The band contributed "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too", a political campaign song from the presidential election of 1840.
The song references Mickey's first spoken words in the 1929 short The Karnival Kid. They also recorded a cover of the Disney song, "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" for the film Meet the Robinsons and wrote and performed the theme song for The Drinky Crow Show.
The video for "Don't Let's Start", filmed in the New York State Pavilion built for the 1964 New York World's Fair in Queens, became a hit on MTV in 1987, earning them a broader following.
Soon discarding this title, the band assumed the name of a 1971 film They Might Be Giants (starring George C.
The review caught the attention of Bar/None Records, who signed them to a recording deal. Through the 1980s until 1998, Dial-A-Song consisted of an answering machine with a tape of the band playing various songs.
The two reunited in 1981 after moving to Brooklyn (to the same apartment building on the same day) to continue their career. ===Earlier years (1982–1989)=== At their first concert, They Might Be Giants performed under the name El Grupo De Rock and Roll (Spanish for "the Rock and Roll Band"), because the show was a Sandinista rally in Central Park, and a majority of the audience members spoke Spanish.
They Might Be Giants (often abbreviated as TMBG) is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell.
From 1984 to 1987, They Might Be Giants were the house-band at Darinka, a Lower East Side performance club.
On March 30, 1985, TMBG released their 7" flexi-disc, dubbed "Wiggle Diskette" at Darinka.
On November 15, 2008, the Dial-A-Song number was officially disconnected, though the number has at times been re-used in a similar style by other independent artists. ===They Might Be Giants and Lincoln (1986–1989)=== The duo released their self-titled debut album in 1986, which became a college radio hit.
The band also has videos for each of the Dial-A-Song tracks from 2015 and 2018 on their main YouTube channel, ParticleMen. ===Direct from Brooklyn=== In 1999, They Might Be Giants released Direct from Brooklyn, a VHS compilation of their music videos from 1986 up to that point.
From 1984 to 1987, They Might Be Giants were the house-band at Darinka, a Lower East Side performance club.
The video for "Don't Let's Start", filmed in the New York State Pavilion built for the 1964 New York World's Fair in Queens, became a hit on MTV in 1987, earning them a broader following.
The number, (718) 387-6962, was a local Brooklyn number and was charged accordingly, but the band advertised it with the line: "Free when you call from work". At one point in 1988, the Dial-A-Song answering machine recorded a conversation between two people who had listened to Dial-A-Song, then questioned how they made money out of it.
In 1988, they released their second album, Lincoln, named after the duo's hometown.
Both albums were produced on 8-track tape at Dubway Studios in New York City. ===Move to Elektra (1989–1992)=== In 1989, They Might Be Giants signed with Elektra Records, and released their third album Flood the following year.
In the early 1990s, TMBG expanded to include a backing band.
Flood earned them a platinum album, largely thanks to the success of "Birdhouse in Your Soul" which reached number three on the US Modern Rock chart, as well as "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)", a cover of a song originally by The Four Lads. In 1990, Throttle magazine interviewed They Might Be Giants and clarified the meaning of the song "Ana Ng": John Flansburgh said, "Ng is a Vietnamese name.
The videos reflected TMBG's high "kid appeal", resulting from their often absurd songs and poppy melodies. In 1991, Bar/None Records released the B-sides compilation Miscellaneous T.
Though consisting of previously released material (save for the "Purple Toupee" b-sides, which were not available publicly), it gave new fans a chance to hear the Johns' earlier non-album work without having to hunt down the individual EPs. In early 1992, They Might Be Giants released Apollo 18.
As early as 1992, the band was sending news updates to their fans via Usenet newsgroups.
It was released to mixed reviews amongst fans and critics alike. Their next album, Factory Showroom, was released in 1996 to little fanfare.
It was their first full album release of new studio material since 1996 and their first since parting ways with Elektra.
The review caught the attention of Bar/None Records, who signed them to a recording deal. Through the 1980s until 1998, Dial-A-Song consisted of an answering machine with a tape of the band playing various songs.
In 1999, They Might Be Giants became the first major-label recording artist to release an entire album exclusively in mp3 format.
