They Might Be Giants - Unpronounceable (official video)

From TMBG's album Glean. Support TMBG's work and get it directly from the band: bit.ly/tmbgGlean. Or, get the album on Apple Music (geni.us/iGlean) or Amazon (geni.us/aGlean)
This song was the week 11 post from TMBG's Dial-A-Song project. See the full archive at found.ee/dialAsong.
Are you a radio DJ or want to be part of DialASong? Get more info here: found.ee/Radio...
Video directed by ITWST.
Lyrics:
time stopped
when you said hello
when you left
the clock began to breathe again
now all I do is think about
the puzzle that remains
your name it is unpronounceable
distorted and illegible
I never figured out what that was
If I couldn’t then I doubt I ever will
rewind the tape, review the blur
never the same, but still obscure
turn up the sound and hear the white noise
zoom and enhance if that were even a
real thing
which it isn’t
stare at the static long enough you’ll
be hypnotized be hypnotized
now I spend
my days and nights
looking at
a depression on the sofa
and over time it flattens out
but I am still depressed
your name it is unpronounceable
distorted and illegible
I never figured out what that was
If I couldn’t then I know I never will
rewind the tape, review the blur
never the same, but still obscure
turn up the sound and hear the white noise
stare at the static and be hypnotized
found
found your sound
wound down and nearly drowned
lying on the ground
your name it is unpronounceable
Stream They Might Be Giants on Spotify!
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[@BojoPigeon]

Not sure how, but this is both the most "They Might Be Giants" sounding song of Dial-a-Song so far, and at the same time, it doesn't sound like any other They Might Be Giants songs I've heard before.

[@jasper7439]

thats exactly why it sounds like They Might Be Giants

[@WalkerRileyMC]

@@jasper7439 Agreed. One of the main reasons I enjoy their music is because, due to them mixing and matching so many genres, their songs always feel 'new'.

[@JohnBrown-pq9tj]

I can't find the Dial-a-Song version anywhere.

[@ScarletSwordfish]

@@JohnBrown-pq9tj This is the version that was played on Dial-a-Song.

[@JohnBrown-pq9tj]

@@ScarletSwordfish Ooohhhh. Thanks.

[@NuclearBubbleWrap]

That section where the song cuts out made me feel like I was dying. Good job.

[@crystallastname9675]

I honestly love that feeling of pure error.

[@hanna_no]

i really thought my internet is slow when i was doing my work lol

[@demonicbunny3po]

I had a coughing fit.

[@dakedres]

My headphones themselves cut out before I could even get to that point lmao

[@Coquitten]

I couldn't breathe for a few seconds!

[@FunnyFany]

This is a song about the No-Eyed Girl. I have decided so. Edit: it's also about **static noise** from The Adventure Zone.

[@yalleh4700]

I know this comment is from a year ago but I just finished TAZ: Balance a bit ago and I TOTALLY see the **static noise** from TAZ connection. Now I want to make a T***o animatic to this song

[@fermataoverawholerestasapun]

So true

[@DexterousDiggs]

this is outstanding! I wonder how the Johns have been able to write and record such clever and unique music for so many years without any decrease in quality. Its like they're never going to run out of Ideas.

[@x.x.7646]

Right you are. This band is quality and they´re just too true to be widely popular.

[@qmartin1997]

I think this song is about falling in and out of love with someone who has already gone - their name is now "unpronounceable." Where they are forgetting things about them, while still being fully immersed in the thought of them.

[@astrangeriremain]

I think this is about people with black boxes over their faces

[@MsYukizomesorangejuice]

The Skeleton yes it reminds me of censorship

[@astrangeriremain]

Htflover The singer subconsciously censoring memories in his mind

[@tnaoro]

Steevious you mean the black bar that says "CENSORD"?

[@levwhitelaw5561]

@@astrangeriremain I always thought it was purely about forgetting someone's name.

[@astrangeriremain]

@@levwhitelaw5561 Whoah

[@Lars-eq5ld]

When substitute’s try to pronounce your name

[@malapertfourohfour2112]

Vibes

[@kamm6001]

my first name is very strange, and SOMEHOW a sub one time said "Ashtray" it doesnt sound remotely like that 😢

[@JohnBrown-pq9tj]

I just started substitute teaching recently, and can confirm, we butcher kids' names. I just apologize in advance for mispronouncing anyone's name, and watch the kids with the unusual names roll their eyes in anticipation of their names going through the woodchipper.

