Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture

09 Sep 03 - 09:48 PM (#1015937)
Subject: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST

any suggestions...to be done in a conga line ;-)

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09 Sep 03 - 10:20 PM (#1015949)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: LadyJean

I was just remembering a cereal that advertised it'self as "____Is the cereal that's shot from guns!" sung to the "1812 Overture". With cannonfire. Having come close to marrying a reenactor who was fond of cannon, I now know it would have tasted like sulphur if this was the case.
"I Love You Truly" sort of fits the tune.

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09 Sep 03 - 10:46 PM (#1015963)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: The Fooles Troupe

LadyJean,

are you referring to the hilarious "Puffed Grass" commercials in the famous Humourous sketches done (in the 1960's & 70's) by ....

ahhh, name has escaped me - it's NOT Spike Jones!

Robin

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09 Sep 03 - 10:54 PM (#1015967)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Billy the Bus

My only suggestion is to bring in a field cannon from 1812. Point it down the 'Conga Line', and watch 'em jump... VBG

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09 Sep 03 - 11:40 PM (#1016010)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Joe Offer

But then, the question is whether the music parodies is the 1812 Overture, or the tunes Tchaikovsky used in the piece. Here's an interesting summary of the sources for the overture:

1812 Overture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The 1812 Overture is an orchestral work by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky commemorating the victory of Russia in the Napoleonic Wars in 1812. The overture debuted in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow on August 20, 1882.

The piece opens with the somber tones of a Russian Church chant, recalling the declaration of war announced at Church services in Russia, and is then immediately followed by a solemn chant for Russian success in the war. This announcement and public reaction was captured in Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace.

A theme of marching armies follows, carried out by the horns. The French national anthem La Marseillaise reflects the French victories in the war and the capture of Moscow in September 1812. The Russian folk dance theme commemorates the battle beating back Napoleon. The retreat from Moscow late in October 1812 is reflected by a diminuendo. The firing of cannons reflects the military advances toward the French borders. With the end of the conflict over, we return to the peal of bells and fireworks for the victory and the liberation of Russia from French occupation. Below the cannons and the horns, we hear the Russian national anthem: God Save the Tsar. The Russian anthem is a counterpoint to the French anthem that was heard earlier.

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10 Sep 03 - 03:55 AM (#1016099)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Lanfranc

In the 70s there was a British band on the Folk scene called "1812" who performed a hilarious vocal version of the eponymous Overture. Derek Craft and Geoff Bodenham were the personnel - Derek was also a talented "serious" musician, so the music itself (played on guitar and flute) stuck pretty close to the original.

The lyrics were hung on variations of the use of "1812", so a train was caught at 18:12, a school rugby team won 18-12 and great-great-grandad was born in 1812.

The whole thing culminated in the only use of a cap pistol as a percussion instrument that I have ever witnessed. (Well, a cannon might have been a bit much in a Folk Club!)

I have a tape of them performing it on a BBC folk programme, and made copies of it for Derek and Geoff a while back, as they apparently hadn't a record of that particular show.

If anyone is interested, I could transcribe the lyrics.

Alan

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10 Sep 03 - 04:28 AM (#1016122)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Lanfranc

Found this: An earlier thread on 1812

Almost two years ago - doesn't time fly!!

Alan

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10 Sep 03 - 09:13 AM (#1016222)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Snuffy

Les Barker did one slating arms dealers and emrchants of death. I'll look out the details this evening

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10 Sep 03 - 12:41 PM (#1016350)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Dani

Oh, PLEASE do, Alan!

Dani

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10 Sep 03 - 02:35 PM (#1016407)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Barbara

Actually, in Les' parody, God is complaining that he wanted gardeners not soldiers, and attempting to reason with us, before giving it up.
I could maybe transcribe it, I think I still have the CD. But maybe Alan will get to it before me. I wonder if Mrs Ackroyd's site has the words? Or if Les might drop by and provide some?
I'll look.
Blessings,
Barbara

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10 Sep 03 - 06:45 PM (#1016537)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Mr Red

Didn't Geoff Bodenham and Derk Craft do this in the 70's in a group called - er don't prompt me - er.... oh yes..... that's it...... 1812. Geoff has retired from running the Bell & Talbot in Bridgnorth but there are enough people still in contact with him.

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10 Sep 03 - 07:01 PM (#1016550)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Bill Hahn//\\

A bit off topic for this, but yet, on topic for great parodies.

Who remembers the commercials for TONI HOME PERMANENTS? Music --the Anvil Chorus --and the words---The Wave That Gives That TONI look is T O N I----TONI.   Hum it. It works wonderfully.

Now I must set my hair and make horshoes on my anvil/.

Bill Hahn

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10 Sep 03 - 07:20 PM (#1016560)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Snuffy

Les Barker's parody is called Blessed Are The Peacemakers and is on The Mrs Ackroyd Band's Gnus and Roses CD (DOG010). The composing credit is Barker/Tchaikovsky, and the vocals are by Les Barker, Lesley Davies, Alison Younger, Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy and June Tabor. I have the words on the CD sleeeve, but won't be able to transcribe them until next week.

