History Film / StopMakingSense

* {{Adorkable}}: David Byrne at various points in the movie.

* {{Chiaroscuro}}: The primary lighting style used throughout the film.
** UpToEleven in ''Once In a Lifetime'', when the camera stays on Byrne for the entire song, and the light / dark is very contrasted.

* UpdatedReRelease: To commemorate the film's 15th anniversary, the live album was re-released, not only containing every song from the film, but also presenting them as they were heard in the film (the original live album contained heavy overdubbing to differentiate it from the movie, most notably re-recording all the percussion tracks). The film was also released on DVD in its [[LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition "Special New Edition"]], after being out of print on VHS for a few years.

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: Tina Weymouth's Music/TomTomClub does their {{One Hit|Wonder}} "Genius Of Love" during the break.

* UpdatedReRelease: [[MilestoneCelebration To commemorate the film's 15th anniversary,]] the live album was re-released, not only containing every song from the film, but also presenting them as they were heard in the film (the original live album contained heavy overdubbing to differentiate it from the movie, most notably re-recording all the percussion tracks). The film was also released on DVD in its [[LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition "Special New Edition"]], after being out of print on VHS for a few years.

And so we see Talking Heads unleashing their unique creativity, but at the same time we see their camaraderie with each other. Nearly everyone gets a chance to shine and show off their personalities. And then there's the music itself, which is, broadly speaking, [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]], but with a host of other influences, especially {{funk}}. Just under half of the songs are from the ''Music/SpeakingInTongues'' album, which their tour was supporting; in fact, all but three songs from the album ("I Get Wild/Wild Gravity", "Moon Rocks", and "Pull Up the Roots") appear on the setlist. However, the band also plays a number of their older hits, as well as "What a Day That Was", a piece from David Byrne's soundtrack to Twyla Harp's 1981 dance performance ''The Catherine Wheel''.[[note]]Another piece from the ''Catherine Wheel'' soundtrack, "Big Business", was performed and filmed, but was cut from the theatrical release alongside performances of "Cities" and "I Zimbra". Yet another song from the soundtrack, "Big Blue Plymouth (Eyes Wide Open)" was performed at other concerts on the tour but apparently omitted from the performances that made up the film. The band's debut single "Love → Building on Fire" was also performed on the tour, but was dropped for these performances and from the handful of subsequent concerts early in 1984.[[/note]] The end result is an eclectic playlist with something for almost everyone, documenting Talking Heads at what many fans and critics consider to be their peak. Record buyers seemed to agree; the soundtrack album sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone by 1994. The film also became a favorite on the "midnight movie" and art house circuits.

And so we see Talking Heads unleashing their unique creativity, but at the same time we see their camaraderie with each other. Nearly everyone gets a chance to shine and show off their personalities. And then there's the music itself, which is, broadly speaking, [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]], but with a host of other influences, especially {{funk}}. Just under half of the songs are from the ''Music/SpeakingInTongues'' album, which their tour was supporting; in fact, all but three songs from the album ("I Get Wild/Wild Gravity", "Moon Rocks", and "Pull Up the Roots") appear on the setlist. However, the band also plays a number of their older hits, as well as "What a Day That Was", a piece from David Byrne's soundtrack to Twyla Harp's 1981 dance performance ''The Catherine Wheel''.[[note]]Another piece from the ''Catherine Wheel'' soundtrack, "Big Business", was performed and filmed, but was cut from the theatrical release alongside performances of "Cities" and "I Zimbra". Yet another song from the soundtrack, "Big Blue Plymouth (Eyes Wide Open)" was performed at other concerts on the tour but apparently omitted from the performances that made up the film. "Love -> Building on Fire" was also performed on the tour, but was dropped for these performances and from the handful of subsequent concerts early in 1984.[[/note]] The end result is an eclectic playlist with something for almost everyone, documenting Talking Heads at what many fans and critics consider to be their peak. Record buyers seemed to agreee; the soundtrack album sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone by 1994. The film also became a favorite on the "midnight movie" and art house circuits.

