They Might Be Giants - Am I Awake? - dir. by Alex Italics (official TMBG contest winner)

From TMBGs album Idlewild available on Apple Music at bit.ly/1tRboyF or support the band and get it direct on vinyl, FLAC, mp3 or CD at bit.ly/1f4tbbz.
1 of 3 OFFICIAL WINNERS of the TMBG "Am I Awake?" music video contest! From TMBGs compilation album Idlewild! Judge John Hodgman speaks:
"Alex Italics, for the video I call "Don't Say 'Grassy Knoll,' say 'Grassy YES.'" The amount of talent that has been poured into this--from all the actors to the all the costumes to the set design and the video design, not to mention the elderly newsman tear deployment--makes it as hypnotic as the Zapruder film."
Directed, Produced, and Edited by ALEX ITALICS
Cinematography by BRODY ANDERSON
Starring:
News anchors:
DANIEL DAVID HIGGINS
MARK KLUGHEIT
STEVE MCKEE
RAY C. MERRIL
Field reporters:
CARL JOHNSON
ALEX ITALICS
Eyewitness:
MOLLY BATES JOHNSON
Newsmen:
DANIEL GEFFRE
GRANT HUNKER
MIKEY DEAN AGIUS
Police:
BOB FLYZIK
KEITH LOPEZ
JOEY RUDMAN
Passersby:
MARK BIERY
KATE CANNON
PAM WITTENBAKER CRANDALL
SHANE GUNTHER
ADAM NIXON
DANIELLE STEPHENSON
CRYSTAL VALENZUELA
JORDAN MARIE WILSON
Special Thanks to:
ASHLEY NIXON
HUNTER MACPHERSON
DAVID NEFF
EVERETT FORBES
MICHAEL MULCAHY
DAN BATES
HELEN STEPHENSON
DEAN AND MELISSA PORTER
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[@poppawheelie59]

I'm honored to be in this video.

[@astrangeriremain]

I'm honored that your honored to be in this video even though I didn't make it.

[@uhhhhh275]

The Skeleton im honored that you are honored that guy is in this music video you didnt make even though i have no association with any of this.

[@astrangeriremain]

Everybody is The Doctor Oh, well I must say that I am honored.

[@iancrockett6951]

Was it fun?

[@LukeHennisch]

Lunnalli I gotta admit I tried to keep up with your loop, oh boy was it hard.

[@arigadatred5395]

I like how each music video drew out a concept the song can express. It can be a song about sleeping (and insomnia), about alienated labor consuming your life and leading to depression, or it can be about trauma and going through a period when you distance yourself from the world due to sheer horror. I'm glad there are three videos and not just one.

[@JohnBrown-pq9tj]

I've always taken it to be about derealization.

[@mattneff]

"When I close my eyes it looks the same as when I open them again" it's chilling how well that lyric fits with this video's concept.

[@samkniffen4760]

Linnell's written a lot of eerie/disturbing songs over the course of his career, but I don't think any of them beat this song on that front.

[@ruiner_9]

This is absolutely my favorite of the 3 winners. The feeling of chaos and sorrow is so genuine. A huge congrats to the production team and actors for an amazing job!

[@Stufftough]

Every day now for two years I wake up at 3 am

[@kgpspyguy]

@@Stufftough I think you need to respect yourself and find a better job dude.

[@sloshed-rat]

I don't know how fans of a band with a shoestring budget were able to make this, but I'm so happy that they did. At the risk of sounding pretentious, I found the disorienting shake-up and loss of American innocence captured in this video to be spectacular and captivating. I wasn't alive when JFK was assassinated, but I'm sure it felt like an absolute nightmare to the common man. Everyone was hoping it was just a really bad dream...

[@ExcessiveSpareTime]

Wonder what the budget was for this, this whole thing was a top-notch production.

[@tristanthompson5269]

Probably not that much. Apart from the actors (assuming they're payed and not just friends and fans) the most expensive part would be the old rotary phones and sound equipment

[@alexw5713]

According to a Reddit AMA with the director, about $500.

[@heyodi3092]

@@alexw5713 that is incredibly impressive

[@flamesflowers4162]

I'm an insomniac and I feel this song on multiple different levels. Where are my people?

[@kgpspyguy]

Sleeping.

[@wearecoterminous]

@@kgpspyguy insomnia is being unable to sleep

[@kgpspyguy]

@@wearecoterminous Did you try just like… uh. Closing your eyes? And like, laying in a bed? EZ

[@sloshed-rat]

​@@kgpspyguyLol, why didn't I think of that?! Silly me.

