Comments on: They Might Be Giants: "Meet the Elements" music video (BB Video) http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 09:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583179 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583179 Is there anything the Johns won't do <b>For Science</b>? <i>There has been a spacecraft sighted Flying high above the sky Sirens declare there's one among us from Venus!</i> <i>Volunteers, we need volunteers Soldiers to meet them Have no fear Have no fear You will be killed right away...</i> <i>I will date the girl from Venus Flowers die and so will I Yes, I will kiss the girl from Venus for science!</i> <i>I'm so brave I'm so brave I'll be her love slave He's so brave He's so brave He'll be her love slave forever</i> <i>Yes! I will date the girl from Venus Flowers die and so will I Yes, I will kiss the girl from Venus for science!</i> <i>Let's get those missiles ready to destroy the universe!</i> Is there anything the Johns won’t do For Science?

There has been a spacecraft sighted
Flying high above the sky
Sirens declare there’s one among us from Venus!

Volunteers, we need volunteers
Soldiers to meet them
Have no fear
Have no fear
You will be killed right away…

I will date the girl from Venus
Flowers die and so will I
Yes, I will kiss the girl from Venus for science!

I’m so brave
I’m so brave
I’ll be her love slave
He’s so brave
He’s so brave
He’ll be her love slave forever

Yes! I will date the girl from Venus
Flowers die and so will I
Yes, I will kiss the girl from Venus for science!

Let’s get those missiles ready to destroy the universe!

]]> By: FoetusNail http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-592409 FoetusNail Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-592409 From my five year old, "This is the best show ever, and we get to keep it!" We're always getting shows from the library :( Thanks Xeni, enjoy your 2 cents worth or whatever, you earned it! From my five year old, “This is the best show ever, and we get to keep it!”

We’re always getting shows from the library :(

Thanks Xeni, enjoy your 2 cents worth or whatever, you earned it!

]]> By: Slicklines http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583200 Slicklines Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583200 psst! Chalk is mostly calcium carbonate, not calcium sulfate. I love that They Might be Giants is doing chemistry. I hate that the director of the video doesn't know it. psst! Chalk is mostly calcium carbonate, not calcium sulfate. I love that They Might be Giants is doing chemistry. I hate that the director of the video doesn’t know it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-586790 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-586790 God bless BB. I am teaching elements and the periodic chart starting on Monday. This is an AWESOME hook. I saw TMBG in the late 80s and just saw them a year or two ago. They still rock after all these years. God bless BB. I am teaching elements and the periodic chart starting on Monday. This is an AWESOME hook.
I saw TMBG in the late 80s and just saw them a year or two ago. They still rock after all these years.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583208 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583208 What about Tom Lehrer's Element Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmwlzwGMMwc What about Tom Lehrer’s Element Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmwlzwGMMwc

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583218 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583218 Hi Slicklines - I'm one of the co-directors of the video. We'd really hope we didn't lead the kids astray... According to Wikipedia, "A chalkboard or blackboard is a reusable writing surface on which text or drawings are made with sticks of calcium sulphate, known, when used for this purpose, as chalk. " and "Sticks of processed "chalk" are produced especially for use with chalkboards in white and also in various colours. These are not actually made from chalk rock but from calcium sulfate in its dihydrate form, gypsum." Are these incorrect? We hope not. Matt Hi Slicklines – I’m one of the co-directors of the video. We’d really hope we didn’t lead the kids astray… According to Wikipedia, “A chalkboard or blackboard is a reusable writing surface on which text or drawings are made with sticks of calcium sulphate, known, when used for this purpose, as chalk. ” and “Sticks of processed “chalk” are produced especially for use with chalkboards in white and also in various colours. These are not actually made from chalk rock but from calcium sulfate in its dihydrate form, gypsum.” Are these incorrect? We hope not.

Matt

]]> By: Xeni Jardin http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583247 Xeni Jardin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583247 @Matt, thanks for stopping by, and great work!!! @Matt, thanks for stopping by, and great work!!!

]]> By: sciencemike http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583250 sciencemike Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583250 THIS IS SO COOL! When I was working at The Franklin Institute Science Museum we needed a song about what blood does for your body. I suggested that TMBG might be the perfect band to write and perform such a song. My wonderful boss gave me the OK to contact them and a few phone calls later the contract was done and they had agreed to write the bloodmobile. We sent John Linell a list of content points and three days later we had a demo that ended being very close to the finished song that you can find here. http://www2.fi.edu/exhibits/permanent/giant-heart-bloodmobile.php It comes in three tasty resolutions. John was great to work with. I just wish he wasn't so darn fast so we would have been able to work with him longer. I am so glad that the song made the album. Here is another video done by a 17 year old fan. It is quite different from the original but reeks of awesome! http://www.dave-logan.com/animation/bloodmobile/ THIS IS SO COOL! When I was working at The Franklin Institute Science Museum we needed a song about what blood does for your body. I suggested that TMBG might be the perfect band to write and perform such a song. My wonderful boss gave me the OK to contact them and a few phone calls later the contract was done and they had agreed to write the bloodmobile. We sent John Linell a list of content points and three days later we had a demo that ended being very close to the finished song that you can find here.

http://www2.fi.edu/exhibits/permanent/giant-heart-bloodmobile.php

It comes in three tasty resolutions.

