Video Premiere: They Might Be Giants, 'The Shadow Government'
- Posted on Sep 12th 2007 12:00AM by Mike Spinella
- Comments (17)
Brooklyn's They Might Be Giants have never shied from unique visuals and concepts. Hell, they invented dial-a-song and took inspiration from Williamsburg when it was still dangerous. In that vein, the uncompromising John and John duo teamed with ColourMovie for their animated new video, 'The Shadow Government,' off their latest album, 'The Else.'
"'The Shadow Government' is about waking up from a nightmare only to find yourself in the same bad dream" guitarist John Flansburgh tells Spinner. The politically-charged imagery and evil moon illustrate Flansburgh's explanation of the song. "It's really a mad scramble of all a bunch of different events in these frightening, manic times in which we live," he explains.
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"'The Shadow Government' is about waking up from a nightmare only to find yourself in the same bad dream" guitarist John Flansburgh tells Spinner. The politically-charged imagery and evil moon illustrate Flansburgh's explanation of the song. "It's really a mad scramble of all a bunch of different events in these frightening, manic times in which we live," he explains.
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Reader Comments(1 of 1)
michelleat 9-12-2007
"the shadow government" is a great video. i am reminded of art deco and german expressionist film. maybe it's just me :)
Scott Baisdenat 9-12-2007
Beautiful and terrifying, like the minds of the Johns. :)
biffat 9-12-2007
I LOVE IT WITH THE WHITE HOT INTENSITY OF A THOUSAND SUNS!!!!!
bijoubabyat 9-12-2007
the johns always have the most stunning videos & this one is
another superb kudo-worthy effort(;-D)
Jakeat 9-12-2007
Killer song like homicide in the town hall.
Murderous video like horny cowboys on crack.
Love TMBG
Karenat 9-12-2007
I love TMBG...what a cool new video.
Frankieat 9-17-2007
Well made video for a great song. I wanna know how I can sign up for the Shadow Police!!!
roryat 9-12-2007
Very cool
Worlebirdat 9-14-2007
Huh, there's nothing there.
No video, nothing.
I even turned off my firewall and still nothing...
Jaxonat 9-14-2007
Awesome video from an awesome band.
Lisa Ruffman-Weissat 9-14-2007
What a great video! Cool animation. Very creative. This is their best album since Apollo 18. (And I still love all the others!)
TMBG rocks!
Andrew Shellat 9-15-2007
Does anyone else feel this video is completely contrived? I mean they say "Looked in the sky" and the guy in the video looks in the sky "The moon was following me" and what's this? Yes, the moon is following the guy in the video. Come on guys!!! Where is the odd random videos that had little to do with the subject of the video? Where is William Allen White? Where is John and John? Has anyone else noticed that there haven't been any videos with John or John in them for a while now? Last one I remember was Doctor Worm. You know, there is this thing called film. I don't have anything against the occasional animated video but every single one?
Ian Dantonat 9-15-2007
While I understand Andrew's view for me there is a lot to be said for giving imaginitive rein to animation rather than film. I loved the pop up streets and the newsprint imagery. Not so keen on the moon's eyes shooting lightning, but maybe I am just envious. It would be some party trick.
As for seeing the John's again I guess I am going to have to travel to the states!
Eric Jamesat 12-03-2007
They Might be Giants are a cornerstone in my identity, but I really don't like this song and the video is too literal and uninspired. All flash with no substance. And the song sounds like Mr. Flansburgh went with the first thing that came to his head at every turn.
Done with devotion, to be true, but devotion to a bad idea is as mislaid as the things the song objects to.
Fergus_Thedogat 9-16-2007
Sorry, John and John. This honestly hurts to say, but compared to your early brilliance, you have lost 'it'. The clip here is kind of cool, sure, but the song bites - older albums like Flood, Lincoln and Apollo 18 were an eclectic landscape of humour and inspiration, but this song is typical of the dross of your 3 latest 'adult' albums. Occasional glimpses of TMBG of old on them, but generally pretty bland, formulated generic repetition. The only question left for me is "at which point did TMBG officially 'jump the shark'?"
sesoimat 9-19-2007
Re Post 14
I think they "jumped the shark" in 1994. I like the John Henry album, but they changed their style for it, and when they tried to go back to their old style in 1996 the magic had gone.
They've still had some great, ingenious moments since then, but the albums just aren't as enjoyably unusual now. They've repeated themeselves too many times.
Matthew Ahnat 11-17-2007
It's been a long road back from the Elektra recording deal and the likes of Factory Showroom and Long Tall Weekend.
I think they're getting back to what they were in the early '90s, but they're not quite all back yet. I still find this album to be quality music.