16 Things Only Talking Heads Fans Will Understand

16. Why "Burning Down The House?"

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.