 8, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by Shohn at 10:32 AM on July 8, 2011 [8 favorites]
*derail*
God. Dammit.
Ever since I upgraded to Firefox 5, I haven't been able to see a single AV Club video. I've upgraded Flash, I've sacrificed chickens -- nothing. If anyone can help me see this, I would kiss you on the mouth. Or buy you a whiskey drink. Then a vodka drink. Then a lager drink. Then a cider drink.
*end derail*
posted by RakDaddy at 10:32 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
God. Dammit.
Ever since I upgraded to Firefox 5, I haven't been able to see a single AV Club video. I've upgraded Flash, I've sacrificed chickens -- nothing. If anyone can help me see this, I would kiss you on the mouth. Or buy you a whiskey drink. Then a vodka drink. Then a lager drink. Then a cider drink.
*end derail*
posted by RakDaddy at 10:32 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
The Whelk: "AV Club stuff is so saturated with ads it's become almost unreadable."
Unfortunately, they've barely uploaded any of their episodes to YouTube or I would have linked the post there, too.
posted by zarq at 10:33 AM on July 8, 2011
Unfortunately, they've barely uploaded any of their episodes to YouTube or I would have linked the post there, too.
posted by zarq at 10:33 AM on July 8, 2011
I really enjoyed Justin Earle's cover of Springsteen's "Atlantic City". All the lines you could draw between Justin and his dad and Springsteen and Townes all show up in the simplest arrangement possible.
posted by mendel at 10:33 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by mendel at 10:33 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
I once heard on the radio in New York Little John taking requests for cover songs. He played Smells Like Teen Spirit on his acordian and replaced the lyrics with a series of "Ne ner ne nerrr NE ner".
That was worth more than any tote bag NPR could bribe you with.
posted by munchingzombie at 10:37 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
That was worth more than any tote bag NPR could bribe you with.
posted by munchingzombie at 10:37 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
They Might Be Giants cover Chumbawamba’s "Tubthumping,"
There may be people on earth who can resist clicking that link, but I am not one of those people.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:38 AM on July 8, 2011 [7 favorites]
There may be people on earth who can resist clicking that link, but I am not one of those people.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:38 AM on July 8, 2011 [7 favorites]
Superchunk covering "In Between Days" is pretty badass, too.
posted by Shohn at 10:39 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Shohn at 10:39 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
I was wearing a TMBG t-shirt at the beach this weekend. I received compliments from a 9 year old girl and a strangely pierced man in his 40s. I guess that means they have broad appeal.
My 3 year old daughter and I have found common musical ground with TMBG's cds for kids. Our current favorite is Electric Car on "Here Comes Science." That's an earworm.
posted by diogenes at 10:39 AM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
My 3 year old daughter and I have found common musical ground with TMBG's cds for kids. Our current favorite is Electric Car on "Here Comes Science." That's an earworm.
posted by diogenes at 10:39 AM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
TMBG got old since I saw them in college.
If that's "got old," then sign me the fuck up.
posted by psoas at 10:40 AM on July 8, 2011 [10 favorites]
If that's "got old," then sign me the fuck up.
posted by psoas at 10:40 AM on July 8, 2011 [10 favorites]
There may be people on earth who can resist clicking that link, but I am not one of those people.
That actually goes for any link that starts off with 'They Might Be Giants cover..."
posted by jquinby at 10:40 AM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
That actually goes for any link that starts off with 'They Might Be Giants cover..."
posted by jquinby at 10:40 AM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'm still partial to the Mountain Goats' cover of "Boxcar"
Up until that one, I really hadn't liked any of them. But Jawbreaker is on my shortlist of greatestfuckingbandsever and that Mountain Goats cover does one of their hoarier little chestnuts great justice.
I really enjoyed Justin Earle's cover of Springsteen's "Atlantic City".
Huh. I missed that one. Make that three of them so far I've really liked (including the TMBG).
posted by eyeballkid at 10:40 AM on July 8, 2011
Up until that one, I really hadn't liked any of them. But Jawbreaker is on my shortlist of greatestfuckingbandsever and that Mountain Goats cover does one of their hoarier little chestnuts great justice.
