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#crashtestdummies — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #crashtestdummies, aggregated by home.social.

  1. Crash Test Dummies Play “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”

    Listen to this track by Winnipeg folk-pop quintet and celebrated Canadian hitmakers that made a splash on international charts, Crash Test Dummies. It’s “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”, a hit single from their second record God Shuffled His Feet released in the autumn of 1993 and helmed by ex-Modern Lovers and Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison as producer. The album followed up their very popular debut in Canada released two years before that established them as national favourites.

    Lead singer and head writer Brad Roberts had written a number of songs on the band’s debut that deal with introspective topics from a straightforward and childlike perspective. Many of those touch on what it means to exist in a sometimes unforgiving and morally grey world where uncertainty and anxiety are common. By the time God Shuffled His Feet came out, the band had shifted away slightly from the Anglo-Celtic string band stylings of their first album. But even with a movement toward a more refined pop sound, these sometimes weighty themes were still well in place.

    The new record found them a wider audience beyond their national popularity in Canada. Among other successes in Europe and in Australia and New Zealand, this track scored them top five positions on the US and UK charts. The song even won them a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a duo or group. It was and still is a unique tune in every respect with its unusual title and Roberts’ deeply intoned hum in the wordless chorus. Beneath the song’s lighthearted and simple melody, innocence meets cruel experience to lend the whole thing a unique gravity.

    Musically, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” creates a compelling mix between Ellen Reid’s lilting piano line and Brad Roberts’ signature resonant and endearingly croaky baritone voice. The arrangement lends it a music box quality, while Roberts’ vocal melody seems to adroitly capture the cadence of a child telling a story. The contrast between its refined arrangement and its upfront lyrics is the engine that made this tune such a standout on pop radio all over the world.

    Each verse of the song plays out like a story told by a child as if engaged in schoolyard gossip about other kids. Ultimately, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” is the sound of a kid’s perspective on how unpredictable and sometimes utterly overwhelming and nonsensical the world can be for a child. It also makes a comment on how unfriendly the restrictions of the adult world can be to the sensibilities and needs of children. It’s a world where kids find themselves in situations when sensitivity and empathy fails in favour of adult perspectives and agendas that demand obedience and submission.

    When you’re a kid, sometimes it’s easy to think that you have to account for everything no matter how strange it is, and even if you don’t understand what’s happening or why. In each story, the kid in the picture – the boy who’s hair turns white, the girl with the birthmarks, and the kid with radically religious parents – has to account for circumstances over which they have no control. None of them can quite explain them. They’re just products of chance and accidents of birth. But they’re beyond the children’s ability to justify them to their peers enough to escape feelings of isolation, confusion, and shame.

    Without being at all heavy handed, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” is a song about how children navigate social obstacles with very little support from the adults in their lives. It’s a song about the wrong kind of attention that makes a kid feel exposed and a potential object of ridicule. It’s a tune about the loneliness and helplessness uniquely felt by children and a reminder that stories like this are all too common in a society that demands a certain measure of conformity even and maybe especially from its children.

    With the diversity and varied nature of the human experience understood, the demand for conformity in an unpredictable world becomes a no-win situation for everyone. If not white hair after a car crash, birthmarks all over one’s body, or weird parental religious practices, then it’s going to be something else to make a kid stand out in all the wrong ways. Yet with all that in place, there’s more to this song than an exploration of how hard it sometimes is to be a kid. It’s also a song that suggests what might be possible if we acknowledged that fact and acted on it by the time we reach adulthood.

    In this, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” makes a case for more empathy and understanding that is free of judgement. It’s a song about isolation. But it’s also a call to compassion and empathy, too. It’s a reminder that life is pretty strange and sometimes there’s just no accounting for the weird things that can happen while we’re living it. It also suggests that every person lives in unique circumstances and has unique inner struggles of their own within all that. Trying to impose singular one size fits all values on them as to how they should define themselves just isn’t constructive. It’s not even realistic.

    Being something of an oddity itself, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” is a subtle statement about embracing difference and perceived strangeness. Even if we also can’t quite explain things to others and to ourselves, we can still make a decision to embrace the people at the center of their circumstances instead of condemning them because of our lack of understanding. By accepting and valuing the stories of real people and being welcoming and not scornful of them, we can illuminate a path to a more compassionate world. We can come to accept our own foibles and weirdness at the same time.

    After a series of line-up changes and several records after this one, Crash Test Dummies are an active band today. You can learn more about them at crashtestdummies.com.

    To mark another milestone for this song and for the band in terms of their impact on the mainstream by 1993-94, here they are performing “Headline News” with Weird Al Yankovic at MuchMusic in Toronto. That song is of course a parody version of “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” capturing some of the tabloid news items of the day including references to Tonya Harding and Lorena Bobbitt. None more Nineties!

    Enjoy!