The album, Long Tall Weekend, is sold through Emusic. Also, in 1999, the band contributed the song "Dr.
The band also has videos for each of the Dial-A-Song tracks from 2015 and 2018 on their main YouTube channel, ParticleMen. ===Direct from Brooklyn=== In 1999, They Might Be Giants released Direct from Brooklyn, a VHS compilation of their music videos from 1986 up to that point.
In the late 90s, TMBG started switching to a digital unit to update the format for Dial-A-Song but due to frequent crashes, the band returned to the original format. In March 2000, TMBG started the website dialasong.com, which was more reliable than the original, phone-based version, as it used a Flash document to stream the songs. In 2002, Dial-A-Song's answering machine broke down, and fans responded by sending new similar models.
"Boss of Me" became the band's second top-40 hit in the UK which they performed on long-running UK television programme Top of the Pops, and in 2002, won the duo a Grammy Award. On September 11, 2001, they released the album Mink Car on Restless Records.
In the late 90s, TMBG started switching to a digital unit to update the format for Dial-A-Song but due to frequent crashes, the band returned to the original format. In March 2000, TMBG started the website dialasong.com, which was more reliable than the original, phone-based version, as it used a Flash document to stream the songs. In 2002, Dial-A-Song's answering machine broke down, and fans responded by sending new similar models.
"Boss of Me" became the band's second top-40 hit in the UK which they performed on long-running UK television programme Top of the Pops, and in 2002, won the duo a Grammy Award. On September 11, 2001, they released the album Mink Car on Restless Records.
The film was released on DVD in 2003. In 2002, they released No!, their first album "for the entire family".
The film was released on DVD in 2003. In 2002, they released No!, their first album "for the entire family".
They followed it up in 2003 with their first book, an illustrated children's book with an included EP, Bed, Bed, Bed. ===Podcasting, independent releases, and children's music (2004–2015)=== In 2004, the band created one of the first artist-owned online music stores, at which customers could purchase and download MP3 copies of their music, both new releases and many previously released albums.
It was reissued on DVD in 2003.
They followed it up in 2003 with their first book, an illustrated children's book with an included EP, Bed, Bed, Bed. ===Podcasting, independent releases, and children's music (2004–2015)=== In 2004, the band created one of the first artist-owned online music stores, at which customers could purchase and download MP3 copies of their music, both new releases and many previously released albums.
With the redesign of the band's website in 2010, the store was reincarnated. Also, in 2004, the band released its first new "adult" rock work since the release of No!, the EP Indestructible Object.
In 2006 they recorded a track for the 200th Strong Bad e-mail, where Linnell provided the voice of The Poopsmith. TMBG also contributed a track to the 2004 Future Soundtrack For America compilation, a project compiled by John Flansburgh with the help of Spike Jonze and Barsuk Records.
All proceeds went to progressive organizations such as Music for America and MoveOn.org. Flansburgh and Linnell made a guest appearance in "Camp", the January 11, 2004, episode of the animated sitcom Home Movies.
On May 10, 2004, they made a guest appearance on the final episode of Blue's Clues called "Bluestock" alongside Toni Braxton, Macy Gray, and India.Arie.
They Might Be Giants were in a letter for Joe and Blue. Following the Spine on the Hiway Tour of 2004, the band announced that they would take an extended hiatus from touring to focus on other projects, such as a musical produced by Flansburgh and written by his wife, Robin "Goldie" Goldwasser, titled People Are Wrong!. 2005 saw the release of Here Come the ABCs, TMBG's follow-up to the successful children's album No!.
It is a concept album based on all of the "venue songs" from their 2004 tour. TMBG covered the Devo song "Through Being Cool" in the 2005 Disney film Sky High. From 2005 to 2014, They Might Be Giants made podcasts on a monthly, sometimes bi-monthly, basis.
By 2005, a computer system from TechTV was provided to maintain the system but technical difficulties started bringing the system to an end. In 2006, Dial-A-Song became increasingly difficult to maintain as a result of unreliable answering machines that had to be replaced.
The Disney Sound label released the CD and DVD separately on February 15, 2005.
In November 2005, Venue Songs was released as a two-disc CD/DVD set narrated by John Hodgman.
