Talking Heads' Signature Song

Per Wikipedia: “A signature song is the one song (or, in some cases, one of a few songs) that a popular and well-established recording artist or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of other songs. There have also been instances where a film actor has acquired a signature song by giving a popular vocal performance in a feature. Signature songs can be the result of spontaneous public identification, or a marketing tool developed by the music industry to promote artists, sell their recordings, and develop a fan base.[1]”

The OP is correct in that a signature song is an objective, not subjective, characterization. Of course no one can say for sure which song every person in the general public will identify with an artist. But it’s possible to get some idea, based on popularity, exposure, mentions in the media, etc. about what the average Joe on the street will say.

I think it must upset some people to know that a favorite song of theirs is not a “signature” song but it really shouldn’t affect how much we love a song, one way or another.

 

You can't reconcile a bands original fans, for whom a signature has to do with their establishing their identity as a band, with a record buying public for whom a bigger hit is usually more signature.

The fans don't care how big they got on the charts, but the public don't care who they really are.

Also: Look a tthe results. I think it might be less of a blowout if some of the early contenders were listed.

 

Have you read some of the comments on this thread? Never say never!

No, I didn't really expect "Stay Up Late" to get many votes - or maybe even any - but it's also not some obscurity.

As it stands, every song in the poll has gotten at least 1 vote except for "Late" and "Girlfriend".

I admit I'm a little surprised about the latter because it's the song during which DB wore the "big suit" - that's arguably the most famous moment in "SMS"!

 

That big suit was classic.

 

Et tu, Ralphe?


Yes, it is just a conversation - not meant to solve world hunger or anything.

But as the OP, I get a little tired of people who bitch at me because a) they think I left out some songs b) they think I included too many songs c) they don't like my criteria.

Of course it's a personal opinion of what the "general public" thinks is the artist's signature song, but that doesn't mean there's a one size fits all answer.

If someone doesn't like my criteria, they're welcome to run their own threads. Call those criteria arbitrary if you want, but them's the breaks...

 

Um, "early contenders" are included. How much earlier than "Psycho Killer" does it get?

 

He chose kind of a random song to come out with the suit on... I never really felt like the song and the image were indelibly paired.

 

Oh, don't worry about it Colin, we're cool.

 

Perhaps, but the fact that the suit gave the song so much exposure seemed like it should've given the song more of a "signature song" boost!

 

I'm not worried - you're the one who should worry! You've been added to the list!

 

How many songs from the first two LPs?

 

Best known though is a tough nut to crack, especially globally, for a band that had radically different hits in the US and Europe (and presumably Japan, tho I haven't checked).

For legacy acts, the "best known" song can change radically thanks to contemporary exposure on film or TV.

For an act that has several well-known songs, it can come down to which best typifies their style, or the style they exhibited during their peak commercial period.

 

2 - the 2 that made the most sense for the thread.

Songs being old doesn't make them "signature" by default. Plenty of artists' signature songs come a good way into their careers...

 

Oh OK. I associate River with Al Green too much to go there (and it's a cover.) 1 or 2 it is. Not many to a certain type of fan.

 

Well, a cover can be an artist's signature, as discussed in that thread, and some people think "River" fits!

 

I voted for Once In A Lifetime. Maybe in an alternate universe it might be Pulled Up”. I could live there.

 

No doubt. I think a lot of people would pick "Respect" when asked about Aretha Franklin's signature song.

 

Back when I regularly saw The Heads at CBGB the regular irregulars of which I proudly considered myself a non-card carrying member would first and foremost associate Psycho Killer with the band. ...and a 1-2-3-4 count-off at breakneck speed with you got it... The Ramones. These days all you can do there is buy a pair of overpriced sneakers. Those were the days when you could find a better class of people inhabiting The Bowery. CBs stills lives in the hearts and pits of the stomachs of those of us who remember those day. Those days in New York were; Paris in The 30s, LA in The 50s, Post War Berlin and the Vegas Strip in The '60s all rolled into one. But I digress...

...Psycho Killer. Second place, if such a thing exists; in my ears would go to Take Me To The River.

 

She did it better than Otis. THs River wasn't a threat to Al.

 

Nacho usually edits great Bowie material, but sometimes picks a different artist. Wonderful edit of Talking Heads' signature song Psycho Killer, live at the Mudd Club 1979.

 

As the Gatekeeper of The Wizards' joint in Oz said; paraphrasing... "that's a horse of a different color." For me; I'm not looking at this as an either or thang. Both versions; different; neither really commenting on the other. Both classic!

For the record: My choice was... Psycho Killer and TMTTR would take over PKs' spot if something caused it not to able to fulfill it's obligations.

 

I picked "Once In a Lifetime" due to not only music but also the lyrical content. Funny thing about that band is that in my mind, I can reduce their truly great material into about a 1 CD compilation. But that quality of that compilation is just outstanding. Not a band of great songwriters or prolific songwriters, but they were good musicians, and they had a lot of interesting ideas. A conceptual, art-rock thing that really worked.

Their music benefitted from some of the limitations of the day. Once David Byrne had almost unlimited tracks and editing ability, I think the music suffered for it (and in his solo career). It became a little to considered and worked-over for my taste.