They Might Be Giants: Wake up! It's They Might Be Giants

www.ted.com In a very, very early-morning set, They Might Be Giants rock the final day of TED2007. Songs include "Older," "Bee of the Bird of the Moth," "Asbury Park," and "Fingertips."

[@uncleflansy5621]

Saw TMBG a couple weeks ago, Flansburgh came out without glasses and Linnell had his on, which was very confusing for a second. They even brought it up, Linnell said "I'm the guy now!". Still the best live band ever.

[@Billkwando]

That's hilarious.

[@TheFamousEccles]

Not enough music features an accordion. These guys are brilliant.

[@pretzelthedude]

How is this 10 years old and only have 63k views? TMBG fans need to step it up.

[@eastportland]

It's a hidden gem, apparently.

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

80k after 15 years. By maintaining this rate, we could have the 100,000 in another 5-7 years.

[@MisterAppleEsq]

0:19 Older 3:16 Bee of the Bird of the Moth 8:04 Asbury Park 9:10 Fingertips 13:12 Phone Calls from the Dead 14:47 The Alphabet of Nations

[@LukeHennisch]

Mister Apple thanks ;)

[@MisterAppleEsq]

You're welcome!

[@stevebadachmusic]

thanks kindly

[@MooOinkMedia]

NO I DONT HAVE A BADGE! *EEEE* Well, I think we're gonna stop that part of the show...

[@ivanterrible7362]

So nice to see my fellow West Xylophonians finally getting the recognition we deserve.

[@MrMalDawg]

FAVE BAND Mini-Concert at a conference named after ME! Too awesome!!!

[@jakobbruhspenning]

wow, I have never met someone named Technogy, entertainment and design

[@starbug3my]

I saw them in concert Friday night and they were fantastic! They did 2 sets and the place was PACKED! I had not known till now that they did a TED performance. A few of their songs are so very romantic! We've been fans since we saw the "Don't Lets Start" video in 1987.

[@angelusnielson7135]

You might want to listen closer. One reason I love TMBG is that they hide some real darkness under some catchy and poppy lyrics.

[@jacksonoutside]

Great description for Bee of the Bird of the Moth!!

[@Realwessharpe]

It's completely fucked up

[@Bosco-Sauce]

We want to get in as many songs as possible in our, brief time here.. so this is the one to play. YES!!!!! Fingertips live!!

[@mostamazingppl]

omg...i love this performance...live is always good...

[@ROFLpwnedvideos]

This is my all time favorite band, and I didn't even know they had a video on this channel. Awesome.

[@colinhawco6153]

I saw TMBG play live around 7 years ago in Toronto, and it was amazing. True this is not their best show ever, at 8:30, and if people don't like it, well, too bad I guess. They are an amazing band, who have made some really amazing, innovative songs unlike anything else I have ever heard.

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

Just recently heard that for this show, even local fans who wanted to come couldn't get in, and that they had a big TED party the day before, so 8:30 was a bit bad timing for a TMBG show

[@xnonsuchx]

Not sure if I could handle a TMBG concert at 8:30a...but then I'm not sure if I can handle ANYTHING that early.

[@ZoeAlexa11]

xnonsuchx same but if it’s TMBG I’d totally go regardless of the time

[@TimePilot2084]

This version of "Alphabet of Nations" is freaking awesome. Been listening to these cats since I was a kid.

[@donh4529]

odd setlist, & weird seeing Flansburgh on bass

[@daveidmarx8296]

Only time I've ever seen Flansy rocking the bass!

[@ssmalley2193]

That's the softest 'mysterious whisper' I've heard.

[@Billkwando]

Yeah they played it pretty mellow for an 8:30am crowd.

[@HansMundahl]

Somehow TED and TMBG go together perfectly. Like peanut butter and jelly, like open-source economics and string theory. Love it. If I was there I would've stormed the stage with my laminated badge. Awesome!

