They Might Be Giants are an alternative rock band known for their witty and absurd lyrics. Originally made up of two men, John Flansburgh and John Linnell, the band now includes a variety of guest collaborators. They Might Be Giants have recently found a new audience in young people with the release of two children’s albums, despite having a long history and cult following in the alternative genre.
Since 1981, John and John, also known as the two Johns, have been performing as They Might Be Giants almost nonstop. They met in junior high school in Massachusetts and decided to form a band after college. Their early performances were marked by a love of silliness, and they frequently wore ridiculous hats. By 1986, they had signed with the record label Bar/None Records, and their second label-released album, Lincoln, had begun to chart in the United States.
With the release of Flood in 1989, the band had one of its biggest hits, an album that was later certified gold by US record standards. “Birdhouse in Your Soul” and “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” two of the album’s songs, became chart hits and iconic songs for the band and the decade. If you meet a fan of They Might Be Giants, Flood is likely to be the album that first introduced them to the band. The album marked the start of a new record label, Elektra Records.
The band continued to release albums throughout the 1990s, evolving their sound to include other musicians. They composed and performed several film and television score pieces, including the theme song for the hit cable show The Daily Show. They Might Be Giants gained even more fame when their song “Boss of Me” became the theme song for the TV show Malcolm in the Middle.
They Might Be Giants began releasing family-friendly music in 2002. No!, released in 2002, was directed specifically at children, unlike their previous releases, which were not particularly inappropriate. The album captivated a new generation with dreamy ballads like “Where Do They Make Balloons” and kid-anthems like “Bed, Bed, Bed.” Thematically, Here Come the ABCs, a 2005 release honoring the letters of the alphabet, followed this album.
They Might Be Giants have remained an eclectic and whimsical voice in the music industry throughout their career. Their versatility has endeared them to a new generation of fans while also entertaining long-time fans. They Might Be Giants are likely to continue their long career for many more years, to the delight of their fans and the gentle mockery of the mainstream music industry, thanks to their bouncy melodies, cheerful lyrics, and irrepressible creativity.