Pufnstuf Pogo-fied: Living Island
April 24, 2011 9:18 PM Subscribe
Living Island is Pogo's latest bit of audio-visual remixery, using H.R. Pufnstuf as the source. Bonus bits inside.
Videos on YouTube:
Episode 1: The Magic Path - part 1, part 2, and part 3
Episode 2: The Wheely Bird - part 1, part 2, and part 3
Episode 7: The Birthday Party - part 1, part 2, and part 3
Pufnstuf Zaps the World - the movie in 10 parts
More Pufnstuff previously; and Pogo previously.
Videos on YouTube:
Episode 1: The Magic Path - part 1, part 2, and part 3
Episode 2: The Wheely Bird - part 1, part 2, and part 3
Episode 7: The Birthday Party - part 1, part 2, and part 3
Pufnstuf Zaps the World - the movie in 10 parts
More Pufnstuff previously; and Pogo previously.
H.R. Pufnstuf was the source of many, many childhood nightmares for me. It seriously freaked me out. Not sure if I'm going to watch this stuff.
posted by michswiss at 9:27 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by michswiss at 9:27 PM on April 24, 2011
I have such a love-hate relationship with H.R. Pufnstuf. It was my favorite show as a young young child, and I have had a copy of the Kellogg's mail-in premium 7" soundtrack record for as long as I can remember. The songs are such a part of me that I could sing them in my sleep, and much of their sunny optimism about life and friendship has deeply affected my worldview.
When the DVD set was released a few years ago, I rushed out to buy it on day of release. I hadn't seen ANY Pufnstuf since I was a child, and couldn't wait to see the stories again and put the songs into their correct context.
Oh. Holy. Fuck. The Suck Fairy really did a number on that series. It was nothing like I remembered it. Horrible acting, really lame scripts, way too much slapstick and not enough other kinds of humor... None of the special effects were nearly as good as they had been in my mind all those years, and I was really really really sad.
Even the Pufnstuf feature film was a shock to see as an adult. Such a disjointed work, with entirely the wrong person as the main character (Witchiepoo? Seriously?), and that really really strange sequence with Cass Elliot... Wow.
I still love the music and listen to it all the time. (It's been a fixture in my mp3 collection since before iTunes was even released. One of the earliest projects I did back in the very early days of CD-Rs was to rip that soundtrack album to digital.) But damn, I've only watched that DVD set once, and am not sure I have the ambition to watch it again. I'd rather live with the fuzzy memories of my pre-elementary school experience of the show and let my adult knowledge of it fade away.
Truly an example of how childhood imbues truly awful or mundane things with magical powers.
posted by hippybear at 9:32 PM on April 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
When the DVD set was released a few years ago, I rushed out to buy it on day of release. I hadn't seen ANY Pufnstuf since I was a child, and couldn't wait to see the stories again and put the songs into their correct context.
Oh. Holy. Fuck. The Suck Fairy really did a number on that series. It was nothing like I remembered it. Horrible acting, really lame scripts, way too much slapstick and not enough other kinds of humor... None of the special effects were nearly as good as they had been in my mind all those years, and I was really really really sad.
Even the Pufnstuf feature film was a shock to see as an adult. Such a disjointed work, with entirely the wrong person as the main character (Witchiepoo? Seriously?), and that really really strange sequence with Cass Elliot... Wow.
I still love the music and listen to it all the time. (It's been a fixture in my mp3 collection since before iTunes was even released. One of the earliest projects I did back in the very early days of CD-Rs was to rip that soundtrack album to digital.) But damn, I've only watched that DVD set once, and am not sure I have the ambition to watch it again. I'd rather live with the fuzzy memories of my pre-elementary school experience of the show and let my adult knowledge of it fade away.
Truly an example of how childhood imbues truly awful or mundane things with magical powers.
posted by hippybear at 9:32 PM on April 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
It amuses me to no end that Disney has a working relationship with someone whose Youtube ID is Fagottron
That everything he does is wonderful and beautiful and charming is just icing.
posted by The Whelk at 9:35 PM on April 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
That everything he does is wonderful and beautiful and charming is just icing.
posted by The Whelk at 9:35 PM on April 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
Unfortunately, I find the instrumental portions of this sample project overwhelm the vocals to the point that even with my familiarity with a lot of the source material I cannot really hear any clear lyrics.
posted by hippybear at 10:13 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by hippybear at 10:13 PM on April 24, 2011
I'm 22, and scarcely even know what a H.R. Pufnstuff is. I know what'll bring my dreams straight to hell tonight.
