Subject: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 16 Aug 10 - 03:07 AM SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 Well the new Song Challenge! is off to a grand start! If you haven't already, go and read the Song Challenge! 2.0 - Fit 1 thread and see what imaginative and clever songwriters we have here on Mudcat! (That thread also has a quick overview of the nature of the Song Challenge! (at the top) and an overview of the valuable prizes to be won (near the bottom).) And now sharpen your index fingers, librettists, and return us a song or two or three about the following story: 100-year-old Scotch Pulled from Frozen Crate WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- A crate of Scotch whisky that was trapped in Antarctic ice for a century was finally opened Friday — but the heritage dram won't be tasted by whisky lovers because it's being preserved for its historical significance. The crate, recovered from the Antarctic hut of renowned explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton after it was found there in 2006, has been thawed very slowly in recent weeks at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island. That should wet your respective whistles! Okay, Challengees, let's see what you've got! |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 16 Aug 10 - 01:53 PM Eleven green bottles frozen in the ice Eleven green bottles, frozen in the ice, And though just one green bottle would be very very nice, They're putting eleven green bottles back there in the ice. |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: ClaireBear Date: 16 Aug 10 - 02:15 PM To the tune of "It Was Only an Old Beer Bottle" It was only 12 whisky bottles All buried in the snow It was only 12 whisky bottles One hundred years ago Though inside them may be heaven It will stay a mystery Because out of 12, eleven Are sealed for history. |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Georgiansilver Date: 16 Aug 10 - 02:34 PM Now Shackleton decided on Antarctic Expedition, In 19 hundred and seven the whole thing came to its fruition. He set off with his party to go visit the South Pole, But the weather put paid to it and it stole their very soul. They had to turn about and had to beat a quick retreat, Unable to gain success in what would have been a massive feat. They travelled light on the homeward trip which would be no surprise, To enable this they left behind most of the trips supplies. The supplies included Whisky and Mackinlays it was the brand, For over a century there it lay in that forbidding land. But by chance it was discovered in the year two double o six, (Had it been me I reckon I'd have drunk it in two ticks). Off to New Zealand the the bottles were bound, the Canterbury Museum, People came from miles around in order just to see 'em. A decision made to save them in their glorious magnificence, Because the recipe used back then was of such great significance. So soon an analysis will take place replication for to try, The honour of this duty falls on my friends White and Mackay. |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Amos Date: 16 Aug 10 - 03:16 PM It strikes me that our contributors who have leapt so readily off the mark have very clear ideas (if mutually contradictory) as to how many soldiers a case of whiskey contains. Signs of a mis-spent youth! A |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 16 Aug 10 - 03:28 PM I think this Song Challenge should be paired with the following: 230 year old Champagne July 17, 2010 HELSINKI (AFP) – Divers have found bottles of champagne some 230 years old on the bottom of the Baltic which a wine expert described Saturday as tasting "fabulous". Thought to be premium brand Veuve Clicquot, the 30 bottles discovered perfectly preserved at a depth of 55 metres (180 feet) could have been in a consignment sent by France's King Louis XVI to the Russian Imperial Court. If confirmed, it would be by far the oldest champagne still drinkable in the world, thanks to the ideal conditions of cold and darkness. "We have contacted (makers) Moet & Chandon and they are 98 percent certain it is Veuve Clicquot," Christian Ekstroem, the head of the diving team, told AFP. "There is an anchor on the cork and they told me they are the only ones to have used this sign," he said, adding that a sample of the champagne has been sent to Moet & Chandon for their analysis. The group of seven Swedish divers made their find on July 6 off the Finnish Aaland island, mid-way between Sweden and Finland, near the remains of a sailing vessel. "Visibility was very bad, hardly a metre," Ekstroem said. "We couldn't find the name of the ship, or the bell, so I brought a bottle up to try to date it." The handmade bottle bore no label, while the cork was marked Juclar, from its origin in Andorra. According to records, Veuve Clicquot was first produced in 1772, but the first bottles were laid down for 10 years. "So it can't be before 1782, and it can't be after 1788-89, when the French Revolution disrupted production," Ekstroem said. Aaland wine expert Ella Gruessner Cromwell-Morgan, whom Ekstroem asked