By Juicefree20 (141.149.54.136) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 05:31 am:

Rodmann started a thread "Those Songs You Hate." As we were kicking that around, we started discussing lyrics. I started noticing that some of the songs were meant to be profound, but, the lyrics were just too damn ridiculous to be believed. One of the songs discussed was Honey by Bobby Goldsboro. This classic weeper had lyrics that upon second glance needs just a tiny bit of a re-write. I'll list my choices later, for now, I'd like to see your choices. Your responses should be interesting, you guys have never let me down & I'm sure that this should be good. Your turn jrlo!!!

By passing by (63.88.160.101) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 08:25 am:

Float On. The Floaters, worst production, words ect.So many chimes on it it sounds like a door bell.

By BankHouseDave (195.93.34.12) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 11:29 am:

Rah rah Rasputin by Boney M

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.198) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 02:05 pm:

OVER LIKE A FAT RAT - FONDA RAE

Im sorry I know for some people this is a dance classic, but it begins to sound like the teasing tone: 'nah-nah-nah-nah-nah....'

UH-OH - LUMIDEE : 'What the hell...?'

WANNA BE STARTING SOMETHING - MICHAEL JACKSON
The catch phrases and the music carries this song, but the lyrics are questionable.

Be Back...

By jrlo (169.3.74.205) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 03:17 pm:

Hey there Juicefree!!!

Wow...where do I begin...

I know one..remember Daddy don't you walk so fast by Wayne Newton? They played it so much on top 40 radio when I was little..."Daaaddy don't you walk so fast..my daughter cried...daddy don't you walk soo fast...Daaaddy slow down some cause your making me run..daddy don't you walk so fast...
AGGHH!!!!!
Also, McArthur Park..I NEVER got the symbolism in that song..."Someone left the cake out in rain..I dont' think that I can take cause it took so long to bake it and I'll never have that recipe again...OHHHH NOOOOOO!
We can't forget Ben by Michael Jackson, the song about the rat..that was ridiculous!!

Juicefree...you already know that I can recite the words from Honey word for word...I won't do it again since it's almost lunch time, and I dont' want to get sick!
Later!! (I know I'll think of some more!!)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 03:35 pm:

Lumidee's "Uh-Oh" gets my vote.

There's another Bobby Goldsboro tune called "Summer (The First Time)" which is about a teenager losing his virginity to a thirtysomething woman ("It was a hot afternoon, the last day of June, and the sun was a demon...") For those who remember the song, you know what direction this sucker takes ("She was 31,I was 17..I knew nothing about love, she knew everything...") UGGGGH!!!!

I'll stop here for now....

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 03:41 pm:

Goldsboro was a "storyteller" if nothing else, eh??? lol...

"Fly, Robin, Fly" by Silver Convention certainly has some silly lyrics (if you actually listen to them!)....although great music.....

"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence is so bad in it's lyrics that it's funny.....I can't help but laugh out loud at the "that Amos boy Seth" line.....

And what about Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun"??? Oh man.....

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.202) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 04:36 pm:

What about the following:

Bang-Shang-A-Lang - the Archies

I Write The Songs - Barry Manilow (Simply for having the line: "I am music & I write the songs). Yeah Barry, sure you are.

Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie Weenie, Yellow Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland (I guess that this was considered clever in '60)

Up & Over When You Limbo - Marvin Gaye (This was a poorly conceived idea to catch on latch on to the Limbo craze. I might have the title wrong, as I listened to this once & never played it again. This is easily Marvins' worst song ever, absolutely insipid & proof that some songs should remain in the vaults).

Be Bop A Lula - Gene Vincent (With lyrics like: "She's the one with the flying feet" & "She's the one who gives more & more" More & more what??? I don't think that I really want to know the answer).

He Hit Me & It Felt Like A Kiss - The Crystals (Oh really? Sounds a bit masochistic to me. I've been hit & I've been kissed, somehow, I've never confused the two sensations)

I feel your pain jrlo. I was about 8 when MacArthur Park came out & even at that age, it sounded dumb. Upon further reflection, it was just someone's idea of being deep & profound. And when he howled OH NOOOOOOO, I would check the calendar to see if the was a full moon rising. To add insult to injury, he was dead serious!!! I mean, he was really feeling the song. And then the long, long, long string interlude. You could go shopping, come back & that song would still be playing. Believe it or not, I hate to admit that I like that song, it was burned into my mind. But, who left the cake out in the rain & why couldn't he get the recipe from Betty Crocker??? I mean, I know that he was being clever, but why waste good cake, even in a song?? I would have wrote it like this: "She got up, walked out the door, never see her A-- no more, OH NOOOOOOO!" Of course, I would have gotten Marvin Junior to sing that part : )

I can forgive Michael for Ben. It was from a movie soundtrack & all. If you ever saw Willard or Ben, the bigger problem is with the "Artiste" who wrote this. When you live in Brooklyn, the last thing you want to think about is killer rodents. Additionally, the way they wrote for the kid was so ridiculous. The kids acting was so wooden, I expected Paul Winchell to pop out at any minute. Ugggh! The saddest part about that is that if you look at that boy in the movie then & think of Michaels' behavior & fascination with being a kid over the years, it would seem as though that he took the movie & song a little too much to heart.

