"(Nothing But) Flowers"
Single by Talking Heads
from the album Naked
ReleasedOctober 3, 1988[1]
Recorded1987
Genre
Length
  • 5:39 (album version)
  • 4:15 (single version)
  • 3:28 (radio edit)
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Talking Heads singles chronology
"Blind"
(1988)		 "(Nothing But) Flowers"
(1988)		 "Sax and Violins"
(1991)

"(Nothing But) Flowers" is a song by rock band Talking Heads. It appears on the band's final album Naked, released in 1988. It was released as the album's second single. In addition to the band, the song features Kirsty MacColl on backup vocals and Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths, on lead guitar. It peaked at number 79 in the UK Singles Chart. Filmmaker Kevin Smith used the song as the opening of Clerks 2 and was featured briefly in other film soundtracks to Meu Tio Matou um Cara (as covered by Caetano Veloso)[2][3] and the animated feature The Mitchells vs. the Machines.[4][5] The song is quoted at the start of Bret Easton Ellis' novel American Psycho (1991).

Music video

The song's music video featured innovative uses of typography by graphic designers Tibor Kalman and Emily Oberman.[6][7] The band performs in the video with an expanded lineup featuring Marr, MacColl, Brice Wassy, Yves N'Djock and Abdou M'Boup, all of whom performed on the studio recording of the song. The music video was directed by Sandy McLeod and David Byrne.[8]

Critical reception

On its release, Cash Box wrote, "A vision of a future where civilization is overrun by nature, much to the chagrin of the natives. Byrne is a genius at saying it all between the lines, and this little gem is a light-hearted romp into our greener-grass lives."[9] Music & Media described "(Nothing But) Flowers" as "a rhythmic but also surprisingly melodic song with striking vocal harmonies".[10] The song was also featured in the Kevin Smith film Clerks II.

2010 TED conference

David Byrne performed a briefer version of the song at the 2010 TED conference accompanied by Thomas Dolby on keyboard and the string quartet ETHEL.[11]

Charts

Chart (1988) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 32
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 79
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] 5

References

  1. ↑ Strickland, Andy (1 October 1988). "News: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 6. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. ↑ "sweetsoundtrack.com".
  3. ↑ "Meu Tio Matou Um Cara". IMMuB.
  4. ↑ "imdb.com".
  5. ↑ "hitc.com". 30 April 2021.
  6. ↑ Heller, Steven; Fili, Louise (2006). Stylepedia. Chronicle Books. p. 181. ISBN 0-8118-3346-1.
  7. ↑ LaBarre, Suzanne (2012-02-01). "Emily Oberman, The Branding Force Behind Jimmy Fallon, SNL, And Orbitz, Is Pentagram's Newest Partner". Fast Company. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  8. ↑ "Talking Heads: (Nothing But) Flowers (Video 1988) - IMDb".
  9. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 51, no. 39. 2 April 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
  10. ↑ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 44. 29 October 1988. p. 22. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ "David Byrne, Ethel + Thomas Dolby: "(Nothing But) Flowers" with String Quartet.", TED.com, retrieved 1 April 2015
  12. ↑ "Talking Heads – (Nothing But) Flowers" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "Talking Heads: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Talking Heads Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
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