''Stop Making Sense'' is definitely one of the definitive concert film experiences, and a [[GatewaySeries perfect introduction]] to the genre, not to mention Talking Heads themselves--its soundtrack was even included in Magazine/{{Time|Magazine}}'s [[TimeAllTime100Albums 2006 list of their 100 timeless and essential albums]]. To quote frontman David Byrne, "it's like ''Series/SixtyMinutes'' [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs on acid.]]"

** David Byrne's dance with a lamp is a reference to Fred Astaire's film dances.

!!Setlist:
# "Psycho Killer" (''Music/TalkingHeads77''; 1977)
# "Heaven" (''Music/FearOfMusic''; 1979)
# "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" (''Music/MoreSongsAboutBuildingsAndFood''; 1978)
# "Found a Job" (''More Songs About Buildings and Food''; 1978)
# "Slippery People" (''Music/SpeakingInTongues''; 1983)
# "Burning Down the House" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
# "Life During Wartime" (''Fear of Music''; 1979)
# "Making Flippy Floppy" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
# "Swamp" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
# [[Music/DavidByrne "What a Day That Was"]] (''The Catherine Wheel''; 1981)
# "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
# "Once in a Lifetime" (''Music/RemainInLight''; 1980)
# [[Music/TomTomClub "Genius of Love"]] (''Tom Tom Club''; 1981)
# "Girlfriend Is Better" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
# [[Music/AlGreen "Take Me to the River"]] (''Al Green Explores Your Mind''; 1974; [[CoverVersion covered]] by Talking Heads on ''More Songs About Buildings and Food''; 1978)
# "Crosseyed and Painless" (''Remain in Light''; 1980)

Bonus songs (deleted from the theatrical cut but included on home media releases):

** "Crosseyed and Painless" has an extended, slower-tempo intro, though this had already been used for performances on the ''Music/RemainInLight'' tour.

And so we see Talking Heads unleashing their unique creativity, but at the same time we see their camaraderie with each other. Nearly everyone gets a chance to shine and show off their personalities. And then there's the music itself, which is, broadly speaking, [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]], but with a host of other influences, especially {{funk}}. Just under half of the songs are from the ''Music/SpeakingInTongues'' album, which their tour was supporting; in fact, all but three songs from the album ("I Get Wild/Wild Gravity", "Moon Rocks", and "Pull Up the Roots") appear on the setlist. However, the band also plays a number of their older hits, as well as "What a Day That Was", a piece from David Byrne's soundtrack to Twyla Harp's 1981 dance performance ''The Catherine Wheel''.[[note]]Another piece from the ''Catherine Wheel'' soundtrack, "Big Business", was performed and filmed, but was cut from the theatrical release alongside performances of "Cities" and "I Zimbra". Yet another song from the soundtrack, "Big Blue Plymouth (Eyes Wide Open)" was performed at other concerts on the tour but apparently omitted from the performances that made up the film.[[/note]] The end result is an eclectic playlist with something for almost everyone, documenting Talking Heads at what many fans and critics consider to be their peak. Record buyers seemed to agreee; the soundtrack album sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone by 1994. The film also became a favorite on the "midnight movie" and art house circuits.

* Spiritual: Creator/MartinScorsese's Music/TheBand's ''Film/TheLastWaltz'' is often used as a contrast to this film with its lack of interview footage. That said, Creator/JonathanDemme and Talking Heads cited the film as a key influence on ''Stop Making Sense'' and Robbie Robertson was an attendance at one of the concerts captured in the film as well as meeting the band backstage.

''Stop Making Sense'' is a concert film featuring Music/TalkingHeads, and is often regarded by critics as the finest example of the genre. It was directed by Creator/JonathanDemme and released in 1984, and documents three separate concerts filmed in Los Angeles in December 1983, with all the footage spliced together.

* TheBandMinusTheFace: In the film, the lineup of the Music/TomTomClub is literally Talking Heads minus David Byrne, as the purpose of the performance of "Genius of Love" was to allow Byrne to change into the big suit for the next number.