I really enjoyed Justin Earle's cover of Springsteen's "Atlantic City".
Huh. I missed that one. Make that three of them so far I've really liked (including the TMBG).
posted by eyeballkid at 10:40 AM on July 8, 2011
Just once, even if it's just for a single day, I'd like to work in a fun workplace. We wouldn't even have to have TMBG stop by, although that would be nice. It's not too much to ask, is it?
posted by tommasz at 10:42 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tommasz at 10:42 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
A teen friend put this evil Kreayshawn earworm in my head 9 days ago.
Did you miss this thread? You should check it out!
posted by adamdschneider at 10:42 AM on July 8, 2011
Did you miss this thread? You should check it out!
posted by adamdschneider at 10:42 AM on July 8, 2011
I really love The Low Anthem's cover of Wilco here. So much so, that I've been meaning of asking on the Green if anyone knows how to turn these clips into mp3s. So, does anyone?
posted by pasici at 10:43 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pasici at 10:43 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Though my favorite of the Undercovers is Wye Oak's cover of "Strangers" by The Kinks.
That's funny, mine is Wye Oak's cover of "Mother" by Danzig.
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:43 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's funny, mine is Wye Oak's cover of "Mother" by Danzig.
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:43 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
(Seriously, Flansburgh has morphed from oversized sixth-grader to Rock Daddy Godfather and the Backing Dans look like guys I want to buy a beer for RIGHT NOW.)
posted by psoas at 10:43 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by psoas at 10:43 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
My 3 year old daughter and I have found common musical ground with TMBG's cds for kids. Our current favorite is Electric Car on "Here Comes Science." That's an earworm.
My wife is a middle school science teacher and will play Photosynthesis for her students when teaching about plants. Amazingly, it goes over about equally well (which is to say, very well) with both the suburban kids she's taught and her kids in the South Bronx. So, yes, broad appeal.
posted by Betelgeuse at 10:44 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
My wife is a middle school science teacher and will play Photosynthesis for her students when teaching about plants. Amazingly, it goes over about equally well (which is to say, very well) with both the suburban kids she's taught and her kids in the South Bronx. So, yes, broad appeal.
posted by Betelgeuse at 10:44 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Interesting sidenote about Chumbawumba: "Tubthumping" is seen as pretty much a partying/drinking song, but Chumbawumba has always been a radical lefty/anarchist type band. None of their other stuff got mainstream exposure, of course.
posted by kmz at 10:44 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by kmz at 10:44 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
I'll leave this here for enjoyment by my fellow Chicago Cabal* members.
*TINCC
posted by lholladay at 10:47 AM on July 8, 2011
*TINCC
posted by lholladay at 10:47 AM on July 8, 2011
I really love The Low Anthem's cover of Wilco here. So much so, that I've been meaning of asking on the Green if anyone knows how to turn these clips into mp3s. So, does anyone?
DownloadHelper (FLV file) > iExtractMP3 (m4a file) > Max (mp3 file). Your operating system and freeware preference may vary.
posted by mykescipark at 10:48 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
DownloadHelper (FLV file) > iExtractMP3 (m4a file) > Max (mp3 file). Your operating system and freeware preference may vary.
posted by mykescipark at 10:48 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Interesting sidenote about Chumbawumba: "Tubthumping" is seen as pretty much a partying/drinking song, but Chumbawumba has always been a radical lefty/anarchist type band. None of their other stuff got mainstream exposure, of course.
Well, and "tubthumping" is UK-ese for "stumping" as in political speechmaking. "We'll be singing when we're winning..."
posted by mendel at 10:53 AM on July 8, 2011
Well, and "tubthumping" is UK-ese for "stumping" as in political speechmaking. "We'll be singing when we're winning..."
posted by mendel at 10:53 AM on July 8, 2011
No! is actually probably in my top three TMBG albums.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:55 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:55 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Interesting sidenote about Chumbawumba: "Tubthumping" is seen as pretty much a partying/drinking song, but Chumbawumba has always been a radical lefty/anarchist type band. None of their other stuff got mainstream exposure, of course.
