Our guest blogger Richard says the following:
Here we have a Top selection of whistling tunes.
A few weeks ago, I had the first two episodes over at Jonky blog dedicated to the fine art of whistling.
Today I want to restart it here at Koen's place.
From the early days of Rock and Roll to the end of the century, whistling found its way to the top. Some of the most beloved evergreens have whistling incorporated.
Otis' "(Sittin' on) The Dock Of The Bay" and Roxy Music's outstanding "Jealous Guy" have cemented themselves in the memories of millions.
What's presented here is only a CD full of top-notch songs.
From the 60s, there are The Lovin Spoonful, and who doesn't instantly whistle "Daydream", also The Beach Boys, though not a hit single, and Otis.
The Beatles were used in the first installment Whistle While You Work.
From the 70s, a random Dutch artist, George Baker, Paul Simon, and one of those super beautiful Bowie Tunes: "Golden Years".
As you see, many, many great singers or bands have a whistling classic.
For the 80s, I give you The Bangles' top hit "Walk Like an Egyptian", Pat Benatar, J Geils Band, both with their biggest hit successes, Peter Gabriel, and Guns 'n' Roses can't be much wider a gap, and both have whistlers.
Special mention for The Alan Parsons Project with "The Gold Bug", unmistakably one of the finest moments of the APP.
Running out of time, I only selected Roxette's "Joyride" for the 90s and Bob Sinclar's "Love Generation" for beyond the millennium.
It's one of those songs that I hate, but still love...
I have left a lot out of this compilation, so there will be a sub-top compilation for the 70s/80s and one for the 50s/60s.
P.s. For those who are wondering about this Whistling compilation's cover art, have a look here.
Link: https://pixeldrain.com/u/FKoXDj2S
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Which song(s) do you equally love and hate?!
Thanks Koen. For me another such song, and it is a non-whistler is 99 Luftballons by Nena. I was young, I liked her very much, and it is still a clever song, good melody. What's not to like. Other songs by the early Nena I still love. Only that one I can't stand. Perhaps no reason, or maybe a girl looking like her, in my class, too rich and.... Am I not good enough, because your dad drives a bigger car than mine.....I named one of my cats after Nena.
ReplyDeleteWhat is one of your songs, Koen? You must admit to love but also can't stand.
Sure Richard; one of them is Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen The Rain". Although I kind of like this song, it has been overplayed + most covers sound exactly the same... AND it's a karaoke favourite as well! YUK
DeleteFinally thought of a song that I love and hate in almost equal measures: "Hot Child In The City". It was extremely popular when I was in my early teens. I bought the single. The singer's voice is very creepy, and he is essentially lusting after an underage girl. But it has a memorable melody and I associate it with some good times and good friends, thus the love/hate relationship.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon. Nick Gilder. Since a lot of the demographe for the average 70s rockstar was 13/14/15 year old girls I think it is obvious they sang so much about girl, baby, child. It can be creepy, listening with modern ideas. Neil Diamond sang Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon (probably overnight) Beegees with How Deep Is Your Love (20 cm)
DeleteHot Child is a damn good tune when you don't understand English.
In Dutch the great Van Kooten en De Bie called it Geilboos a contraction of horny and angry
Like the first warm day when suddenly every too young girl wears too short skirts, and you were not prepared.
I think the age has a lot to do with as well, Jonder, usually it's the tunes we heard as kids and teenagers that can't be removed anymore from our memory. One of those songs was by an English band called (suitably enough) Middle of the Road, my mom loved their first hit "Soley Soley" very much, even bought the 45. As a result it was played a hell of a lot in our family home... Whenever I hear it again I usually cringe, but do recall those days with pleasure...
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF3x4M1wh6E
Out of curiosity I checked and surprise surprise, Nick Gilder performed this on Top Pop in 1978. I can't remember it all but must have seen it as in those days we faithfully watched this Dutch pop music program every week! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s2zm_crkVc
DeleteThere's tons of songs that the music snob part of my brain hates, and the lizard part brain loves - cheesy late 80s AOR stuff, the occasional chart bop and one hit wonder from the 90s, even fuckin' Nickelback. Whaddareyagonnado, AmIrite...?!
ReplyDeleteCheesy one hit wonders, I can relate to those... This one was a big hit in Holland at the time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeIb7Ms4xHc
DeleteFor me it depends, how often I can avoid them. In the seventies there were only a few tv/radio channel and only so many (=little) albums and cassettes at home.The overexposure was almost inevitable. Now I sometimes find that I haven't noticed an obscure house/techno tune on an obscure German Techno label became the signature tune for tens of thousand football lovers and is being played before every match ( Kernkraft 400 )
DeleteKoen MotR are another perfect example of hate/love. MotR are among the top when it comes to pop