They Might Be Giants - The Communists Have the Music (Official Video)

I got handed an Ayn Rand sandwich
straight from a can it tasted so bland
I asked a lass to pass me a glass
of Engel’s Conditions of the Working Class

right away they dragged me to the committee
to explain my un-American activity
they’re gonna see they made a mistake
if they’d only let me play my mixtape

I’m not partial to the martial
or the plutocrats in their beaver hats
and the fascists have the outfits
but I don’t care for the outfits
what I care about is music
and the communists have the music

I hear a melody
and just as suddenly
I know who I’m
supposed to be

I don’t need a rationale
to sing the Internationale
I only need to plug in the headphone jack
so I can listen to my backing track

I’m not jealous of the zealous
or anarchics with guitar picks
and the fascists have their outfits
but I don’t care for the outfits
what I care about is music
and the communists have the music
yes the communists have the music
oh the communists have the music

I hear a melody
and just as suddenly
I know who I’m
supposed to be

I’m not partial to the martial
or the plutocrats in their beaver hats
and the fascists have the outfits
but I don’t care for the outfits
what I care about is music
and the communists have the music

Dial-A-Song Video Week 36.

Directed by David Cowles and Jeremy Galante
Character Design and Artwork by David Plunkert
Animation by Jeremy Galante
Additional Animation by Daran Carlin-Weber and Brad Pattullo

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[Mels-pufc]

"I got handed an Ayn Rand sandwich straight from the can, it tasted so bland. I asked a lass to pass me a glass of Engels' Conditions of the Working Class."
That part slaps and is very true.

[verynormalhumans]

1:18 They tried to warn us, but we didn't listen. The birds work for the bourgeoisie, don't tru-

[Wedge]

1. great art direction
2. honestly this song really grew on me.. its a banger or a bop or whatever
3. dunking on ayn rand by name in the opening bars is actually funny as hell

[dragonbenjimon]

"I don't need a rationale to sing the The Internationale"
fair, The Internationale fucking slaps.

[Zoe-shhm]

First listen: “Oh wow, they’re fans of communism I guess.” Second listen: “Oh I see they’re saying people just adhere to these ideologies for aesthetic reasons.” Third listen: “But there’s a reason the communists have the music and the fascists don’t.”

[rayko]

That moment when you get handed an Ayn Rand sandwich straight front the can and it tastes so bland

[thenewmachine]

Everyone here isnt talking about the important stuff, this is the same band that made the Malcolm in the middle intro song and the music for the mickey mouse houseclub, talk about fucking range

[joemorgan]

People in the comments are hearing TMBG cite Engels in a song about the military-industrial complex and how the West is also oppressive and dogmatic and can’t understand how TMBG could be left wing.

[crowe]

the world's most efficient political compass is asking how you think tmbg actually feels about communism

[RFC-]

Fun facts: there were actual projects (that went pretty far) to develop eavesdropper cats (Acoustic Kitty) and missile-guiding pigeons (Project Orcon), during WWII and the Cold War.

[itchysnazzy]

First the music, and later the means of production.

[VicDealio]

The Communists have the Music.
They Might be Giants have the Music.
Syllogism isn't necessarily conclusive, but...
The Communists might be giants.

[s.o.]

wait but, did the lass ever pass him a glass of engel's conditions of the working class?

[f-alightningii]

So many people don’t understand this song is about political oppression in the United States.

[diorsse]

we making it out of capitalism with this one 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[peterholzer]

Many years ago I was watching a news report about various Austrian parties campaigning for parliamentary elections with my parents. Mostly politicians giving speeches in crowded halls or talking to people in public places. But for the communists they showed a bunch of people singing a 19th century worker's song. So my mom exclaimed loudly: "I'll vote for the communists. They're the only ones who are still singing!"

[medicolkie]

The Nazis had the flashy uniforms but the Soviets had the Red Army Choir.

[voomroom]

My problem:
1. I am sad.
2. I listen to the song because it is a banger.
3. Returning to the video, I instinctively check the comments.
4. The comments are bad.
5. Go to step 1.

[Tausami]

The bit in the animation where two politicians are fighting and it zooms out to show that they're actually puppets held by the politicians, who are just chilling while their puppets pretend to fight, is brilliant and a very good description of capitalist politics

[lee]

Reading the comments under this video should be considered a form of self-flagellation