the tiktok of the dance party screening was mine!!! it was at the pantages theatre in hollywood and my GOD it was one of the best experiences of my entire life. there were little groups here and there off to the side who danced for the entire thing, and at the end they (and we) charged down to the front of the stage and it was just. a magical experience. also my bf dressed in his big suit and so did a bunch of other people who all took a picture together in their big suits, coolest night of my entire life :')
Pantages eh? Lmao I think you meant to say the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Pantages doesn't show ANY films, especially not IMAX. Pantages was where the Stop Making Sense was filmed in case you didn't know. Source: I live in SoCal.
I am so freaking jealous 😭 I live in Nebraska so my father and I went together and it was the smallest theater room in the entire place and completely empty. ☹️ At least my father and I got to sing all the songs as loud as we wanted.
Instead of showing neurodivergence as an isolating, torturous experience; it shows a joyous journey, through dance, music , honest expression, community, and love. I’m So thankful to have seen it on the big screen 😁!
For more neurodivergent beauty, in 1984 David Byrne made a documentary about Talking Heads for BBC4, and it's pretty wonderful to watch. czcams.com/video/XlIdydFcaLI/video.html
I have autism and I feel like so many things that I enjoy and so many of my personal experiences and ideas wouldn't have happened if I didn't have autism and ADHD. Many attribute to the claim that the neurodivergent lifestyle is a torturous and negative experience for those that live with it, and yes in some cases it's more extreme and makes their lives ever so hard to live in the modern world, but at the same time, being neurodivergent is a wonderful thing. And it translates into creativity, a drive to find interest in things that are complex, that can often otherwise go over the heads of neurotypical people, and it brings the desire to live life for the things you love doing!
@@duranfriendlystudiosassoci1351 I wish I could’ve read your whole statement. This is where CZcams loses it when you reply to someone …..that’s as far as the story…. I most certainly think there was something in there I needed to see.
Nah, their best lyric is from the same song: "You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything" I know so, so many people this lyric applies to. I have to stop myself from quoting it.
I read an article describing it as capturing "autistic euphoria", which I agreed with fully. Went to see it twice at the cinema - it's absolutely amazing. Thrilling. Byrne's repetitive movements, sense of elation, letting the eccentricities hang out without fear of masking etc. I think it's a joyous gem of a film.
I worked at a theatre located on the campus of a large eastern university when this film arrived for its run. I got to "attend" this amazingly creative and invigorating concert twice a night for 3 weeks! That was a defining moment in my own life.
Watched the new A24 rerelease of it twice in theaters last week, on the same day. For the second screening (10:30 pm on a Monday) I had the entire theater to myself, and ran, sang, and danced to it all around the auditorium for the entire time. Was one of the greatest movie experiences of my life. As someone on the spectrum, it was among the most affirming experiences I’ve ever had.
Lucky!!! Did you also feel the “parallel play” vibe from the wide shots especially with Tina? That’s what surprised me the most when I saw it in theaters
"This Must Be The Place" is the only love song I've ever heard that I feel like is really *about* my experiences with love and affection. The lyrics so direct yet poetic in their own way; as an ND myself I sometimes find it easier to quote lyrics when expressing myself and the fact that David gave us the phrase "you've got a face with a view" not only makes me feel seen as someone who struggles to articulate my emotions, but it's also just such a wonderful line to use with people. He's the only person who I feel understands the way that we (autistics) love and express our love.
God, when I saw David Byrne live on the American Utopia tour, they performed This Must Be the Place. I had the most odd combination of a meltdown and euphoria all at once. It is by far my favourite song. Ever. That concert was one of the most moving, breathtaking, blissful experiences of my life. I want so badly to see the new A24 release of Stop Making Sense, but it isn’t showing anywhere near me. I may have to make a pilgrimage. Update: there are exactly zero IMAX locations in a six hour drive of my home that are playing it. I managed to find a historic theater that is doing a limited run, so I have my tickets reserved. I am so incredibly excited.
I saw the film multiple times when it came out. Byrne didn't mention being apparently on the spectrum (he has said it was never formally diagnosed) until very recently. Everyone watching his persona back then just saw a geeky, awkward guy celebrating his own geekiness and make it wonderful.
When I was 18 years old, I got on a bus to see this concert live. It became one of my fondest memories, long before I was diagnosed as autistic myself. Thanks for a wonderful video.
At first, I really wasn’t a fan of opening with Psycho Killer because the bass is so iconic. But your explanation makes me understand it better. As a neurodivergent musician, David Byrne is a hero of mine. This film is amazing in theaters!!
I am one hundred percent sure that each member of the band is shredded. The amount of movement they do on stage, mixed with being able to sing and play instruments as well. How are these guys and gals not in amazing physical shape? Also, the four main band members were in their 30s when they made this movie, so, yeah.
"The less we say about it the better/We'll make it up as we go along" That lyric, from "Home/This Must Be The Place", resonated with me *so much!* Even before the film came out I was a big Talking Heads fan, mainly because of David Byrne's unapologetic geeky-ness. Their early albums were celebrations of celebrating who you are! Like Emma Goldman (I believe it was her) said: dance like nobody's watching! His singing was always all pinched-up and nervous-sounding, until he'd drop into that confident bark (like in "Burning Down The House"), and I realized (at least this is my interpretation) that both are expressions of his true self, he's okay showing us who he is. That really helped me break out of my shell of hostile social anxiety, I'd tell myself if David Byrne is okay with being seen as less than perfect, then maybe I can just relax - even for just a moment - and actually *experience* what's going on around me instead of obsessing over what others might think. Or tl;dr "I Zimba"! I remember he made a short video "David Byrne Interviews Himself", where his "interviewer" persona kept changing; family-friendly, pop-culture, hard-hitting, etc. But, as the interview-ee he came across as shy and nervous, and repeatedly asked "Do you have any food? I'm very hungry." (edited for spelling and clarity)
I agree! I think even the later albums are pretty great, except for some parts of Naked and that unique style that really speaks to geekiness is always present. David Byrne's movie, True Stories, is awesome.