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

It would, if not in front of a hungover audience at 8:30am 😁

[@BumLuck]

Oh my god when he says "Guatemala"

[@audiofunkdialect]

I saw them live at a tiny venue in Portland Maine. Was absolutely wonderful.

[@Realwessharpe]

Watching this at 5 am. Time to wake up!

[@dergos05]

5:34 for me

[@ThreadBomb]

Watching this at 5.20 am. I gotta get to bed!

[@tallen42]

This was a brilliant set -- the people they are playing for "didn't get it". Too much humorl, too early int he morning? Fingertips is soooo good here. How could you have that many nerds in one place and not a single fan? (I saw no one bobbing their heads). I hope people at the TED talk went home and looked them up and realized how really talented TMBG are... @AlexandriaM - was one of my fav parts, too.

[@jrpipik]

Going to see them in a few weeks -- Can't wait!!

[@MisterAppleEsq]

I'm seeing them in October, and I'm very excited.

[@LukeHennisch]

jrpipik I’m seeing them in April and then in June ;)

[@theice-nineproject9275]

i saw them in KC march 13th. Great show, and uncharacteristically...3 encores!

[@MisterAppleEsq]

+The Ice-nine Project Hey, that was my birthday!

[@LukeHennisch]

The Ice-nine Project I saw them stream that live. It was really good.

[@d1nn3r_b3ll]

This specific version of older is so important to me ajdbfjfn

[@ohmycaribou]

TMBG trolled all y'all.

[@IAteYourTV]

Awesome! TMBG rock.

[@jordancooperlalala]

Damn look at Flans playing the bass -- weird

[@baronmorris]

I bet 8:30 a.m. was kind of early for the audience to be @ a rock show, too. TMBG are fkn tight. in a good way. peace! O B A M A !

[@marshallbrooksmusic]

I know everyone's hating on this performance, but it wasn't as bad as people are making it out to be.

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

it didn't start well, but honestly it's one of the most unique performances from TMBG. Flansburgh on the bass, and Linnell on accordion and the... Kaoss pad? Some stylophone without stylus?

[@confusedwhale]

I know they released it two years after this... but it have been awesome if they finished their set with "Meet the Elements" instead of "Alphabet of Nations". I'm pretty sure there would have been a few nerdections.

[@rarmccoy]

My guess is they selected Alphabet due to performing in Monterey, CA. Monterey is home to the joint military service Defense Language Institute/Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) where linguists are trained, and there's also a few other linguistic and international education places around there. Given that, Alphabet of the Nations makes perfect sense. I just wish they'd done this while I was stationed at the Presidio of Monterey and studying at DLI. I love TMBG. 😁 (Though Meet the Elements would have been cool too, I actually think they should have added a song and closed with Man It's So Loud in Here - but I don't believe they'd written that yet when they were invited to do this TED presentation.)

[@recordcollector0665]

@@rarmccoy No, it’s because this performance was two years before meet the elements was written

[@totz_the_plaid9625]

@@rarmccoy "Man, it's So Loud in Here" came out six years before this performance.

[@HansMundahl]

I saw TMBG in 1992 or 93 in Maine in a college gym with about 200 other folks. Here they are on stage at TED, Al Gore etc. This would somehow fit in one of their songs.

[@lyinsroar9637]

these guys are so fricking weird lol (they're great tho)

[@camwyn256]

John said to John “I think we might be lost”

[@squwooshk]

I've never seen Flans play bass before

[@tallen42]

"not all the facts are in ...19 degree thing -- fantastic!" - at least they got a few laughs there.

[@bhr788]

Fingertips makes me think of "Smile."

[@BeastOfTheEast07]

You know, TMBG have always reminded me of a more B-movie influenced version of the Beach Boys. I can't even imagine a show with Brian, John, John, and Marty.

[@daveidmarx8296]

Never made that connection, though "Mysterious Whisper" has reminded me of "Love Is A Woman" (closing track on The Beach Boys 'Love You' album) since its release in 1992!

[@ThreadBomb]

Flans once joked that he was the Mike Love of the band.