    #90sMusic #CanadianBands #CrashTestDummies #FolkPop #songsAboutChildhood
  2. #nowplaying während der #abendrunde mit #django
    #CrashTestDummies - #swimminginyourocean
    Mit DER Stimme könnt er auch das Telefonbuch singen.
    Wobei, man sagt ihnen ja nach, dass sie nix anderes gemacht haben 😉

  3. #nowplaying während der #abendrunde mit #django
    #CrashTestDummies - #swimminginyourocean
    Mit DER Stimme könnt er auch das Telefonbuch singen.
    Wobei, man sagt ihnen ja nach, dass sie nix anderes gemacht haben 😉

  4. #nowplaying während der #abendrunde mit #django
    #CrashTestDummies - #swimminginyourocean
    Mit DER Stimme könnt er auch das Telefonbuch singen.
    Wobei, man sagt ihnen ja nach, dass sie nix anderes gemacht haben 😉

  5. #nowplaying während der #abendrunde mit #django
    #CrashTestDummies - #swimminginyourocean
    Mit DER Stimme könnt er auch das Telefonbuch singen.
    Wobei, man sagt ihnen ja nach, dass sie nix anderes gemacht haben 😉

  6. #nowplaying während der #abendrunde mit #django
    #CrashTestDummies - #swimminginyourocean
    Mit DER Stimme könnt er auch das Telefonbuch singen.
    Wobei, man sagt ihnen ja nach, dass sie nix anderes gemacht haben 😉

  7. okay, now I've heard everything, "Jingle Bells" using a minor key scale. #CrashTestDummies

  8. 🚗💨 Breaking news: #Drivers in Ohio County have discovered a groundbreaking new way to become crash-test dummies! Turns out, turning yourself into a human experiment by mixing high speeds with high #THC levels is still all the rage, even post-legalization. 🍁😵‍💫 Maybe they thought the "green light" was for their green habit?
    sciencedaily.com/releases/2025 #OhioCounty #CrashTestDummies #Legalization #HumanExperiment #HackerNews #ngated

  9. 🚗💨 Breaking news: #Drivers in Ohio County have discovered a groundbreaking new way to become crash-test dummies! Turns out, turning yourself into a human experiment by mixing high speeds with high #THC levels is still all the rage, even post-legalization. 🍁😵‍💫 Maybe they thought the "green light" was for their green habit?
    sciencedaily.com/releases/2025 #OhioCounty #CrashTestDummies #Legalization #HumanExperiment #HackerNews #ngated

  10. 🚗💨 Breaking news: #Drivers in Ohio County have discovered a groundbreaking new way to become crash-test dummies! Turns out, turning yourself into a human experiment by mixing high speeds with high #THC levels is still all the rage, even post-legalization. 🍁😵‍💫 Maybe they thought the "green light" was for their green habit?
    sciencedaily.com/releases/2025 #OhioCounty #CrashTestDummies #Legalization #HumanExperiment #HackerNews #ngated

  11. 🚗💨 Breaking news: #Drivers in Ohio County have discovered a groundbreaking new way to become crash-test dummies! Turns out, turning yourself into a human experiment by mixing high speeds with high #THC levels is still all the rage, even post-legalization. 🍁😵‍💫 Maybe they thought the "green light" was for their green habit?
    sciencedaily.com/releases/2025 #OhioCounty #CrashTestDummies #Legalization #HumanExperiment #HackerNews #ngated

  12. I listen albums for my work commute. I ended the week with God Shuffled His Feet by the #CrashTestDummies. Weird thing: I owned the CD in the 90s but never listened to it all. I was missing out. I love it. #music

  13. reading this I realise we're all #CrashTestDummies in #Tesla's #beta testing programme conducted on public roads.

  14. Ich hab ja meine CD-Sammlung auf #NaviDrome gezogen. Und seitdem gehe ich die Lieder in alphabetischer Reihenfolge durch, um sie mit Sternen zu bewerten. Normal ist das ziemlich gemischt.
    Heute?
    "Go with the Flow" #QotSA
    "God Am" #AliceInChains
    "God is in the Radio" #QotSA
    "God Shuffled His Feet" #CrashTestDummies
    "God Smack" #AiC
    "Going down in flames" #3DoorsDown
    "Going Under" #Evanscence
    "Golden Leaves" #Passenger

    Komme mit dem Sterne-Vergeben kaum noch nach :D

  15. Hey, Bob, Supe had a straight job …

    Crash Test Dummies release their debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me on April 5, 1991. Check out The Ghosts That Haunt Me by Crash Test Dummies on Amazon Music #crashtestdummies #theghoststhathauntme #90srock #rock #rockmusic #alternativefolk #altfolk #folkrock #music #musicsky #musiciansky

    robinbannks.wordpress.com/2025

  16. Kurz vor dem Konzert der Crash Test Dummies in der #Posthalle in #Würzburg. Man erwartet wohl keine Menschenmenge. Schade. Übrigens: Es gibt noch Karten an der Abendkasse. 😁
    #CrashTestDummies

  17. So my niche hobbies always expose me to startling real world facts.

    Example: Did you know that the first female crash test dummies - for automobile crash testing - was only developed FIVE YEARS AGO ? !

    Yes.

    Despite testing taking place since the 1930's nobody decided to take into account differences in male and female anatomy / physiology / size until..

    2019.