to taste the find, said it had not lost its fizz and was "absolutely fabulous". "I still have a glass in my fridge and keep going back every five minutes to take a breath of it. I have to pinch myself to believe it's real," she said. Cromwell-Morgan described the champagne as dark golden in colour with a very intense aroma. "There's a lot of tobacco, but also grape and white fruits, oak and mead," she said of the wine's "nose". As for the taste, "it's really surprising, very sweet but still with some acidity," the expert added, explaining that champagne of that period was much less dry than today and the fermentation process less controllable. "One strong supposition is that it's part of a consignment sent by King Louis XVI to the Russian Imperial Court," Cromwell-Morgan said. "The makers have a record of a delivery which never reached its destination." That would make it the oldest drinkable champagne known, easily beating the 1825 Perrier-Jouet tasted by experts in London last year. Cromwell-Morgan estimated the opening price at auction of each bottle at around half a million Swedish kronor (53,000 euros, 69,000 dollars). "But if it's really Louis XVI's wine, it could fetch several million," she added. The remaining bottles, which could number more than the 30 uncovered by the divers, will remain on the seabed for the time being. Their exact location is being kept secret. Meanwhile local authorities on Aaland will meet Monday to decide who legally owns the contents of the wreck. The archipelago at the mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia belongs to Finland, though it enjoys autonomy from Helsinki and its inhabitants speak Swedish. A mere hundred years? Piffle! Dave Oesterreich |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Amos Date: 16 Aug 10 - 04:03 PM The Antarctic TipplerIn nineteen hundred and seven sir, My luck it being down, I shipped upon the Nimrod, sir For but fifty dollars found, my boys, For but fifty dollars found. If I had known where we were bound And how cold the ice and the snow, I'd have thrown myself on the parish first, And never with Shackleton would go, oh no! I never with Shackleton would go. And when we came to McMurdo Sound, The land all frozen hard, We had ice on the decks, and ice in our beards And ice from every yard, my boys! We had ice from every yard. I had no dog to warm my feet No wife all warm and fair! So I took to nipping from the craithur neat Just to stay alive out there! Oh, to stay alive out there. Oh the skipper loved his brandy, oh, And the deckhands rum did desire, But 'twas pure single malt That I nipped from without halt Did feed my poor heart's fire! Did feed my poor heart's fire! Captain England feared the ice and the bear But her feared the ice much more, And he swore he would take the Nimrod out to sea While we slaved away on the shore, my lads! While we humped cold stores ashore. I heard his vow with a deep, deep dread For my whiskey all was aboard! With no thought for my name, I a smuggler quick became And a whole case hid ashore, my boys, A case of it hid ashore. But the ice moved in and the winds moved high And my body soon fell low! And I froze to death by McMurdo Sound With my whiskey buried in the snow, brave boys! My malt whiskey buried down below. When Shackleton sailed away I wept Never more, deare firends of mine! But flesh or ghoul, banshee or fool I would not leave my whiskey there behind, my boys! I would not leave my whisky there behind! So I stayed by the Sound for one hundred years And on the ice I mnourned and whined! For without a form of meat, I could not reach my treasure neat, Or taste that spirit divine, brave lads! Or taste that drink divine!! And if the day should ever come When men again return, If they recover my loot I will ride along to suit And I'll haint them 'til they burn, brave boys! I will haint them 'til they burn. So scientists and modern men, A lesson take from me! Touch not that booze Or your comfort you will lose And your soul will ne'er be free, poor soul! Your soul will ne'er be free. A |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Matthew Edwards Date: 16 Aug 10 - 04:16 PM Amos wrote: "Signs of a mis-spent youth!" and signs of a still mis-spending adulthood too!!! My father gave me three very valuable instructions which have served me extremely well thus far in life:- 1) Never water another man's whisky. 2) If you must add anything to whisky, only add water very sparingly. 