Weekend Listomania (Special The Beast in Me Video Edition)

Well, it's Friday and you know what that means. Yes, my Oriental manservant Hop-Sing and I are off to Nome, Alaska and the palatial estate of Sen. Ted Stevens [R-goniff] where we'll be putting on the dog at the annual Earmarks, Shmearmarks festival.

As a result, posting by moi will necessarily be sporadic for a few days.

But in my absence, here's a fun project for you all to contemplate:

BEST POST-ELVIS POP/ROCK SONG ABOUT SOME KIND OF ANIMAL!!!!!

Oh, and for what it's worth, there are no arbitrary rules of exclusion this time. Insects? Fine. Fish? No problem. Mythological beasts? Well, I shouldn't, but what the hell.

Okay, here's my totally top of my head Top Six:

6. Smashing Pumpkins -- Rhinoceros



Jeebus H. Christ in a chicken basket -- how many Listomanias has Billy Corgan's pretentious noggin showed up in over the last couple of months? Like fifteen or so? Sheesh. Oh well, at least he has hair here.

5. The Byrds -- Old Blue



An excellent live version of my fave track from their lovely Dr Byrds and Mr Hyde album. Clarence White rules, of course. Honorable mention: the Byrds' "Chestnut Mare" and "Bugler" (saddest dog song ever written).

4. A tie --

The Monkees -- Porpoise Song



One of Carole King's two great stabs at psychedelia (the other is "Wasn't Born to Follow," at least as the Byrds do it) and the Monkees masterpiece.

and

Fred Neil -- The Dolphins



Often covered, never bettered. Neil is pretty much the great underappreciated architect of 60s folk rock, among other interesting things.

3. Kate Bush -- Hounds of Love



I don't care if she's wacky, she's a doll.

2. Henry Gross -- Shannon



The former Sha-Na-Na guitarist's 1976 hit and a memorial for a dog owned by Beach Boy Carl Wilson. I believe that's some of the Beach Boys doing the back up vocals, actually. Okay, I know it's wimpy, but I like it a lot anyway. Sue me.

And the number one pop rock song about some kind of animal, and don't give me that "Crocodile Rock" shit or I swear I'll take a hostage is, obviously --

1. Soupy Sales -- The Mouse



Full disclosure: Great as this is, I actually bought the single for the B-side, the immortal Pachalafaka.

Alrighty, now -- and your choices would be?

[Shameless Blogwhore: My parallel Cinema Listomania is now up over at Box Office. Like it would hurt you to go over there and leave a comment? I don't think so...