"Weird" Songs That Were Hits

[Michedelic]

Which came first? Rock n' Roll or Rockabilly?

Man, I really hope the latter of the two doesn't have something to do with goats

“Rock and Roll” was black music, a variant of the Jump Blues that sprung up in the post-war era, played by smaller ensembles as the WW II experience destroyed the Big Band concept. As well, jazz(which swing music was)started to enter its prog rock phase…aka be-bop, with lessening concern for danceability and increasing cerebral content. Jump blues, a little more sophisticated than Chicago, etc, style, but still basic and swinging, filled that social dance music role. What “rockabilly” was, was white country boys enamored of the black sound, adding some down home guitar twang to it, but there were forerunners in Bob Wills’ western swing and “Hillbilly Boogie”, a postwar rough equivalent of Jump Blues.

 

[Bob_Ross]

And as I was there at the time, I can say I do not remember anyone suggesting "Brand New Key" was about sex.

As I was about 9 at the time, I remember EVERYBODY believing it was about sex.

Yeah, I'm with Lowbrow: That tune got the crap played out of it at my house because my then 5-year-old little sister had just figured out how to operate the record player we had in the living room, and someone bought her Melanie's hit on a 45. And my parents were constantly giving each other dirty looks or rolling eyes because of the inuendo and double-entendre of the lyric. Y'know, keys have always been phallic substitutes in Freudian theory. And as a precocious and puerile pre-teen, I also took great glee in noting the reference to going "around the world" in one of the verses.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

The author apparently has never heard the term "novelty songs." What a load of pretentious nonsense. And as I was there at the time, I can say I do not remember anyone suggesting "Brand New Key" was about sex.

Invalid Link Removed

They didn't even get the correct version of "Convoy". I don't know whose version it is. but it is abso-freakin'-lutely NOT C.W. McCall. It's the version from the insipid movie.

 

[lOmnivore S]

Well I'm French so weird songs..

Here's piece of something weird that enjoyable. It's Serge Gainsgourg, in its entry piece of his 1968 concept album "Melody Nelson". That was a mere few months before the big hit "Je t'aime moi non plus" (scoring #1 in England no less.) (another weird one.) Video has to be from JC Averty, arrangments ('harmonizing') from JC Vannier, two big names too.

For all you bass loving guys and garlz here's an easy click below. It's seven minutes long, and yes it's mightily bass driven (has to be Precision with rounds) (or flats ??) Just check the few early seconds and you'll be fine.

 

[Eilif]

I'm not familiar enough with his output to prove the point, but Steve Miller''s "Abracadabra" stands out in my head as a really weird song, not necessarily representative of the artist's output, yet it's one of his biggest hits.

 

[Michedelic]

Yeah, I'm with Lowbrow: That tune got the crap played out of it at my house because my then 5-year-old little sister had just figured out how to operate the record player we had in the living room, and someone bought her Melanie's hit on a 45. And my parents were constantly giving each other dirty looks or rolling eyes because of the inuendo and double-entendre of the lyric. Y'know, keys have always been phallic substitutes in Freudian theory. And as a precocious and puerile pre-teen, I also took great glee in noting the reference to going "around the world" in one of the verses.

 

[Michedelic]

Well I'm French so weird songs..

Here's piece of something weird that enjoyable. It's Serge Gainsgourg, in its entry piece of his 1968 concept album "Melody Nelson". That was a mere few months before the big hit "Je t'aime moi non plus" (scoring #1 in England no less.) (another weird one.) Video has to be from JC Averty, arrangments ('harmonizing') from JC Vannier, two big names too.

For you all bass loving guys and garlz here's an easy click below. It's seven minutes long, and yes it's mightily bass driven (has to be Precision with rounds) (or flats ??) Just check the few early seconds and you'll be fine.

Much discussed here…
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/who-really-is-the-bassist-on-histoire-de-melody-nelson.1326990/
Dave Richmond, a Burns Bison Bass, and flats, as roundwounds were just starting to become in vogue then(Entwistle, etc.).

 

[Tom Bomb]

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[Obese Chess]

I mean, not explicit nor novelty songs, but there were some weird songs that got big in the nineties. Off the top of my head, we've got...

"Peaches," by The Presidents of the United States of America, the bulk of the lyrics being "move into the country, I'm gonna eat a lot of peaches ... millions of peaches, peaches for me, millions of peaches, peaches for free"

"Bull in the Heather," by Sonic Youth, which is about as close to pure noise rock as has been popular in my lifetime.

"Freak on a Leash," by Korn, which was a huge hit and contains just straight-up scat singing.

A lot more, but "weird stuff everyone loved in the nineties" is really a PhD dissertation more than a forum post.

 

[tothemax]

Was watching MASH reruns last night and saw Loudon Wainwright doing a cameo, here's a perfect segue to your post... I remember this on FM Radio when I was in HS. Enjoy...

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I don't think this was big hit, but a great tune by David Bromberg...

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[Bunk McNulty]

Well I'm French so weird songs..

Here's piece of something weird that enjoyable. It's Serge Gainsgourg, in its entry piece of his 1968 concept album "Melody Nelson". That was a mere few months before the big hit "Je t'aime moi non plus" (scoring #1 in England no less.) (another weird one.) Video has to be from JC Averty, arrangments ('harmonizing') from JC Vannier, two big names too.

For all you bass loving guys and garlz here's an easy click below. It's seven minutes long, and yes it's mightily bass driven (has to be Precision with rounds) (or flats ??) Just check the few early seconds and you'll be fine.

French, you say?

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Yeah, I'm with Lowbrow: That tune got the crap played out of it at my house because my then 5-year-old little sister had just figured out how to operate the record player we had in the living room, and someone bought her Melanie's hit on a 45. And my parents were constantly giving each other dirty looks or rolling eyes because of the inuendo and double-entendre of the lyric. Y'know, keys have always been phallic substitutes in Freudian theory. And as a precocious and puerile pre-teen, I also took great glee in noting the reference to going "around the world" in one of the verses.

..."keys have always been phallic substitutes in Freudian theory"

 

[Thumpin6string]

Sorry for the earworm, but “Disco Duck.” And no, I’m not digging out a video.

I'll do it for you.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

The author apparently has never heard the term "novelty songs." What a load of pretentious nonsense. And as I was there at the time, I can say I do not remember anyone suggesting "Brand New Key" was about sex.

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RIP Melanie, 2/3/47 - 1/23/24

 

[fhm555]

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

Doesn't get much wackier than this. I actually bought the record. Just loved the absolute lunacy.

 

[mambo4]

RIP Dr Demento... he lives on in You Tube
This was in heavy rotation on Mtv in the 1980s

 

[5StringBlues]

I was sittin' in this beer joint down in Houston, Texas......




Colorado Cool-Aid (youtube.com)

 

[KenD]

Louie Louie
Purple Pumpkin Eater
Yellow Submarine
Everything by Cher

 

[GreyBeard]

Anyone old enough to remember "My Dingaling"?