Can't Keep Johnny Down

"Can't Keep Johnny Down" was written by John Linnell. Linnell claims that the song is not a biographical song about himself or fellow band member John Flansburgh, though the character's name was selected intentionally, in order to create a contrast between his personality and that of the two Johns.{{cite interview|url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bthesite/blog/2011/06/qa_talking_new_album_longevity.html |title=Q&A: Talking new album, longevity in the music biz and Bach with They Might Be Giants' John Linnell |first=John |last=Linnell |interviewer=Marissa Gallo |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |date=2011-06-22 |accessdate=2012-08-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626104043/http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bthesite/blog/2011/06/qa_talking_new_album_longevity.html |archivedate=June 26, 2011 }} John Flansburgh describes the song as "...a song of defiance. It's an incredibly catchy song. That's a very nice, bittersweet concoction of a very bitchy lyric with an incredibly sunny arrangement. It's sort of Britpop." He adds that he found the song to be a very strong track.{{cite interview|url=http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/14/they-might-be-giants-join-us/|title=They Might Be Giants Return to 'Adult' Rock on 'Join Us,' Praise Teachers and Unions|first=John|last=Flansburgh|interviewer=Dan Reilly|publisher=Spinner|date=2011-03-14|accessdate=2012-08-04|archive-date=2012-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009111656/http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/14/they-might-be-giants-join-us/|url-status=dead}} Flansburgh also said, of the titular character, "The lyric is about a guy who seems like he's got some mixed emotions about the world. He's sort of reading everything in a hostile way."{{cite interview|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/07/interview-john-flansburgh-of-they-might-be-giants/|title=Interview: John Flansburgh (of They Might Be Giants)|first=John|last=Flansburgh|interviewer=Joe Marvilli|publisher=Consequence of Sound|date=2011-07-05|accessdate=2012-08-04}}

Rated as one of the best songs of 2011, PopMatters said the song was Smiths-like, as the, "song's malcontent narrator, singing about imagined triumphs over imagined slights, hits a similarly sweet-and-sour tone. Then again, marrying catchy melodies to dark lyrics has always been their specialty; this instant classic proves it's a talent undiminished by time."{{cite web| work= Pop Matters | title=The 75 Best Songs of 2011| author=Jesse Hassenger | url=https://www.popmatters.com/152008-the-75-best-songs-of-2011-2495911121.html}} The A.V. Club noted the song kicks off Join Us, "in winning fashion, showcasing Linnell’s surprising late-career ability to craft a slick pop tune."{{cite web| work= The A.V. Club | title=They Might Be Giants: Join Us| author=Matt Wild | url=https://www.avclub.com/they-might-be-giants-join-us-1798168970}}

The music video for "Can't Keep Johnny Down" was released by the band via YouTube on October 4, 2011. It was the band's first live action music video since 2004. The video was directed by Brad and Brian Palmer and stars Rip Torn. John Linnell and John Flansburgh are not featured in the music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzhKvCk3OMI|title=They Might Be Giants - Can't Keep Johnny Down - Official Video|publisher=YouTube|date=2011-08-03|accessdate=2012-08-04}}

They Might Be Giants also held a contest for fans to create an unofficial music video for the song.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwpsDhUktA0 Contest announcement] on YouTube. Accessed 2012-08-04. About 100 amateur videos were submitted.{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/theymightbegiants/posts/121971331227977|title=PLEASE POST YOUR...|first=John|last=Flansburgh|publisher=Facebook|date=2011-07-14|accessdate=2012-08-04}} The winner and several runners-up were selected by John Hodgman, who also wrote up his favourite videos on his website. The winning video was created by Mohit Jaswal, Eduardo Urueana, and Justin Dean, who received a prize of $1,000. Runners-up received free pizzas.{{cite web|url=http://moreinformationthanyourequire.com/2011/07/cant-keep-hodgman-down/|title=Can't Keep Hodgman Down|first=John|last=Hodgman|publisher=moreinformationthanyourequire.com|date=2011-07-18|accessdate=2012-08-16|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130129090401/http://moreinformationthanyourequire.com/2011/07/cant-keep-hodgman-down/|archivedate=2013-01-29}} Both the official video and the winning music video were included as a video downloads with purchases of the They Might Be Giants rarities compilation, Album Raises New And Troubling Questions, from the band's website. The videos were also collected for the band's 2013 music video compilation, Them Ain't Big Eye Ants.

;They Might Be GiantsJoin Us (album notes). Idlewild Recordings/Rounder Records. 2011.

• John Flansburgh - vocals, electric guitar
• John Linnell - vocals, keyboards

;Backing band

• Marty Beller - drums
• Dan Miller - acoustic guitar
• Danny Weinkauf - bass

;Production

• They Might Be Giants and Pat Dillett - producers
• Jon Altschuler and Greg Thompson - engineers
• Pat Dillett - mixing

{{reflist}}

• "Can't Keep Johnny Down" single on This Might Be A Wiki
• "Can't Keep Johnny Down" (song) on This Might Be A Wiki

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Category:2011 singles

Category:They Might Be Giants songs

Category:2011 songs

Category:Rounder Records singles

Category:Songs written by John Linnell

Category:Songs written by John Flansburgh