3) Nobody adds ice to whisky. Anyway in the spirit of the Cannes Film Festival the following clerihew is Hors Compétition for the purposes of this Song Challenge. On the vexed question of mixing ice with whisky Sir Ernest Shackleton Intended to conquer both Poles but he only tackled one; He forgot Papa's advice, Never, never, ever mix whisky with ice. Matthew Edwards |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 16 Aug 10 - 07:42 PM Cheers, Challengees! Welcome to fit 2, and a very solemn fit it's proving. A pair of sad Silver BLOBs for McGrath and ClaireBear, respectively, for: They're putting eleven green bottles back there in the ice. and Because out of 12, eleven Are sealed for history. (What's the point of Scotch if not to drink it?) A very practical and understandable Silver BLOB to Georgiansilver for the impossible-to-fault: (Had it been me I reckon I'd have drunk it in two ticks). (Although I dare said I'd have begun to drink it in two ticks, but hopefully I'd be able to linger a bit once I started. Good Scotch should not be gulped.) A haunting (and shall we say "chilling") Silver BLOB to Amos for: And I'll haint them 'til they burn, brave boys! I will haint them 'til they burn. Brrr! And finally a cheerful Silver BLOB to Matthew Edwards for his pay-off line: Never, never, ever mix whisky with ice. If anybody wants to make a song about Uncle DaveO's story regarding the champagne, please feel free! (But no more stories, two's enough, let's not get carried away. Let's remember who's in charge here, et-hem.) Consider this our first two-fer week (with the special Cow Chip awarded to the person who blends the two stories together in a way that best pleases the judges). Both stories may be too sad for a Song Challenge! though -- I'll try to pick something more cheerful next week! May have to invent some Golden Cow Chips for best pensive, discursive, troubling, etc. Doesn't look like there'll be a lot of bubbling froth or spit on the keyboard this week. (Of course if you're mouth's full of a fair Islay malt, any spitting onto the keyboard is a sad loss of good Scotch, although not as sad as some I might mention.) |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: NightWing Date: 16 Aug 10 - 09:11 PM My first attempt at a Song Challenge: Scotch Whiskey, Scotch Whiske-ey at the South Pole Still needs some work ON-ON NightWing |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 16 Aug 10 - 10:13 PM A delicious Silver BLOB to NightWing for We cri-ied "My God, man. We've left one behind!" We wept great huge ice cubes; we all lost our mind. Love it! |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 Aug 10 - 11:55 AM I was outward bound for the Southern Pole, Swinging in my hammock my blood ran cold I dreamed a dream and it made me shake Of a case of whisky, and it's dreadful fate. A case of whisky to our delight To help us seamen pass that six month night, But that case of whisky meant a dreadful shock, For we found the corkscrew had been quite forgot. In cruel misfortune we vainly fought To break those bottles or remove the cork, But this whisky, though we could plainly view, We were quite undone, for we could never get through. In far Antarctica where whales pass by That crate of Shackleton's no man could try. That crate of Shackleton's we left it there, In ice so frozen for one hundred year. But now my burden it gives me pain For that case of whisky it was found again, That case of whisky, Mackinley's Rare Old Scotch But this whisky's history now, and it cannot be touched. |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Matthew Edwards Date: 17 Aug 10 - 12:50 PM "In far Antarctica where whales pass by That crate of Shackleton's no man could try:" Nice one Kevin! Lord Franklin and the South East Passage, I presume? Matthew |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 17 Aug 10 - 01:36 PM A hearty hey, ho, blow the man down Silver BLOB to McGrath of Harlow for: In far Antarctica where whales pass by That crate of Shackleton's no man could try. I have visions of whales trying to open whisky bottles and falling back in defeat. Poor guys. |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Young Buchan Date: 17 Aug 10 - 04:40 PM Just as well they're keeping it for historical purposes: "The problem of too much drinking in a land of ice and snow Is leaving the tent to have a piss at 48 below. You can barely get your frozen dick out with your frozen hands, And the piss has turned to icicles before it's passed your glans. So stay inside your tents, lads, until the tempest's gone: Just piss in empty bottles and put the tops back on." |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 Aug 10 - 05:19 PM But be careful what you drink, boys, Be careful what you drink, Though you think it must be whisky, It might not be what you think... |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Amos Date: 17 Aug 10 - 06:08 PM Matthew: I have been known to add black coffee to single-malt whiskey, but it nearly got me expelled from the Mudcat, and caused an international incident!! :D A |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 17 Aug 10 - 07:12 PM Young Buchan you deserve at least two Silver BLOBS but the rules say I can only give one. This is just classic: You can barely get your frozen dick out with your frozen hands, And the piss has turned to icicles before it's passed your glans. McGrath, is that original? I wasn't sure why you put it in italics and it does seem a comment on Young Buchan's song. I have a Silver BLOB on the mantle here and need to know if you deserve it! |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Matthew Edwards Date: 17 Aug 10 - 07:35 PM Amos; adding whisky to coffee can only improve the coffee, but adding coffee to whisky (especially a single malt) is Simply