Talking Heads created what is widely considered to be the greatest concert film of all time back in 1983, and “Stop Making Sense” is still as electric today as it was 40 years ago.
I’m going to rank all eighteen tracks (yes, that includes the two bonus tracks) based on the performance on the night – NOT their qualities as a song to begin with!
Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:
I Wanted More
These songs either pale in comparison to the original recording or they just aren’t that memorable to begin with.
18 – Once in a Lifetime
“Once in a Lifetime” is my favourite Talking Heads song AND my favourite song of all time, but the band never seemed to be able to replicate the magic live.
I always lament the missed opportunities whenever this song comes on during “Stop Making Sense”, as I wished David Byrne and co. had found a way to recapture the production of the original recording. The performance itself isn’t bad (none of them are), but it felt lacking.
17 – Swamp
“Swamp” is easily my least favourite Talking Heads song on the “Stop Making Sense” line-up, so it’s no surprise the live performance didn’t do it for me either.
Byrne’s drawled vocals sound just as drab and boring as the original, and the set design / choreography are unimaginative.
16 – Genius of Love
While I like the original song a lot, the Tom Tom Club’s cameo appearance during “Stop Making Sense” always felt out of place to me.
“Genius of Love” has a great groove, and I love the girls’ energy and dancing, but it sounds a bit slower and disjointed compared to the other tracks.
Decent
As far as live performances go, these songs did their job well.
15 – Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
A bit of a random song to do so early in the setlist, but I like the energy.
14 – Take Me to the River
Maybe it’s just me, but the live version of “Take Me to the River” has a bit too much energy.
It fits the vibe of the rest of the setlist, but I much prefer the slower, more methodical album version.
13 – Cities
One of two tracks cut from the original release, and I can kinda see why.
“Cities” is definitely one of the better Talking Heads songs, but the live version blends in with the rest of the awesome tracks.
12 – Heaven
A great pick for second song, and I really like this acoustic guitar / bass version of “Heaven”.
It was never going to eclipse the gorgeous original, but I love this version’s stripped-back charm.
11 – This Must Be the Place
“This Must Be the Place” is the most “mixed bag” song of the entire setlist.
On the one hand I love the new arrangement and Byrne’s lamp dance, but on the other I hate the lip-syncing and think the brighter instrumentation makes it lose some of the original charm.
Better Than The Recording
These performances were so good that they rival the original versions.
10 – Burning Down the House
Talking Heads’ big hit at the time and one of the biggest of their career, and they did the live version justice.
“Burning Down the House” has as much if not more energy than the original, with a gnarly synth solo to boot.
9 – Big Business / I Zimbra
It’s such a shame this bonus track ended up getting cut from the original release.
“Big Business” is a fantastic song for a live setting, and the transition to “I Zimbra” is a lot of fun.
8 – Making Flippy Floppy
One of the weirder songs from “Speaking in Tongues”, but it works so well in this setlist.
I love the background screens with the flashing words, and the synths sound even better live.
7 – Found a Job
A great first song to play once all of the band’s members had made it onstage, and the energy is infectious.
You can tell they’d really perfected the groove in the years since “Found a Job” original released, and the guitar solo works well.
6 – What a Day That Was
A song from Byrne’s mini solo stint between “Remain in Light” and “Speaking in Tongues” – “What a Day That Was” had no right to be this good.
It’s one of the most upbeat tracks on the entire setlist, and the background shadows create incredible imagery.
5 – Psycho Killer
From the moment David Byrne walked onstage with nothing but an acoustic guitar and a boombox, you knew you were about to listen to something special.
A solo rendition of “Psycho Killer” is a bold way to start any concert, but it serves as an excellent jumping off point for the rest of the show.
4 – Girlfriend Is Better
A.K.A. The one where David Byrne busts out the iconic shoulder suit.
“Girlfriend Is Better” sounds way more vibrant here than it does on the original recording, and Byrne’s insane costume and dancing is a visual treat.
Iconic
Not only were these some fantastic live performances, I regularly play these three tracks instead of the original songs.
3 – Crosseyed and Painless
“Crosseyed and Painless” was already an excellent pick for the big finale, but the live changes are what made it so legendary.
The extended intro with the slick guitar solo is one of my favourite parts of the whole concert, and the added percussion sends the set off with a flurry of awesomeness.
2 – Slippery People
The bongos, the guitar slide, the increased tempo … “Slippery People” starts with an infectious energy and never lets up.
You can tell Byrne is having the time of his life as he’s belting the words and dancing with the backup singers, and the screamed outro is the cherry on top of the proverbial cake.
1 – Life During Wartime
That badass strut that Byrne does around a darkened stage immediately made “Life During Wartime” my favourite before it even started.
I love the synchronised jogging of the whole band, and Byrne sprinting laps around the stage like a madman is one of the greatest moments in live music history. Does anybody have any questions?
Aaaand that’s my list. You can check out some of my latest blog posts below:
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