That's just a few for now. There'll be more to follow.

By jrlo (169.3.74.205) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 04:49 pm:

Juicefree...

You had me dying in this office when I read your post!!! LOL!!!

I have a good one....remember Wives and lovers"..I think Vic Damone or one of those comotose lounge singers did it back in the early 60's . What's funny is that I LIKE the song..it's just SO SEXIST as well as ridiculous:
Some of it went..
"Day after day there are girls at the office and men will always be men...dont' send him off with your hair up in curlers..you'll never see him again...for wives should always be lovers too RUN TO HIS ARMS THE MOMENT HE COMES HOME TO YOU..I'm warning you...Hey little girl wear something pretty...something you wear when you go to the city..dim all the lights pour the wine set the music..time to get ready for love." Oh BROTHER!!!

Speaking of which...remember Morning Train by Sheena Easton before Prince got a hold of her? "My baby takes the morning train he works frm 9 to 5 and then.. he takes another home again to find me waiting for him!"
Hmmm maybe she was the one in Vic Damone's song I listed above!!

By jrlo (169.3.74.205) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 05:12 pm:

JuiceFree!

You had me on the floor dying after I read your post!!

Remember the song "Wives and Lovers" I think either Vic Damone or Perry Como did the song back in the early 60's. It was so sexist and so ridiculous if you look at it from today's prespective..it went:
"Day after day there are girls in the office, and men will always be men..don't send him off with your hair up in curlers you'll never see him again...for wives should always be lovers too...RUN TO HIS ARMS THE MOMENT HE COMES HOME TO YOU ..I'M WARNING YOU..hey little girl wear something pretty something you wear when you go to the city...dim all the lights pour the wine start the music time to get ready for looove...."
Oh BOY!!

Also remember "Morning Train" by Sheena Easton
before Prince got a hold of her?
"My baby takes the morning train he works from 9 to 5 and then he takes another home again to find me waiting for him"
Hmm...maybe she is the wife in the above song???


I hope this isn't a repost..I sent it earlier...then is disapeared!!
If it is...SORRY!

By jrlo (169.3.74.205) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 05:13 pm:

IT WAS A REPOST!
SORRY EVERYONE!!!

By stephanie (69.138.239.31) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 05:19 pm:

Theyre Coming to take me away ha ha
Napoleon
Stephanie

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 05:21 pm:

jrlo:
"Wives & Lovers" was written by that wonderful team of Burt Bacharach & Hal David. Jack Jones had the hit version of the tune.

And if you think it sounds bad coming from a man, check out DIONNE WARWICK's version of "Wives & Lovers" from her Scepter album "The Sensuous Sounds Of Dionne Warwick"! She sounds like an advice columnist out to lunch!!! (And I love Dionne's records!!).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By jrlo (169.3.74.205) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 05:28 pm:

Thanks KevGo!
That's right Jack Jones was the name I was searching for! Like I said I actually like the song..it just sounds so "Dick Van Dyke showish" if that's a good description!


Huh?..Dionne did that song too????
I gotta check that out! How funny..and bizzare!

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.101) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 05:37 pm:

I am semi-convinced that the desire to avoid the maudlin "One Shining Moment" song they play for the winner of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament is a significant factor in the number of college basketbal players leaving early for the NBA.

The NBA's rookie salary cap, the million dollar contracts, and the hyprocrisy of big-money college athletics may be factors as well, but don't underestimate the power of a lame song.

Regards,
Ken

By Handsome (170.118.158.14) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 05:41 pm:

jrlo & KevGo...
Dionne's version is also on the First Wives Club soundtrack.

One song that comes to mind as ridiculous is Merri Wilson's "Telephone Man".

Handsome

By ladylove (169.3.74.205) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 06:32 pm:

Hey Handsome..

What about the other song "Telephone Man" by New Edition? That was highly annoying...maybe they get a pass because they were little kids!

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.202) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 06:37 pm:

Aaah yes, what lyrics, what lyrics. Good ole Terry. Let's analyze exactly it was within these lyrics that made this a #1 (for 3 weeks no less) Gold record back in 1974. Ok, here goes:

GUITAR INTRO - with a touch of vibrato-excellent choice. Good way to start the song. Onward & upward!!

VERSE - Goodbye to you my trusted friend. We've known each other since we were 9 or 10. Together, we've climed hills & trees. Learned of love & ABCs, skinned our hearts & skinned our knees.
Ok, this is alright so far. Comraderie between two friends, You can't go wrong there. Now we're getting somewhere. I'm all set to hear a buddy song, then Terry blows my mood straight to hell with the following:

VERSE - GOODBYE MY FRIEND IT'S HARD TO DIE, when all the birds are singing in the sky. Now that the spring is in the air. Pretty girls are everywhere, think of me & I'll be there.

HOLD EVERYTHING!! Suddenly, Im depressed, What happened here? I mean we had the guitar intro, we had the buddy, we were playing, falling down & learning the alphabet. All was well. But now...I'm not so sure. And would it be easier to die in the the fall? In winter? What the hell does Spring have to with it. Like I would be saying, "Sure glad it's not Summer, I wouldn't wanna be dying in the Summer". HEY TERRY, old buddy...there's no good time to die! As far as the pretty girls go, it would be kinda counter-productive to be thinking about my dead friend while romancing. Terry, would it be ok if I think of you at another time, perhaps while I'm alone?? Thanks, I thought you'd understand. Then he hits us with the good old chorus, everybody join in, if you don't know thew words, hum along!