Not Done. I'm also afraid that any references to Scotch whisky spelled with an 'e' [whiskey] could provoke another international incident. So if a wild and hairy creature wearing a kilt turns up at your front door uttering frightful imprecations - you have been warned! It may of course just be Micca - in which case just offer him some whisky (not whiskey)! Matthew |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 Aug 10 - 07:42 PM It's a comment of mine on Young Buchan's - maybe a chorus for his song. (I always tend to put verse into italics - I feel it makes it look better. And it differentiates it from anything else in the post.) |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Clontarf83 Date: 17 Aug 10 - 08:13 PM re the Champagne story: Tiny bubbles In the brine I`ll leave quietly now |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 17 Aug 10 - 08:21 PM And it differentiates it from anything else in the post. There was nothing else in the post! :P But a small Silver BLOB for a small bit of versifying: But be careful what you drink, boys, Be careful what you drink, Though you think it must be whisky, It might not be what you think... Clontarf83, don't leave, finish the song! |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Amos Date: 17 Aug 10 - 08:45 PM RabbitWho writes "It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "one for the road". Whisky, the spirit that powers the Scottish economy, is being used to develop a new biofuel which could be available at petrol pumps in a few years. This biofuel can be produced from two main by-products of the whisky distilling process Ð "pot ale", the liquid from the copper stills, and "draff", the spent grains. Copious quantities of both waste products are produced by the £4bn whisky industry each year, and the scientists say there is real potential for the biofuel, to be available at local garage forecourts alongside traditional fuels. It can be used in conventional cars without adapting their engines. The team also said it could be used to fuel planes and as the basis for chemicals such as acetone, an important solvent." (From SlashDot) |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Matthew Edwards Date: 18 Aug 10 - 05:49 AM Whisky on the Rocks (To the tune, more or less, of 'Nancy Whisky') Now Shackleton explored the Antarctic, and his famous story will ne'er grow old, He drank one bottle of Mackinlay's Whisky to warm himself against the cold; He left eleven other bottles beneath his hut in McMurdo Sound, Hoping one day to return and drink them, but his way back alas he never found. One hundred years ago they did leave me, and in the ice then I was laid down, And for to test my composition, now I am taken to Christchurch town; And if you walk through Christchurch town, oh, Mackinlay's Whisky you may smell, But oh my boys you may not taste me, though for many years you have loved me well. They wrap-ped me up in straw and paper, all to protect me from wintry blows, And in a wooden crate they left me, but in all that time sure I never froze; And when the crate it was rediscovered, and slowly, slowly, they did me reheat, They found me still in good condition, for Mackinlay's Whisky cannot be beat. Now when they've tested me and found my secret, to McMurdo Sound I'll return at last, And through the ages I'll remain there, exposed to winter's icy blast; And if the blenders can replicate me, while I lie sleeping in the cold, You may still savour all the flavour, of Mackinlay's Whisky One Century Old. Matthew Edwards There are many versions of the song known variously as 'Nancy Whisky' or 'The Calton Weaver' but one of the loveliest I've seen appears in Len Graham's new book about the Ulster singer Joe Holmes 'Here I Am Amongst You', where it is called 'Long Cookstown'. |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: MMario Date: 18 Aug 10 - 12:47 PM As I walked by the museum in Canterbury A crate of old whisky I happenned to see And it chilled the air as I passed it by and the nails and it's boards just seemed to cry: Pack me up with some straw and some paper No more from this box shall I roam There'll be no more sippin; Just tell them ol' tipplers, McKinlays Rare Old is now goin' home Mcknlay's Old Rare is a whisky they say That Shackleton purchased when he sailed away On the Nimrod he traved far south to a bay On McMurdo Sound in Ant-Ark-tick-kay Pack me up with some straw and some paper No more from this box shall I roam There'll be no more sippin; Just tell them ol' tipplers, McKinlays Rare Old is now goin' home They've thawed me out and examined me well and taken some samples, to copy and sell Five score and ten years I waited so long For Shackton's victory to celebrate long Pack me up with some straw and some paper No more from this box shall I roam There'll be no more sippin; Just tell them ol' tipplers, McKinlays Rare Old is now goin' home Well I don't want a harp nor a halo not me! I just want to be drunk for South Polar Vict'ry Back under the floorboards I'll go just until Sir Earnest uncorks me, for a celebrational swill Pack me up with some straw and some paper No more from