[@RQLAJI2]

@@ThreadBomb Oh my god where is the source of this

[@CplToonz]

We aren't whiny, we are loyal.

[@octangula7914]

The only thing I’m disappointed about is that Linnell only whispered Mysterious Whisper, but I guess it was 8 am

[@wii2050]

This was so inspiring that I reinvented the wheel.

[@llo_allo]

What's weird is, I thought this would be the Johns explaining the message behind their music which I've always taken to be, "WAKE UP! This world ls stranger, more painful and beautiful and weird than you think. Discombobulation is the right response!"

[@MattMcIrvin]

This is a stripped-down version of the band--just John Linnell, John Flansburgh and Marty Beller on the drums--and it's almost a return to their earliest days of touring when it was just the Johns and backing tapes and strange performance gimmicks. Interesting to see them do this in 2008.

[@thelightupmario]

Zimbabwe!

[@lizardizzle]

Heya, 2007/8. 2013 here and I totally agree with what you're saying.

[@BanksBanks420]

My awakening of JF bass guitar being low key hot in my opinion.

[@alcoholanddrugabuse]

I WILL PRAY FOR YOU*/*

[@Paulginz]

lordtalon69. FTW=for the win. It's a mark of appreciation. I should've called it geek music instead of nerd music maybe. The bottom line is, I can SO relate to these wackos ^_^.

[@lsm007]

Most people don't get it do they? This is great! Though in reading the comments it is clear you aren't a fan of TMBG. Too Deep. Maybe you should all listen to something more elementary, like teletubbies.

[@YesItsMeGuys68]

well .... that was pretty different for sure .. reminds Me a bit of Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention

[@Paelidore]

Personally, I don't care for their live performances, but their songs are beautifully constructed. Then again, music preferences are truly relative.

[@darksean99]

They really should of after the speech over the LHC

[@lordtalon69]

heh... where is the birdhouse in my soul :( still TMBG's rock...

[@ZoeAlexa11]

This was just a small thing, they normally always do birdhouse in your soul at legit concerts

[@Capitalocracy]

and has since he was 12, I'm sure

[@NickCronDeVico]

The guys at TED didn't seem too receptive to the banter portion. They were open enough to the music though. And it was pretty early...

[@dann8431]

Turn up the bass please!

[@anthtan]

Great. Now, it's down to 240p.

[@dylaninpieces2]

Is Flansy playing bass in this?

[@lordtalon69]

[clap clap] congratulations mr. mainstream. Your right remove the accordion change the lyrics and make it sound like every other boxed sound that is mass produced in the industry today. TMBG is a unique sound with a devoted fan base, and what you say won't make a difference.

[@jaygold9923]

Yemen!

[@lordtalon69]

I'll agree with that, its not really an insult but more of a explanation to all the haters on here. Its a unique niche of music that the devoted fans have enjoyed since the early 90's. For those that prefer TED lectures keep in mind TMBG was invited to play here, and they were asked to play at 8:30 in the morning if you object to this then argue with TED don't blame TMBG for the kind of music they do. On a side note this performance dind't do there music justice. I suggest dl'ing them.

[@ThreadBomb]

"since the early 90's"? -- try the mid-80s. I agree that this stripped down performance didn't sound as good as their usual stuff.

[@RIVEXNGLE]

Yeah, TMBG! What's TED? [/troll] Hate me. =P

[@WilsonSemilio]

Hmm. I don't think we're ready for this music yet, hehe.

[@Paulginz]

Nerd music FTW!

[@clearmenser]

poor guys, rock is not meant for breakfast. 8:30am?

[@mastermooky]

hes a lefty, already ahead of the game

[@lenskap]

He's merely singing about the hummingbird moth. It's in the sphynx moth family and is often mistaken for a bumblebee or a hummingbird. One of natures interesting creatures.

[@FlansyLinny]

lol u mad TED fans?

[@mandyogilvie686]

764 like

[@lordtalon69]

heh its all good i knew you weren't being condescending. Thats why i said your message was more a explanation .. the rest of it was mostly for those that were hating on this heh.