I saw this concert in NZ in 1984 and it changed my life. I was 19 years old and pretty nervous around new people; pretty comfortable with friends. But dancing always felt normal to me, but I was quite nervous to dance in front of people and pretty conservative. After this concert I fully embraced experimental dancing and pushing the boundaries. Cut to the chase, I found my dancing spirit by mimicking Dave Byrne and it liberated me and let me be more social as well. If you dance well, everybody wants to know you, in a good way.
One of my favorite films of all time. I watched this on repeat in college in my 20’s and didn’t know why. I went to see this a couple weeks back, now 36, and I cried in the theater. Realizing how much of my personality comes from David and his unabashed freedom of the soul. It took hearing the amazing band at the peak of their career in an AMC for me to understand how profoundly this film has moved me throughout my life. This was an excellent essay, thank you for putting it together. David Byrne and the Talking Heads are a national icon.
I volunteer at an independent theatre off and on and I decided to do a shift for this movie on a whim and to stay and watch it despite knowing almost nothing about Talking Heads. It was so lovely! The theatre was packed and there were a few large friend groups and people of all ages. I was taking tickets and it was difficult to do it fast enough! No one danced in the aisles, but we all applauded and cheered after moving songs. Two minutes in, I knew that Byrne was neurodivergent like me. Watching that concert just felt like vicarious stimming somehow, it was transcendent in a big theater. Anyways, I now have a new Talking Heads music special interest now lol.
Just saw a showing of this at a local theater! They were only doing one showing and it was on my birthday! It was a sign from the universe that I had to go. Happy to say that the audience I was a part of danced through the whole theater and nobody was having a bad time.
this might be one of the best videos that I've ever seen. I really cannot explain how much I needed this. I'm diagnosed with ADHD, depression,... and my favorite band is talking heads. it was so touching to see these two topics coming along in such a natural way. I feel really lonely with my diagnosis. Even though I know a lot of neurodivergent people, there's no sense of community. really, thank you for this short, warm and cozy video. it was all that I needed for today
I came across this after seeing Stop Making Sense last night, and I absolutely love this analysis. As a Neurodivergent, seeing this film was wonderful, and provided me a lot of comfort in being who I am. Byrne's kinetic energy throughout the show as he gets more comfortable just makes me grin from ear to ear.
Talking Heads (namely David) show that being on a spectrum doesnt mean that you don't feel or are cold. There is so much humanity and warmth to their music.
I told my niece who asked about being cool one time that if you ever have to choose between having fun or being cool, always have fun cool is a concept that is nebulous different for every in group and really doesn’t exist but fun and good times are very real and make life worth loving. I myself am neurodivergent and a musician artist and the talking heads speak to my soul. My music is also all over the place with sometimes a typical music mashes but solid beats always holding it together I love a tight dance beat mixed with screaming guitars never thought it was because of my neurodivergent love of patterns wonder why I never noticed I just like what I like
This, so much this. Thank you so much for saying what I felt about Byrne and SMS! You found the words, so cogently and eloquently. Having missed the film first time around, I got quite obsessive with the re-release. Watched it at Castro Theatre recently, where many got up and danced. A celebration of neurodivergence. "Be Who You Are!" Always, tho it can take a while to find acceptance.
Love this video and this commentary! Saw this in theaters with my sweetie on a 9pm Monday showing in the suburbs and there was only other person there. We were dancing up and down the aisles, completely uninhibited, and having a ball! Such a magical experience with a magical film.
Great video! I've been obsessed with this concert film since I first saw it last year. Just recently I got to watch the A24 re-release, it's absolutely beautiful.
Thank you. I needed to hear the message in this video. I'm exhausted from trying to control myself and keep my weirdness hidden... now, I'm not going to expect others to tolerate the full force of my unfiltered chaotic mind, but at least I can try to accept myself for the way I am.
Amazing Video!! This concert movie along with Talking Headsare so absolutely timeless for good reason - I think everyone needs to "Stop Making Sense" once in a while, to really feel wholeheartedly themselves. Acting how you would when you're alone, only now you're with others who don't mind seeing the usually alone you.
One thing lost to through pop culture and the years is “Stop Making Sense” was definitely a “post-modern” idea influence by the art of that time. The come back of painting at that time from the calls that it was played out and over was the David Salle type post-modern movement. Also the “word” art of the time was popular and influential. This is why words are [projected behind them. To people outside the art world at the time this seemed “new” and “innovative” but it was the style of the day. Seems that these movements have become dated and only accessible to art people and collectors. The “novelty, and nostalgia type work has taken over these days and will also like this seep into pop culture. You cal also see in “Talking Heads” other influences from the art world from back then. Outsider Art, southern preachers, world music and Graffiti. The movie is an artifact of a slice of the art world at the time defused through a pop culture screen and presented on stage. It is interesting how things seen now from back then translate and what goes missing.