I saw this video a couple of days ago, and enjoyed it so much that I went searching out Chumbawamba videos on YouTube. I confess I was not familiar with anything but Tubthumping before my visit, but I came away really digging Chumawamba.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 10:56 AM on July 8, 2011
I saw this video a couple of days ago, and enjoyed it so much that I went searching out Chumbawamba videos on YouTube. I confess I was not familiar with anything but Tubthumping before my visit, but I came away really digging Chumawamba.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 10:56 AM on July 8, 2011
I really love The Low Anthem's cover of Wilco here. So much so, that I've been meaning of asking on the Green if anyone knows how to turn these clips into mp3s. So, does anyone?
DownloadHelper (FLV file) > iExtractMP3 (m4a file) > Max (mp3 file). Your operating system and freeware preference may vary.
posted by mykescipark at 1:48 PM on July 8 [+] [!]
Audio Hijack works well too...thats how this is now living in my itunes lib
posted by ShawnString at 10:59 AM on July 8, 2011
DownloadHelper (FLV file) > iExtractMP3 (m4a file) > Max (mp3 file). Your operating system and freeware preference may vary.
posted by mykescipark at 1:48 PM on July 8 [+] [!]
Audio Hijack works well too...thats how this is now living in my itunes lib
posted by ShawnString at 10:59 AM on July 8, 2011
This video is sheer joy. Thank you!
posted by pemberkins at 10:59 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by pemberkins at 10:59 AM on July 8, 2011
Beware -- brain worm. I watched Tubthumping yesterday and have been humming it ever since.
too late ... I am skipping down the street! [grand air punches]
posted by Surfurrus at 11:00 AM on July 8, 2011
too late ... I am skipping down the street! [grand air punches]
posted by Surfurrus at 11:00 AM on July 8, 2011
I loved ChumbawAmba's take on the music industry, off their most recent album,
oooh, that's not music
oooh, that's a pickle.
posted by nomisxid at 11:01 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
oooh, that's not music
oooh, that's a pickle.
posted by nomisxid at 11:01 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'll leave this here for enjoyment by my fellow Chicago Cabal* members.
I guess it rains down in Africa.
posted by adamdschneider at 11:02 AM on July 8, 2011
I guess it rains down in Africa.
posted by adamdschneider at 11:02 AM on July 8, 2011
"That's How Grateful We Are" is a fucking stand out song.
posted by josher71 at 11:03 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by josher71 at 11:03 AM on July 8, 2011
In the same series, the Titus Andronicus cover of TMBG's "Birdhouse In Your Soul" is just awful, in a sort of mirror-universe Spock-with-a-beard kind of way.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 11:04 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 11:04 AM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
The fact that this has been all over facebook proves people will link to anything TMBG now matter how awful. Most of the other performances seemed rushed and unrehearsed as well.
I was so proud of MeFi when it looked like this wasn't going to be posted. Oh well!
And damn them for the earworm.
posted by Eideteker at 11:04 AM on July 8, 2011
I was so proud of MeFi when it looked like this wasn't going to be posted. Oh well!
And damn them for the earworm.
posted by Eideteker at 11:04 AM on July 8, 2011
Ha! My facebook friends got to see a vid of my 3yo dancing to this this morning.
posted by gaspode at 11:05 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by gaspode at 11:05 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh, Eide. You don't have to watch.
posted by gaspode at 11:06 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by gaspode at 11:06 AM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
but Chumbawumba has always been a radical lefty/anarchist type band. None of their other stuff got mainstream exposure, of course.
Pictures Of Starving Children Sell Records will always have a special place in the dark part of my heart.
For context: the album came out in 1986, directly on the heels of all the LIVE-AID, WE ARE THE WORLD stuff.
As for They Might Be Giants. Two FPPs in the last week? Are they really that worthy? Or are we just defining a certain MetaFilter unique ditch here?
