What? No Hut-Sut Rawlson on the Rillerah?
October 1, 2011 1:25 PM Subscribe
A brief history of lyrics that aren't lyrics (1964-2008) SLYT
yeah, I'm kinda disappointed they didn't start at an earlier date, with all the potential doo-dahs, shooby-doos and weem-a-ways...
yeah, I'm kinda disappointed they didn't start at an earlier date, with all the potential doo-dahs, shooby-doos and weem-a-ways...
I'm surprised they missed Tom's Diner.
posted by borkencode at 1:35 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by borkencode at 1:35 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
She did both Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack rather quite well.
posted by three blind mice at 1:39 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by three blind mice at 1:39 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
She got the Van Morrison lyrics wrong. It's clearly "sha la la" not "sha na na." Get off my astral lawn. Theater hipsters and their stupid funky jazz basses. I didn't make it far past that.
posted by cmoj at 1:39 PM on October 1, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by cmoj at 1:39 PM on October 1, 2011 [6 favorites]
yeah, I'm kinda disappointed they didn't start at an earlier date, with all the potential doo-dahs, shooby-doos and weem-a-ways...
For a previous survey, see Mann (1961).
posted by Anything at 1:48 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
For a previous survey, see Mann (1961).
posted by Anything at 1:48 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sing this
(surprisingly watchable, partially due to the mesmerizing sunglasses.)
posted by benzenedream at 1:52 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
(surprisingly watchable, partially due to the mesmerizing sunglasses.)
posted by benzenedream at 1:52 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
Needs more WKRP.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:56 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:56 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Needs more whop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-whop-bam-boom.
Also, obligatory xkcd.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 1:57 PM on October 1, 2011
Also, obligatory xkcd.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 1:57 PM on October 1, 2011
Jane Lui is awesome! And this is also awesome. Thanks!
posted by pemberkins at 2:07 PM on October 1, 2011
posted by pemberkins at 2:07 PM on October 1, 2011
What happens there at the 46 second mark? I think Steam confused her because 'Hey' is a word.
posted by dgaicun at 2:09 PM on October 1, 2011
posted by dgaicun at 2:09 PM on October 1, 2011
watched until Roberta Flack but the bass player is just crazy annoying.
posted by chococat at 2:32 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by chococat at 2:32 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
♫ A wa do dem a wa do dem dem dem ♪
1981
EEK-A-MOUSE
posted by iotic at 2:35 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
1981
EEK-A-MOUSE
posted by iotic at 2:35 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Why do people always play the inferior Manfred Mann cover version in preference to the Exciters original?
Also, if you're gonna do Roberta Flack in this context, shouldn't it have been this one?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:54 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, if you're gonna do Roberta Flack in this context, shouldn't it have been this one?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:54 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I should listen to the radio more, because they totally lost me when they got to the 2000s.
posted by afx237vi at 3:01 PM on October 1, 2011
posted by afx237vi at 3:01 PM on October 1, 2011
Peter Mc, I'm sure they went for the chart hits; Manfred Mann's verison hit #1 as did that Roberta Flack song (although I just noticed it did so in 1973, not 1971).
Which sadly disqualifies Mahna Mahna. Even Cake's version.
But they also missed Boom Boom Shacka-Lacka-Lacka Boom (1988)
Doo Doo Doo Down Doobie Doo Down Down was from 1962, but recycled in 1974.
I remember how SHOCKING it was when Sinatra sang "Doobie Doobie Doo" (and some say it inspired the naming of Scooby Doo)
And the greatest pop music gibberish ever (IMO): Ooh Eee Ooh Ah Ah Ting Tang Walla WallaWashington Bing Bang
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:16 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
Which sadly disqualifies Mahna Mahna. Even Cake's version.
But they also missed Boom Boom Shacka-Lacka-Lacka Boom (1988)
Doo Doo Doo Down Doobie Doo Down Down was from 1962, but recycled in 1974.
I remember how SHOCKING it was when Sinatra sang "Doobie Doobie Doo" (and some say it inspired the naming of Scooby Doo)
And the greatest pop music gibberish ever (IMO): Ooh Eee Ooh Ah Ah Ting Tang Walla Walla
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:16 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
weem-a-ways
From what I'm reading, "Wimoweh" is a perfectly good lyric; just not in English.
posted by SPrintF at 3:21 PM on October 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
From what I'm reading, "Wimoweh" is a perfectly good lyric; just not in English.
posted by SPrintF at 3:21 PM on October 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
cmoj: "Theater hipsters and their stupid funky jazz basses."
So a hipster is just someone in their 20s who plays an instrument and makes a video of it now? Glad we're clear on that.
posted by Apropos of Something at 3:28 PM on October 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
So a hipster is just someone in their 20s who plays an instrument and makes a video of it now? Glad we're clear on that.
posted by Apropos of Something at 3:28 PM on October 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
I was expecting to hear some Talking Heads in there somewhere.