I'm a longtime talking heads fan and I took my partner, who happens to be autistic, to see stop making sense in theaters with me. they were so excited by the movie, not just bc of the energy but also because of how much they seemed to have in common with byrne, w/ similar mannerisms, ways of dancing, etc and kept saying "he's literally me" the entire time. I remember feeling similarly when I saw American Utopia a few years ago, thinking "wow this guy is weird but I also kind of relate to this??" having such a profoundly neurodivergent concert film like this is awesome :))
As in more talking heads videos or more analysis videos in general? Because I have made a few videos before this, all of which are also film analysis, and I am continuing to make more. I'm glad you enjoyed this one
Ah, dang. I added this to my watch later when it came out, but didn't watch it til now. In between there, I was diagnosed with autism. This hits a bit differently now from how it would have a few months ago
I want to see this but it is not showing anywhere local. Not even a stream available. Watched The Talking Heads on The Late Show a few weeks ago and just learned of Stop Making Sense. Soon hopefully.
this is beautiful, and i agree with the points/descriptions in the video. that said, the unbridled energy that david and the other performers displayed was certainly given a boost by all the cocaine they were doing.
This was a great video, thank you for making it ! I've always been a bit of a fan of his music, but I had no idea he was autistic, too ! I'm looking forward to seeing this :D
I feel safe here saying this and know you all will appreciate me noting that, as one of their album titles put it, "the name of this band is 'Talking Heads'"
I use footage and audio from a few different interviews. Here they are: czcams.com/video/vtX6emk6U5k/video.html czcams.com/video/VkwgVU3sQtw/video.html czcams.com/video/uRLNRd1bJ_Y/video.html
FYI their drummer, in this film, even says they are going to "change back into the Talking Heads" after the Tom Tom Club bit. He doesn't say they are going to change back into Talking Heads.
saw stop making sense at its rerelease for the first time and OHHH MY GOD the can of worms it opened is unreal. im not neurodivergent (as far as i know 😬) but i relate to a lot of the experiences mentioned in the video, and whether that’s a product of neurodivergence or something else, david byrne acts exactly how i want to as a trans person LMAOO
anyway i have become decidedly Not normal about david Byrne and talking heads in recent months (on my third stop making sense theatre watch and 500+ talking heads plays in 3/4 months)
More than any other artist I've heard, perhaps barring Gary Numan, Talking Heads have always struck me as being especially evocative of autism, aspergers and/or neurodivergence.
You neglected to mention that the real hero of the movie and the band is Jerry Harrison, who has been sperg-wrangling since the *early* 70s with OG aspie-rocker Jonathan Richman.
What is neurodivergent anyway? Seems to me a fancy way as saying we aren’t all the same. That is before considering the altered/unique states of consciousness accepted by psychiatrists. Charles M. Tart, if memory serves me, describes over 60 unique states of consciousness.
Directed by the great Jonathan Demme who also made The Silence of the Lambs. Another great concert film from a great director is Martin Scorsese:s The Last Waltz.
I love D Byrne. The rest of TH were drones. I can't understand why 'no talent' twats want to 'analyse' stuff. BTW I perform Psycho Killer live and solo from time to time. I have a 200 song rep and play for fun at a friends bar once a week.
It’s been obvious to me for a long time that Byrne is neurodivergent, and that Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth profound Don’t Get It™. They react like _such_ neurotypical Boomers it’s kinda irritating.
The movie’s called Stop Making Sense and your video spends 8 1/2 minutes trying to make sense of it? There was a day when we didn’t need a label (or CZcams) to understand something.
It's not me trying to "understand" or make sense of the movie, it's me explaining why I had a strong emotional reaction to it. These are the things I felt while watching it, not me trying to find something to make sense of it.
I gotta be honest, i get annoyed by the category of neurotypical. This imagined category of normie, or even diverse betrays the fact that everybody has a unique point of view. The failure of society is in school itself and all the toxic habits it imparts. If the question is asked, "what are our common interests?" naturally a highly diverse group emerges all of the time. But we don't do that in school, we subject everybody to the same agenda and divide them according to how well that goes. If the person is put front and center there is always a place for all kinds of people. The sad truth is not that a lot of art is an expression of trauma, no, it is that we would have more and better art if we skipped the needless trauma part.
When Autistic and other people are no longer isolated and subject to forcible restraint in schools... when we are no longer abused, exploited, excluded from equal access to opportunity, no longer shunned... when we are no longer subject to electroshock as a behavioral punishment in places like Judge Rottenberg Center... when Autistic people, especially Black Autistic people, are no longer subject to police violence and unjust treatment at the hands of the law just for the fact of being Autistic... when Autistic children are no longer subject to quack "cures" and "treatments" (such as bleach enemas, for example) that maim them and k*ll them... When we are treated like human beings deserving of respect, safety, autonomy, and equity in society... THEN we can think about doing away with labels. People complaining about "neurotypical" as a label sound just like people who complain about "cis gender" as a label. It is a very privileged posture to take. Very ableist, as well, and dismisses the very real oppression that Autistic people experience from the time we are born until we die. That is NOT hyperbole. Ignoring our differences doesn't make the world a better place or change things, ever.
