Hey, Ashurbanipal!

Today's post is about songs about bands, including autobigoraphical songs (e.g. most rap) and songs from the point of view of a bands. Actually, just songs by They Might Be Giants because they're awesome and their latest album inspired this post, but also because they do this very frequently. Check it:

The Mesopotamians from TMBG's latest album "The Else" is a catchy little song about the kings of Mesopotamia driving around in their tour bus. It's been stuck in my head for several days now. People keep comparing it the the Monkee's Theme Song, ("Hey Hey We're The Monkees") except that the characters have cooler names.
Los Angeles (sometimes "Hollywood") from TMBG's "Venue Songs" release (in which they wrote a new song for every venue they visited) where they document the problems of copy-cat bands. (here's the video)
Working Undercover For The Man off the "Mink Car" album is the whimsical story of a group of musicians who are actually spies using their band as cover. It's got some nice "sha-la-la"s in it.
Dr Worm from the (mostly) live album "Severe Tire Damage" is sung from the point of view of a worm who is not a real doctor, but who is very enthusiastic about playing the drums
We're The Replacements (from the Don't Let's Start EP, and elsewhere) about the rock band of that name. TMBG are fans, apparently. It's also about the touring life.
Rhythm Section Want Ad is on TMBG's eponymous first CD (sometimes "The Pink Album") and it's about how no record producer will take you seriously when your drummer is a machine and both members of your band look like they spend their Saturday nights playing D&D. Pretty much sums up their first years of existance as a band.

Wow, it turns out they've done quite a few songs that fit into this category. It works even better if you include songs that mention musicians, then "End of the Tour," "The Guitar (Lion Sleeps Tonight)," "How Can I Sing Like A Girl?" and many others get in on the action. That's pretty crazy, but they say to write what you know, and I guess the thing a rock band knows the most about would be, well, being a rock band. Q.E.D.

Sorry about the continued lack of links to songs, I'm still working on that whole "uploading songs" thing. Stay tuned.