* HongKongDub: The audio doesn't sync up to the visuals in some places, the results of using the best visual takes with the best musical performances of the concerts.

* FeetFirstIntroduction: Actually, the ''first'' thing we see is the shadow of Byrne's guitar neck as he passes through a doorway. We then see the bottom of his IconicOutfit--namely, his pants legs and white shoes--as he strides to the microphone and sets down his boombox. Then after he says, "Hi. I've got a tape I want to play," the camera finally pans up to show us David Byrne's face.
* GenreBusting: ''Stop Making Sense'' busted some of the concert film genres by never showing the band offstage, had no interviews, and never showing the crowd--at least until the end, that is, when there are several shots of audience members dancing along during closing number "Crosseyed and Painless".

* IconicOutfit: The big - and we mean ''big'' - suit that Byrne wears in the last part of the concert is forever associated with both him and this movie.

* LargeHam: Byrne, unsurprisingly, but also drummer Chris Frantz (''especially'' during Genius Of Love) and percussionist Steve Scales, both of whom mug for the audience every chance they get.

--> '''David Byrne''': The girls can do it too y'all!

* "Psycho Killer" (''Music/TalkingHeads77''; 1977)
* "Heaven" (''Music/FearOfMusic''; 1979)
* "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" (''Music/MoreSongsAboutBuildingsAndFood''; 1978)
* "Found a Job" (''More Songs About Buildings and Food''; 1978)
* "Slippery People" (''Music/SpeakingInTongues''; 1983)
* "Burning Down the House" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
* "Life During Wartime" (''Fear of Music''; 1979)
* "Making Flippy Floppy" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
* "Swamp" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
* [[Music/DavidByrne "What a Day That Was"]] (''The Catherine Wheel''; 1981)
* "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
* "Once in a Lifetime" (''Music/RemainInLight''; 1980)
* [[Music/TomTomClub "Genius of Love"]] (''Tom Tom Club''; 1981)
* "Girlfriend Is Better" (''Speaking in Tongues''; 1983)
* [[Music/AlGreen "Take Me to the River"]] (''Al Green Explores Your Mind''; 1974; [[CoverVersion covered]] by Talking Heads on ''More Songs About Buildings and Food''; 1978)
* "Crosseyed and Painless" (''Remain in Light''; 1980)

* FeetFirstIntroduction: Actually, the ''first'' thing we see is the shadow of Byrne's guitar neck as he passes through a doorway. We then see the bottom of his IconicOutfit--namely, his pants legs and white shoes--as he strides to the microphone and sets down his synth machine. Then after he says "Hi. I've got a tape I want to play," the camera finally pans up to show us David Byrne's face.

* RearrangeTheSong: All of the songs are performed in a much funkier style than their studio counterparts; several songs are are significantly different on-stage compared to others.

* TheBandMinusTheFace: In the film, the lineup of Tom Tom Club is literally Talking Heads minus David Byrne, as the purpose of the performance of "Genius of Love" was to allow Byrne to change into the big suit for the next number.

-->'''Creator/RogerEbert''': Watching the Talking Heads in concert is a little like rock 'n' roll crossed with "Creator/JaneFonda's Workout."

* BreakingTheFourthWall:
** In "Burning Down The House", Steve Scales sticks out his tongue for the camera.
** During "Girlfriend Is Better", David Byrne holds the microphone in front of the camera briefly.
** During the audience shots seen in closing song "Crosseyed and Painless", one dancing woman looks straight at the camera as she swivels her head around.

* SillyLoveSongs: Spectacularly [[AvertedTrope averted]]; only one song ("This Must Be the Place") is a love song, and it is sung ''[[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} to a lamp]]''. On the other hand, you could make the case that they're going for quality over quantity.
** The song is not exactly being sung to a lamp - it's a song about the comfort of home. The lamp represents that.

* TheOner: There are quite a few of these.

** Keyboardist Bernie Worrell indulges in brief musical quotes during his solos ("America the Beautiful" in "Making Flippy Floppy", "Little Drummer Boy" in the bonus extra "I Zimbra").