this box shall I roam There'll be no more sippin; Just tell them ol' tipplers, McKinlays Rare Old is now goin' home |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 18 Aug 10 - 04:59 PM Matthew Edwards, MacK's surely needs to hire you for its advertising team! A delicious Silver BLOB for: And when the crate it was rediscovered, and slowly, slowly, they did me reheat, They found me still in good condition, for Mackinlay's Whisky cannot be beat. And an admiring Silver BLOB to MMario for this lovely bit of old-timey rhymey: On the Nimrod he trave[le]d far south to a bay On McMurdo Sound in Ant-Ark-tick-kay |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 19 Aug 10 - 06:48 PM Here's a website for Mackinlay's Blended Scotch Whisky. |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 19 Aug 10 - 07:49 PM A blend? A. . . BLENNND?? Oh, say not so, say not so. For shame, for very shame! Dave Oesterreich |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 23 Aug 10 - 12:33 AM Weeeeell, good job, Challengees! I'm afraid (as I said above) this was too somber a Challenge! -- I will find something more mirthful for the coming week. And now, the moment you've all been waiting for..... The Golden Cow Chip Awards! And this week we're going to invent another new award, out of necessity: Golden Cow Chip Award with Space Needle Teardrop This award is awarded for causing a lump of sadness to arise in the judges' throats. And our winners: Winners of the Golden Cow Chip Award with Space Needle Teardrop:
Winners of the Golden Cow Chip Award with Shamrock Cluster (for a very high level of imagination, imagery, and/or creative use of language in a song):
Winners of the Golden Cow Chip Award with Harp Ribbon (for being able to make the Judges fall on the floor laughing OR make them short out their keyboard with tears)
Winners of the Golden Cow Chip Award with Guinness Crest (for causing both Harp Ribbon conditions within one song)
Way to go Challengees! Give yourselves a big hand and a nice glass of whisky! I'll have a new (more humorous) Challenge! up in a trice. |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Trapper Date: 20 Oct 10 - 06:29 PM I know, I know - late to the dance... This historical recreation was inspired by the SUPPLY LIST from the Shackleton Expedition. The original story tells about the booze that was FOUND, but see the link below to see the booze that WASN'T found! - Al SHACKLETON'S CRATES TUNE: Finnegan's Wake New Words: Trapper (Al Boyce) Ern'st Shackleton came from Ireland In 1907 he boated out He'd a mind to explore Antarctic's shores South Pole bound's what he was about. Now Ern'st had a sort of the tipplin' way With a love of the liquor, old Ern'st was born Though o'erloaded was his boat that day He'd a dram shop's worth of booze on board! CHORUS: Whack fol the da' now, toss out the Parsnips Mutton, hens and fishing baits Ditch woolies, gloves and iodine But leave plenty of room for Shackleton's Crates! Three crates of quarts of champagne wine Three crates of pints of champagne too; Three crates of bottles of finest port Six crates of brandy sure would do. Then the 11 year whiskey loaded - Mackinlay's 1896. Twelve crates of Rare Old Highland Whiskey, Twelve crates of that should do the trick! His men assembled on Cape Royd With their gramophone, records and poker cards They'd a hundred pounds of tobacco bales And two barrels of beer from Speights Brewery yard Their bachelor pad they began to build Such a man-cave you did never see! With a microwave oven and a foosball game and round-the-clock sports on cable TV! February aught-eight it was a blur By March the beer was history April, Bernie took a road trip with the car May, Wild and Joyce printed poetry By June they finished off the port July saw the last of the champagne die In August they had smoked their last And were giving Shackleton's Crates the eye! Then Ernie shouted and raised his hand "We'll have to ration the booze right quick! We've four crates left of a brandy fine And nine of Mackinlay's 'Ninety-six!" Ernie had picked his crew quite canny None had schooling past grade two They couldn't do math on the missing crates And Shackleton hid them from his crew. The rest, they say, is history Soon, the booze being gone, the party broke Poor Ern'st was passed out on his bed And the Nimrod shoved off before he woke In 2010, Al Fastier found them Shackleton's Crates where they had been With but one bottle shy when they were reported Methinks Shackleton's booze got swiped again! Supply list from the Shackleton Expedition CLICK TO PLAY |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: mousethief Date: 22 Oct 10 - 10:54 PM Such research! Bravo! Take this: Golden Cow Chip Award with Shamrock Cluster (The Shamrock Cluster is awarded for a very high level of imagination, imagery, and/or creative use of language in a song) (maybe we need to have a new decoration on the chip for good research!) |
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! 2.0 - Fit 2 From: Trapper Date: 03 Nov 10 - 11:59 AM This way to Song Challenge FIT 3... |
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