[@WalkerRileyMC]

"Now I spend My days and nights Looking at A depression on the sofa And over time it flattens out But I am still depressed" just might be some of the cleverest phrasing I've seen.

[@CallieYote]

Combining this with Niel Ciceregas "No Eyed Girl" for a two part song desciption of a person falling in live with and dating an eldritch angel.

[@Frogenshtein]

"zoom and enhance/ if that were even a real thing/ which it isn't"

[@jazzyj7834]

Kowalski, Analysis!

[@ThePigeon5734]

The most ridiculous one I ever saw was in an episode of the X-files when they "enhance" two pixels into the face of the thing they are looking for. A FACE. FROM TWO PIXELS. HOW.

[@danacoleman4007]

it's called suspension of disbelief

[@jaded151]

oh god this is aging horribly as technology advances more. :p

[@randomindividual948]

@@jaded151 Still isn't a real thing. AI is basically just guessing.

[@OysterWallace]

2:11 is a powerful musical experience

[@morganbrown3953]

If this, Music Jail, and Erase are all on Glean, I am going to immediately buy this album. Friggin love the part where it glitches out. Best part.

[@XenoZane]

I believe Glean will be mostly Dial-a-Song, so the odds of them being on are quite high

[@shiftybat7318]

Morgan Brown They are all on it, along with the surprisingly touching and funny 'Answer.' I've been listening to this album on repeat for days care of an unscrupulous local merchant.

[@ZoeAlexa11]

Music Jail, Erase and Unpronounceable are my favorites too

[@tnaoro]

Me too, Morgan Brown

[@leeummradley]

This has got to be my favorite out of all the Dial-A-Song's so far.

[@pretzelthedude]

leeummradley indubitably.

[@erikstigter7897]

is I love you for Psychological Reasons also a Dial-a-Song song? cause I love that one.. Also Definition of Good and You Probably get that a Lot. But I agree, this is another great song.

[@rofldattebayo]

This is such a tight jam that it sent my lingo back to the 90's dude

[@CardboardOdyssey]

I love this album much in part because each song feels like a missing piece from their other albums. This one reminds me of The Spine.

[@ProtoGhostal1701]

What do the others remind you of?

[@CardboardOdyssey]

'End of the Rope' and 'Underwater Woman' are definitely John Henry, 'Erase' and 'John Henry' are a bit like something from Join Us, 'I Can Help the Next in Line' and 'Glean' have the weirdness of Nanobots. I can't really place the others.

[@ProtoGhostal1701]

CardboardOdyssey Erase and John Henry? Typo?

[@CardboardOdyssey]

Oh whoops lol, I meant 'Erase' and 'Answer'.

[@ProtoGhostal1701]

CardboardOdyssey Maybe you should have... wait for it... ERASED your response! I am so sorry for that pun...

[@Chahol17]

The glitching sound is a bit hard to listen to (at least at this hour), but regardless is an interesting idea. With headphones it gives this feeling as if you yourself are "glitching" which is pretty cool.

[@ProjectEchoshadow]

Chahol17 I glitch all the time

[@firetarrasque4667]

I wish the really hardcore glitchting part around 2:11 had longer breaks. The moments are small enough it's not quite big enough of an impact. It feels like i've been trapped or cut off, but still large enough it's annoying. It's still a powerful experience, but they didn't take it far enough.

[@firetarrasque4667]

Did anyone else noticed the occasional echoing? A detail that small, THAT'S dedication.

[@torta31]

this song makes me incredibly sad for no reason. Especially in the very beginning. makes me tear up and frown every time and I don't know why

[@tomsavage7279WalteroftheSea]

The best kept secret in music-TMBGiants. Been amazed by them since ‘98! 🎸

[@theRealPlaidRabbit]

The last ten seconds were my very favourite part of the video.

[@tkayube]

+Corey Messick Hey, maybe that's who Chess Piece Face is. The chess piece is a knight. THIS. EXPLAINS. EVERYTHING.