Not that I didn't very much enjoy the TubThumping cover.
posted by philip-random at 11:06 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Pictures Of Starving Children Sell Records will always have a special place in the dark part of my heart.
For context: the album came out in 1986, directly on the heels of all the LIVE-AID, WE ARE THE WORLD stuff.
As for They Might Be Giants. Two FPPs in the last week? Are they really that worthy? Or are we just defining a certain MetaFilter unique ditch here?
Not that I didn't very much enjoy the TubThumping cover.
posted by philip-random at 11:06 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was a fan of the LCD Soundsystem cover particularly, but nothing this project does is going to beat this one. This was so much what the project was made for that it almost feels like cheating.
I feel bad for whoever shows up next, like Bon Iver trying to follow this up with some accoustic version of Little Red Corvette or whatever. No matter how good it is, it's not going to be this.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:10 AM on July 8, 2011
I feel bad for whoever shows up next, like Bon Iver trying to follow this up with some accoustic version of Little Red Corvette or whatever. No matter how good it is, it's not going to be this.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:10 AM on July 8, 2011
philip-random: " As for They Might Be Giants. Two FPPs in the last week? Are they really that worthy? Or are we just defining a certain MetaFilter unique ditch here?"
They're coming out with an album in a week, which would explain why they're more prominently in the public consciousness at the moment.
posted by zarq at 11:16 AM on July 8, 2011
They're coming out with an album in a week, which would explain why they're more prominently in the public consciousness at the moment.
posted by zarq at 11:16 AM on July 8, 2011
Ever since I upgraded to Firefox 5, I haven't been able to see a single AV Club video.
I had to disabled my adblock plugin to view the video.
posted by tracknode at 11:23 AM on July 8, 2011
I had to disabled my adblock plugin to view the video.
posted by tracknode at 11:23 AM on July 8, 2011
"Oh, Eide. You don't have to watch."
Don't I, though? I know I come off as pretty antisocial most of the time, but when 7+ of your friends link to something, shouldn't I have said, "Oh hey, maybe this is pretty good." I mean, I've seen TMBG in concert a number of times; they're alright–pretty good. But this was just terrible. "We don't know the words, or how the song goes." So I gave it a shot, but yes, I stopped watching. Shouldn't one make the effort?
So I'm saying right here and now if you're on the fence about this link, don't bother. If you love TMBG, go right ahead. You will probably love it. Sorry for threadshitting; I just thought I'd save some people the time.
posted by Eideteker at 11:26 AM on July 8, 2011
Don't I, though? I know I come off as pretty antisocial most of the time, but when 7+ of your friends link to something, shouldn't I have said, "Oh hey, maybe this is pretty good." I mean, I've seen TMBG in concert a number of times; they're alright–pretty good. But this was just terrible. "We don't know the words, or how the song goes." So I gave it a shot, but yes, I stopped watching. Shouldn't one make the effort?
So I'm saying right here and now if you're on the fence about this link, don't bother. If you love TMBG, go right ahead. You will probably love it. Sorry for threadshitting; I just thought I'd save some people the time.
posted by Eideteker at 11:26 AM on July 8, 2011
I will also assist by saying that, via my anecdotal experience, Eideteker is the only person on earth who feels this way.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:28 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Navelgazer at 11:28 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Eide, I was being a smart-ass about watching the video of my daughter. Because you're my friend (in real life and on fb!) and my comment came right after your grumpy one so I thought it was funny. But carry on with your grumpy self.
posted by gaspode at 11:30 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by gaspode at 11:30 AM on July 8, 2011
I saw that video the other day. It was fun, but I'm still unable to forgive TMBG for breaking my heart by following Apollo 18 up with John Henry.
posted by dortmunder at 11:33 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by dortmunder at 11:33 AM on July 8, 2011
I'm frequently meh on TMBG and I like folk-Chumbawamba better than pop-Chumbawamba. I loved this, particularly the sheer joy on the chorus. I keep meaning to go back and watch the Fine Young Cannibals cover, but man, the level of advertising on the AV Club is overbearing.
posted by immlass at 11:38 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by immlass at 11:38 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
but I'm still unable to forgive TMBG for breaking my heart by following Apollo 18 up with John Henry.