But it's a great song and video.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:23 PM on April 24, 2011
But it's a great song and video.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:23 PM on April 24, 2011
I'm 22, and scarcely even know what a H.R. Pufnstuff is.
H.R. Pufnstuf is something who loves you.. he's someone who cares.. he's someone to lift you up if ever you need repairs... he's someone who takes the time to listen to your cares.
posted by hippybear at 10:29 PM on April 24, 2011
H.R. Pufnstuf is something who loves you.. he's someone who cares.. he's someone to lift you up if ever you need repairs... he's someone who takes the time to listen to your cares.
posted by hippybear at 10:29 PM on April 24, 2011
This post seems about 4(/20) days late.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:39 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:39 PM on April 24, 2011
Unfortunately, I find the instrumental portions of this sample project overwhelm the vocals to the point that even with my familiarity with a lot of the source material I cannot really hear any clear lyrics.
There aren't clear lyrics -- the vocals are cut up to be another 'instrument' and don't say anything coherent.
posted by flatluigi at 10:54 PM on April 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
There aren't clear lyrics -- the vocals are cut up to be another 'instrument' and don't say anything coherent.
posted by flatluigi at 10:54 PM on April 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
OMG I just came in here to crack the same joke MCMikeNamara did.
I'm frowny now.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:47 PM on April 24, 2011
I'm frowny now.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:47 PM on April 24, 2011
Also Land of the Lost > Pufnstuf > Lidsville.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:47 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:47 PM on April 24, 2011
I have had a copy of the Kellogg's mail-in premium 7" soundtrack record
We had that record. It was more my little sister's thing -- I think she liked the boy -- though that bloody "Mechanical Boy" song still pops into my head sometimes. But the theme song is (or was) a more recent problem for me: an H.R. person at a previous job looked like H.R. Pufnstuf. When I had to "go see H.R." about something, it was murder keeping the song in my head from slipping out of my mouth.
posted by pracowity at 2:16 AM on April 25, 2011
We had that record. It was more my little sister's thing -- I think she liked the boy -- though that bloody "Mechanical Boy" song still pops into my head sometimes. But the theme song is (or was) a more recent problem for me: an H.R. person at a previous job looked like H.R. Pufnstuf. When I had to "go see H.R." about something, it was murder keeping the song in my head from slipping out of my mouth.
posted by pracowity at 2:16 AM on April 25, 2011
Yo Gabba Gabba is like H.R. Pufnstuf reconceived by IKEA.
posted by bendybendy at 5:24 AM on April 25, 2011
posted by bendybendy at 5:24 AM on April 25, 2011
The Suck Fairy really did a number on that series.
I'm guessing that blasted Nostalgia Fairy also added a number or two to your disillusionment.
posted by fairmettle at 5:41 AM on April 25, 2011
I'm guessing that blasted Nostalgia Fairy also added a number or two to your disillusionment.
posted by fairmettle at 5:41 AM on April 25, 2011
When I had to "go see H.R." about something, it was murder keeping the song in my head from slipping out of my mouth.
And then there was the problem of leaving on Friday.
"See you next week!"
"I sure hope so!"
posted by Spatch at 5:52 AM on April 25, 2011
And then there was the problem of leaving on Friday.
"See you next week!"
"I sure hope so!"
posted by Spatch at 5:52 AM on April 25, 2011
Classic Pogo. He's at his best working with decades-old, trippy source material. That Terminator thing he did was off-base, and I'm still not sure how I feel about the Lord of the Rings song The Whelk posted (it was nice, but a different sort of nice). This song puts him right back on track though; it's up there with Alice.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 6:19 AM on April 25, 2011
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 6:19 AM on April 25, 2011
Great music. But why had I never gotten the drug connection with the name "Lidsville" before?
Has anyone not yet seen "The Altered State of Drugachusetts"?
posted by benito.strauss at 7:01 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Has anyone not yet seen "The Altered State of Drugachusetts"?
posted by benito.strauss at 7:01 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oh. Holy. Fuck. The Suck Fairy really did a number on that series. It was nothing like I remembered it.
Funny, watching Pufnstuf as an adult, one surprising thing was that it was exactly how I remember it. I mean, this was not highbrow humor for the 7 year old set, even back when I was that age. Kids seeking edgy TV back then had to turn to Loony Tunes or Tom and Jerry reruns. With Kroft bros shows, slapstick and kiddie level jokes were the rule. I did find Pufnstuf entertaining enough as an adult, and if anything, am a little more impressed with the song/dance numbers now than I was back then. Other than maybe Land of the Lost, they never ventured far from their target audience, though.