[@sammosammy]

My personal favourite of the winners. It just seemed to hit the feel of the song more than the other two.

[@JohnJakala]

I've lost count how many times I've watched this video and every time I marvel at how perfectly everything is done.

[@Lyze]

This whole video is great but haunted look the first reporter has throughout is amazing.

[@Juke-Fox]

It's hard to tell, but the black-&-white TV, the Dallas police, the breaking news bulletin, the image of the skyscraper window, the 'interrupted broadcast warning, the shot of the toy convertible with 2 passengers, the half-mast flag, Air Force 1 in the background, the montage of news openings, & the panicked reporters all reveal that this is about news crews across the country scrambling to report on the Kennedy assassination even when nothing feels real.

[@andrewbartmess4705]

Kids, you have no idea how glorious (or scary) the would you are growing up in is. This video was probably done with a shoestring budget...but it is a thousand times better than commercial movies were when I was a kid. And wow...the symbolism just tears the heart out of people my age. Wow.

[@andrewbartmess4705]

+kyrakyramyra This black and white photography is done in the style of the news media of the early 1960s, and the graphic data refers to the JFK assassination in Dallas in 1963 You can see the newsman holding a picture with an arrow pointing at the 6th floor Schoolbook Depository, and at a model of the car JFK was shot in. The flags are shown at half mast. "Cowtown" on the newspaper would refer to someone reading news of the assassination in a Fort Worth (Texas) newspaper. The guy in the white hat looks like Jack Ruby, the nightclub owner who shot (and silenced) Lee Harvey Oswald before he could talk to investigators. The music expresses how people felt in the aftermath of the killing...stunned and beaten..."How can this horrible thing have happened? I must be dreaming."

[@jbigger59]

Quite accurate with one exception, the guys in the white hats are not meant to be Jack Ruby, the Dallas Police all wore white cowboy hats, if you look back at old video of the assignation of Lee Harvey Oswald, you will see the police officer holding him by the elbow is wearing a white Stetson, he is a cop, not the gunman.

[@SelbySavidge]

Holy damn this is heavy.

[@EBThisThat]

I’ve asked myself this question numerous times as I go through my day working a monotonous job but by the end of my working day, in my writing, outside among nature, I’m awake and alive.

[@salange17]

I liked all three winners, but this one blew me away. The tone set by the costuming, performances, black/white, and everything else really brought out the pathos in the song, and I think the best music videos are ones that take the song to another level. And that's before I caught on to what the video is "about." Actually, the first time through, I sort of zoned out thinking about how moving the video was and didn't catch the "subject" until I saw the half-mast flag. I had to watch it again to catch all the other suggestive clues. Anyway, magnificent video. Thanks!!

[@dnr-vs1lk]

i love how there's a reflection on the tv screen, attention to detail 100.

[@BojoPigeon]

Not only is there a reflection, but the reflection is in the style of a house from time period. It really is impressive.

[@dawn8293]

This song legit makes me wonder if I'm awake. It's rather surreal.

[@MikaEfrat1]

Overall, this is my favourite of the three. It has a very distinctive style and is filled with a lot of cool puzzle piece symbolism where you have to almost work out what every different character and object represents in this piece. I like it a lot. The tension, the timing, the 'Am I Awake' text filled throughout the film. It is engaging and I felt very immersed.

[@ace-heat]

Anyone else see that the newspaper is called "The Cowtown Herald"?

[@shawnwelker5957]

So if anyone reads this five years later, Ft. Worth is sometimes called "Cowtown" and of course TMBG had a song called Cowtown on Lincoln, so I'm guess it's an in reference.

[@samakafrisco1759]

Nice touch.

[@qazhr]

This video thru using the JFK assassination gives the song the meaning about the unreal feeling you get during a tragedy

[@sheilagibsonstoodley5216]

Rarely does a music video best the song by finding and bringing out layers of meaning lurking within. To see the clever concept so well-executed, with all these period details, is breathtaking. No offense to the other chosen two, but why isn't this the sole contest winner?

[@Roxy_Repelusa]

The other day I was watching a documentary about a guy who had a memory span of 7 seconds, this song came to my mind as that man kept writing “ now I’m awake” in his diary

[@maxhand1562]

This one is my favorite too. At first I felt it was a bit creepy, but then I realized that it was spot on. I love the details; if they were not mouthing the song lyrics, I might of thought some of it was period footage. And I do remember the period. Also, I love the fact that some of the video distortion is actually tied to the bass of the music itself. I didn't realize that until I watched it on a computer with good speakers.

