16 Things Only Talking Heads Fans Will Understand

In a recent Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, Talking Heads ranked not-so-impressively as number 100. But hey, that’s okay. Surely the Talking Heads themselves wouldn't have any hard feelings. That was a band that knew how to stay humble. In the words of Brian Eno, “They’re about the nicest four people I could ever hope to meet.”

But what is it about Talking Heads that doesn’t seem to catch on with even the most avid rock fans? Could it be their lack of rock posture? While contemporaries like The Ramones were running around in leather and raising hell, Talking Heads read books on the tour bus. Actually, I challenge you to come up with something more un-rock than a pastel-clad David Byrne chirping about how much he likes his apartment building.

Is it because they appear so happy and friendly on stage? Those don't seem to be qualities that most people want in their rock stars. It's as if you can't be a great rock artist if you’re not self-destructive or sexually smoldering.

Well, I reject that. I say Talking Heads were the best band America’s ever seen, and I say it whenever I can. If you’re reading this, chances are you feel similarly. 

And if you think Talking Heads are lame or pretentious, let’s talk about those problems.

It seems weird that Talking Heads’ only American Top 10 Hit was “Burning Down The House.” I wasn’t alive during the excitement around the single in 1983, when apparently the song played everywhere all the time.

It’s a very good song, but as the band’s one definitive hit it seems lacking. The lyrics are empty of meaning, and the minute-long instrumental ending gets boring. Chalk this one up to the ‘80s being the ‘80s, I guess.