As someone who’s often in neurodiverse circles and is diagnosed on the spectrum, I often have a lot of discomfort around the choice to categorise people as neurotypical or neurodivergent. I think it is ultimately a bit tribalistic and reductive - though it’s important to remember that the category of ‘neurodivergent’ was defined by the ‘neurotypical’ majority, and it’s just in recent years become a more positively received term by nd people. I hope eventually that everyone will be able to be more comfortable acknowledging our individual differences. It’s the idea that once we build a world in which everyone is accommodated for, then we will be able to break down these labels we’ve built. But for now I think in most cases it’s important to recognise that, relative to the structure of society so far as social interaction, employment, education, etc are concerned, some people have brains which more naturally fit well and are ‘neurotypical’.
@@marcuscuscusi always blame school because nothing is more unaccomodating. There is complete apathy with respect to student's interests, its all about getting them back to class as it is. I know SOME of the neurodivergent require accomodations, but I think a decent amount are just alienated by the mismatch that exists between their skills and what school recognizes. I had all sorts of talents that were completely outside of school and never had the possibility of effecting my GPA.
@@marcuscuscus my understanding is that a place like the Sudbury Valley School these distinctions don't exist, they only arise in the context of oppression. Take away the oppression and nobody thinks of themselves as neurodivergent, everyone has an original point of view and everyone matters.
Adding "neurodivergent" to the concert and the band is rubbish. It's *music*, and it was popular back then (and I was a big fan), but labeling the music "neurodivergent" is absurd. You can as well label a tree "neurodivergent". What's with this meme of adding labels to everything? So that you can make some click-bait?
I'm not calling the music neurodivergent because of a need to label or for clickbait (I really don't care about views and just make what I'm interested in making. You can look at what I've made before this, I have an hour long video on the history of an obscure film festival), I'm calling it neurodivergent because that's how it resonated with me. You don't have to perceive it that way or think of it as neurodivergent. Yo don't have to be neurodivergent to like it. I'm not saying you do. All I'm saying is that the music and concert capture that experience very well, which is not at all like calling a tree neurodivergent, because I provide very explicit reasoning throughout my video. It's not an arbitrary labeling, it is a geniune explanation of why I connect with their music. That doesn't mean that that is all the music is and that doesn't mean you have to think of it that way, that just means that's why I connect with it.
@@TheDrywall Then I will think of it as if I for some reason connect the color "orange" with some particular music - which I could very well do - and it doesn't really mean anything more than that.
@@tohaason But it's not just "for some reason", I very clearly explain in the video why the film resonated with me in this way. This movie and music is deeply important to me specifically because of how it captures my experience as a neurodivergent person in a beautiful way I haven't seen before. That means a lot. Once again, it is not an arbitrary connection with an unrelated idea, it is how the movie really made me feel.
![[柴犬ASMR]曼玉Manyu&小白Bai 毛发护理Spa asmr](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0TsXQ7z2Dh4/mqdefault.jpg)
the tiktok of the dance party screening was mine!!! it was at the pantages theatre in hollywood and my GOD it was one of the best experiences of my entire life. there were little groups here and there off to the side who danced for the entire thing, and at the end they (and we) charged down to the front of the stage and it was just. a magical experience. also my bf dressed in his big suit and so did a bunch of other people who all took a picture together in their big suits, coolest night of my entire life :')
Pantages eh? Lmao I think you meant to say the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Pantages doesn't show ANY films, especially not IMAX. Pantages was where the Stop Making Sense was filmed in case you didn't know.
Source: I live in SoCal.
@@MessyJoe FBSUA YES SORRY YOU'RE CORRECT i realized after i posted but couldn't remember the actual name thank you,,
They're called "zoot suits"
I am so freaking jealous 😭 I live in Nebraska so my father and I went together and it was the smallest theater room in the entire place and completely empty. ☹️ At least my father and I got to sing all the songs as loud as we wanted.
Instead of showing neurodivergence as an isolating, torturous experience; it shows a joyous journey, through dance, music , honest expression, community, and love. I’m So thankful to have seen it on the big screen 😁!
For more neurodivergent beauty, in 1984 David Byrne made a documentary about Talking Heads for BBC4, and it's pretty wonderful to watch. czcams.com/video/XlIdydFcaLI/video.html
I have autism and I feel like so many things that I enjoy and so many of my personal experiences and ideas wouldn't have happened if I didn't have autism and ADHD.
Many attribute to the claim that the neurodivergent lifestyle is a torturous and negative experience for those that live with it, and yes in some cases it's more extreme and makes their lives ever so hard to live in the modern world, but at the same time, being neurodivergent is a wonderful thing.
And it translates into creativity, a drive to find interest in things that are complex, that can often otherwise go over the heads of neurotypical people, and it brings the desire to live life for the things you love doing!
@@duranfriendlystudiosassoci1351 I wish I could’ve read your whole statement. This is where CZcams loses it when you reply to someone …..that’s as far as the story…. I most certainly think there was something in there I needed to see.
“I hate people when they’re not polite.” One of the best lyrics ever.
Nah, their best lyric is from the same song: "You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything"
I know so, so many people this lyric applies to. I have to stop myself from quoting it.
I read an article describing it as capturing "autistic euphoria", which I agreed with fully. Went to see it twice at the cinema - it's absolutely amazing. Thrilling. Byrne's repetitive movements, sense of elation, letting the eccentricities hang out without fear of masking etc. I think it's a joyous gem of a film.
I worked at a theatre located on the campus of a large eastern university when this film arrived for its run. I got to "attend" this amazingly creative and invigorating concert twice a night for 3 weeks! That was a defining moment in my own life.