John Henry is my favorite TMBG album. I genuinely don't understand why it's considered a letdown.
posted by LSK at 11:39 AM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
John Henry is my favorite TMBG album. I genuinely don't understand why it's considered a letdown.
posted by LSK at 11:39 AM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
Eideteker: " So I'm saying right here and now if you're on the fence about this link, don't bother. If you love TMBG, go right ahead. You will probably love it. Sorry for threadshitting; I just thought I'd save some people the time."
Aw hell man, you're entitled to your opinion. Saying you don't like something that's posted isn't threadshitting.
Being disappointed in Metafilter over something showing up in a post seems pretty over-the-top, though. ;)
posted by zarq at 11:42 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Aw hell man, you're entitled to your opinion. Saying you don't like something that's posted isn't threadshitting.
Being disappointed in Metafilter over something showing up in a post seems pretty over-the-top, though. ;)
posted by zarq at 11:42 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
John Henry is my favorite TMBG album. I genuinely don't understand why it's considered a letdown.
It's not a bad album, but it was the beginning of the end. Everything they've done since has sounded very generic to me. The magic of their earlier stuff is gone.
posted by dortmunder at 11:44 AM on July 8, 2011
It's not a bad album, but it was the beginning of the end. Everything they've done since has sounded very generic to me. The magic of their earlier stuff is gone.
posted by dortmunder at 11:44 AM on July 8, 2011
But this was just terrible. "We don't know the words, or how the song goes."
I think that was a joke. They got the words and music right. And more importantly, they got the "add 16 random people shouting the chorus" part right too. That's all they really needed.
It was fun, but I'm still unable to forgive TMBG for breaking my heart by following Apollo 18 up with John Henry.
That's pretty funny. I never forgave them for following up Flood with Apollo 18. ;)
Minimum wage ... Hee-yah! vs. We Love You, Schpeider
posted by mrgrimm at 11:46 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I think that was a joke. They got the words and music right. And more importantly, they got the "add 16 random people shouting the chorus" part right too. That's all they really needed.
It was fun, but I'm still unable to forgive TMBG for breaking my heart by following Apollo 18 up with John Henry.
That's pretty funny. I never forgave them for following up Flood with Apollo 18. ;)
Minimum wage ... Hee-yah! vs. We Love You, Schpeider
posted by mrgrimm at 11:46 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
For the record, I bookmarked A.V. Undercover months ago, planning to make it an FPP once all the songs were in. Forget TMBG, this was totally worth a post and I'm glad zarq got to it before I screwed it up.
(Personal fav: Low covers Toto)
posted by auto-correct at 11:47 AM on July 8, 2011
(Personal fav: Low covers Toto)
posted by auto-correct at 11:47 AM on July 8, 2011
"Eide, I was being a smart-ass about watching the video of my daughter. Because you're my friend (in real life and on fb!) and my comment came right after your grumpy one so I thought it was funny."
Got it. I missed that the first time.
(Your grumpy is my pensive.)
posted by Eideteker at 11:58 AM on July 8, 2011
Got it. I missed that the first time.
(Your grumpy is my pensive.)
posted by Eideteker at 11:58 AM on July 8, 2011
Interesting sidenote about Chumbawumba: "Tubthumping" is seen as pretty much a partying/drinking song, but Chumbawumba has always been a radical lefty/anarchist type band. None of their other stuff got mainstream exposure, of course.
We've discussed this before.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:01 PM on July 8, 2011
We've discussed this before.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:01 PM on July 8, 2011
"Being disappointed in Metafilter over something showing up in a post seems pretty over-the-top, though. ;)"
Haha, I couldn't resist. But not so much disappointed as pleasantly surprised then back to business as usual. Imagine if Eddie Murphy actually made a really good, funny movie, and then went back to make Nutty Professor 4: The Klumps 2. ;)
But I really must have a tin ear, because I thought it sounded terrible.
posted by Eideteker at 12:04 PM on July 8, 2011
Haha, I couldn't resist. But not so much disappointed as pleasantly surprised then back to business as usual. Imagine if Eddie Murphy actually made a really good, funny movie, and then went back to make Nutty Professor 4: The Klumps 2. ;)
But I really must have a tin ear, because I thought it sounded terrible.
posted by Eideteker at 12:04 PM on July 8, 2011
Flood, Apollo 18, and John Henry are all good albums. Factory Showroom was okay. But it's been downhill for them since (excepting Cast Your Pod to the Wind, which was far superior to The Else, and should have been the actual album instead of being the extra).