Pogo's treatment, as usual, is good stuff.
posted by 2N2222 at 7:31 AM on April 25, 2011
Funny, watching Pufnstuf as an adult, one surprising thing was that it was exactly how I remember it. I mean, this was not highbrow humor for the 7 year old set, even back when I was that age. Kids seeking edgy TV back then had to turn to Loony Tunes or Tom and Jerry reruns. With Kroft bros shows, slapstick and kiddie level jokes were the rule. I did find Pufnstuf entertaining enough as an adult, and if anything, am a little more impressed with the song/dance numbers now than I was back then. Other than maybe Land of the Lost, they never ventured far from their target audience, though.
Pogo's treatment, as usual, is good stuff.
posted by 2N2222 at 7:31 AM on April 25, 2011
Huh. I guess this series must have been an American response to The Magic Roundabout.
Being a TV executive must be quite a baffling experience, considering the amount of complete and utter dreck that inexplicably becomes vastly popular. Attempts to imitate those successes must make for some interesting pitch meetings. I cannot even imagine what the one for this show must have been like.
posted by schmod at 7:31 AM on April 25, 2011
Being a TV executive must be quite a baffling experience, considering the amount of complete and utter dreck that inexplicably becomes vastly popular. Attempts to imitate those successes must make for some interesting pitch meetings. I cannot even imagine what the one for this show must have been like.
posted by schmod at 7:31 AM on April 25, 2011
Well, those who are really interested in knowing a bit more about Sid & Marty Krofft, there is a 7-part interview on Google Video that runs over 3 hours which gets into their background quite a bit.
It's pretty fascinating stuff. They're old-world style puppeteers who happened to come along at just the right time in television programming.
And since it's on Google Video, you probably want to watch that sooner rather than later. I think they're going dark at the end of this week.
posted by hippybear at 7:44 AM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's pretty fascinating stuff. They're old-world style puppeteers who happened to come along at just the right time in television programming.
And since it's on Google Video, you probably want to watch that sooner rather than later. I think they're going dark at the end of this week.
posted by hippybear at 7:44 AM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Add me to the HR Pufnstuf gave me nightmares group. I specifically remember Witchie Poo figuring prominently.
posted by ridiculous at 8:29 AM on April 25, 2011
posted by ridiculous at 8:29 AM on April 25, 2011
Classic Pogo. He's at his best working with decades-old, trippy source material. That Terminator thing he did was off-base, and I'm still not sure how I feel about the Lord of the Rings song The Whelk posted (it was nice, but a different sort of nice). This song puts him right back on track though; it's up there with Alice.
I don't know, the LOTR one doesn't work for me either, but I do like the Terminator one and the one he did for Dexter. The Pixar ones ain't half bad, either.
posted by bettafish at 12:04 PM on April 25, 2011
I don't know, the LOTR one doesn't work for me either, but I do like the Terminator one and the one he did for Dexter. The Pixar ones ain't half bad, either.
posted by bettafish at 12:04 PM on April 25, 2011
His Wishery (Disney Remix) made me think of Shelter by Airman Our Pal, a lush re-work of Bambi source material, and my favorite track from the sad solo release from Six Records.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:51 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by filthy light thief at 4:51 PM on April 25, 2011
And the Terminator 2 Pogo Remix makes me think of an attempt to re-create early 1990s industrial music, in a similar vein as Command & Conquer.
Also fun: Toyz Noize, though not as much Boys Noize influence as I was expecting.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:59 PM on April 25, 2011
Also fun: Toyz Noize, though not as much Boys Noize influence as I was expecting.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:59 PM on April 25, 2011
The first one I heard was Expialidocious. What kind of spell checker doesn't have Expialidocious in it? Bad Spell Checker! Add to dictionary this instant!
I like the unabashed "prettiness" of the melodies. This guy might have a gift.
posted by Trochanter at 8:20 PM on April 25, 2011
I like the unabashed "prettiness" of the melodies. This guy might have a gift.
posted by Trochanter at 8:20 PM on April 25, 2011
But, I have to say that since "May It Be" is one of the prettiest recordings I've ever heard, I don't know that he added much to that one.
Still, Pogo bears watching.
posted by Trochanter at 8:23 PM on April 25, 2011
Still, Pogo bears watching.
posted by Trochanter at 8:23 PM on April 25, 2011
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