Don't Let's Start
Encyclopedia
"Don't Let's Start" is a song by alternative rock
band They Might Be Giants
, from their eponymous debut album They Might Be Giants
. It was the first single released from the album, released as a maxi-single. The song is one of the band's most popular and well-known songs, despite failing to chart or achieve commercial success. The single was later re-released by Elektra
in 1990 after the success of the band's third album, Flood.
and life
appear to stem from an impending romantic turmoil suggested in the chorus. Although the song is known for such dreary, pointed statements as "everybody dies frustrated and sad, and that is beautiful," John Linnell
has repeatedly insisted (as in a 2003 interview with NPR
's Terry Gross
) that some of its lyrical twists, though pondered extensively by fans, were constructed merely to complement the melody and have no deep meaning. This is re-instated by Linnell's ambiguity when asked about the meaning of the song, stating the song was simply about "not let's starting".
that was popular for some time on MTV
. In it, the band is featured wearing rolled up cardboard with fabric stapled to the outside on their heads. The location in which the video was filmed is the site of the 1964 New York World's Fair
in Queens
, which would later be mentioned in "Ana Ng
". The face used in the video is that of William Allen White
. His face has also been used for props at TMBG concert
s. It appears on the Don't Let's Start CD
single, and otherwise can frequently be found associated with TMBG.
on their album The Big Fear, and is quoted by Jimmy Eat World
in "A Praise Chorus" on their 2001 CD, Bleed American
.
Don't Let's Start is also the name of an upcoming film, with characters that take their names from various They Might Be Giants
' songs, such as Ana Ng
.
1990 maxi-single re-release
1990 single re-release
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
, from their eponymous debut album They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants (album)
They Might Be Giants is the eponymous debut album from Brooklyn-based band They Might Be Giants, also known as The Pink Album. It was released by Bar/None in 1986....
. It was the first single released from the album, released as a maxi-single. The song is one of the band's most popular and well-known songs, despite failing to chart or achieve commercial success. The single was later re-released by Elektra
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in 1990 after the success of the band's third album, Flood.
Music and lyrics
Its lyrics are typically abstract for an early They Might Be Giants song, though its musings on loveLove
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
and life
Life
Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate...
appear to stem from an impending romantic turmoil suggested in the chorus. Although the song is known for such dreary, pointed statements as "everybody dies frustrated and sad, and that is beautiful," John Linnell
John Linnell
John Sidney Linnell is an American musician, is known primarily as one half of Brooklyn, New York alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants...
has repeatedly insisted (as in a 2003 interview with NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's Terry Gross
Terry Gross
Terry Gross is the host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, an interview format radio show produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and distributed throughout the United States by National Public Radio....
) that some of its lyrical twists, though pondered extensively by fans, were constructed merely to complement the melody and have no deep meaning. This is re-instated by Linnell's ambiguity when asked about the meaning of the song, stating the song was simply about "not let's starting".
Music video
The song also led to a music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
that was popular for some time on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. In it, the band is featured wearing rolled up cardboard with fabric stapled to the outside on their heads. The location in which the video was filmed is the site of the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, which would later be mentioned in "Ana Ng
Ana Ng
"Ana Ng" is a song by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. It was released as the lead single from the band's 1988 album Lincoln. Although the song was their first US chart appearance, hitting #11 on the US Modern Rock chart, the single was never officially released in the US...
". The face used in the video is that of William Allen White
William Allen White
William Allen White was a renowned American newspaper editor, politician, author, and leader of the Progressive movement...
. His face has also been used for props at TMBG concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s. It appears on the Don't Let's Start CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
single, and otherwise can frequently be found associated with TMBG.
Impact
The song was covered by the band Common RotationCommon Rotation
Common Rotation is an American indie rock band consisting of Eric Kufs, , Adam Busch , and Jordan Katz...
on their album The Big Fear, and is quoted by Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
in "A Praise Chorus" on their 2001 CD, Bleed American
Bleed American
-Personnel:Jimmy Eat World*Jim Adkins – vocals, guitar, percussion, bass guitar on "Your House", piano, organ on "My Sundown", bells, art direction*Rick Burch – bass guitar, vocals*Zach Lind – drums, percussion on "Your House" and "My Sundown"...
.
Don't Let's Start is also the name of an upcoming film, with characters that take their names from various They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
' songs, such as Ana Ng
Ana Ng
"Ana Ng" is a song by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. It was released as the lead single from the band's 1988 album Lincoln. Although the song was their first US chart appearance, hitting #11 on the US Modern Rock chart, the single was never officially released in the US...
.
Track listing
Maxi-single- "Don't Let's Start" (single mix) – 2:35
- "We're The Replacements" – 1:55
- "When It Rains It Snows" – 1:36
- "The Famous Polka" – 1:32
1990 maxi-single re-release
- "Don't Let's Start" (single mix) – 2:35
- "Your Racist Friend (Remix)" – 3:50
- "She's an Angel" – 2:37
- "Absolutely Bill's Mood" – 2:38
1990 single re-release
- "Don't Let's Start" (single mix) – 2:35
- "Letterbox" – 1:25
- "Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love" – 1:36
External links
- "Don't Let's Start" (releases) at This Might Be A Wiki
- "Don't Let's Start" (song) at This Might Be A Wiki