Talking Heads have cast a long shadow over rock music. Their influence can be felt in a myriad of musicians — from fellow NYC giants LCD Soundsystem and the Strokes to Danny Brown — and now they’ve been reaching a whole new generation with the re-release of their 1984 film Stop Making Sense. Arguably one of the greatest concert movies ever, its soundtrack is getting a reboot from A24 this year and features big names, including Paramore, Kevin Abstract, Miley Cyrus, and Jean Dawson, among many others. That’s why we asked our readers to name the best Talking Heads songs of all time in our latest fan poll.
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From Little Creatures cuts to Speaking in Tongues classics, find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. “Road to Nowhere”
With their 1985 album, Little Creatures, Talking Heads created arena pop songs — a direction that was partly inspired by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth’s success with Tom Tom Club. Fans gravitated toward the album’s twangy closer “Road to Nowhere,” though, naming it one of their best. It’s a great pick from the band’s late-career era, boasting a gospel choir, accordion playing, and country feel that makes it a total classic.
4. “Once In a Lifetime”
“Once In a Lifetime” is one of the many hits that will outlive the band. Bolstered by a wonderfully bizarre music video, which received heavy play on MTV that helped widen its reach, this song has reigned supreme for decades. Remain In Light is arguably the band’s best album, as Talking Heads worked closely with Brain Eno, but this track is a wholly different beast. In an album where every song is great, “Once In a Lifetime” stands tall among the rest.
3. “Life During Wartime”
Fear of Music delved into disco rhythms while keeping the band’s new-wave foundation. Its most popular song, “Life During Wartime,” possesses an apocalyptic chorus — “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no foolin’ around” — that foregrounded an ambitious album. It’s urgent and funky but entirely bleak (“The sound of gunfire, off in the distance/I’m getting used to it now”). What’s most impressive is how calmly David Byrne sings while capturing intense paranoia.
2. “Psycho Killer”
Right from the start, Talking Heads proved they were capable of creating songs that went big. “Psycho Killer,” a foreboding, sinister song that delved into the mindset of a serial killer, is a highlight from their 1977 debut album and was their first chart hit. The bassline — which soon became their trademark — drives the song and, complete with Byrne’s dark, tense lyrics, makes it completely original. It put Talking Heads on a path and foreshadowed a lot of other great things to come.
1. “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”
Fans named “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” — a total standout from their fifth album, Speaking in Tongues — as Talking Heads’ greatest track. It’s no shock, either, as the love song, a subject the band rarely approached, is rhythmically complex and endearing. Byrne rattles off weirdo lyrics that feel totally random but hit hard emotionally while the rest of the band lay down an irresistible groove. In a catalog brimming with spectacular songs, “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” holds a strong place in our readers’ hearts.