John was great to work with. I just wish he wasn’t so darn fast so we would have been able to work with him longer. I am so glad that the song made the album.

Here is another video done by a 17 year old fan. It is quite different from the original but reeks of awesome!
http://www.dave-logan.com/animation/bloodmobile/

]]> By: Dean Putney http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583260 Dean Putney Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583260 From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate "It is commonly called chalk as it has traditionally been a major component of blackboard chalk. Modern manufactured chalk is now mostly gypsum, hydrated calcium sulfate CaSO4·2H2O." Everybody's right! From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate

“It is commonly called chalk as it has traditionally been a major component of blackboard chalk. Modern manufactured chalk is now mostly gypsum, hydrated calcium sulfate CaSO4·2H2O.”

Everybody’s right!

]]> By: theawesomerobot http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583008 theawesomerobot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583008 What? now they're trying to teach my kids science?! Where do I opt out? What? now they’re trying to teach my kids science?! Where do I opt out?

]]> By: orwellian http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-586338 orwellian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-586338 You know, I love that my nieces and nephew get to grow up in a world of creativity, coolness and joy. Still, my generation had 'Schoolhouse Rock', so that's cool. You know, I love that my nieces and nephew get to grow up in a world of creativity, coolness and joy. Still, my generation had ‘Schoolhouse Rock’, so that’s cool.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583012 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583012 They are doing 2 live free shows at Union County Music Festival in Clark, NJ this weekend. Check UCMusicfest.com for times. One show is for kids, one is their adult music. They are doing 2 live free shows at Union County Music Festival in Clark, NJ this weekend. Check UCMusicfest.com for times. One show is for kids, one is their adult music.

]]> By: TuesdayWeld http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-683630 TuesdayWeld Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-683630 *sigh* This is the first time a band I really thought was "out there", catchy and cerebral became a children's act. Bully for the kids, I guess. *sigh* This is the first time a band I really thought was “out there”, catchy and cerebral became a children’s act. Bully for the kids, I guess.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583035 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583035 When the forest grows dark, you learn to value light flecks. Thanks TMBG p When the forest grows dark,
you learn to value light flecks.
Thanks TMBG
p

]]> By: gabrielm http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583039 gabrielm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583039 @theawesomerobot, By not pushing the play button? I hope that you are being sarcastic - but then again, I have met people who wanted an "opt out" option for science. Imagine if you could: Suddenly all chemical reactions in your body would stop... @theawesomerobot,
By not pushing the play button?

I hope that you are being sarcastic – but then again, I have met people who wanted an “opt out” option for science. Imagine if you could: Suddenly all chemical reactions in your body would stop…

]]> By: wylkyn http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-615554 wylkyn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615554 I have been a TMBG fan since forever, so it is only natural that my daughter has been soaked in their music all her life. She really enjoyed "Here Come the ABCs" when she was younger, and now that she is six - here comes the science! Thanks, Johns! And thanks to Feel Good Anyway for their contributions. I have been a TMBG fan since forever, so it is only natural that my daughter has been soaked in their music all her life. She really enjoyed “Here Come the ABCs” when she was younger, and now that she is six – here comes the science! Thanks, Johns! And thanks to Feel Good Anyway for their contributions.

]]> By: hoffmanbike http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583049 hoffmanbike Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583049 i ordered this cd from amazon; just got delived this morning.. can't wait to get home and give it a listen. i don't even have kids. i ordered this cd from amazon; just got delived this morning.. can’t wait to get home and give it a listen. i don’t even have kids.

]]> By: pupdog http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583568 pupdog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583568 I got to see TMBG the night 'Here Come the ABC's' was released, it was totally cool to see toddlers, their parents, and a bunch of teens all pogoing to 'Clap Your Hands' and shaking the bookstore floor. Even cooler when I got CD's to have signed, told the Johns they were for my 7yo son and my 27yo girlfriend, and they weren't the least phased by it. I got to see TMBG the night ‘Here Come the ABC’s’ was released, it was totally cool to see toddlers, their parents, and a bunch of teens all pogoing to ‘Clap Your Hands’ and shaking the bookstore floor. Even cooler when I got CD’s to have signed, told the Johns they were for my 7yo son and my 27yo girlfriend, and they weren’t the least phased by it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583322 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583322 ditto #15. Viva Lehrer ditto #15. Viva Lehrer

]]> By: Darwindr http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583075 Darwindr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583075 I have always loved TMBG's sciencey songs. From "The Sun is a mass of incandescent gas" to... "Standing in between extinction in the cold and explosive radiating growth So the warm blood flows Through the large four-chambered heart Maintaining the very high metabolism rate they have Mammal, mammal Their names are called They raise a paw The bat, the cat Dolphin and dog Koala bear and hog" Go Science! I have always loved TMBG’s sciencey songs. From “The Sun is a mass of incandescent gas” to…

“Standing in between extinction in the cold
and explosive radiating growth
So the warm blood flows
Through the large four-chambered heart
Maintaining the very high metabolism rate they have

Mammal, mammal
Their names are called
They raise a paw
The bat, the cat
Dolphin and dog
Koala bear and hog”

Go Science!