Chorus - We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. But the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time.

Ok, so exactly what joy & fun did this guy have? So far, he's skinned his heart, his knees, probably didn't learn his ABCs & it seems that there's really something tragic about to befall him. Where is the fun that he's talking about? I don't know about you, but so far, it sounds pretty grim to me. Ok, ok, maybe I'm getting the wrong message here. Maybe there's an upside here. After all, it's just 2 verses & a chorus so far. I know Terry's just getting to the fun, the good stuff. Ok, let's go:

Verse 3 - Goodbye Pa Pa, please pray for me. I was the black sheep of the family. You tried to teach me right from wrong. Too much wine & too much song, wonder how I got along.

The next verse is basically the same refrain as the second, except he replaces "old friend" with "Pa-Pa" & the last line which becomes "little children everywhere, when you see them, I'll be there.

Then comes even more insight as we hit the chorus once more. He tells us again of the joy & fun & slickly slips in the line: "But the wine & the song like the seasons have all gone." He repeats this twice & I'm thinking, ok, we have a problem here.

Ok, now I see the problem. This guy sounds like a real F---up. He freely claims to be the black sheep which only makes me think of all of the terrible things that he might have done. I respect the fact that he appreciated his fathers' guidance & didn't lay blame at his parents feet. He wonders how he got along, probably not too well! Too much alcohol usually makes a persons' gait somewhat unsteady. It seems as though this boy had some serious issues, drinking, low self esteem from being the black sheep. But... he tugs at our heart strings by reminding his dad that he'll be wherever little kids are. Now, I don't know if that's an attempt to lay a guilt trip on the old man, or, a ploy for sympathy. Either way you look at it, Terry's pissed me off.

I'm pissed because he keeps insisting in the chorus that he had so much joy & fun. I'm mad because I'm obviously too dumb to see where the fun is, I'm not feeling joy here! All that I see is that this guy is fixated on wine & song. I wonder if this guy had ever learned that alcohol is a depressant? Myabe if he had, I wouldn't be hearing this damn depressing song. But wait!!! There's more, in the next verse comes hope & her name is Michelle. Maybe he'll finally come around. Let's see....

VERSE - Goodbye Michelle my little one (Goodbye? oops, that's not too good). You gave me love & helped me find the sun (another damn reference to the sun), and every time that I was down (which was apparently all of the time). You would always come around & get my feet back on the ground.

He again repeats Verse 2, replacing Pa-Pa with Michelle & changes the last line with the gem (Watch out Smokey): "If a flower's EVERYWHERE, I wish that we could both be there." HUH??? If a flower's everywhere?? How could A flower be EVERYWHERE??? From listening to this song was it even possible to pick this guy up?? Arnold, Atlas & Lou Ferrigno couldn't pick this guy up. Damn, poor Michelle really had her hands full with this guy.

He then finishes up the song with the chorus which reminds us of all of the joy & the fun & the seasons in the sun. Then for some real insight to this guy, he slips in the line, & I quote: "But the stars we could reach were just starfish on the beach." This is a man in need of a hug, some prosac or a slap in the head.

I don't mind that he didn't achieve much in life (the starfish reference). I can forgive the drinking & dancing, I can do that. I can forgive it all. However, I cannot forgive him for torturing us for close to four minutes with this you know what. I cannot forgive this guy for playing on our sentamentality & on our emotions. I cannot forgive how several Spring days of my 14th year, received an aural downer by this guy, ESPECIALLY since Spring was in the air. Flowers were blooming, grass was growing, he were playing Softball & this guy just came along & depressed all of us. This guy is probably still hanging around somewhere in Seattle, singing the same type of dreck. And that Folks that is how you write a #1 hit record. Kinda makes you proud, doesn't it? And thought I hate to admit it.....

I STILL LIKE THIS STUPID SONG & I hate myself for it. OH OH, I think ole Terry's starting to rub off on me! Of course this was written with tongue firmly in cheek : )

By Handsome (170.118.158.14) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 06:48 pm:

Hi Ladylove.

I have this "LP" of New Edition and kinda liked the song. What's horrible to look at is the video! Rickey is the only one who looked like something...the others were f^%ked without a kiss, ha ha!

Handsome

By kev-lo (67.31.37.158) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 06:48 pm:

Hi this is kev-Lo there was a song in 1961 called TE-TA-TE-TA-TA by Ernie K. Doe a nice song but ridicuous lyrics

By ladylove (169.3.74.205) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:06 pm:

Handsome!

Yeah...well....i kinda liked it too.....but yeah those were some ugly dudes! Rickey did look better than the other 4!

By ladylove (169.3.74.205) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:10 pm:

Juicefree,

Remember the song by Gilbert O'Sullivan...
Alone again..Naturally...
"Standing in a church where people saying...my god that's tough she stood him up no point in us remaining..may as well go home...cause I did on my own..alone again..naturally". Wow what an up song ..huh???
Maybe not so much ridiculous, but depressing right up there with "Honey" about some poor schmo...sad...really sad...

