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They Might Be Giants "Dial-a-Song" Returns, Online

Posted by timothy on from the placebo-masquerading-as-a-simile dept.

uCallHimDrJ0NES writes Why is the world in love again? TMBG's website announced the return of the nerd music favorite 'Dial-a-song' service as a website. The plan is apparently a new song every week. The original PSTN-based Dial-a-Song service, which ran on an old-school answering machine, was a staple of nerd culture for years. Remember, those giants don't want to rule the world. They just want your half.

29 comments

  1. Music Distribution 3.0 by The+New+Guy+2.0 · · Score: 1

    We seem to be at the point that MP3 download services like Amazon MP3 and Apple iTunes Music Store are working just fine, with YouTube/Vevo being the source for videos that are retractable.

    I'm not sure how this new Internet-based Dial-A-Song works... is it just a stream that they change frequently?

    1. Re:Music Distribution 3.0 by mythosaz · · Score: 5, Informative

      On the contrary. They were there well before the bandwagon. Dial-a-Song went online in 1985, and you could "download" DRM-free songs from it directly to your cassette systems with only minimal equipment in a "minimally lossy" format.

    2. Re:Music Distribution 3.0 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No idea how this will work, but it seems the draw here is a new weekly song.

    3. Re:Music Distribution 3.0 by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      On the contrary. They were there well before the bandwagon. Dial-a-Song went online in 1985, and you could "download" DRM-free songs from it directly to your cassette systems with only minimal equipment in a "minimally lossy" format.

      As long as you consider going from CD or tape down to a 4kHz wide medium as "minimally lossy". AT&T intentionally picked 4kHz as the bandwidth for telephones as it's the least that makes speech recognizable. While a large amount of power in human speech is concentrated below 4kHz, there's still a bit of energy at the higher frequencies that help speech clarity and understanding.

    4. Re:Music Distribution 3.0 by jrumney · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure if I'd call PSTN voice calls from the 1980's a "minimally lossy" format.

    5. Re:Music Distribution 3.0 by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      there's still a bit of energy at the higher frequencies that help speech clarity and understanding.

      Fo you fay, but why fhould I believe you?

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    6. Re:Music Distribution 3.0 by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      It's 1985. Your choice is between getting a song at 4kHz when you want it from beginning to end, or have it at (analogue) radio quality where you first get to listen to a billion jingles and ads that tell you they will eventually play it within the next 10 hours, only to have its beginning and end being blabbed over by some inane DJ.

      The choice isn't that hard, is it?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    7. Re:Music Distribution 3.0 by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure if I'd call PSTN voice calls from the 1980's a "minimally lossy" format.

      Or cassette tapes....

      But I suppose it is less lossy than not recording it at all and allowing the song to float off in the air.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
    8. Re:Music Distribution 3.0 by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      Except that TMBG essentially invented "streaming audio" with dial-a-song.

      But as usual the summary is misleading at best. They have had a website for years. The part that people are getting excited about is that they are releasing new weekly music on it again.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  2. web......site? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is that what the senile old people used before there was streaming media?

    1. Re:web......site? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1, Funny

      If it's anything like the music for their flash presentation, I don't think even senility will save it.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  3. well fuckle me lately by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how bout dat

  4. Re:They may be giants, by Stormy+Dragon · · Score: 3, Informative

    De gustibus non est disputandum

  5. Re:They may be giants, by mythosaz · · Score: 1

    Well, that's just like your opinion, man.

    Ana Ng, Birdhouse, and Istanbul (not Constantinople) are pretty much classics of, well, whatever genre they are.

  6. They may be giants, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You must possess the hipster gene in order to properly decode the music. Otherwise, it just sounds like pointless noise.

  7. Re:They may be giants, by uCallHimDrJ0NES · · Score: 1

    Only hipsters use the term "hipster" derisively. It's fun to watch.

    --
    Cloudiot: A person who does not see offsite storage as a way to lose control over access to his or her own data.
  8. Re:They may be giants, by alva_edison · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well, that's just like your opinion, man.

    Ana Ng, Birdhouse, and Istanbul (not Constantinople) are pretty much classics of, well, whatever genre they are.

    Istanbul (not Constantinople) was originally by The Four Lads. But it's a decent cover.

    --
    He effected a bored affect.
  9. Best news on slashdot since it got Dice'd by technosaurus · · Score: 1

    I think I'll wear my dial-a-song T-shirt to commemorate the occasion.

  10. Re:They may be giants, by Jeremi · · Score: 2

    Only hipsters use the term "hipster" derisively. It's fun to watch.

    Does a hipster have a Buddha-nature?

    This is the most serious question of all.
    If you say yes or no,
    You yourself become a hipster.

    --


    I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
  11. Re:They may be giants, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Aw, it's a shame you don't have a sense of humor broad enough to enjoy something like TMBG. It would probably cheer you up enough to not have to troll on Slashdot.

  12. Dammit, First thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First thing I did when I read "They Might Be Giants" was go to YouTube and then the song "Istanbul's Not Constinople", and I played it, and now its stuck in my head all night.

    1. Re:Dammit, First thing by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Oh, just think of the accordion solo of Particle Man and rest assured, THAT will be stuck in your head instead.

      Feel any better?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  13. TMBG: Singing ground beef, dancing veggies by Required+Snark · · Score: 1

    Combustible head. You're on Fire

    --
    Why is Snark Required?
  14. Re:They may be giants, by Mikkeles · · Score: 1

    Mu

    --
    Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
  15. Re:They may be giants, by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    You may exit quietly now. Don't forget to drop your geek card on your way out into the box provided.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  16. Motto by Mercury1964 · · Score: 1

    Dial-a-Song: Still free if you watch from work.

  17. Re:They may be giants, by ReverendLoki · · Score: 1

    Mu

    ... said the Sacred Chao

    --
    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0