[@Emptybottleofgin]

this shit is hilarious..how the hell can you guys not think this shit is great lol...

[@NickCronDeVico]

Hahaha. Hey. Sup, bro?

[@briankerrigan3529]

So why did Weezer never collab with these guys?

[@emilioaladwhosintheinterne8421]

They are way too good for Weezer.

[@briankerrigan3529]

@@emilioaladwhosintheinterne8421 better yes, way too good for, no way!

[@reksub10]

they are a bit iver cutler

[@marshallbrooksmusic]

I agree. Chronic obsession is annoying.

[@theneighborhoodgang]

Good thing they're not nerd music!

[@battleforkrabisland7405]

Expect they are, this is some of nerdiest music you’ll ever hear.

[@xactlee]

they should have just put on a playback of stairway to heaven, now thats good music.

[@emilioaladwhosintheinterne8421]

TMBG>>>>>>>>>Led Zeppelin.

[@petarded3]

This is like groggy watered down live performance of mostly not their better material. Look up that Conan performance of Man Its So Loud in Here for more bearable TMBG-y performance

[@arshsingh1984]

what? no "Constantinople"?

[@ZoeAlexa11]

Deep Singh it’s called “Istanbul (not Constantinople)” and they don’t always do this, plus this wasn’t a legit concert, just four songs

[@MisterAppleEsq]

+ZoLexa Five. But yeah.

[@subgerocallidus]

WHy not Gambia? What wrong with Gambia? You got something wrong with Gambia?

[@HKragh]

this was simply woo weired for me. Guess I'm kinda into mainstream pop...:P

[@dvdtranslations]

I love TMBG. I've been a fan since Lincoln, but I really saddened by their latest releases. I feel they peaked at Mink Car, and then, I don't know, 9/11 turned these boys from NY sour.

[@ThreadBomb]

Things picked up with Nanobots.

[@rwired]

West Xylophone. Please!!!!........ Xinjiang (West China) might one day become an independent nation and is a much better substitute for the lack of nations beginning with X.

[@thegeekaccountyoushouldign5679]

Hi 7 year old comment, THAT never came true, good day.

[@pepeotf45]

I just want to know...HOW MUCH...how much hard drugs i would need to smoke in order to simply listen to this music let alone enjoy.

[@recordcollector0665]

@Frankle's Funky Uncle! You said it

[@xactlee]

this sounds like the decemberists gone really bad.

[@LukeHennisch]

You serious? That’s funny! You couldn’t do anything better than them. How about you go and write a song and then come back.

[@recordcollector0665]

@@LukeHennisch O W N E D

[@cartmant.6996]

boring this clip

[@recordcollector0665]

Loser

[@MorganMghee]

yeah....No.

[@recordcollector0665]

🖕

[@dylanlawless1]

Sometimes only the smartest group of people would find this "brilliant" when it's, well, shit. Reminds me of The Emperor's New Clothes. Maybe they want to sound crap ironically.

[@LukeHennisch]

It is brilliant. And I don’t understand why people, if they don’t like the video then just don’t watch it.

[@geocentricfe6908]

I'm so sorry you don't understand genius when you hear it

[@VidN00b]

throw away the accordion, change the lyrics then the song might sound like something

[@LukeHennisch]

VidN00b how about you throw away the attitude idiot

[@ajknee]

Wow, this is not TED material. They're really bad.

[@LukeHennisch]

Andrew Knee aw I’m sorry for your lose bud

[@corylamond6294]

your opinion sucks dude.

[@user-yr8mu1ce1m]

@@LukeHennisch yeah. they are great.

[@PoochDoobie]

I agree, nerd music is pathetic..

[@corylamond6294]

@Frankle's Funky Uncle! TMBG is great.

[@battleforkrabisland7405]

@Frankle's Funky Uncle! there’s a reason why I’m still the nerdy lame kid who no-one takes seriously. it’s because I listen to The Rolling Stones and Oasis.