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:20 pm:

There you go, Juicetree! That's what I'm talking about!!

And in the same vein as "Seasons in the Sun"....what about "BILLY, DON'T BE A HERO.....don't be a fool with you liiiifffeeeee......Billy, don't be a hero....come back and make me your wiiiiiffffeeeee...."!!!....UGGHHH!!!

And from there we can just move into Starlight Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight".....

By LadyMystique (216.108.198.254) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 07:47 pm:

I may spell it wrong...IDA GADDA MA VIDA I think by Iron Butterfly...great song...but what?

Also, STANDING ON THE VERGE by George Clinton...especially the intro

I agree about Marvin Gaye's DOWN AND UNDER WHEN YOU LIMBO...written by Norman Whitfield and William Stevenson and produced by William Stevenson. Maybe they were still trying to find Marvin's niche!

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.202) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 09:18 pm:

Yes indeedGalactus, I listed Mr Donaldson & the Haywoods under Rodmanns thread, Songs You Love To Hate. He heard that the widow threw the letter away. Let me tell you what I heard: I heard that.......SHE THREW THE RECORD AWAY!!!!!

Ladylove, there's something abour Rock & Roll & morbidity. First of all, I always hated the line in the song: "I remember I cried when my father died". As a teenager, I just didn't want to haer that depressing crap. Real life could be tough enough without hearing this exercise in angst. After listening to his whiny voice for 3 minutes, I can understand why he was alone again. This guy is another one suffering from low self esteem. He's not truly pissed that she jilted him, there's no fire, no passion in his voice. He's a wimp. Just look at the title: Alone Again & this is the key word here folks...NATURALLY!!! This chump EXPECTS to be alone, he's used to DISAPPOINTMENT, he's learned to accept & embrace his lot in life. The walls are falling down, his world is crashing down & what does this guy do? Does he throw a chair? NOOO. Does he try to break her window? NOOO. Last chance, does he try to be valiant & fight for the love of his woman??? NOOO!! What does this big ole ball of fire do. He sings a damn nursery rhyme! A wimpy nursery rhyme at that!
LA,LA,LA,LA,LA,LA, LA,LA,LA,LA,LA,LA. DUM-DE-DUM-DE-DE-DE, etc., etc. Like good ole Charlie Brown might say "AAARGH!!!"

Now Ladylove, let me tell you my secret, how I survived all of these horrible lyrics & songs. See, when I was 15 or so, I was introduced (through his records, that is)to a lyrical genius. This man wrote lyrics that were down to earth, realistic & accessible to all. He spoke to me, opened my mind to all types of things, new lyrical possibilities. No, it was Curtis, no, it wasn't Stevie & no, it wasn't Smokey. My mentor, the man who changed my life forever was...was..........................................BLOWFLY. You see Blowfly showed me that there was no song lyric that was too horrible to salvage. Blowfly showed me the art of twisting & mangling every trite, superficial & stupid lyric; & through gently shaping & caressing it into a work of art. Oh, the titles I came up with & lyrics, Shakespeare couldn't do it the way I did.

Of course, I couldn't sing these songs in front of my mother & no one would record them (I didn't care, I couldn't sing anyway). However, revenge is it's own reward & damn it, if they were going to assault my ears & mind with that crap, I was going to twist them to my satisfaction. I chose to look at those songs as fodder for humoring my friends. Thank you Mr Clarence "BLOWFLY" Reid for showing me what to do with those lyrics! I'm indebted to you forever.

Now Galactus, you DO know what Afternoon Delight was about, don't you? Get back to me with your thoughts about that one.

Yes LadyMystique, how can one describe In A Gadda Da Vida? I never understood the lyrics, so I can't analyze it. I once read what a Gadda Da Vida was, I sure don't remember what it is. Down & Under When You Limbo was just a very bad idea, Motown rarely sounded this bad! I'll leave it at that!

By fayette (205.188.209.141) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 09:36 pm:

pull up to da bumpa baby -grace jones
get the funk out ma face-brothers johnson
someday we'll be together-the supremes(covering my head from the pounding)
oh sheila-ready for the world
hey i liked float on

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.202) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 11:02 pm:

Hey Fayette, how are you. I liked Float On as well. Regarding Pull Up To The Bumper: this song was basically one big ode to sex. This was song was innuendos of sex & nothing else. Look as the lyrics: "Want to get your big machine somewhere in this town", "Pull up to the bumper baby, in your long black limousine, Pull up to the bumper baby, drive it in between." Believe it or not, some people actually thought that song was about driving a car. Take a closer listen to the lyrics & you'll see what I mean.

By jrlo (24.130.218.105) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 12:01 am:

JuiceFree..
You are SOOO funny!!!

Gilbert O'Sullivan also had another song called "Claire" right after alone again... I thought he was singing about a woman....I found out later he was singing about a child...hmmm...kinda odd!