[@HotelMari0Maker]

They Might Be Giants is such an effortlessly philosophical and existential band.

[@FathomLordKarathr]

This was the only contest entry that really hit home for me, it's obvious allot of work was put into it.

[@teiladnam]

I love the crap out of this.

[@Thethreestories]

Easily the best in the contest, and one of the best music videos I've ever seen.

[@emanate3014]

The attention to period-accurate details (and casting) continues to be astounding.

[@Chamelionroses]

This song touches my feels.

[@ubikuberalles1]

Without a doubt the best of the three. A chill went through my back throughout the duration of this video. Wow. I was totally immersed in it.

[@Preach202]

Hands down the best of the three winners

[@kittydonut7159]

I'm doing my best to raise the number of views - all by myself. Totally my personal anthem at his point. These two seem to understand every facet of the human condition - this one not being the cheeriest, but it suits so many of us.

[@nahumlittle4321]

This is by far the best winner.

[@gunnaryoung]

Man, I forgot this song existed. It sounds so different than the rest of their songs but somehow just like a TMBG song at the same time!

[@SimianJack]

First time seeing it just now, thought "holy hell, this is brilliant." watched it again and now I'm a little teary-eyed. Song is my new fave but the video is powerful. Great job, all involved, deeply empathetic. And I've been away from TMBG for far too long.

[@adamthorton1570]

After watching all three, I've come to the conclusion that this is my favorite. It engages you in its own story AND the song, whereas I feel the others were just focused their story with the song featured as background music. Brilliant, guys. VERY well done!

[@korubi_eCSTatic]

My favorite of the three. Absolutely love the style and direction the creator went with, kudos to Alex Italics.

[@modemmute]

That is the best music video I've seen in a decade. Well done.

[@percyperanamus7432]

This is great

[@jrpipik]

First time I ever saw this. Wow!

[@sysmatt]

Wow, this one is really good. It looks like it was a LOT of work.

[@hannahmiller6528]

Even though we knew you must have shot all this, we kept wondering if it was somehow found footage... really nice production value! xo from Jack & Hannah (team typewriter murder)

[@whereami2611]

Brilliant song. Brilliant video. Both nail that vaguely alarming alienation effect that comes with prolonged sleep deprivation.

[@AlterMannCam]

Definitely my favorite of the three...

[@schlega2]

I loved the Cowtown Morning Herald.

[@StephenStaver]

I think this one is my favorite. All the actors, and the strange juxtaposition of concepts, really lend it to be memorable, and gives the video watcher things to think about.

[@heyodi3092]

This is my favorite music video of all time. I sense an underlying message here and it’s incredible.

[@peterdiaz6866]

Sad and beautiful.....you know it good art.

[@DestinationGroovy]

This is a fascinating, albeit depressing concept. It was all very well done. Easily, this is my favorite video of the three winners. Nicely played.

[@galerius07]

That was a great video! I had always thought of this song as looking inward in a sort of solipsistic way. I had never thought of turning it outward, questioning the insanity of the world and how general tragedy becomes personal tragedy like this video did.

[@hippogriffgrrl10]

Really excellent work on this--definitely a deserved win.

[@wbeaty]

Subgenius-approved! Another stupendous not-doing. The most wonderful thing ever on TV!! Ever!!!!

[@GlorianaBanana]

This is my favorite. I'd love to see behind the scenes!

[@baval5]

Guys, the video is obviously about the Kennedy Assassination. That doesn't mean the song has to be.

[@andrewbartmess4705]

+baval5 That was the beauty of the original music videos...the songs stood on their own, but the graphics could give them different meaning.

[@priestessofpan]

An outstanding video. My husband loved it too and he isn't even a TMBG fan, very moving and amazing production values - thank you for making!

[@RadRafe]

Brilliant, beautiful, cool. Congratulations!

[@ZipFoxtaur]

This video really has amazing, moving performances. Congratulations on a well-deserved win! Kudos to the cast and crew.

[@JennJanesko]

Amazing.

[@Algaemancer]

Earned Title. Congratulations and THANK YOU

[@alexcarter8807]

There's far more to this band than I knew.

[@adamthorton1570]

Wow... This is terrific. The actors are brilliant. Their performances are so real! Very good work!

[@LevyMedia]

This is fantastic!

[@anoyes]

Not even close... This one is brilliant!

[@esornad]

This video is absolutely fantastic. Wonderful concept, great clean cinematography. Nicely done!