]]> By: mdclarinet http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583348 mdclarinet Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583348 Hey, Giants! The sign on your pizza place should be all RED. Those are the only "neon" signs that contain neon! Hey, Giants! The sign on your pizza place should be all RED. Those are the only “neon” signs that contain neon!

]]> By: wolfiesma http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583093 wolfiesma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583093 Wow! What a great way to start the week. Beautiful song. The music and video together is so nice. I hope they make a bunch of the songs into animations and broadcast them on Noggin. Pretty please?? :) Great scoop, BBVideo! Wow! What a great way to start the week. Beautiful song. The music and video together is so nice. I hope they make a bunch of the songs into animations and broadcast them on Noggin. Pretty please?? :) Great scoop, BBVideo!

]]> By: hokano http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583107 hokano Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583107 @Darwindr: I agree that TMBG did an excellent cover of "Why Does the Sun Shine", but I feel compelled to give some public respect to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Glazer">Tom Glazer</a>, the man who wrote the song. It seems he also wrote the classic "On Top of Spaghetti"! (Which will now be stuck in my head for hours...) @Darwindr: I agree that TMBG did an excellent cover of “Why Does the Sun Shine”, but I feel compelled to give some public respect to Tom Glazer, the man who wrote the song.

It seems he also wrote the classic “On Top of Spaghetti”! (Which will now be stuck in my head for hours…)

]]> By: hokano http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583119 hokano Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583119 @hokano: No, you fool! It appears that, while Tom Glazer performed "Why Does the Sun Shine?" on the album <a href="">Space Songs</a>, Hy Zaret wrote the lyrics, Lou Singer the music. In the future, let's try to get our facts straight before posting, hmmm? @hokano: No, you fool! It appears that, while Tom Glazer performed “Why Does the Sun Shine?” on the album Space Songs, Hy Zaret wrote the lyrics, Lou Singer the music.

In the future, let’s try to get our facts straight before posting, hmmm?

]]> By: Keneke http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583121 Keneke Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583121 I see this as the nostalgia of my future children. Just think Schoolhouse Rock! I see this as the nostalgia of my future children. Just think Schoolhouse Rock!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583125 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583125 Well, that just made my staying-home-sick 2 year old son's day. thanks! Well, that just made my staying-home-sick 2 year old son’s day.

thanks!

]]> By: crayonbeam http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-586972 crayonbeam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-586972 the art reminds me of Charley Harper paintings the art reminds me of Charley Harper paintings

]]> By: klenow http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-583135 klenow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583135 I have a bunch of older TMBG stuff, and my kids listen to selected tracks from it a lot. Recently, my son was out back playing with some of the neighborhood kids. They had buil Lego spaceships and were fighting each other, zipping around trees (asteroids, apparently) and shooting at each other. I couldn't hear most of what they were saying, but at one point he suddenly stopped and pointed to the sky. He looked at his friends, put on a mock-horror face, and yelled at the top of his voice, "OH, NO! It's a giant nuclear furnace! RUN! RUNNNNN!" I have GOT to get this CD. I have a bunch of older TMBG stuff, and my kids listen to selected tracks from it a lot.

Recently, my son was out back playing with some of the neighborhood kids. They had buil Lego spaceships and were fighting each other, zipping around trees (asteroids, apparently) and shooting at each other. I couldn’t hear most of what they were saying, but at one point he suddenly stopped and pointed to the sky. He looked at his friends, put on a mock-horror face, and yelled at the top of his voice, “OH, NO! It’s a giant nuclear furnace! RUN! RUNNNNN!”

I have GOT to get this CD.

]]> By: Reader http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-585951 Reader Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-585951 Great song, but I really wish TMBG hadn't used the sexist, outdated term "man" to refer to "humans." Humans, Humankind, Humanity, the Human Race. I wish TMBG would write a song about that... Other cool songs: Potsie's "Pumps Your Blood": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_d0ykpzQgY Barenaked Ladies "The History of Everything" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldkw1YE7J-o Great song, but I really wish TMBG hadn’t used the sexist, outdated term “man” to refer to “humans.” Humans, Humankind, Humanity, the Human Race. I wish TMBG would write a song about that…
Other cool songs:
Potsie’s “Pumps Your Blood”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_d0ykpzQgY
Barenaked Ladies “The History of Everything”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldkw1YE7J-o

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/08/they-might-be-giants-2.html#comment-584416 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-584416 Does anyone know of an educational video, probably from the '80s, about oxygen that had a song with, if I remember correctly, a double bass. The lyrics went: "Oxygen, We neeeeeeed oxygen We breaaaaathe oxygen" I remember mocking the hell out of it in high school. Been looking for it for a while. Does anyone know of an educational video, probably from the ’80s, about oxygen that had a song with, if I remember correctly, a double bass.
The lyrics went:
“Oxygen,
We neeeeeeed oxygen
We breaaaaathe oxygen”

I remember mocking the hell out of it in high school. Been looking for it for a while.

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