Watched the new A24 rerelease of it twice in theaters last week, on the same day. For the second screening (10:30 pm on a Monday) I had the entire theater to myself, and ran, sang, and danced to it all around the auditorium for the entire time. Was one of the greatest movie experiences of my life. As someone on the spectrum, it was among the most affirming experiences I’ve ever had.
Lucky!!! Did you also feel the “parallel play” vibe from the wide shots especially with Tina? That’s what surprised me the most when I saw it in theaters
I’m so happy for you, what a cool experience
"This Must Be The Place" is the only love song I've ever heard that I feel like is really *about* my experiences with love and affection. The lyrics so direct yet poetic in their own way; as an ND myself I sometimes find it easier to quote lyrics when expressing myself and the fact that David gave us the phrase "you've got a face with a view" not only makes me feel seen as someone who struggles to articulate my emotions, but it's also just such a wonderful line to use with people. He's the only person who I feel understands the way that we (autistics) love and express our love.
That's one of my favorites too. Talking Heads and Neutral Milk Hotel are some of the only bands I feel really speak to me and capture my experience.
God, when I saw David Byrne live on the American Utopia tour, they performed This Must Be the Place. I had the most odd combination of a meltdown and euphoria all at once. It is by far my favourite song. Ever.
That concert was one of the most moving, breathtaking, blissful experiences of my life. I want so badly to see the new A24 release of Stop Making Sense, but it isn’t showing anywhere near me. I may have to make a pilgrimage.
Update: there are exactly zero IMAX locations in a six hour drive of my home that are playing it. I managed to find a historic theater that is doing a limited run, so I have my tickets reserved. I am so incredibly excited.
I saw the film multiple times when it came out. Byrne didn't mention being apparently on the spectrum (he has said it was never formally diagnosed) until very recently. Everyone watching his persona back then just saw a geeky, awkward guy celebrating his own geekiness and make it wonderful.
When I was 18 years old, I got on a bus to see this concert live. It became one of my fondest memories, long before I was diagnosed as autistic myself. Thanks for a wonderful video.
Talking Heads drew inspiration from the dada movement, which I think could be considered neurodivergent expression
Oh yeah dada art is awesome
At first, I really wasn’t a fan of opening with Psycho Killer because the bass is so iconic. But your explanation makes me understand it better. As a neurodivergent musician, David Byrne is a hero of mine. This film is amazing in theaters!!
wait, you DIDN'T like Psycho Killer specifically because the bass is "iconic"?
The live version where the iconic bass line is omitted. I really love both though@@shelby8364
@@shelby8364 haha I say the bass line is essential to this song. It’s so simple, yet it makes the song awesome!
I am one hundred percent sure that each member of the band is shredded. The amount of movement they do on stage, mixed with being able to sing and play instruments as well. How are these guys and gals not in amazing physical shape? Also, the four main band members were in their 30s when they made this movie, so, yeah.
Cocaine
"The less we say about it the better/We'll make it up as we go along"
That lyric, from "Home/This Must Be The Place", resonated with me *so much!*
Even before the film came out I was a big Talking Heads fan, mainly because of David Byrne's unapologetic geeky-ness. Their early albums were celebrations of celebrating who you are! Like Emma Goldman (I believe it was her) said: dance like nobody's watching!
His singing was always all pinched-up and nervous-sounding, until he'd drop into that confident bark (like in "Burning Down The House"), and I realized (at least this is my interpretation) that both are expressions of his true self, he's okay showing us who he is. That really helped me break out of my shell of hostile social anxiety, I'd tell myself if David Byrne is okay with being seen as less than perfect, then maybe I can just relax - even for just a moment - and actually *experience* what's going on around me instead of obsessing over what others might think.
Or tl;dr "I Zimba"!
I remember he made a short video "David Byrne Interviews Himself", where his "interviewer" persona kept changing; family-friendly, pop-culture, hard-hitting, etc. But, as the interview-ee he came across as shy and nervous, and repeatedly asked "Do you have any food? I'm very hungry."
(edited for spelling and clarity)
I agree! I think even the later albums are pretty great, except for some parts of Naked and that unique style that really speaks to geekiness is always present. David Byrne's movie, True Stories, is awesome.
I saw this concert in NZ in 1984 and it changed my life. I was 19 years old and pretty nervous around new people; pretty comfortable with friends. But dancing always felt normal to me, but I was quite nervous to dance in front of people and pretty conservative. After this concert I fully embraced experimental dancing and pushing the boundaries. Cut to the chase, I found my dancing spirit by mimicking Dave Byrne and it liberated me and let me be more social as well. If you dance well, everybody wants to know you, in a good way.
One of my favorite films of all time. I watched this on repeat in college in my 20’s and didn’t know why. I went to see this a couple weeks back, now 36, and I cried in the theater. Realizing how much of my personality comes from David and his unabashed freedom of the soul. It took hearing the amazing band at the peak of their career in an AMC for me to understand how profoundly this film has moved me throughout my life. This was an excellent essay, thank you for putting it together. David Byrne and the Talking Heads are a national icon.
