They Might Be Giants covers Chumbawamba
-As you may recall, They Might Be Giants’ “Birdhouse In Your Soul” was on this year’s Undercover list, and was tackled by Titus Andronicus. Many vocal commenters weren’t too fond of the version—though we got a bunch of e-mails from people who liked it. One of those people was They Might Be Giants’ John Flansburgh, who offered up his band’s services for a rendition of Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping.” Flansburgh also had the brilliant idea of recruiting backup singers from our office to sing/shout the chorus. He asked me to determine how many people we could fit in that room—it was 16, plus two camera men, plus the band—and on Memorial Day, TMBG made a special stop in Chicago to perform the song. Needless to say, when I set about finding A.V. Club staffers and friends to populate the room, nerdgasms abounded: You’ll see Tasha Robinson, Genevieve Koski, Kyle Ryan, and new web producer Sarah Collins in the room. Oh, and Pop Pilgrims co-host Dan Telfer! And a special appearance by my baby boy Jasper! (You may notice that the lights are a little low in the round room, both for atmosphere and to keep things cooler.) Anyway, we think this one’s epic, and we think you will, too. They Might Be Giants’ new album, Join Us, will be released on July 19. It doesn’t feature “Tubthumping,” but it’s awesome nonetheless.
More A.V. Undercover 2011
Total Episodes: 28- Iron And Wine covers George Michael -
- Baths cover LCD Soundsystem -
- Dum Dum Girls cover Big Star -
- The Low Anthem covers Wilco -
- Titus Andronicus covers They Might Be Giants -
- Wye Oak covers Danzig -
- Telekinesis covers Belle & Sebastian -
- Rocky Votolato and Matt Pond PA cover The Human League -
- Low covers Toto -
- Smith Westerns cover Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers -
- Of Montreal covers The White Stripes -
- Sharon Van Etten covers Fine Young Cannibals -
- The Mountain Goats cover Jawbreaker -
- Parts & Labor covers Kanye West -
- Surfer Blood covers The Pixies -
- ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead covers Indigo Girls -
- Sloan covers "Cars" by Gary Numan -
- They Might Be Giants covers Chumbawamba -
- The Get Up Kids cover "Girls And Boys" by Blur -
- Matt Nathanson covers "Little Red Corvette" by Prince -
- Bob Mould "covers" Sugar -
- The Decemberists cover Sugar -
- Against Me! covers The Clash -
- Basia Bulat covers Ted Leo & The Pharmacists -
- The Hold Steady covers Huey Lewis & The News -
- Peter Bjorn And John cover "Try A Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding -
- Fruit Bats cover "The Other Woman" by Loretta Lynn -
- Undercover 2011: Watch the re-cap and vote -