Interpretations:Los Angeles

Interpretation 1

It seems to me that this song is about the techies who recorded the Venue Songs album, because all the Venue songs were recorded live. Let's take a look at the first two verses:

There's a band
that's living in L.A.
but they never get to play
they're just working jobs all day

But their plan
is to follow us around
as we go from town to town
they're copying our sound

Now, if we replace some words and phrases with rough equivalents:

There's a group of music lovers
that lives in L.A.
but they can't play
so they just do their jobs

But they plan
to follow us around
as we go on tour
they're recording our songs

Anyway, that's just my two cents -The Cowch 17:19, May 8, 2005

right on. I agree with this interpretation. it's just the kind of double meaning Linnell likes to put into his songs. btw, this is one of my favorite tmbg songs ever. then again, I love 98% of the songs they've ever made. -Nosaj56 16:45, 30 Nov 2005 (EST)

Interpretation 2

Look at the music video for this song some time. The song is about a band being ripped off by another band, who, in the music video at least, drive the first band out of the spotlight. In other words, it's another critique on show business, like Hey Mr. DJ. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.243.125.2 (talk) 14:45, December 12, 2005

Istanbul

originally istanbul (not constantinople) was written by a band named the four lads so maybe that inspired this song -Jeremy 16:52, December 27, 2005

Britpop

A wonderful wonderful song. What interests me is the British angle to the song - ie. Linnell's voice. Perhaps he's laughing at the British Britpop scene? Mr Tuck 12:53, January 4, 2006

Interpretation 5

This song weirds me out...it's almost as if the Giants are acusing another band of ripping them off...when a song like this is written so powerfully and in such an accusatory tone, you can't help but wonder if there's some truth to it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by VolatileChemical (talk • contribs) 12:26, January 21, 2006

Interpretation 6

Truth, but not necessarily about TMBG. It's a story that's been repeated countless times, and not just in the music industry. Somebody comes up with something great and then cheap knock-offs saturate the market. The song's style and the cartoon seem to specifically point to all the one hit wonder bands that were basically knocking off The Beatles, but it could be with anything. The worst part is that when you copy someone you dilute their message by drowning it out with things that look similar, but lack the same heart. You are "stealing all their truths." PolarBoy 15:53, March 20, 2006

I agree with the last statement. TMBG don't care about people recording their songs at concerts. They're telling a story about how original work gets co-opted and mainstreamed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.39.99.211 (talk) 21:30, August 15, 2006

Beatles

Linnell sings this with a Liverpudlian accent, recalling the efforts of some bands to copy the Beatles. --Nehushtan 01:08, 29 Mar 2006 (CST)

I think this song tells about the Beatles-Stones rivalry of the 60's. -Elbridge 21:40, June 18, 2007

I also kind of thought this had something to do with the beatles. —The thing ^Talk 17:21, 29 May 2012 (EDT)

Interpretation 7

I've always liked to think that TMBG are the band ripping off some British pop ban. They've taken notes and stolen everything from this other band, and now they're inadvertently singing about themselves, with their accents and all.