By jan (80.50.137.13) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 07:22 am:

one of my favourite modern tracks ( well it's only 10 years or so old ) is 'rumpshaker' by wreckx n effecks ( wrong spelling i know ) - i have a 5 minute plus version that really rocks

it's a teddy riley production, some of that early nineties new jack swing stuff was cool, basic black on motown for example

'rumpshaker' is a little crude and basically about a girl shaking her bottom, in other words brainless but somehow with the chorus, the infantile rapping and good production it works perfectly - a classic

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 08:01 am:

SOLAR PRESTIGE A GAMMON - Elton John (1974)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 12:22 pm:

IN A GADDA DA VIDA was supposed to have been called "In The Garden Of Eden".

Songwriter/Iron Butterfly leader Doug Ingle was allegedly stoned when he tried to teach the group the song in the studio.

The result - instant classic.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.212) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 12:46 pm:

Galactus:

I looked at your post and cracked up laughing and had my staff looking at me like a was loosing it...lol...

'Billy Dont Be a Hero' is a post vietnam classic...leave it alone i thought it had a funky little beat...

Afternoon Delight is the joint...cut it out...LOL...

WHAT YOU SHOULD SHOOT DOWN out of the sky as far as Im concerned is - "LAST DANCE" - Donna Summer
AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.212) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 12:46 pm:

Galactus:

I looked at your post and cracked up laughing and had my staff looking at me like a was loosing it...lol...

'Billy Dont Be a Hero' is a post vietnam classic...leave it alone i thought it had a funky little beat...

Afternoon Delight is the joint...cut it out...LOL...

WHAT YOU SHOULD SHOOT DOWN out of the sky as far as Im concerned is - "LAST DANCE" - Donna Summer
AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.212) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 12:47 pm:

so nice I said it twice...my bad...lol..'how'd that happen?

DyvaNaye

By jrlo (169.3.74.205) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 01:19 pm:

I have one...remember..this, it wasn't a record but the lyrics were still ridiculous:

"I'm a little bit country..I'm a little bit rock and roll...I'm a little bit of memphis and nashville..with a little bit of motown in my soul..don't know if it's good or bad..(IT'S BAD IT'S BAD) but I know I love it so..I'm a little bit country....I'm a little bit rock and roll...

A little bit of Motown in Donny Osmonds soul..heh heh heh..I dont'think so...very talented nice guy I'm sure...but I don't think so..

By Juicefree20 (151.205.106.219) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 11:00 pm:

Hey jrlo, what you have to keep in mind is that we're talking about that old bastion of Soul & Rock & Roll called Utah. You know the place where the Fox Trot was called "The Forbidden Dance"!!!! You can bet that if ole Donny was tearing down the house with his soulful (hee, hee, hee), dulcet tones, then good ole Oral Roberts was on lead guitar : ). SOUL???? DONNY???Now that's entertainment!

By E (68.163.45.189) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 02:35 am:

Good morning starshine
Who put the bomp
The name game
Lip Sync
There coming to take me away
wang dang doodle
Josephina please dont leana ona da bell

By manny (80.58.52.235) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 01:55 pm:

Hello again, friends!

I allways wondered (from 1977 on!), what really signifies "You Might Be Digging In Your Garden (But Somebody's Picking Your Plums)" as atitle of a song (by Joe Tex).

Peace!

By E (68.163.45.189) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 02:03 pm:

Manny,
That means that another cat is gettin that poon tang, that nookie, that sho nuff slap yo mama kinda stuff, that ill nana, that boo-tay!!!!

By manny (80.58.52.235) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 02:47 pm:

Hello and thanks, Mr. "E".

In Spain many title songs (and movies!) was traduced in a literally sense. I have the "Rub Down" Lp by Joe Tex with the titles in spanish and in English. In this song says "Podías estar cavando en el jardín (pero alguien está robando tus ciruelas)" (very surrealist-"Monty Phyton" style! smile!)

Peace

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.211) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 03:55 pm:

E -

....and you're indicating?....

LOL!
Damn!

DyvaNaye

By Mark Speck (199.183.76.90) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 01:08 am:

Surprised no one mentioned this classic: "Let It All Hang Out" by the Hombres.

"No parking by the sewer sign..."...I think some of you might remember it from that. Just what were those Memphis session boys smoking when they came up with this one...LOL!

Best,

Mark

By Juicefree20 (151.204.159.82) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 01:37 am:

Hey Mark, I never listened to the lyrics to that one. I just thought that it was one of the funkiest songs I've ever heard. Great song, cat kinda sounds like Pa from cartoon The Hillbilly Bears. There was an episode where he dreamed that he was a Rock & Roll star singing a song called Do The Bear. I think that The Hombres are lucky that they weren't pinched for infringement.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 01:52 am:

Nee nee nana nana nu nu by Dickie Doo and the Donts on Swan

Tee Nah Nah--Ernie K. Doe

Freakenstein-Blue Magic( and I had the audacity to co write that one!!) ouch!!!!!

By Mike Sku (64.9.11.62) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 11:37 am:

As much as I like Freda Payne and her performance of the song, I've never understood the lyrics of "Band of Gold". Maybe I live a much-too-sheltered life...or the lyrics are way too above my head...I'm missing something, obviously....

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 02:14 pm:

I suppose its just poetic license, Mike.
Go figure!!

