the name of this shrine is
talking heads

Talking Heads frontman David Byrne dancing strangely in the music video for Once in a Lifetime.

...and that's what it's about!

what is talking heads?

emerging from the early punk scene of the mid-70s, talking heads was one of the bands to pioneer the new wave sound that dominated the early 80s. chances are you've heard a few of their biggest hits - songs like psycho killer, burning down the house, and once in a lifetime! they became well-known for their experimental sound that blended new wave with genres like funk and art punk, alongside occasional influence from popular music in west africa and latin america. frontman david byrne became something of an icon himself, notorious for his eccentric dance moves, vocal performances, and general vibe.

these days, you'll mostly hear about the band either in reference to one of their hits or in proximity to other quirky new wave bands like oingo boingo and lemon demon. if you like one of those, you'll probably enjoy talking heads. these usually get described as "autism music" because of their large autistic fanbase, so I think it's worth noting that david byrne is himself autistic! this perspective bleeds into a lot of the band's work: the struggle to connect with people is a running theme, and there's often an underlying sense of anxiety and seeing things as an outsider. it's part of why their music resonates with me so much. :]

Talking Heads album covers, redrawn with Bunnybee in their place. Albums include More Songs About Buildings and Food, where they appear in a mosaic style; Remain in Light, with four Bunnybees whose faces are covered in a jagged red mask; Speaking in Tongues, with a multi-colored Bunnybee in the center; Little Creatures, where they hold up a globe; and Naked, where they hold a flower.

where to start?

the reason it took me so long to get into talking heads is because hits like burning down the house and psycho killer aren't super representative of their other work! I didn't warm up to those songs until hearing their live renditions, so for a while I just assumed the band wasn't my thing. (see: live versions of burning down the house and psycho killer.)

if you actually want a good picture of what talking heads has to offer, check out remain in light (their best album, where once in a lifetime comes from) or speaking in tongues (also great, has a more funky pop sound).

alternatively, if you've got an hour and a half to spare, you can check out their concert film stop making sense for free on youtube! this is where most people get hooked, myself included. the performances are joyful and electric, with so many cool set pieces and an overarching narrative about byrne connecting with others through music. it's well-beloved for a reason! you'll hear music from across their first five albums, so you can see what resonates with you most.

David Byrne doing an odd dance in the film Stop Making Sense. His body and arms sway, but his feet do not move from their spot, almost like a snake being charmed.

why do I care?

let me tell you, it's not a feeling I'm used to with music! I spent a lot of years just listening to video game OSTs and whatever was on the radio, so music never really... "spoke to me" the way it did a lot of people. even as I've worked to branch out my tastes these past few years, that deeper emotional connection was still something I didn't understand. it was fun to listen to and worthy of analysis like any other art form - but it didn't make me feel seen, y'know? "maybe this is just another thing I'll never get about people," I figured. "maybe this is what happens when you don't care about romance in a world full of love songs."

Bunnybee looking at a boombox beside them with a glum expression, hand resting on their cheek.

...but that's a bit melodramatic, isn't it? truth is, I'm new to this. I just hadn't seen myself in the mirror yet.

as I mentioned earlier, the themes of anxiety and disconnection in byrne's work really resonate with me, especially through an autistic lens. the perspective of his art - where cynicism and sincerity are both given room to breathe, and joy can be found in the mundane and modern - is reassuring to hear when the future feels so bleak these days. it's a kind of optimism that doesn't feel ignorant or patronizing: just the simple reality that the world is changing, as it always has been, and that people are still out there connecting, creating, and living their lives anyway.

and not to get parasocial or anything, but hearing his own story and struggles sort of amplified that feeling of connection for me. I don't claim to know the guy - a celebrity's story is its own kind of "fiction" - but it's a nice reminder that there are people out there like me. listening to interviews, it kinda dawned on me just how rarely I hear someone speak the way I do. if he could make it out there and grow more comfortable with people over the years, maybe I can too.

also the music is just really fucking good. that's also important. it's got lots of weird noises that scratch my brain. :]

Bunnybee doing the dance from the Once in a Lifetime music video.