Today, we’re going right to the end of the ’80s for one of my favorite Songs of the entire decade…a song that was released in late December of 1989…and after crossing into1990, it reached #3 on Billboard’s “Alternative Airplay Chart.
FYI: Alternative Airplay was a rock chart that kept track of music being played on radio stations that specialized in new music by independent artists and sub genres like Grunge.
Now that I’ve explained that, let me explain why “Birdhouse in Your Soul” by They Might Be Giants is a Great Song!

#1: According to John Linnell, who wrote “Birdhouse,” it’s the story of a child’s canary-shaped night light told from the night light’s point of view.

One interpretation is that the night light is a metaphor for God or a guardian angel protecting the child.

#2: Sections of the song were sung in the round, which adds to the “cool factor.”

#3: For those of you who are musically inclined, there are 18 key changes inthe song!

For all of those reasons, I consider “Birdhouse in Your Soul” to be a Great Song of 1989-90…with one extra bonus:

The song was covered during an episode of “Pushing Daisies,” (2007-2009)…the modern day fairy tail about a piemaker and his strange power over life and death. A soundtrack album was released, featuring “Birdhouse in Your Soul,” as sung by two of the show’s stars: Broadway legends Kristin Chenoweth (“Wicked”) and Ellen Greene! (,,”Little Shop of Horrors.”)

They Might be Giants:

Kristen & Ellen:

== Mike Cook