I volunteer at an independent theatre off and on and I decided to do a shift for this movie on a whim and to stay and watch it despite knowing almost nothing about Talking Heads. It was so lovely! The theatre was packed and there were a few large friend groups and people of all ages. I was taking tickets and it was difficult to do it fast enough! No one danced in the aisles, but we all applauded and cheered after moving songs. Two minutes in, I knew that Byrne was neurodivergent like me. Watching that concert just felt like vicarious stimming somehow, it was transcendent in a big theater. Anyways, I now have a new Talking Heads music special interest now lol.
neurodivergent media critique is my favorite subgenre of video essay, and seeing it done with my favorite band made me do my little swimming thing
absolutely loving this talking heads renaissance
DAVID LETTERMAN: Stop Making Sense. That's the title, what does it mean?
DAVID BYRNE: It means we shouldn't be rational all the time.
Just saw a showing of this at a local theater! They were only doing one showing and it was on my birthday! It was a sign from the universe that I had to go. Happy to say that the audience I was a part of danced through the whole theater and nobody was having a bad time.
this might be one of the best videos that I've ever seen. I really cannot explain how much I needed this.
I'm diagnosed with ADHD, depression,... and my favorite band is talking heads.
it was so touching to see these two topics coming along in such a natural way.
I feel really lonely with my diagnosis. Even though I know a lot of neurodivergent people, there's no sense of community.
really, thank you for this short, warm and cozy video. it was all that I needed for today
Thank you so much! I'm so happy my video affected you so strongly.
I came across this after seeing Stop Making Sense last night, and I absolutely love this analysis. As a Neurodivergent, seeing this film was wonderful, and provided me a lot of comfort in being who I am. Byrne's kinetic energy throughout the show as he gets more comfortable just makes me grin from ear to ear.
Saw this way back when it was first released in the Melkweg club in Amsterdam.
Full of the nice cookies they sold there. It was amazing!
Talking Heads (namely David) show that being on a spectrum doesnt mean that you don't feel or are cold. There is so much humanity and warmth to their music.
sia WISHES
I told my niece who asked about being cool one time that if you ever have to choose between having fun or being cool, always have fun cool is a concept that is nebulous different for every in group and really doesn’t exist but fun and good times are very real and make life worth loving. I myself am neurodivergent and a musician artist and the talking heads speak to my soul. My music is also all over the place with sometimes a typical music mashes but solid beats always holding it together I love a tight dance beat mixed with screaming guitars never thought it was because of my neurodivergent love of patterns wonder why I never noticed I just like what I like
This, so much this. Thank you so much for saying what I felt about Byrne and SMS! You found the words, so cogently and eloquently.
Having missed the film first time around, I got quite obsessive with the re-release. Watched it at Castro Theatre recently, where many got up and danced. A celebration of neurodivergence. "Be Who You Are!" Always, tho it can take a while to find acceptance.
Love this video and this commentary! Saw this in theaters with my sweetie on a 9pm Monday showing in the suburbs and there was only other person there. We were dancing up and down the aisles, completely uninhibited, and having a ball! Such a magical experience with a magical film.
I never realized that David Byrne was autistic, but EVERYTHING about that makes so much sense now🤯😭
During high school this film was in a local theatre for quite a while, yet i never got around to see it. Seeing it this time around was glorious!
I decided to go see this based on your video and it was the most fun and I felt most comfortable I have been in a theater in years. Thank you!!
born under punches has been my terminally-on-repeat song for a while now, so to see it featured in a video about neurodivergence… i felt seen lol
Great video! I've been obsessed with this concert film since I first saw it last year. Just recently I got to watch the A24 re-release, it's absolutely beautiful.
Laurie Anderson's _Home of the Brave_ gives it a run for its money
love this ! this was my favorite theater experience of the year no question I love seeing people become talking heads fans
Saw the live concert. AMAZING. Always made perfect sense to me.
Wow ! I really love this video, you truly put a lot of work into it and it pays off! Your use of the songs in the video itself really seal the deal!!
Thank you. I needed to hear the message in this video.
I'm exhausted from trying to control myself and keep my weirdness hidden... now, I'm not going to expect others to tolerate the full force of my unfiltered chaotic mind, but at least I can try to accept myself for the way I am.
I can't wait to see the new version. I really loved the group and the film. Talking Heads made a huge impact on my life.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Totally joyous.
Great commentary and so insightful. Thank for this unique and superb review.
This video was insanely well done!!! Thankyou!!!
I love the talking heads ❤
Thank you for introducing me to my new hyperfixation!
So glad you’re talking about this. I thought the same thing when I saw it.
Amazing Video!! This concert movie along with Talking Headsare so absolutely timeless for good reason - I think everyone needs to "Stop Making Sense" once in a while, to really feel wholeheartedly themselves. Acting how you would when you're alone, only now you're with others who don't mind seeing the usually alone you.
absolutely beautiful video. perfectly captures exactly why this film makes me so emotional
Thank you so much!
LOVE YOU MAN, GOD BLESS YOU.
Well done! Congrats on your great viral video! Subscribed!
I love this movie. You made me love it more. Thanks!!!
One thing lost to through pop culture and the years is “Stop Making Sense” was definitely a “post-modern” idea influence by the art of that time. The come back of painting at that time from the calls that it was played out and over was the David Salle type post-modern movement. Also the “word” art of the time was popular and influential. This is why words are [projected behind them. To people outside the art world at the time this seemed “new” and “innovative” but it was the style of the day. Seems that these movements have become dated and only accessible to art people and collectors. The “novelty, and nostalgia type work has taken over these days and will also like this seep into pop culture. You cal also see in “Talking Heads” other influences from the art world from back then. Outsider Art, southern preachers, world music and Graffiti. The movie is an artifact of a slice of the art world at the time defused through a pop culture screen and presented on stage. It is interesting how things seen now from back then translate and what goes missing.
