"This Must Be the Place" is a song by the Talking Heads, released in 1981 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, "Remain in Light". The song became one of the band's biggest hits, reaching the top 20 in several countries. The song's title and lyrics were inspired by an advertising slogan for a Holiday Inn hotel.
The song's distinctive opening guitar riff, played by Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison, has been widely recognized and has become one of the most iconic guitar riffs of all time. The song's lyrics, written by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, are introspective and melancholic, with Byrne singing about the search for personal fulfillment and a sense of belonging.
In 2011, the song was covered by Irish rock musician Bono, in collaboration with the Italian band, The Edge. The cover version, titled "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)", was released as a single and became a hit in its own right, reaching the top 40 in several countries.
The song's music video, directed by Toni Basil, features Byrne performing the song while dressed in a suit and tie and dancing awkwardly. The video, which has become iconic in its own right, helped to establish the Talking Heads as one of the leading bands of the new wave movement.
In addition to its success as a single, "This Must Be the Place" has been widely covered by other artists and has appeared on numerous movie and television soundtracks. It has also been used in a number of advertisements and has been featured in numerous video games, including "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero".
Despite its enduring popularity, "This Must Be the Place" remains one of the Talking Heads' most enigmatic and enduringly popular songs, with its memorable guitar riff and introspective lyrics continuing to resonate with listeners decades after its original release.