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 12:09 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 12:09 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
It could be the most amazing, life-changing video ever
It's not.
Note: I had to disable all Adblockers to watch videos on the AV Club site, so that might be the problem for some people.
posted by muddgirl at 12:19 PM on July 8, 2011
It's not.
Note: I had to disable all Adblockers to watch videos on the AV Club site, so that might be the problem for some people.
posted by muddgirl at 12:19 PM on July 8, 2011
It was fun, but I'm still unable to forgive TMBG for breaking my heart by following Apollo 18 up with John Henry.
That's pretty funny. I never forgave them for following up Flood with Apollo 18. ;)
I want to take this opportunity to say that after the last time we had this conversation, I bought second copy of Apollo 18 because MeFi guilted me into thinking I hadn't given it a real college try, and I still couldn't stand it and traded that copy in too.
So stand firm, Flood and John Henry fans! Don't cave in to peer pressure.
And MeFi owes me $4.00.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:44 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's pretty funny. I never forgave them for following up Flood with Apollo 18. ;)
I want to take this opportunity to say that after the last time we had this conversation, I bought second copy of Apollo 18 because MeFi guilted me into thinking I hadn't given it a real college try, and I still couldn't stand it and traded that copy in too.
So stand firm, Flood and John Henry fans! Don't cave in to peer pressure.
And MeFi owes me $4.00.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:44 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Tubthumping" has become a sort of indie rock punchline, but it's still a damn catchy chorus.
What do you call it when you try to parody a genre but instead make a definitive entry in it?
posted by straight at 1:56 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
What do you call it when you try to parody a genre but instead make a definitive entry in it?
posted by straight at 1:56 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Doesn't anyone like Lincoln anymore?
posted by cabingirl at 1:58 PM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by cabingirl at 1:58 PM on July 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
What do you call it when you try to parody a genre but instead make a definitive entry in it?
Success?
posted by philip-random at 2:05 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Success?
posted by philip-random at 2:05 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just once, even if it's just for a single day, I'd like to work in a fun workplace. We wouldn't even have to have TMBG stop by, although that would be nice. It's not too much to ask, is it? (tommasz)
I've been asking for this since Lincoln was in short pants.
Bitterness aside, great cover. I know little about these fellows and would appreciate recommendations for entry points into their oeuvre.
posted by the sobsister at 2:08 PM on July 8, 2011
I've been asking for this since Lincoln was in short pants.
Bitterness aside, great cover. I know little about these fellows and would appreciate recommendations for entry points into their oeuvre.
posted by the sobsister at 2:08 PM on July 8, 2011
Doesn't anyone like Lincoln anymore?
Everybody likes Lincoln. It's only afterward that the feuding begins.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:21 PM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
Everybody likes Lincoln. It's only afterward that the feuding begins.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:21 PM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
I woke up this morning with Cage and Aquarium stuck in my head. It's been there all day. And I don't mind.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 3:16 PM on July 8, 2011
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 3:16 PM on July 8, 2011
I like Lincoln, Flood, Apollo 18, John Henry, Mink Car, The Else, and Here Come The ABCs! Haha, I've got more TMBG albums I like than you do!
posted by straight at 3:20 PM on July 8, 2011
posted by straight at 3:20 PM on July 8, 2011
I thought that Of Montreal's cover of The Strokes' 'Fell in Love with a Girl' was pretty great.