Wow. Thank you for this video. It provides great insight and actually ... makes sense.
I know barely anything about the talking heads but this was a great video essay!!
Girlfriend is better live is definitely a whole damn different experience and i love it
Excellent video!
This video is awesome!!! Great work internet stranger
Wonderful video!
i LOVE this movie so much
I'm a longtime talking heads fan and I took my partner, who happens to be autistic, to see stop making sense in theaters with me. they were so excited by the movie, not just bc of the energy but also because of how much they seemed to have in common with byrne, w/ similar mannerisms, ways of dancing, etc and kept saying "he's literally me" the entire time. I remember feeling similarly when I saw American Utopia a few years ago, thinking "wow this guy is weird but I also kind of relate to this??" having such a profoundly neurodivergent concert film like this is awesome :))
Went to the tribute concert of the movie in Den Haag, it was a feast of fun
This was really good. You should make more of them.
As in more talking heads videos or more analysis videos in general? Because I have made a few videos before this, all of which are also film analysis, and I am continuing to make more. I'm glad you enjoyed this one
Videos in general. @@TheDrywall
Ah, dang. I added this to my watch later when it came out, but didn't watch it til now. In between there, I was diagnosed with autism. This hits a bit differently now from how it would have a few months ago
I want to see this but it is not showing anywhere local. Not even a stream available. Watched The Talking Heads on The Late Show a few weeks ago and just learned of Stop Making Sense. Soon hopefully.
this is beautiful, and i agree with the points/descriptions in the video. that said, the unbridled energy that david and the other performers displayed was certainly given a boost by all the cocaine they were doing.
This was a great video, thank you for making it !
I've always been a bit of a fan of his music, but I had no idea he was autistic, too ! I'm looking forward to seeing this :D
I feel safe here saying this and know you all will appreciate me noting that, as one of their album titles put it, "the name of this band is 'Talking Heads'"
oh my god talking heads my spint and this is like, the video ever holybshit thanks for making this
You sound a lot like the narrator of "all the worlds greatest operas... In ten minutes". That's a compliment in c as e u were wondering.
I got to see this tour. It was great. Then to have it filmed and released as a movie? So cool. I don’t have to explain it. Go watch it.
i havent watched this video yet but so true
Great video. I am curious, where is that David Byrne interview from?
I use footage and audio from a few different interviews. Here they are:
czcams.com/video/vtX6emk6U5k/video.html
czcams.com/video/VkwgVU3sQtw/video.html
czcams.com/video/uRLNRd1bJ_Y/video.html
Thanks for that information@@TheDrywall
The name of this band is Talking Heads -- not "The Talking Heads." They had a whole album about it.
I know but it's really awkward to say
FYI their drummer, in this film, even says they are going to "change back into the Talking Heads" after the Tom Tom Club bit. He doesn't say they are going to change back into Talking Heads.
I lived in mpls in 1981 and made my friend listen to prince and friend preferred talking heads. Diff tastes I guess
do you have a link to david saying this at 7:39 ?
It's a clip from one of the same interviews I show earlier in the video. Here is the link:
czcams.com/video/vtX6emk6U5k/video.htmlsi=hBPCtIXAaXcoNyzL
saw stop making sense at its rerelease for the first time and OHHH MY GOD the can of worms it opened is unreal. im not neurodivergent (as far as i know 😬) but i relate to a lot of the experiences mentioned in the video, and whether that’s a product of neurodivergence or something else, david byrne acts exactly how i want to as a trans person LMAOO
anyway i have become decidedly Not normal about david Byrne and talking heads in recent months (on my third stop making sense theatre watch and 500+ talking heads plays in 3/4 months)
More than any other artist I've heard, perhaps barring Gary Numan, Talking Heads have always struck me as being especially evocative of autism, aspergers and/or neurodivergence.
What is the second most neurodivergent concert film ever made?
💙
It is so odd and unexpected that David is no longer autistic.
In truly ironic fashion, the narrator is speaking too fast for my neurodivergent brain.
White funk.
I think it's just a good representation of what cocaine does to people
Yeh but I've seen DB twice in 2018 and he's defo aspie as am I.
You neglected to mention that the real hero of the movie and the band is Jerry Harrison, who has been sperg-wrangling since the *early* 70s with OG aspie-rocker Jonathan Richman.
What is neurodivergent anyway? Seems to me a fancy way as saying we aren’t all the same. That is before considering the altered/unique states of consciousness accepted by psychiatrists. Charles M. Tart, if memory serves me, describes over 60 unique states of consciousness.
wait is that cillian murphy?
Directed by the great Jonathan Demme who also made The Silence of the Lambs. Another great concert film from a great director is Martin Scorsese:s The Last Waltz.
I've oft said that Talking Heads fans are all on the spectrum but Neurodivergent is probably a more fitting term.
I used the term because it can speak to not just autistic people, but people with other forms of neurodivergence, like OCD, ADHD, etc.
You are simply projecting
I love D Byrne. The rest of TH were drones. I can't understand why 'no talent' twats want to 'analyse' stuff. BTW I perform Psycho Killer live and solo from time to time. I have a 200 song rep and play for fun at a friends bar once a week.
Maybe your “head” should stop “talking”
It’s been obvious to me for a long time that Byrne is neurodivergent, and that Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth profound Don’t Get It™. They react like _such_ neurotypical Boomers it’s kinda irritating.