[@dakedres]

Seriously one of the most haunting songs I've ever listened to

[@oceanographergirl]

This was my favorite one of the three videos!

[@Cordeliaceps]

Simply brilliant!

[@mikeheffernan]

Classy piece of work. My favourite.

[@tenchuu007]

Very impressive, well thought out and clever! Amazing production level!

[@earlvillar2815]

Wow. This is great.

[@CraigJClark]

This video defines "Zapruderesque".

[@NicNac13c]

Jack Fields' video is still my favorite, but this one is a very close second. It's chilling and it absolutely pulls you into the horror of the day. Great job!

[@stigfink]

This is absolutely fantastic.

[@MinoTheShow]

Amazing!

[@stefanalexander3986]

so worth

[@NebadonAdams]

This video is fantastic! Reminds me of the golden age of video (the late 80s early 90s)... TMBG! Always one of my favorite bands! Always will be! Continue to rock...INTO THE FUTURE!!!

[@audacious_Hoax]

spine chilling

[@universalcitizen6981]

Also great.

[@FunnyFany]

This might be one of my favourite songs ever. It's got a sort of disjointed melancholy I can get behind.

[@JesseGillespie-f7c]

Holy crap it’s perfect

[@AWSOMEPOSSUM16]

Fantastic.

[@invisi-bullexploration2374]

I have a very interesting job in the sense most of the year it's pretty okay. But there are two months out of the year that can break a person if they aren't made of stronger stuff. Physically, mentally you are going to be pushed to your limit. I feel this song so hard.

[@joesweeny2412]

This is absolutely brilliant!

[@MrFuzzydeath]

This video is amazing

[@mastertimb]

What an incredible video!

[@gavinwieland3707]

This song git me through the recovery process of my ear surgery in 2013.

[@JasonBeam7]

The greatest song about depression ever written.

[@blakerice6238]

Here's that kinda clean and so doggone explicit rap part in "AM I AWAKE?" in 1:36. It goes: Linnell: Am I Awake? (CHORUS Overlapping for Jon Lajoie: Show me your genitals, your genitals (what?!) Show me your genitals (genitalia) Linnell: What Time is It? Show me your genitals, your genitals (what?!) Show me your genitals (genitalia) Then, another sexually explicit rap part in "AM I AWAKE" in 2:09: Now. It goes: Linnell: Am I Awake? (wake, wake, wake) (CHORUS Overlapping for Hypnotize Camp Posse): Ass and titties, ass and titties Ass and titties, and big booty bitches [HA!] Ass and titties, ass and titties Ass and titties, and big booty bitches Ass and titties, ass and titties Ass and titties, and big booty bitches [HA!] Ass and titties, ass and titties Ass and titties, and big booty bitches) KingPin Skinny Pimp Sample (Overlaps): "Say ahh, not a thermometer Bitch, it's the nine inches" MAN, SO DOGGONE SEXUAL!

[@blakerice6238]

Now, from They Might Be Giants, it's so doggone clean. Now, it's a new song about depression ever written from the album "WE ARE HERE" originally from Summer 2019. From @ParticleMen, It is called "Now I'm Sad (featuring Robin Goldwasser)" from the album "We Are Here".

[@danfrioli813]

Damn. Just . . . damn. That was harrowing.

[@Droolzgaming]

This song was so fantastic on Stepmania. Great memories.

[@MorgenSelmer]

Awesome work.

[@NoseBleedProductions]

Cool as hell

[@beesus1412]

why wasn't alex italics name written in italics?

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

Someone was asleep on the job

[@LukeHennisch]

The question we’ve all been wondering...

[@LordChesalot]

We will get through this know

[@sirbobdesign]

I like it

[@literaljones]

This is brilliant and highly relatable content!

[@BriBri897]

All of these are great. Wow.

[@ethan-loves]

Order viewed: 1st/3 Gives the impression that the song is about senility. All of the elderly men going crazy over the news coupled with lyrics about forgetting and uncertainty gives this impression. My personal favorite; seems to fit in best with TMBG theming.

[@WickedCritta]

Close, but not quite in my opinion. I felt that it was about the Kennedy Assassination. The multiple references to Dallas, the book depository, the car, Air Force One, and the flange flying at half mast all point to that meaning. Plus the description hints at it as well. But perhaps both meanings can fit. The most important subtext is the unintentional subtext.

[@Mummymunmuggy]

Am I awake? What time is love?

[@itchyego]

Brilliant! Ok, back to Sleep! Am I still Awake? - Ken in Hawaii!