Occasionally I forget that Of Montreal are capable of rocking the fuck out. That clip brought me back to reality.
posted by schmod at 3:21 PM on July 8, 2011
Occasionally I forget that Of Montreal are capable of rocking the fuck out. That clip brought me back to reality.
posted by schmod at 3:21 PM on July 8, 2011
Everybody likes Lincoln. It's only afterward that the feuding begins.
Once a band's come up with a song like Ana Ng, they're entitled to a free pass until the end of time.
posted by Zonker at 3:40 PM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
Once a band's come up with a song like Ana Ng, they're entitled to a free pass until the end of time.
posted by Zonker at 3:40 PM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
There are only two proper ways to play the drums: shirtless, or in a business suit.
posted by troll at 3:43 PM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by troll at 3:43 PM on July 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
Listening to cover tunes is thirsty work. I sure could use a Frappucino.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:02 PM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:02 PM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
I notice that Little Red Corvette is on their list, but my all time favorite cover of that song has been done already.
posted by nile_red at 6:05 PM on July 8, 2011
posted by nile_red at 6:05 PM on July 8, 2011
On the subject of songs that get stuck in your head: I'm sortof a music junkie, I like a lot of everything and can't pretend to any posh tastes - that said there are a few bands in Seoul made up of foreigners here that are quite good, and not just in a "this is the best you could do with the people you know in this insular community" sort of way.
One of them is Swingset Committee, and their song "Singing Along" gets stuck in my head for WEEKS.
So I'm humming it at work at my new job (which is in a part of Seoul famous for love motels and massages happily ended) and my new co-worker asks what I'm humming and it turns out she sang the female vocals on their EP.
posted by nile_red at 6:16 PM on July 8, 2011
One of them is Swingset Committee, and their song "Singing Along" gets stuck in my head for WEEKS.
So I'm humming it at work at my new job (which is in a part of Seoul famous for love motels and massages happily ended) and my new co-worker asks what I'm humming and it turns out she sang the female vocals on their EP.
posted by nile_red at 6:16 PM on July 8, 2011
*hums something about a birdhouse in a light-socket - whatever a socket is*
They used this for the 1998 NRL promo so it's always wedded to elite sports for me but...
I have to admit to being mesmerized by the cuter-than-cute blonde dude in the maroon t and camo pants in that video. Who is he?
posted by evil_esto at 6:37 PM on July 8, 2011
They used this for the 1998 NRL promo so it's always wedded to elite sports for me but...
I have to admit to being mesmerized by the cuter-than-cute blonde dude in the maroon t and camo pants in that video. Who is he?
posted by evil_esto at 6:37 PM on July 8, 2011
Well, and "tubthumping" is UK-ese for "stumping" as in political speechmaking.
Whoa, this blew my mind. I (along with everyone in my 8th grade class when the song started getting radio play in the US) assumed it meant, uh, doing it, in a bathtub. And it hadn't really occurred to me to question that at any point in the last 14(?) years. I feel like a moron.
Nthing Darnielle-covers-Jawbreaker love, and I'm going to have to go back and listen to some more of these now.
posted by naoko at 6:56 PM on July 8, 2011
Whoa, this blew my mind. I (along with everyone in my 8th grade class when the song started getting radio play in the US) assumed it meant, uh, doing it, in a bathtub. And it hadn't really occurred to me to question that at any point in the last 14(?) years. I feel like a moron.
Nthing Darnielle-covers-Jawbreaker love, and I'm going to have to go back and listen to some more of these now.
posted by naoko at 6:56 PM on July 8, 2011
I can never make up my mind which of the TMBG Johns I have the bigger crush on.
This was wonderful, thank you.
posted by Neofelis at 8:52 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
This was wonderful, thank you.
posted by Neofelis at 8:52 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:25 PM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 9:25 PM on July 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch.
There may be people on earth who don't covet one of those, but I am not one of those people.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:32 PM on July 8, 2011
There may be people on earth who don't covet one of those, but I am not one of those people.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:32 PM on July 8, 2011
That was cute--some of the backup singers were so excited I thought they were going to pop. I thought it was a good cover of a very catchy song.
smackfu: TMBG got old since I saw them in college.
psoas: If that's "got old," then sign me the fuck up.