By Destruction (199.173.224.20) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 06:47 pm:

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been spinning some classic "tenor tunes" in the van for the girls to expand their horizons beyond their Eddie Kendricks fixation...lol. We've been listening to Blue Magic, The Soul Generation, Temprees, etc. One day we're singing along to Black Ivory and I'm paying close attention to the lyrics and I hear:

DON'T WALK AWAY
I NEVER MEANT TO HURT YOU
AND YOU ALWAYS SAID YOU'D BE MY FOOL
NOW THAT IT'S DONE
BELIEVE ME GIRL i'M SORRY
AND YOU KNOW I'LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU
SO....
DON'T TURN AROUND
CAUSE NOTHING IN THE PAST WILL CHANGE
DON'T TURN AROUND
LETS LOOK AHEAD AND ALWAYS STAY
TOGETHER, FOREVER

IT'S ALWAYS HARD
TO LOVE THE ONE THAT HURTS YOU
AND FORGIVE THEM FOR THE WRONG THEY DO
BUT GIVE ME A CHANCE
THIS TIME I SWEAR I'LL BE TRUE
NO ONE WILL KEEP ME AWAY
FROM YOU...
DON'T TURN AROUND
CAUSE NOTHING IN THE PAST WILL CHANGE
DON'T TURN AROUND
LETS LOOK AHEAD AND ALWAYS STAY
TOGETHER, FOREVER

Weird as it it may sound to those of us who've heard the song ad infinitum, those lyrics could easily be words spoken/sung by a stalker/spouse abuser. A stretch.....maybe?

By Frankie B. (65.35.203.15) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 12:11 am:

How about Kenny Rogers and his feeble attempt at rock and roll "What condition my condition was in" It is laughable at best.

By Robb_K (66.81.22.103) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 01:15 am:

Huh??? Wang Dang Doodle's lyrics are the most ridiculous???? Other than using "doodle" as a polite way of explaining what they'll be doin' at the "Wang Dang" (i.e. Wing Ding), what lyrics are even unliteral? Okay "totin'" can mean "bringin'" or something a bit more adult. But otherwise, as far as I remember, it's quite literal, serious, and understandable. It tells a pretty literal story about what those cool cats and kittens are gonna do at the local Union Hall (they're gonna romp and tromp till midnight-then they're gonna fuss and fight 'till daylight. Don't it make ya' wanna be there too? "Snuff juicy everywhere" (I don't think they're talkin' about Copenhagen tobacco product here-get me Paulie?)

On the other hand,...."Wang Dang Dula" is a little iffy.....

By jrlo (24.130.218.105) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:46 am:

The other day on the oldies cable station I heard: "Please don't talk to the life guard..please don't talk to the life guard..I guess I'll have to swim out to the sea..to get him to talk to me....."
Excuse me..how dumb is that?????

I forgot who did that dumb song.

By Juicefree20 (68.161.22.214) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 09:41 pm:

Who Put The Bomp!!!

By jrlo (24.130.218.105) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 09:47 pm:

Hi Juice!!!

Oh yeah..
Who put the ram in the rama lama ding dong..

I bet he stayed up all night thinking that one up!
LOL!

By Dinelle (68.222.45.114) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 10:52 pm:

I like Loggins and Messina's "Ya Mama Don't Dance" and "Dearest Muddah, Dearest Faddah" is always funny.

By LadyMystique (216.108.199.14) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 07:35 pm:

I thought the song about making an ugly woman your wife was funny.

By Juicefree20 (151.205.108.144) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 08:45 pm:

Yes Lady, but somehow, I conjure up an image of wives all over America, slapping their laughing husbands upside the head, because they laughed a little too hard to that song.

"Oh, it's funny, is it? So what choo tryin' to say, what choo tryin' to say???" I bet that record cause a boon for the candy & flower business.

By jrlo (24.130.218.105) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 11:26 pm:

Remember the "Mother in Law" song?
Love it!!!!

By Michael/cleoharvey (206.216.63.58) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 12:08 am:

My Ding A Ling by Chuck Berry

By TRI-PHI (68.5.143.49) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 06:53 am:

IM HOOKED-BUNNY PAUL
MIDNIGHT JOHNNY-LIZ LANDS
TOO YOUNG TOO SOON-SPINNERS
SUPREMES VERSION OF HANG ON SLOOPY

By Bob Marvin (170.20.11.59) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 12:30 pm:

Gimme Dat Ding - The Pipkins

By Bob Marvin (170.20.11.59) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 12:32 pm:

Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um - Major Lance (Lyrics by Steven Sondheim)

By Bob Marvin (170.20.11.59) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 12:35 pm:

Oh and anything by Yes...

By manny (80.58.52.235) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 01:32 pm:

Hello again, soulful brothers and sisters!

Some other onomatopeyic-rare-excentric and / or reiterative titles:

Ah Ah Ah Ah / Jones Girls
Super Duper Duper Super Man / Bunny Sigler
In Love In Love In Love / Curtis Mayfield
Looking For A Fox / Clarence Carter
Echidna's Arf / George Duke - Frank Zappa
The Wootie-T-Woo / People's Choice

Peace

By Mark Speck (199.183.75.200) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 04:20 pm:

For all you Todd Rundgren fans, there's his tune called "Onomatopoeia", which might just be the closest thing to a Spike Jones song in the past 25 years of music.