It is a concept album based on all of the "venue songs" from their 2004 tour. TMBG covered the Devo song "Through Being Cool" in the 2005 Disney film Sky High. From 2005 to 2014, They Might Be Giants made podcasts on a monthly, sometimes bi-monthly, basis.
By 2005, a computer system from TechTV was provided to maintain the system but technical difficulties started bringing the system to an end. In 2006, Dial-A-Song became increasingly difficult to maintain as a result of unreliable answering machines that had to be replaced.
In 2006 they recorded a track for the 200th Strong Bad e-mail, where Linnell provided the voice of The Poopsmith. TMBG also contributed a track to the 2004 Future Soundtrack For America compilation, a project compiled by John Flansburgh with the help of Spike Jonze and Barsuk Records.
Each edition included remixes of previous songs, rarities, covers, and new songs and skits recorded specifically for the podcast. The band contributed 14 original songs for the 2006 Dunkin' Donuts ad campaign, "America Runs on Dunkin'", including "Things I Like to Do", "Pleather", and "Fritalian".
Only one song, titled "Other Father Song", was kept for the film with Linnell singing as the titular "Other Father". Their twelfth album, The Else, was released July 10, 2007, on Idlewild Recordings (and distributed by Zoë Records for the CD version), with an earlier digital release on May 15 at the iTunes Store.
Advance copies were made available to stations by mid-June 2007.
In August, Dial-A-Song ceased production and because fans started taking advantage of the internet, it was replaced with a page promoting the They Might Be Giants podcasts. John Linnell stated in an interview in early 2008 that Dial-A-Song had died of a technical crash, and that the Internet had taken over where the machine left off.
On November 15, 2008, the Dial-A-Song number was officially disconnected, though the number has at times been re-used in a similar style by other independent artists. ===They Might Be Giants and Lincoln (1986–1989)=== The duo released their self-titled debut album in 1986, which became a college radio hit.
In a 2008 commercial, "Moving" is played. The band has produced and performed three original songs for Playhouse Disney series: one for Higglytown Heroes and two for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
On April 10, 2008, They Might Be Giants performed the song "Seven" from the album on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
In 2009, the album won the Grammy Award for "Best Musical Album For Children" during the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. The band's fourteenth album, Here Comes Science, a science-themed children's album.
It was released on September 1, 2009, and nominated for a Grammy Award on December 1, 2010. On November 3, They Might Be Giants sent out a newsletter stating "The Avatars of They", a set of sock puppets the Johns manipulate for shows, will have an album in 2012, suggesting another children's album.
With the redesign of the band's website in 2010, the store was reincarnated. Also, in 2004, the band released its first new "adult" rock work since the release of No!, the EP Indestructible Object.
It was released on September 1, 2009, and nominated for a Grammy Award on December 1, 2010. On November 3, They Might Be Giants sent out a newsletter stating "The Avatars of They", a set of sock puppets the Johns manipulate for shows, will have an album in 2012, suggesting another children's album.
However, a new adult album titled Join Us was released on July 19, 2011. On October 3, 2011, Artix Entertainment announced that the band would be performing in-game for a special musical event to commemorate the 3rd birthday of their popular MMORPG AdventureQuest Worlds.
It was released on September 1, 2009, and nominated for a Grammy Award on December 1, 2010. On November 3, They Might Be Giants sent out a newsletter stating "The Avatars of They", a set of sock puppets the Johns manipulate for shows, will have an album in 2012, suggesting another children's album.
They were featured in AdventureQuest World's special third birthday event as John and John. On March 5, 2013, the band released their sixteenth adult studio album, Nanobots, on their Idlewild Recordings label in the US and on British indie label Lojinx in Europe. The live album Flood Live in Australia was made available for free digital download by the band in 2015.
It is a concept album based on all of the "venue songs" from their 2004 tour. TMBG covered the Devo song "Through Being Cool" in the 2005 Disney film Sky High. From 2005 to 2014, They Might Be Giants made podcasts on a monthly, sometimes bi-monthly, basis.
