Road to Nowhere
| "Road to Nowhere" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Talking Heads | ||||
| from the album Little Creatures | ||||
| B-side | "Television Man" | |||
| Released | June 3, 1985[1] | |||
| Studio | Sigma Sound (New York City) | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Sire | |||
| Songwriter | David Byrne | |||
| Producer | Talking Heads | |||
| Talking Heads singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Road to Nowhere" on YouTube | ||||
"Road to Nowhere" is a song by the American rock band Talking Heads from their sixth studio album Little Creatures (1985). The song was written by David Byrne[2][3] and released as a single in 1985. It reached No. 25 on the U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and entered the top 10 in eight other countries.
Production
"I wanted to write a song that presented a resigned, even joyful look at doom," recalls David Byrne in the liner notes of Once in a Lifetime: The Best of Talking Heads (1992). "At our deaths and at the apocalypse... (always looming, folks). I think it succeeded. The front bit, the white gospel choir, is kind of tacked on, 'cause I didn't think the rest of the song was enough... I mean, it was only two chords. So, out of embarrassment, or shame, I wrote an intro section that had a couple more in it."[4]
Critical reception
Cashbox said that "this marching single which features David Byrne's soothing lead vocal is a curious and circus-ride look at life."[5] Billboard said that within the song "a cappella gospel leads into Louisiana hootenanny."[6]
Music video
The video for the song was directed by Byrne and Stephen R. Johnson and features the band and various objects revolving, including boxes revolving around David Byrne's head. Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz portray a couple growing older, and masked businessmen pummel each other with briefcases and a runaway shopping cart, as if in their own "road to nowhere".
Some parts were shot in the back yard and pool of actor Stephen Tobolowsky, who was co-writing Byrne's satirical musical comedy film True Stories (1986) at the time.[7] Scenes were also shot at Calvary Baptist Church in Hi Vista, California. Director Johnson re-used some of the effects techniques in award-winning music videos for Peter Gabriel the following year: "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time".
It was nominated for Video of the Year at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.[8]
In pop culture
The song was used as the end credits theme of the 1989 film Little Monsters. The song was used in the 2008 American Bill Maher documentary film Religulous.[9]
Personnel
Personnel taken from Little Creatures liner notes,[10] and Sound on Sound.[8]
Talking Heads
- David Byrne – lead and background vocals, electric guitar
- Jerry Harrison – Hammond organ, backing vocals
- Tina Weymouth – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Frantz – drums
Additional musicians
- Andrew Cader – washboard
- Erin Dickens – backing vocals
- Diva Gray – backing vocals
- Gordon Grody – backing vocals
- Lani Groves – backing vocals
- Jimmy Macdonell – accordion
- Lenny Pickett – saxophone
- Steve Scales – percussion
- Kurt Yaghjian – backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[30] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Cover versions and other uses
- Democratic Party politician Charlie Crist, in his unsuccessful 2010 run for the United States Senate in Florida, used the song in a campaign video without obtaining permission. David Byrne sued for copyright infringement and, in a legal settlement, Crist issued a video apology for his improper use.
References
- ^ "FMQB" (PDF). p. 24.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie (June 14, 2012). "Road to Nowhere". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (November 20, 2019). "See David Byrne and 'American Utopia' Cast Bring 'Road to Nowhere' to 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Beviglia, Jim (November 22, 2024). "The Story and Meaning Behind "Road to Nowhere," the Song Where Talking Heads Danced Their Way to the End of the World". American Songwriter.
- ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cashbox. June 15, 1985. p. 10. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. June 15, 1985. p. 71. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "The Tobolowsky Files Episode 44: The Voice from Another Room". /Film. February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ a b "Classic Tracks: Talking Heads 'Road To Nowhere'". Sound on Sound. November 2010.
- ^ Fuchs, Cynthia (October 2, 2008). "Religulous". PopMatters.
- ^ Little Creatures (Album liner notes). Talking Heads. 1985.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0551". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 47. November 25, 1985. p. 12.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Road to Nowhere". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 48, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs P–R". rock.co.za. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 30/11/1985 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Talking Heads Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1985" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England. January 18, 1986. p. 10.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere". Radioscope. Retrieved March 19, 2025. Type Road to Nowhere in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
- ^ "British single certifications – Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 20, 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Road to Nowhere Talking Heads in the "Search:" field.
External links
- "Road to Nowhere" at Discogs (list of releases)