From the NY Times:
Touring Kennedy Center, Trump Mused on His Childhood ‘Aptitude for Music’
“I have a high aptitude for music,” he said at one point, according to people at the meeting. “Can you believe that?”Asked about the anecdote, Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, did not directly address it but said that the president “is a virtuoso and his musical choices represent a brilliant palette of vibrant colors when others often paint in pale pastels.” Mr. Cheung said that, given Mr. Trump’s roles as president and Kennedy Center chair, “there is nobody more uniquely qualified to bring this country, and its rich history of the arts, back to prominence.”
Words fail me.
Okay, that off my chest, let me assuage your anxieties by noting that there will be nothing but actual music posting (mostly about new stuff) next week, honest. Cross my geriatric heart.
And that brings us right along to today's business. To wit:
...and your favorite (or least favorite) post-Elvis pop/rock/country/folk/soul/doo-wop/novelty song featuring nonsense (i.e. meaningless) syllables in its title or lyrics is...?
No arbitrary rules -- obviously, what would be the point? 😎
In any case, here's my three faves.
Okay, the Beatles song is sort of a cheat, in that it actually has an important subtext -- in ways that back in the day nobody in the States quite understood (you can read about it HERE). But I still think it fits today's criteria. And hey, it's my blog, so I get the goddamned decisions -- wanna make something of it? 😎😎
I should also add, and for the record, that the Capris thing makes me absolutely swoon. Also: David Seville was a fucking genius.
Alrighty, then -- what would your choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow - Rivingtons
ReplyDeleteParalyzed - Legendary Stardust Cowboy
Koo Koo Kachoo Mrs Robinson by Simon &Garfunkel
ReplyDeleteGlibby Gloop gloopy nibby nabby noopy.... Good Morning Starshine by Oliver. cringeworthy for sure!
rs
My friend Glen, the late drummer of the Flo Mos, used to be be able to recite the Oliver lyrics verbatim and complete. Cracked me up something fierce....
DeleteBo Bo Ska Diddle—Nick Lowe
ReplyDeleteShting Shtang—also Nick Lowe
Cha Dooky Do — Art Neville
ReplyDeleteand I'll second Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow, which I loved when it came out,
dit-dit-dit!
steve miller - the joker - he speaks of "the pompatus of love"
ReplyDeleteThis will probably elicit some groans, but I have always enjoyed Elton John’s Solar Prestige a Gammon.
ReplyDeleteJet Screamer: Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah
ReplyDeleteA couple of old r&b favorites:
ReplyDeleteOo-Ma-Liddi by J.J. Jackson
Yama Yama Pretty Mama by Richard Berry
Oh god, I love the Richard Berry.
DeleteBlue Moon - The Marcels
ReplyDeleteoo-eee-oo-ah-ah-ting-tang-Walla-Walla-bing-bang
ReplyDeleteAnd the "hidden subtext" of Ob La Di, remember the last line "and if you want some fun try Ob La Di Bla Da"? When I was a teenager (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) a girl I knew got a script for some diet pills called Obadrine LA, which, in the Doctors shaky hand, same out as OB LA.
The Police - de doo doo doo
ReplyDeleteThe Mother's - Help, I'm a rock
rob
America: Horse with No Name.
ReplyDeleteIn the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
I know they're all real words, but damn! That is world class nonsensical b.s.
Surfin Bird- The Trashmen
ReplyDeleteFrank Zappa - Florentine Pogen
ReplyDeleteJohnny Cymbal - Mr. Bass Man
Iron Butterfly - Inagaddadavida
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe Kingsmen - Louie Louie
ReplyDeleteEven less audible than early Michael Style.
rob
"Do Wah Diddy Diddy" by Manfred Mann
ReplyDeleteAnd least favorite: "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies
I am surprised our host did not list Merz Suite/Futt Futt Futt by Tonio K.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people, including me until recently, think that "Do Wah Diddy" is gibberish, but it isn't. Barry and Greenwich didn't know that Diddy Wah Diddy is a mythical place in Southern Black culture. Thank you History of Rock Music in 500 Songs podcast!
ReplyDelete"A-wop-bop-a-loo-mop-a-lop-bam-boom!"
ReplyDeleteCaptain Al
Another favorite: Shirley Ellis' "The Name Game"
ReplyDelete“Let’s try Lipschitz!”
DeleteSo many of the late 50s/early 60s doo wop songs, especially "Sh Boom" and "Blue Moon"! Also, some Van the Man songs where he gives us the "argh!"
ReplyDeleteNee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu
ReplyDeleteby Dickie Doo and the Don'ts.
Still have it on a 45.
Vince
Adriano Celentano - Prisencolinensinainciusol
ReplyDeleteTry to find the old dance video from 1973. It's mesmerizing!!!
The story I've read is that American and British music was so popular in Italy, even though few understood the words, that he bet he could write a song with gibberish words but sing it with English phrasing and he would have a hit. And I guess he did.
Interestingly, that record sounds exactly like the crap Kendrick Lamarr is doing today. 😎
DeleteThe Beatles : You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
ReplyDeleteWhich ever one is doing the pompous blather in the final section over Brian Jones sublime saxophone solo. (the belch is also a nice touch)
One more favorite: Sam Butera's "Bim Bam".
ReplyDelete"Flibberty Jib" - Ken Nordine
ReplyDelete"B-I-Bickey-Bi, Bo-Bo-Go" - Gene Vincent
"Be-Bop-A-Lula" - Gene Vincent
"The Oogum Boogum Song" - Brenton Wood
"Iko Iko" - The Dixie Cups
"Bip Bop Boom" - Mickey Hawks
ReplyDelete...with the immortal opening- "Bip bop boom, you're the fruit of my loom!"