No kidding. Out of curiosity, I looked up their ages; John Flansburgh is 51 and John Linnell is 52. Unbelievable. I suspect each of them has a rapidly-aging oil painting in the attic.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:46 PM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
smackfu: TMBG got old since I saw them in college.
psoas: If that's "got old," then sign me the fuck up.
No kidding. Out of curiosity, I looked up their ages; John Flansburgh is 51 and John Linnell is 52. Unbelievable. I suspect each of them has a rapidly-aging oil painting in the attic.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:46 PM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
That's the whitest-crowd-in-a-small-room I've seen in a while.
posted by meehawl at 10:57 PM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by meehawl at 10:57 PM on July 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
I can't believe I didn't know about this. Thanks for posting. Looks like my Saturday night is sorted now!
posted by joboe at 11:36 AM on July 9, 2011
posted by joboe at 11:36 AM on July 9, 2011
You know, I watched this video again, and I was wrong. It IS an amazing video (although I'll reserve "life-changing"). I can't believe those guys are in their 50s - childlike joy and uncynical wonder at our amazing universe must be the fountain of youth.
posted by muddgirl at 1:08 PM on July 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by muddgirl at 1:08 PM on July 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Even if the music wasn't so much fun, looking through these episodes would have been worth it for the caption "Fruit bats cover Hall & Oates." What an image.
posted by vytae at 6:01 PM on July 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by vytae at 6:01 PM on July 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I notice that Little Red Corvette is on their list, but my all time favorite cover of that song has been done already.
Meshell Ndegeocello
That was pretty cool to see JD rocking out like a front man on the Jawbreaker cover, but that wasn't the greatest song choice for them, imo.
A lot of these covers are pretty mediocre. I guess I'll put my money on Telekinesis doing "Like Dylan in the Movies" (if only b/c one of the dudes says "I liked this record as a kid").
posted by mrgrimm at 8:54 AM on July 11, 2011
Meshell Ndegeocello
That was pretty cool to see JD rocking out like a front man on the Jawbreaker cover, but that wasn't the greatest song choice for them, imo.
A lot of these covers are pretty mediocre. I guess I'll put my money on Telekinesis doing "Like Dylan in the Movies" (if only b/c one of the dudes says "I liked this record as a kid").
posted by mrgrimm at 8:54 AM on July 11, 2011
Just came in to say all TMBG albums are awesome.
That is all.
posted by buriednexttoyou at 9:46 PM on July 13, 2011
That is all.
posted by buriednexttoyou at 9:46 PM on July 13, 2011
A lot of these covers are pretty mediocre.
I pretty much agree, particularly if you take away the visual. What you're generally getting are pretty good impressions of the original (TMBG), or sideways interpretations that are hardly rocking my world, forcing to leap from my recliner and shout "This Is greatness!"
That said, I do like the overall concept. I just wish it was way less obviously a Starbucks shill and more likely to feature artists who were willing to go mad with the original song, turn it inside out and sideways, leave a strange gem in their wake that would be hard not to replace the original with.
[he said, ending a sentence with preposition]
posted by philip-random at 9:39 AM on July 14, 2011
I pretty much agree, particularly if you take away the visual. What you're generally getting are pretty good impressions of the original (TMBG), or sideways interpretations that are hardly rocking my world, forcing to leap from my recliner and shout "This Is greatness!"
That said, I do like the overall concept. I just wish it was way less obviously a Starbucks shill and more likely to feature artists who were willing to go mad with the original song, turn it inside out and sideways, leave a strange gem in their wake that would be hard not to replace the original with.
[he said, ending a sentence with preposition]
posted by philip-random at 9:39 AM on July 14, 2011
The signal-to-bland ratio is higher in the summer break series. My favorite is Owen covering Summertime Rolls but that's partly for personal reasons... some of the other covers are among my all time favorite Undercovers.
posted by Kattullus at 11:20 AM on July 14, 2011
posted by Kattullus at 11:20 AM on July 14, 2011
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posted by rtimmel at 10:12 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]