Brontosaurus (They Might Be Giants song)
| "Brontosaurus" | |
|---|---|
| Song by They Might Be Giants | |
| from the album Book | |
| Released | November 12, 2021 |
| Genre | Alternative rock |
| Length | 3:04 |
| Label | Idlewild |
| Songwriter | John Linnell |
| Composers |
|
| Lyricist | John Linnell |
| Producers |
|
"Brontosaurus" is a song by American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants in their studio album Book (2021). It discusses the hard life of a person through the metaphor of being a brontosaurus dinosaur.
It includes various instrumentation from the band's recent lineup, including a horn section, and was written by They Might Be Giants band member John Linnell plus co-composed with member John Flansburgh. The song was performed live on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2023 as a part of the show.
Background
"Brontosaurus" is the fourth listed song[1] of the They Might Be Giants 2021 studio album Book.[1][2]
In a 2023 interview, John Linnell said about his inspiration for the song:[3]
A dinosaur is a metaphor for something that is ancient or extinct and there is this notion that artists or bands can be dinosaurs and that just means that they're "old hat". That's part of the idea.
Musical composition
The lyrics of "Brontosaurus" include themes of "concepts of futility and uselessness" and "optimism and bad vision". The song uses metaphors resembling the life of someone in the metaphor of the brontosaurus dinosaur,[4] with lyrics described as surreal throughout.[5]
The song appears to have a reference to Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses in Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch comedy. The lyrics include that brontosauruses are thick in the middle and skinny on the front and end sides.[6]
Brontosaurus has a rocking sound, backed with a horn section[4] and keyboard.[7]
Reception
The song is well-received by fans when played at concert.[8] In April 2023, They Might Be Giants performed "Brontosaurus" live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[9]
AllMusic describes the song as one that "uncovers the sensitivity of someone seemingly impervious in a tale that resembles Dumbo as a depressed dinosaur".[1] PopMatters states that it is a "disjointed story about a brontosaurus living in modern times."[7]
Personnel
Musicians
- John Linnell – vocals,[10] keyboards, saxophone
- John Flansburgh – backup vocals,[10] electric guitar
Backing band
- Dan Miller – electric guitar
- Danny Weinkauf – bass
- Marty Beller – drums
Production
- They Might Be Giants & Pat Dillett – production[10]
- Pat Dillett – mixing[10]
References
- ^ a b c "Book - They Might Be Giants". AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ^ "THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS Drop New Single 'Super Cool' From Forthcoming New Album 'BOOK'!". Xsnoize. 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Children's music, dinosaurs, and earworms: a Conversation with John Linnell of They Might Be Giants — WBRU". Wbru. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ a b Willis, Natalie; Snow, Lydia (2021-11-10). "They Might Be Giants' 'BOOK' maximizes surrealness, pathos and groove". The Chimes. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ OFarrell, Dan (2024-12-06). "They Might Be Giants: Beast of Horns – album review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ^ "They Might Be Giants". TV Tropes. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ a b Conaton, Chris (2021-11-17). "They Might Be Giants Write the 'BOOK' » PopMatters". Popmatters. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Concert review: They Might Be Giants still quirky after all these years". Delco Times. 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ "They Might Be Giants Perform "Brontosaurus" on Kimmel: Watch". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ a b c d "Brontosaurus - They Might Be Giants: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts". Shazam. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
External links
- "Brontosaurus" at This Might Be A Wiki