Todd mentions a sneeze, then you hear a sneeze, then he says cough, you hear a cough, and so on.
It's on the flip side of his hit "Can We Still Be Friends".

jrlo--"Please Don't Talk to the Lifeguard"--the hit version was by a girl named Diane Ray. We folks over here in Cleveland remember the original version by Andrea Carroll (whose version was beaten to the national charts by Diane Ray).

Terry Jacks, who recorded "Seasons in the Sun", became a farmer in Canada, the last I heard.

Juice--the singer from the Hombres sounds like Pa from The Hillbilly Bears? If I recall that cartoon rightly, all Pa ever said was "Razza frazza crazza" and other unintelligible stuff!

Best,

Mark

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.26) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 06:00 pm:

Hey Mark, what's up?

Yes Mark, you're right. I could barely mumderstand the singer on Let Ut All Hang Out. That song has got a great groove. Do you remember the lyrics?

Peace!
Juicefree20

By jrlo (169.3.74.205) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 06:28 pm:

Remember the Bertha Butt Boogie, by the Jimmy Castor Bunch?
That song came out when I was in High school. We thought it was soooo funny. I asked my friend/ coworker the other day (she is early 30 something) she stared at me and said "never heard of it, that was before my time!" (it made me feel old!) So I sat there in my office singing the Bertha Butt Boogie to her....thank God my boss wasn't walking by!!
I have to find a copy of that record! She want's to hear it...oh yeah, plus she never heard of Kurtis Blow's ..The Breaks!!! I need some old friends!!!

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.26) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 07:41 pm:

Hey jrlo, how are you? Hey, what town do you live in again???

Peace!
Juice

By Songstress61 (68.101.241.239) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 08:56 pm:

For me, though I love the melody, it would have to be the Brothers Johnson's "Strawberry Letter 23" (however I think in the lyrics they say Strawberry Letter 22). Anyway, love the song, but the song made no sense!

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.26) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 12:04 am:

Hi Songstress!

I never knew that Strawberry Letter was originally recorded by Shuggie Otis in the early 70s. I found that out 2 years ago. When the song came out, it didn't make sense to me either. Later I learned the inspiration for the song. He had sent his girlfriend 22 letters, the song represented the 23rd letter sent to her. The song keeps making reference to the 22nd letter. As I'm working from a memory of long ago, it could've been the 22nd letter that he sent, but, I'm pretty sure that the first explanation is correct. I hope that this explanation helps clarify.

By Songstress61 (68.101.241.239) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 12:36 am:

Yes it does and thanks for that info. I had no idea it had been previously done...

By jrlo (24.130.218.105) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 03:09 am:

Hey Juice!

I live in Corona California, but I'm a native New Yorker, born and raised!

Where are you??

By manny (80.58.52.235) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 08:17 am:

Hello again, soulful friends!

Hello, californian girl jrlo!,

I have laughin' a lot every times i heard only the intro of "Bertha But Boogie" ("pam-pam-pa-da-ba-dam"). Jimmy is funny. The last gem i have discovered by him it's "Potential" in a rare-groove compilation.
This title, "Bertha But Boogie", remember me other excentric titles as Joe Tex's "Ain't No Bump More (With A Big Fat Woman)" or Ramsey Lewi's "Fish Bite".

Also, what about People's Choice's "Nursery Rhymes"?

Peace, Soul Food & Funny!

By jrlo (24.130.218.105) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 03:54 pm:

Hey Manny!!!
I remember Potential!!! That was sooo funny! They NEVER play that on the stations!
Yeah I rmember when Joe Tex was on Soul Train doing "Aint gonna bump no more"!
I couldn't stand him when he did "Skinny legs and all" because when I was young I did have some VERY skinny legs...and all the guys ran after me singing that song..one kid even called me "Hey miss skinny legs and all"! I said gee thanks alot Joe! So when he did "Big fat woman" I said good...maybe they will leave me alone now.

By manny (80.58.52.235) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 05:01 pm:

Hello again, soulful brothers & sisters!

Hey, jrlo,
All you says is funny. I also "suffered" when all the people call me skinny guy. I practique cyclism from before ten years and this sport make skinny. I comes frequently at this time at cicloturistic voyages with a "fat" friend and some times haerd comments by people about us calling "Mira, el gordo y el flaco!" (look, the fat and the skinny, Laurel & Hardy in the spanish TV!!).

Other "surrealist" titles i remember (appart from practically all by Joe Tex and Jimmy Castor Bunch):

-Jambalaya / The Metters
-Ye-Me-Le / Luiz Carlos Vinhas
-Barabajagal / Donovan
-Naná / Kenny Burrell
-Yatra-Tá / Tania María

Peace & Soul Food

By Juicefree20 (141.149.43.28) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 06:18 pm:

Hey there jrlo!!

I'm in Brooklyn, N.Y. Lifetime native of N.Y. So, when are you coming back home, or, have you gotten used to all of that good old sunshine???

By the way, jrlo & Manny, Jimmy Castor also has Troglodyte & Bom Bom. They're knida funny as well. And yes, Potential is the bomb. That was big here in N.Y. back in the day. I don't know why it isn't played more on the Classic radio stations. Joe Tex also had You're Right Ray Charles & Men Are Getting Scarce that were kinda funny as well. Of course, he had I Gotcha & You Said A bad Word & I thought they were hilarious.