They were featured in AdventureQuest World's special third birthday event as John and John. On March 5, 2013, the band released their sixteenth adult studio album, Nanobots, on their Idlewild Recordings label in the US and on British indie label Lojinx in Europe. The live album Flood Live in Australia was made available for free digital download by the band in 2015.
Also in 2015, the band reactivated its Dial-A-Song service under the banner of Dial-A-Song-Direct, promising to release one new song every week for the entire year, beginning with the track "Erase" on January 5.
Several of these songs were planned to be collected on a new studio rock album entitled Glean on April 21, 2015. The band released their newest children's album, Why?, on November 27, 2015.
It was their fifth children's album and the first children's album to be released under their own label, Idlewild Recordings. In a video released on December 20, 2015, John Flansburgh announced that the band would be taking a temporary break following their 2016 U.S.
tour. ===Dial-A-Song revival, Phone Power, I Like Fun, and BOOK (2015–present)=== Dial-A-Song was revived in 2015, with a new phone number ((844) 387-6962), the website, and a radio network.
In late 2017, the band announced via Twitter that Dial-A-Song would return again, in a modified format, starting in January 2018. On March 8, 2016, the band released Phone Power, their nineteenth studio album and the third containing songs from the 2015 revival of their Dial-a-Song service.
My Murdered Remains contains songs from the 2015 and 2018 iterations of Dial-A-Song.
The band also has videos for each of the Dial-A-Song tracks from 2015 and 2018 on their main YouTube channel, ParticleMen. ===Direct from Brooklyn=== In 1999, They Might Be Giants released Direct from Brooklyn, a VHS compilation of their music videos from 1986 up to that point.
It was their fifth children's album and the first children's album to be released under their own label, Idlewild Recordings. In a video released on December 20, 2015, John Flansburgh announced that the band would be taking a temporary break following their 2016 U.S.
In late 2017, the band announced via Twitter that Dial-A-Song would return again, in a modified format, starting in January 2018. On March 8, 2016, the band released Phone Power, their nineteenth studio album and the third containing songs from the 2015 revival of their Dial-a-Song service.
They made a song "I'm Not a Loser" for the SpongeBob SquarePants musical in 2016. In October 2019, the band recorded a new version of their song "Hot Dog" to promote the upcoming third season of the Disney Channel preschool series Mickey and the Roadster Racers, re-titled as "Mickey Mouse: Mixed Up Adventures" for that season.
In late 2017, the band announced via Twitter that Dial-A-Song would return again, in a modified format, starting in January 2018. On March 8, 2016, the band released Phone Power, their nineteenth studio album and the third containing songs from the 2015 revival of their Dial-a-Song service.
In late 2017, the band announced via Twitter that Dial-A-Song would return again, in a modified format, starting in January 2018. On March 8, 2016, the band released Phone Power, their nineteenth studio album and the third containing songs from the 2015 revival of their Dial-a-Song service.
This was the first TMBG album to be sold as a "pay what you want" download, available ahead of the physical release on June 10. The band's twentieth album, I Like Fun was released on January 19, 2018.
Their twenty-first and twenty-second studio albums, My Murdered Remains and The Escape Team, were both released on December 10, 2018.
My Murdered Remains contains songs from the 2015 and 2018 iterations of Dial-A-Song.
The band also has videos for each of the Dial-A-Song tracks from 2015 and 2018 on their main YouTube channel, ParticleMen. ===Direct from Brooklyn=== In 1999, They Might Be Giants released Direct from Brooklyn, a VHS compilation of their music videos from 1986 up to that point.
They made a song "I'm Not a Loser" for the SpongeBob SquarePants musical in 2016. In October 2019, the band recorded a new version of their song "Hot Dog" to promote the upcoming third season of the Disney Channel preschool series Mickey and the Roadster Racers, re-titled as "Mickey Mouse: Mixed Up Adventures" for that season.
It premiered on Disney Junior on October 14, 2019. In July 2020, the band announced that they would be releasing an album titled BOOK in 2021.
It premiered on Disney Junior on October 14, 2019. In July 2020, the band announced that they would be releasing an album titled BOOK in 2021.
It premiered on Disney Junior on October 14, 2019. In July 2020, the band announced that they would be releasing an album titled BOOK in 2021.
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