[@morganpeterson5935]

That horse face isn't scary at all

[@lamer6767]

the gimmick of the song is simple enough, just work the main volume slider nimbly - but not only have I never heard a rock act do it, I've never heard any audio gimmick so thematic to the song's content, not to mention how they play the riff so stacatto to set it up. can't believe I've been sleeping on tmbg's work from the past 20 years

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

Excellently said. The way the glitch portion fits with the overall tempo of the song makes it pleasant and almost ASMR-like to listen to, instead of an unwanted interruption.

[@BebxOfficial]

Tiime stoooopped.... (Video is now buffering)

[@christinahamilton7676]

**infinite years later** When you said hellooooo.

[@dnr-vs1lk]

dio: 👀

[@LordPichuPal]

The video was so weird and awesome, and the song was equally awesome from start to end. You guys just keep outdoing yourselves with these weekly songs, it's really amazing to watch.

[@firetarrasque4667]

This song is freaking trippy. But what I REALLY want is for someone to use it in a MarbleHornetsesque series. No really, it fits so well. Like, amazingly well. Trippy cuts in the music, everyone's face is blurred, the imagery is even pretty similar to that used in the Totheark of MH and encounter sequences in Tribe Twelve. The song fits it weirdly well.

[@reynoldyarra8097]

What is Alphabet Lore, Alphablocks, Numberblocks, The Numbears and BFDI are like that? Don't mind Phonetic Fox. He's just making a Numbear 70's, *I will* check on. Maybe he did 65?

[@VinVertigo]

The combination of the animation and sound is messing with my head!

[@comradeklaymore]

You should see Erase!

[@pretzelthedude]

Hands down my favorite song off Glean. And in all honesty, Officially one of my top 5 all time favorite TMBG songs easily. Problem with said top 5 is: I love them all and can't really seem to put any one over another. But all 5 listed are: Ana Ng, Unpronounceable, Don't Let's Start, A Self Called Nowhere, and The Bells Are Ringing. With a pronounced shout out for their first 4 albums which are near and dear to my heart and always will be :-).

[@PogieJoe]

Pretzelthedude All amazing choices for Top 5! I think this one has made my own. What an amazing work!

[@tiberiusalexander6339]

I guess people seem to like the early stuff most of all, when I saw them recently they played a lot of that (including a self called nowhere). I liked the show, but i wish they would play more recent stuff. I think glean may be their best album, would have rather heard Unpronouncable than Birdhouse for the thousandth time

[@jessss27]

The mixing on this makes me feel cozy

[@oleksiishekhovtsov1564]

This hits me on a spiritual level

[@TyTheRegularMan]

Esra, Isaac, Zoe, Michael, Malik, Phoebe, and Antoine are some of the names in the glitchy part

[@XenoZane]

Then it says "John and John and Marty and Dan and Danny"- the main members of tmbg

[@rnbw376]

Also there's Chloe, Naomi, Theresa and Rhys

[@anitmatic]

The world needs more music videos with people in latex horse masks

[@kevinfrushour]

I listened to this before watching the video. I thought my MP3 player was glitching out during the bridge. Well played, TMBG!

[@vizorphaze]

Outstanding song and video Johns!!! Keep up the awesome music!!! You made my day again!!! Please perform in NJ, so I can see you guys sing again!!! 😃

[@LooseCanonCreations]

If I were gonna make a 2015 TMBG DaS album, so far it would contain "Erase," "Madam, I Challenge You To a Duel," "Answer," and this one.

[@yoshibones]

Deuce Loosely No music jail? Blasphemy.

[@Best-Match]

I'd put Let Me Tell You About My Operation on there too

[@exsisto235]

Deuce Loosely I just burned my 'First Quarter tMBg mix' today, it opened with 'I wasn't listening' (just to warm the earholes up) and while i had to debate a little between 'Erase' and this track, I did settle on 'Unpronounceable'...its going to be fun to mix all the tracks up through each quarter, and when the end of year time comes, its going to be a fantastic showdown for the final mixes... =)

[@MagicTurtle643]

Deuce Loosely I think that's already happening. They're releasing an album called Glean in April. And I think the tracklisting is basically everything we've heard so far, give or take a few songs.

[@shiftybat7318]

Deuce Loosely They're all on it! Such a good release. Ten points to Deuce Loosely for making an S&O reference on a TMBG page, my two favorite things.

[@mintakamothkind]

I love this so much I can't even.