    #Sciene #CrashTest #CrashTestDummies #AverageMale

    youtu.be/jv06vMYCgYY

  18. So my niche hobbies always expose me to startling real world facts.

    Example: Did you know that the first female crash test dummies - for automobile crash testing - was only developed FIVE YEARS AGO ? !

    Yes.

    Despite testing taking place since the 1930's nobody decided to take into account differences in male and female anatomy / physiology / size until..

    2019.

    #Sciene #CrashTest #CrashTestDummies #AverageMale

    youtu.be/jv06vMYCgYY

  19. So my niche hobbies always expose me to startling real world facts.

    Example: Did you know that the first female crash test dummies - for automobile crash testing - was only developed FIVE YEARS AGO ? !

    Yes.

    Despite testing taking place since the 1930's nobody decided to take into account differences in male and female anatomy / physiology / size until..

    2019.

    #Sciene #CrashTest #CrashTestDummies #AverageMale

    youtu.be/jv06vMYCgYY

  20. So my niche hobbies always expose me to startling real world facts.

    Example: Did you know that the first female crash test dummies - for automobile crash testing - was only developed FIVE YEARS AGO ? !

    Yes.

    Despite testing taking place since the 1930's nobody decided to take into account differences in male and female anatomy / physiology / size until..

    2019.

    #Sciene #CrashTest #CrashTestDummies #AverageMale

    youtu.be/jv06vMYCgYY

  21. So my niche hobbies always expose me to startling real world facts.

    Example: Did you know that the first female crash test dummies - for automobile crash testing - was only developed FIVE YEARS AGO ? !

    Yes.

    Despite testing taking place since the 1930's nobody decided to take into account differences in male and female anatomy / physiology / size until..

    2019.

    #Sciene #CrashTest #CrashTestDummies #AverageMale

    youtu.be/jv06vMYCgYY

  22. Okay, fine, one more.

    Crash Test Dummies have a fantastic #Christmas album that I absolutely have loved over the years.

    As an American, I never heard the Huron Carol before I heard that album, but I'm glad I did as it's gorgeous. songwhip.com/crash-test-dummie

    Host: @Kitty

    #ChristmasMusic #PlayItAgainSanta #AltRock #Music #CrashTestDummies #TheHuronCarol #TuneTuesday

  23. Okay, fine, one more.

    Crash Test Dummies have a fantastic #Christmas album that I absolutely have loved over the years.

    As an American, I never heard the Huron Carol before I heard that album, but I'm glad I did as it's gorgeous. songwhip.com/crash-test-dummie

    Host: @Kitty

    #ChristmasMusic #PlayItAgainSanta #AltRock #Music #CrashTestDummies #TheHuronCarol #TuneTuesday

  24. Okay, fine, one more.

    Crash Test Dummies have a fantastic #Christmas album that I absolutely have loved over the years.

    As an American, I never heard the Huron Carol before I heard that album, but I'm glad I did as it's gorgeous. songwhip.com/crash-test-dummie

    Host: @Kitty

    #ChristmasMusic #PlayItAgainSanta #AltRock #Music #CrashTestDummies #TheHuronCarol #TuneTuesday

  25. Okay, fine, one more.

    Crash Test Dummies have a fantastic #Christmas album that I absolutely have loved over the years.

    As an American, I never heard the Huron Carol before I heard that album, but I'm glad I did as it's gorgeous. songwhip.com/crash-test-dummie

    Host: @Kitty

    #ChristmasMusic #PlayItAgainSanta #AltRock #Music #CrashTestDummies #TheHuronCarol #TuneTuesday

  26. Okay, fine, one more.

    Crash Test Dummies have a fantastic #Christmas album that I absolutely have loved over the years.

    As an American, I never heard the Huron Carol before I heard that album, but I'm glad I did as it's gorgeous. songwhip.com/crash-test-dummie

    Host: @Kitty

    #ChristmasMusic #PlayItAgainSanta #AltRock #Music #CrashTestDummies #TheHuronCarol #TuneTuesday

  27. The Real Reason EV Repairs Are So Expensive - Insurers are demanding perfectly good EVs be scrapped, or hiking repair bills from $1,000... - wired.com/story/ev-repair-batt #gear/gearnewsandevents #crashtestdummies #gear

  28. Okay, so this week's #ThursdayFiveList from @neurothing has a theme of #TheWeirdVideo from @yourfutureex

    So, I guess, let's get weird?

    The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist youtube.com/watch?v=qLrnkK2YEc

    The Chainsmokers - You Owe Me youtube.com/watch?v=_hMQe2U4c6

    Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm youtube.com/watch?v=eTeg1txDv8

    Steve Aoki & DJ Diesel (Shaq) - Welcome to the Playhouse youtube.com/watch?v=sUKZMkPTDn

    They Might Be Giants - The Greatest (CW: Blood, Voodoo Doll) youtube.com/watch?v=O7aAqEXWda

    Tags: #TMBG #Music #NewWave #AltRock #TheAvalanches #SteveAoki #EDM #DJDiesel #Shaq #CrashTestDummies #TheChainsmokers