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Spiraling Shape

From This Might Be A Wiki

song nameSpiraling Shape
artistThey Might Be Giants
releasesFactory Showroom
year1996
first playedFeb. 3, 1996 (91 known performances)
run time4:24
sung byJohn Linnell, John Flansburgh sings background

Trivia/Info

TMBG wishes to make the case that not all of our songs have a single strict interpretation, but "Spiraling Shape" is generally about the fervent embrace and then abandonment of a cultural "bubble." It might be "smart" drugs, it might be virtual whatever, or it could simply be spin art. Steve Light adds his snazzy vibraphone to this swirling cut.
  • Instead of the line "Your terrified screams are inaudible, drowned in the spiral ahead and consumed in the shape", the line "And even while screaming and writhing, you reach for the spiraling one that would let you be free" is featured in the English lyrics section of the booklet for Japanese releases of Factory Showroom. The American release of the album features no accompanying lyrics booklet.
  • The chorus of this song was cannibalized from a previously unreleased TMBG song, "Rocket Ship."
  • Not only was this song on the Kids In The Hall - Brain Candy OST, but it was also featured in the actual movie for about seven seconds.
  • Appears in the Malcolm In The Middle Episode "Smunday."
  • During live performances, Danny Weinkauf does a bass solo in place of the usual vibraphone solo.

Song Themes

Addiction, Compulsion, Falling, Kingdom Of Loathing Reference, Lies, Deception, Mind Control, Hypnotism, No, Questions, Rhymes, Shapes, Windows

Videos

 
Current Rating

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Spiraling Shape is currently ranked #12 out of 846. (490 wikians have given it an average rating of 9.06)