[@keysaysassah]

I love all your songs! I thought I'd never enjoy music again, how wrong was I! I can't pick a favorite but this song always makes me giggle because no one can pronounce my name except for people from my continent XD

[@unikadas]

The progression of the video sequences is logical.

[@trueflint]

The song feels to me like a song about something I just can't remember, and the more I try to remember the farther away it seems to get. And this video feels exactly the same as that. Always something missing at the center, and I can only see around the edges. Yet the video just keeps getting better and better, but that central lacuna never leaves. Such an entertaining song while at the same time so evocative of that feeling of just being unable to remember. WHAT WAS THAT PERSON'S NAME

[@MichaelD8393]

My favorite TMBG song of 2015 so far. Can't wait for next week's song.

[@Zarathustra-rj4yz]

This bitter-sweet song makes me dream of electric sheep

[@blackbeltnintenderp]

Both this and Erase are deserving of becoming singles for Glean.

[@adaniels15]

This song is just sounds wrong... and that's what makes it great!

[@benaaronmusic]

Exactly!

[@SMuJ17]

I think all I can say is "well done". Probably the two best songs of DaS-15 so far in the last two weeks. Keep up the good work!

[@kerrykrishna]

Particlemen, Man, am I having a blast discovering your music. I had a 2000 kilometre road trip a few months ago, and found an odd album that I did not recognize in the CDs . It was the one with Radar Detector on it. I ended up listening to the thing for the entire 24 hour drive. I had another album of yours from the 90s, and had enjoyed it too, but now, I am totally immersing myself in your 22 albums. I can't get enough. And by the way, Radar Detector is by FAR my fav song. I have the entire thing memorized and there is a full recording studio in the other half of the basement in the industrial building I live in in Prince George BC. I am going to get some folks with quirks together and give recording it a go! Thanks so much for all of what you have done.

[@PogieJoe]

Hot damn you guys keep upping your game. This song is amazing. Your collaborators on these music videos are all geniuses!

[@Jameskoek]

Got Glean on vinyl for my first record player a couple weeks ago, I re-fell in love with this song.

[@ToyKnives]

This is one of my favorite TMBG music videos

[@cicadaenthusiast3954]

One time I met a girl while in the city. We had a lot in common, so the conversation flowed really well, and she was also very pretty. After a while, I checked the time and realised I would miss my train if I didn't go, so I hastily said goodbye and left. I remember she told me her name but I don't remember what it was so I don't even have somewhere to start looking for her online. THis song is about that to me I think

[@agnomymous]

That green screen effect at the end with the horse head is very "cheap" but I love it for that reason. You can see the "line" where the face is supposed to take up as the mask is taken off and sort of visualize their head that way. For whatever reason that's the part of the video I fixate on.

[@AbsolutelyNoOne9]

Holy crap. This is hands down the best so far. Great work with the video! I loved the bit where the sound was all sort of bugging out.

[@vicfitz82]

I still just love this song and video

[@FreedomDaveX]

woah!!

[@BeccaRyy]

Probably my favorite so far.

[@TheThetaGraft]

Love the Kaufman-esque moment...perfect for the internet :)

[@jonathanhogg5665]

That Ana Ng guitar sound is finally back

[@shiftybat7318]

I really hope they play this number in Boston on Thursday!

[@SandSpock33]

wow. hand well inside puppet head. somehow surpassing they-selves each week. Beyond 1965 craftsmanship. You can't make this stuff up.

[@RakeMerger]

Time stopped when you said ZA WARUDO

[@gupdoo3]

I am so glad I'm not the only weaboo here because this song was really reminding me of Donut Hole

[@BebxOfficial]

RakeMerger Time stopped, when you said hellLL! (He doesn't actually say the o)

[@ShanePatSmith]

It only took me five years, but at long last after watching through all of Jojo's Bizzare Adventure with some friends all the way to part 4, I can finally say: haha I get that joke

[@jasperwaters5838]

I can't stop watching this, this is a great song and an amazing music video. Be proud.

[@masterepros]

I just binged season 4 of Bojack Horseman and a certain episode reminded me very strongly of this video.

[@lizardizzle]

That's totally John at the end.

[@sithwriter]

But the real question is... which one? (Probably Linnell)

[@christinahamilton7676]

I think it's Flansburgh.

[@BeccaRyy]

Another fantastic song!