Songstress, info courtesy of the wonderful world of the internet! There's more info here than in the average book & thank God for that!

to all!

By jrlo (24.130.218.105) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:18 pm:

Hey Juice!!

I grew up in East Harlem..moved to Staten Island when I was 16 in 1976...ok...you can do the math! Horrid place!!! Very prejudiced back then, has anything changed??
Then we moved to Far Rockaway after 2 years...thne I moved to West NY NJ on my own when I was 24...met my husband who is originally from Elmont NY in 1984....moved to Sacramento in 1986...got married had my oldest daughter in 1991...moved to Southern California in 1992...
Whew!!! Makes me tired just reading all of this!
Sometimes I really miss NY but I don't miss the snow!!! 80 degrees today...don't mean to bragg!
Hope you're having a great weekend so far!

By Keane (24.69.255.204) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 04:09 pm:

I hope I'm not crashing into this conversation with something too off topic, but Terry Jacks is from my hometown and I hear about him once in awhile.

From what I've heard "Seasons in the Sun" was written by Rod McKuen and so Jacks is not responsible.

Terry Jacks the last I heard was a fisherman in Vancouver. Of course since our fishing fleet has been struck hard by international treaties with neighboring states he may well have been forced to become a farmer, but I haven't heard that.

Vancouver used to have some pretty hot R&B bands and Terry Jacks used to play with the Chessmen.
Although not a real r&b band they produced one real gritty instrumental called "Aces High". I heard it on oldies radio a couple of months ago and thought it was unfortunate it did not get international attention as it fit very well with "The Horse" and "Last Night". Kind of hard to believe as Jacks" voice is not too soulful.

By Juicefree20 (141.149.37.7) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 07:03 pm:

Hey Keane, your input is most welcome. I find your info to be interesting,as I have wondered whatever happened to Terry. Good stuff!

By Dinelle (68.222.6.39) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 06:25 pm:

Tramp-Otis Redding/Carla Thomas
Skinny Legs and All-Joe Tex

Those are hilarious!

By manny (80.58.52.235) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 06:37 pm:

Hello!

I have forget "Poo-Poo-La-La", by Roy Ayers.

Peace!

By LadyMystique (216.222.240.137) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 10:40 pm:

Juice and jrlo-what part of BK y'all from...I'm from the Flatbush area! Grew up right in front of Parade Grounds!

By Juicefree20 (141.149.61.110) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 12:04 am:

Hey Lady, long time, no hear I'm on the cusp of Brownsville/Bed Stuy, by was of St Albans, Queens & East New York. Where do you reside nowadays? As always, it's been a pleasure Ms Mystique

Peace!
Juice

By LadyMystique (216.37.229.14) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 08:32 pm:

Yeah Juice...been working...sorry I haven't been on! I live in the Poconos now...different from BK. I plan to move back in the future. And likewise!

By Juicefree20 (68.161.31.69) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 08:37 pm:

Hi LadyM. Everybody's running to The Poconos these days. How often do you make it back here? I guess I'll see ya one day when you come back home

Peace

By Qman (65.80.198.155) on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 07:07 pm:

Back in the 60's there was a group called the Parkteers who made a record called "Zap Pow E-Yow Here Comes My Baby Batman Style". Most rediculous. Total waste of vinyl if it wasn't so funny.

By jrlo (24.130.218.105) on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 07:13 pm:

Hey Lady Mystique!!

I'm origianlly from East Harlem, Staten Island, Far Rockaway and a year in West NY New Jersey! I now live in Corona California!!!
One of my uncles in NY wants to retire and buy a house in the poconos! I haven't heard people talk about "the Poconos" in years!! I NEVER had a chance to go there! I hear it's beautiful...where New yorkers go to get away from it all!

By LadyMystique (216.108.206.177) on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 04:56 pm:

It is beautiful...but a city girl like me wants excitement once in a while...LOL! And I am planning to visit some time this coming April.

By girlgroupfan (67.24.159.79) on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 05:42 pm:

I'm Living In Shame....Diana Ross and The Andantes
The lyrics make my cringe.

By Juicefree20 (68.161.46.83) on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 05:53 pm:

Hey LadyM, you had best say hello to your fellow Brooklynite when you visit!!!! And the same goes for you jrlo!

Juice

By LadyMystique (216.108.206.177) on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 06:45 pm:

Hey Juice...you know I will!

By Juicefree20 (68.161.46.83) on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

Alright LadyM, there it is!!

Juice

By LoveChild (172.136.45.126) on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 08:31 pm:

I vote for Diana Ross and the Supremes' "I'm Living In Shame" with the inane lyrics "Mama's cookin' bread, she wore a dirty raggedy scarf around her head" and "Came the telegram, Mama passed away while makin' homemade jam" among others. This song cracks me the #%$! up. LOL

By ladylove (24.130.218.105) on Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 12:16 am:

Lovechild,

Hey! I remember that song! My sister bought it..I agree the lyrics were so ridiculous my sister brother and I use to roll around the floor in laughter. I know it was supposed to be a serious matter, but the words were funny!
"Mama mama can you hear me...mama mama can you here me?"

By Juicefree20 (68.161.46.83) on Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 01:22 am:

Hey ladylove, long time, no see. What'cha been busy lately?

Juice