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this film. And I’m lucky enough to have seen it in the theaters when it first came out. It was tremendous.
Talking Heads were really the first group who spoke to me.
nicest way to call a band autistic then
I am calling the band autistic
The movie’s called Stop Making Sense and your video spends 8 1/2 minutes trying to make sense of it? There was a day when we didn’t need a label (or CZcams) to understand something.
It's not me trying to "understand" or make sense of the movie, it's me explaining why I had a strong emotional reaction to it. These are the things I felt while watching it, not me trying to find something to make sense of it.
You omit to mention the gigantic quantities of cocaine they're inhaling
if music is good enough the genre becomes the band.
have you heard blah?
nah. what genre.
they’re just. it’s blah.
I gotta be honest, i get annoyed by the category of neurotypical. This imagined category of normie, or even diverse betrays the fact that everybody has a unique point of view.
The failure of society is in school itself and all the toxic habits it imparts. If the question is asked, "what are our common interests?" naturally a highly diverse group emerges all of the time. But we don't do that in school, we subject everybody to the same agenda and divide them according to how well that goes. If the person is put front and center there is always a place for all kinds of people.
The sad truth is not that a lot of art is an expression of trauma, no, it is that we would have more and better art if we skipped the needless trauma part.
When Autistic and other people are no longer isolated and subject to forcible restraint in schools... when we are no longer abused, exploited, excluded from equal access to opportunity, no longer shunned... when we are no longer subject to electroshock as a behavioral punishment in places like Judge Rottenberg Center... when Autistic people, especially Black Autistic people, are no longer subject to police violence and unjust treatment at the hands of the law just for the fact of being Autistic... when Autistic children are no longer subject to quack "cures" and "treatments" (such as bleach enemas, for example) that maim them and k*ll them... When we are treated like human beings deserving of respect, safety, autonomy, and equity in society... THEN we can think about doing away with labels.
People complaining about "neurotypical" as a label sound just like people who complain about "cis gender" as a label. It is a very privileged posture to take. Very ableist, as well, and dismisses the very real oppression that Autistic people experience from the time we are born until we die. That is NOT hyperbole.
Ignoring our differences doesn't make the world a better place or change things, ever.
As someone who’s often in neurodiverse circles and is diagnosed on the spectrum, I often have a lot of discomfort around the choice to categorise people as neurotypical or neurodivergent. I think it is ultimately a bit tribalistic and reductive - though it’s important to remember that the category of ‘neurodivergent’ was defined by the ‘neurotypical’ majority, and it’s just in recent years become a more positively received term by nd people.
I hope eventually that everyone will be able to be more comfortable acknowledging our individual differences. It’s the idea that once we build a world in which everyone is accommodated for, then we will be able to break down these labels we’ve built. But for now I think in most cases it’s important to recognise that, relative to the structure of society so far as social interaction, employment, education, etc are concerned, some people have brains which more naturally fit well and are ‘neurotypical’.
@@marcuscuscusi always blame school because nothing is more unaccomodating. There is complete apathy with respect to student's interests, its all about getting them back to class as it is.
I know SOME of the neurodivergent require accomodations, but I think a decent amount are just alienated by the mismatch that exists between their skills and what school recognizes.
I had all sorts of talents that were completely outside of school and never had the possibility of effecting my GPA.
@@marcuscuscus my understanding is that a place like the Sudbury Valley School these distinctions don't exist, they only arise in the context of oppression. Take away the oppression and nobody thinks of themselves as neurodivergent, everyone has an original point of view and everyone matters.
no
Most Pretentious Piece of Shit is more like it. The bar for rock music was just very low at that point in time.
Adding "neurodivergent" to the concert and the band is rubbish. It's *music*, and it was popular back then (and I was a big fan), but labeling the music "neurodivergent" is absurd. You can as well label a tree "neurodivergent". What's with this meme of adding labels to everything? So that you can make some click-bait?
I'm not calling the music neurodivergent because of a need to label or for clickbait (I really don't care about views and just make what I'm interested in making. You can look at what I've made before this, I have an hour long video on the history of an obscure film festival), I'm calling it neurodivergent because that's how it resonated with me. You don't have to perceive it that way or think of it as neurodivergent. Yo don't have to be neurodivergent to like it. I'm not saying you do. All I'm saying is that the music and concert capture that experience very well, which is not at all like calling a tree neurodivergent, because I provide very explicit reasoning throughout my video. It's not an arbitrary labeling, it is a geniune explanation of why I connect with their music. That doesn't mean that that is all the music is and that doesn't mean you have to think of it that way, that just means that's why I connect with it.
@@TheDrywall Then I will think of it as if I for some reason connect the color "orange" with some particular music - which I could very well do - and it doesn't really mean anything more than that.
@@tohaason But it's not just "for some reason", I very clearly explain in the video why the film resonated with me in this way. This movie and music is deeply important to me specifically because of how it captures my experience as a neurodivergent person in a beautiful way I haven't seen before. That means a lot. Once again, it is not an arbitrary connection with an unrelated idea, it is how the movie really made me feel.
@TheDrywall the movement and music is very stimmy pay no attention. He's just ignorant and you don't have to justify YOUR video.
To use an AI voice to describe one of the really true human bands is abhorrent.
That's my actual voice lol, no AI was used in this video
This is so fucking funny it doesn’t even sound like ai
david byrne is pure cringe.
Grow up
He has a few more Emma's and grammes than you though.