I wish I could find a clip of this -- the college radio at Williams College used to do this fantastic trivia contest twice a year, with teams taking turns creating it -- and one segment they had was a couple of those "play tiny clips of songs and have people identify them" things. One year, someone had the idea to do an audio round where all the clips were taken from Billy Joel songs, and all of them taken from moments when he was singing "Whoa-oh-oh" or some variant thereof. ....He does that a lot.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:31 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I wish I could find a clip of this -- the college radio at Williams College used to do this fantastic trivia contest twice a year, with teams taking turns creating it -- and one segment they had was a couple of those "play tiny clips of songs and have people identify them" things. One year, someone had the idea to do an audio round where all the clips were taken from Billy Joel songs, and all of them taken from moments when he was singing "Whoa-oh-oh" or some variant thereof. ....He does that a lot.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:31 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Without the ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long there is no point.
posted by Decani at 3:41 PM on October 1, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Decani at 3:41 PM on October 1, 2011 [4 favorites]
PRISENCOLINENSINAINCIUSOL!
you're welcome
posted by dunkadunc at 4:01 PM on October 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
you're welcome
posted by dunkadunc at 4:01 PM on October 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
Are there really people complaining because they skipped some songs? It's not feasible to expect them to do every song ever that has a "la", or "woah" or "na" in it.
I thought it was lovely.
posted by shesaysgo at 4:26 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
I thought it was lovely.
posted by shesaysgo at 4:26 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
So a hipster is just someone in their 20s who plays an instrument and makes a video of it now? Glad we're clear on that.
To qualify they also need to wear a flashy new years disguise and mug at the camera while exaggerating their funky music-feelings while churning out soulless Glee-renditions.
posted by cmoj at 5:00 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
To qualify they also need to wear a flashy new years disguise and mug at the camera while exaggerating their funky music-feelings while churning out soulless Glee-renditions.
posted by cmoj at 5:00 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
I don't know about the others, but I am not so much complaining as I am pointing out (and maybe nagging a little for) some songs to include in the inevitable sequel. GET TO WORK.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:06 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:06 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
That was amazing - quite surprised by the dismissive reaction here. How in the hell do they managed to flip from one song to another so fast? If I was humming one tune and then had to suddenly switch to another and another and another... well, it blows my mind. But then, I'm not a musician.
posted by Acey at 6:05 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Acey at 6:05 PM on October 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
Fun!
posted by elwoodwiles at 6:18 PM on October 1, 2011
posted by elwoodwiles at 6:18 PM on October 1, 2011
I'm just going to leave my favorite Jane Lui song here, for any interested parties. She uses real words and everything.
posted by pemberkins at 6:32 PM on October 1, 2011
posted by pemberkins at 6:32 PM on October 1, 2011
Are there really people complaining because they skipped some songs?
The main topic of discussion when any list-like thing is posted to Metafilter is what should be added to or substracted from the list (or relative rankings, if applicable). You shouldn't take it as a criticism of the thing so much as Metafilter's favorite sport.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:40 PM on October 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
The main topic of discussion when any list-like thing is posted to Metafilter is what should be added to or substracted from the list (or relative rankings, if applicable). You shouldn't take it as a criticism of the thing so much as Metafilter's favorite sport.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:40 PM on October 1, 2011 [3 favorites]
Without the ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long yt there is no point
Surely you mean Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding. Makes me (and Neko) misty-eyed. Listen a couple times.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 7:56 PM on October 1, 2011
Surely you mean Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding. Makes me (and Neko) misty-eyed. Listen a couple times.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 7:56 PM on October 1, 2011
Needs more Floyd.
Themagic music starts at 1:08.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 10:28 PM on October 1, 2011
The
posted by Mister Moofoo at 10:28 PM on October 1, 2011
I like this. This made me smile. Of course, I have a heart in my chest and am not some cold Cynico-Gear™ Replicated Cardiac Device.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 6:47 AM on October 2, 2011
posted by beaucoupkevin at 6:47 AM on October 2, 2011
Historic video of Olivia de Havilland, Ida Lupino, George Tobias in Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943 movie) snapping their gum, flipping their skirts and singing the non-, non-, nonsense syllables.
posted by Carol Anne at 1:03 PM on October 2, 2011
posted by Carol Anne at 1:03 PM on October 2, 2011
A fine collection of songs to be sure; I just wish the non-lyrics had been the correct non-lyrics, being that it was billed as a history thereof.
posted by nwatson at 10:34 PM on October 2, 2011
posted by nwatson at 10:34 PM on October 2, 2011
This is a technicality, but the soul makossa reference isn't really a non-lyric, since he's riffing on a style of Cameroonian music.
posted by umbú at 11:57 AM on October 3, 2011
posted by umbú at 11:57 AM on October 3, 2011
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