Walkie Talkie Man
Encyclopedia
"Walkie Talkie Man" is a song by the New Zealand band Steriogram
, released in 2004 on the album Schmack!
and as a single.
The song is widely recognized as bringing Steriogram the majority of their popularity. Its simple, catchy riff and fast-talking verses contribute to the song's popularity, and it attracted even more attention when it was used as the background music to an advert by Apple for the iPod
.
The song debuted at #19 on the UK Singles Chart
and reached #14 on the New Zealand chart.
The riff is almost an exact replica of the one used in "Picture Book" by The Kinks
, and some of the riffs are similar to those of "Pretend Best Friend" by Terrorvision
. "Warning
" by Green Day
also has a similar riff.
Exactly 1:59 into the song, lead guitarist Brad Carter sneezes.
, and features scenes of children working as studio staff and knitting instruments and equipment, and the band is terrorized by an giant hand made of wool which grabs singer Tyson Kennedy and tears him in half, showing that his insides are also made of wool. The children save him by unraveling the threads that compose the giant and sewing his lower body back in place – but it is sewn backwards and Kennedy ends the video with his legs turned back to the camera, unlike his upper body. Brad Carter's woollen guitar bears the words "New Zealand". The video is available on the DVD compilation Michel Gondry 2: More Videos (Before and After DVD 1)
.
The video was nominated for a Grammy in 2005 and for four MTV
music awards.
's Pump It Up: Exceed SE
for Xbox
and PlayStation 2
as well as in EA Sports
' MVP Baseball 2004 and MLB 2005.
A cover version
by Jason Paige is featured in the Nintendo DS
video game Elite Beat Agents
. In 2009, a parody titled "Agents" was composed by Josh Jones for the Mega64
Elite Beat Agents skit due to licensing issues.
MTV
uses this single in a Milk Ad.
The single appeared in five movies:
The song appeared in the third episode of the season 4 of the TV show Alias
, lightly accelerated.
The song appeared in SingStar Pop Vol. 2.
The song is used a 2008 advertisement for Export Gold beer in New Zealand.
The Song was also used by poular youtuber eddsworld
in his video "Edd's tale of Boredom"
Steriogram
Steriogram is a rock band that formed in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1999. Their 2004 song "Walkie Talkie Man" was used in an advertisement for the iPod and a number of films and video games.-Formation and first album, 1999–2005:...
, released in 2004 on the album Schmack!
Schmack!
Schmack! is the debut album by New Zealand band Steriogram, released in 2004. The album was re-released as a tour edition in 2005. The song "Walkie Talkie Man" featured on an Apple iPod ad and a number of films and video games, and its video clip was nominated for a Grammy and four MTV music...
and as a single.
The song is widely recognized as bringing Steriogram the majority of their popularity. Its simple, catchy riff and fast-talking verses contribute to the song's popularity, and it attracted even more attention when it was used as the background music to an advert by Apple for the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
.
The song debuted at #19 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and reached #14 on the New Zealand chart.
The riff is almost an exact replica of the one used in "Picture Book" by The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, and some of the riffs are similar to those of "Pretend Best Friend" by Terrorvision
Terrorvision
Terrorvision are an English rock band. They were formed in 1987 in Keighley, and initially disbanded in 2001...
. "Warning
Warning (Green Day song)
"Warning" is a song by American punk rock band Green Day. It is the second single and title track from their sixth album, Warning.Billie Joe Armstrong has said that the original concept was to create a song whose lyrics were made up of all signs and labels, and the idea grew from there.The song was...
" by Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
also has a similar riff.
Exactly 1:59 into the song, lead guitarist Brad Carter sneezes.
Video
The video for "Walkie Talkie Man" was directed by Michel GondryMichel Gondry
Michel Gondry is an Academy Award winning filmmaker, whose works include being a commercial director, music video director, and a screenwriter. He is noted for his inventive visual style and manipulation of mise en scène. - Life and career :...
, and features scenes of children working as studio staff and knitting instruments and equipment, and the band is terrorized by an giant hand made of wool which grabs singer Tyson Kennedy and tears him in half, showing that his insides are also made of wool. The children save him by unraveling the threads that compose the giant and sewing his lower body back in place – but it is sewn backwards and Kennedy ends the video with his legs turned back to the camera, unlike his upper body. Brad Carter's woollen guitar bears the words "New Zealand". The video is available on the DVD compilation Michel Gondry 2: More Videos (Before and After DVD 1)
Michel Gondry 2: More Videos (Before and After DVD 1)
Michel Gondry 2: More Videos is a DVD compilation of music videos and short films by director Michel Gondry. It was released in April 2009 and includes videos which were not included on Gondry's Directors Label DVD. The compilation includes nearly three hours of videos and never-before-seen...
.
The video was nominated for a Grammy in 2005 and for four 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....
music awards.
In other media
In 2004, the song was featured in AndamiroAndamiro
Originally founded in Korea in 1992 as Oksan Entertainment Co. Ltd, the company changed its name to Anda Miro Entertainment in 1999. The company holds its main office in Seoul, Korea....
's Pump It Up: Exceed SE
Pump It Up
Pump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
for Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
as well as in EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
' MVP Baseball 2004 and MLB 2005.
A cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Jason Paige is featured in the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
video game Elite Beat Agents
Elite Beat Agents
Elite Beat Agents is a music video game developed by iNiS and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was first released in North America, and has since been released in Europe and South Korea . It is the spiritual sequel to Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, a Japanese rhythm game...
. In 2009, a parody titled "Agents" was composed by Josh Jones for the Mega64
Mega64
Mega64 is a low-budget series of comedy skits centered on video games.-Premise:In the not too distant future, a sinister scientist named Dr. Poque creates the most powerful video game console ever assembled...
Elite Beat Agents skit due to licensing issues.
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....
uses this single in a Milk Ad.
The single appeared in five movies:
- Agent Cody Banks 2
- Kicking & Screaming
- RobotsRobots (film)Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and was released theatrically on March 11, 2005. The story was created by Chris Wedge and William Joyce, a children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of...
- Man of the HouseMan of the House (2005 comedy film)Man of the House is a 2005 crime comedy film directed by Stephen Herek, written by John J. McLaughlin and Scott Lobdell, and starring Tommy Lee Jones. The main plot revolves around Lt...
- Arthur and the InvisiblesArthur and the InvisiblesArthur and the Invisibles is a French/American part-animated, part-live action feature film adaptation of the 2002 children's book Arthur et les minimoys / Arthur and the Minimoys, and the 2003 sequel Arthur et la cité interdite /...
- Una pelicula de huevosUna película de huevosUna película de huevos is a 2006 animated full feature Mexican film produced by Huevocartoon Producciones . The film featured voices by Bruno Bichir, Angélica Vale and Carlos Espejel.-Synopsis:...
The song appeared in the third episode of the season 4 of the TV show Alias
Alias (TV series)
Alias is an American action television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC for five seasons, from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006...
, lightly accelerated.
The song appeared in SingStar Pop Vol. 2.
The song is used a 2008 advertisement for Export Gold beer in New Zealand.
The Song was also used by poular youtuber eddsworld
Eddsworld
Eddsworld is an independent British comedic flash animation production company created by Edward Gould in 2004. Eddsworld was also part of CakeBomb , but has always stood out as its own franchise...
in his video "Edd's tale of Boredom"