[@conechiwa7]

Nice Bojack Horseman cameo, lol! I love Dial-A-Song! Awesome songs and videos!

[@IlRincreTeam]

Still here to enjoy such a good, sad and quirky song

[@Zaqinabox]

This is my favorite song.

[@claptrapunit3490]

I felt my brain buzz at the glitching part 🙃 it made me confused so much I thought my phone broke

[@Rizdub]

This feels like when you're desperately trying to remember a faded dream you had the other night

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

So...I Can't Remember the Dream? :D

[@dumbhead9721]

This video makes me feel so uncomfortably comfortable lol

[@emeraldnickel]

(Horse mask voice) I love it!

[@koalabaz]

Once again TMBG come up wjth another great mind-altering song. Yet when you think of week 52? The dancing Oompa Loopas comes to mind Ha! Ha!

[@TeeVeeGames]

The first time I heard this song (off "Glean"), I thought my receiver was glitching out on me.

[@thomasford2032]

I always took this as being a song about weirdos and about wanting to be like them in spite of how society might see you hence the shift from "your name is unpronounceable" to "my name is unpronounceable".

[@melloang]

Well, that was a lovely little mindfuck! Excellent job, gentlemen. xo

[@krisrhodes5180]

This. Is a great video.

[@reginalynnbush]

Love this!

[@Melissa.Camilleri]

Love!

[@clarkpark3951]

This is really depressing and relatable

[@sofargone88]

_I like this song!_

[@ZandoFox]

Up-thumb for horse mask.

[@K.night_]

and over time it flattens out but

[@tnaoro]

The chorus is my favorite.

[@TheThomasG]

awesome

[@NuclearBubbleWrap]

Whoa

[@LeoFan93]

Trippy

[@icecreamsamwich]

also i realized this when i was going to sleep in the video everyone's face is censored out, right? well, at the beginning, the clock's face is censored out...

[@Colorband]

Well, the TVs are also censored... I'd guess it's just a gimmick.

[@BebxOfficial]

tate the great Reflective surfaces, theh could have faces in them.

[@comradeklaymore]

The first 20 seconds sound like a song from the Series of Unfortunate Events audio books.

[@DoLetsStop]

Thought my headphones were broken in that glitching part

[@itsiz9738]

Okay, this happened with another TMBG song that I last heard a year or two ago, but the instrumental for this is so different from what I remember??? I think that one was a bit heavier, and this was is softer. idk what's going on with my brain lol.

[@Persun_McPersonson]

I mean, they have other songs that sound similar to this one in some ways. Maybe you're remembering one of those.

[@powerlessknowledge5719]

So your name is [REDACTED]?

[@ravenkliff]

I feel like this song would be a great medley with Nanobots. "If I couldn't then I know I never will- Signal To the newborn citizen ship of the micronation"

[@teiladnam]

This song was running through my head because I was reading about Pete Buttigieg.

[@nedoran5758]

Has big WOT darkfriend energy

[@moguhoki]

Who was the person who made this? I looked for ITWST & I can't find the person (or group). Ali Mohammed maybe? In any case the video is amazing!! Kudos!

[@moguhoki]

Thanks!!

[@unikadas]

@@PogieJoe Dang that link is gross and very NSFW

[@PogieJoe]

@@unikadas Oh wow the old website must be gone! I deleted the link

[@unikadas]

@@PogieJoe Ah, makes sense. A lot can happen to the web in 8 years!

[@joneelillard892]

Video design reminds me of the McCafferty's Bib video

[@lynnjohnson9727]

I have been searching for this song for months but I couldn't remember the name of it. 😐

[@Busentizshreds]

that glitch part was some Hideo Kojimia type shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thought youtube was messed up for a sec lol

[@fnkmastrbloopdebloop]

Shits dope yo

[@william_williams]

Song's fantastic, but I still can't stand how John doesn't say the "o" at the end of "hello" in the first line.

[@uhhhhh275]

William_Williams how do u even do that

[@BebxOfficial]

William_Williams And now I can't unhear that...

[@unikadas]

lol "Hell-lh there."

[@mikeprather816]

How to removing black boxes plz.

[@pauldzim]

For a second there I thought I needed to clean my CD player

[@IlRincreTeam]

Pretty good song but i would like to see you Johns into some new video like the ol' days.