Burning Down the House
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Burning Down the House is a 1983 song by Talking Heads, from their album Speaking in Tongues. One of the best examples of Talking Heads music, it is also one of their more popular, reaching #9 on the US Charts in the year of its release. Chris Frantz thought of the titular chorus after seeing a Parliament-Funkadelic show where the crowd chanted "Burn down the house."
It was covered in a Weird Al Yankovic polka, and also by Tom Jones with The Cardigans in Jones's 1999 album Reload. Even Montreal DJ/Producer Tiga recorded a cover of this song for his 2006 album, Sexor.
The house used in the "Burning Down the House" video is on May Street in Union, New Jersey.[citation needed]
[edit] In popular culture
- In the movie 13 Going on 30, Matt plays "Burning Down the House" at Jenna's birthday party.
- "Burning Down the House" also played during the Alpha Betas frat house party in Revenge of the Nerds. The title line was recited, appropriately enough, when the Alphas' antics involving a high-proof liquor and a lighter ignited the drapes.
- In Episode 1F02 of The Simpsons, titled "Homer Goes to College", the Itchy & Scratchy cartoon watched by Bart and Lisa is titled "Burning Down the Mouse".
| Talking Heads |
|---|
| David Byrne – Chris Frantz – Tina Weymouth – Jerry Harrison |
| Discography |
| Studio Albums: Talking Heads: 77 (1977) - More Songs about Buildings and Food (1978) - Fear of Music (1979) - Remain in Light (1980) - Speaking in Tongues (1983) - Little Creatures (1985) - True Stories (1986) - Naked (1988) |
| Live Albums: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (1982) - Stop Making Sense (1984) |
| Filmography |
| Stop Making Sense (1984) - True Stories (1986) - Storytelling Giant (1988) |