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10 Sep 03 - 08:57 PM (#1016607)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Barbara

Wal, shoot, snuffy, I'll have to go look at the CD. I have it, all right. I could have sworn it didn't have words in the liner, but I could be wrong... happened once before in 1968....
If it's there I'll trade off with you, do the first part and you can type the latter.
Blessings,
Barbara

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10 Sep 03 - 09:59 PM (#1016625)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: The Fooles Troupe

Stan Freeburg was the name of the guy who did the "Puffed Grass" commercials in the hunour sketches - this one was a Western - with lots of endless angt about "Sure looks like sombudy cut thru that dere fence alright"... :-)

RObin

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11 Sep 03 - 08:50 AM (#1016863)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Glynn

Though never properly recorded, a Noth East English ceilidh band - Brassneck - did a version of the 1812 with Davy Knick Knack, the sound man creating the explosions! I liked it but I'm biased - I was the guitarist! The dancers always seemed a bit troubled when we played it!

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11 Sep 03 - 09:47 AM (#1016905)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: The Fooles Troupe

I suddenly seem to remember some years ago a couple of British buskers that put out a record (in Oz) and toured Oz.

Did tunes like 1812 and many others including classical - anybody know who I am talking about? I think there were two of them and I think it was Guitar, Kazoo, Our Monica, and Not Much Else. They did sound somewhat like musical (not vocal) parodies.

Oh, and then there was "Portsmouth Sinfonia"!!!! Put out a couple of records... Did 1812 ... Nuff said! But I wonder if they are still active?

Robin

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11 Sep 03 - 09:52 AM (#1016911)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Dave Bryant

There are many diferent themes in the 1812 overture - which one are you thinking of ?

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11 Sep 03 - 09:57 AM (#1016918)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: The Fooles Troupe

Obviously the most commonly known one is

Da dadadadadadadadadadada Dah Dah Boom!

Robin

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11 Sep 03 - 11:04 AM (#1016967)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: clueless don

LadyJean,

The commercial that went "This is the cereal that's shot from guns", to the tune of the 1812 overture finale, was for Quaker Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice (are there any other Quaker Puffed cereals besides wheat and rice?)

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11 Sep 03 - 01:10 PM (#1017043)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: georgeward

There is an old parody that begins:

"There was an emperor, Napoleon,
Who never heard a nickelodeon..."

and contains another couplet something like:

"He'd never have met the Duke of Wellington,
If he had heard the Duke of Ellington"

Could be Spike Jones ? It is in that immediate post-WW II era that I heard it.
          -GW

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17 Sep 03 - 04:01 AM (#1020534)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: The Fooles Troupe

The Australian Army Reserve had a TV recruiting campaign - background music the 1812 tune.

I was told by some Regular Army guys that there was a song

"Join the Reserve, stuff your weekends up!"

but I cannot remember if there were any more words.

Robin

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17 Sep 03 - 10:22 PM (#1021138)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: LadyJean

Cereal shot from guns would taste of sulphur because it's a major ingredient in black powder. Battlefields at reenactments reek of it.

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17 Sep 03 - 11:29 PM (#1021181)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: The Fooles Troupe

LadyJean >"Cereal shot from guns would taste of sulphur because it's a major ingredient in black powder"

Only if they were not using modern "smokeless" powder.

Still might taste weird...

But of course, you can use compressed air: such guns go back to at least 17C, I think - reference books packed away...

Robin

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18 Sep 03 - 12:43 PM (#1021526)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: brid widder

I know it may seem pedantic but as the 1812 never had lyrics would a song... comical or otherwise set to that tune really be a parody? People often use well known, oldtime, hymn or traditional tunes to new lyrics... we don't think of them as parodies.

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18 Sep 03 - 05:40 PM (#1021721)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: The Fooles Troupe

Ah, you should perhaps look at the "nonParody/parodies" thread... :-)

Robin

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28 Dec 10 - 07:42 PM (#3062949)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST,d1m1

My mom, a teen at the time the song came out, sang it for us a few times. As best I can recall, the lyrics were something like:

There was an emperor Napoleon
Who never saw a nickelodean
And if he had there'd have to be
A little change in history.

Instead of marching off to fight his war
Napoleon would rule the ballroom floor
He'd never meet the Duke of Wellington
If he had heard the Duke of Ellington....

A fun song, but surprisingly, we find nothing regarding it on the internet. Hopefully, someone can supply some additional information.

Cheers!

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29 Dec 10 - 03:50 PM (#3063403)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST,Murray on Saltspring

It's not a parody [no words] but I heard a hilarious version of the overture done [elctronically] by farm animals. Is there an available record of that?

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30 Dec 10 - 02:41 PM (#3063974)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Ross

I wrote this some time ago for Beethovens ninth; the guitar chords are easy - it's just a combination of D, A & G

Stuff Them

Stuff the ruddy Eurocratics and the federal EC dream
Tell them all to stick their edicts, and their fines and VAT
And their rules and regulations
Brussels louts can go to hell
Tie them up with metrication, throw them down the deepest well

We are but an island race, an island steeped in history
If we didn't know our place, we'll not be told what ought to be
Why should nations all be the same
Brussels sprouts can go to hell
And who should judge, apportion blame
For nations formed in liberty

Stuff the ruddy Eurocratics and the federal EC dream
Tell them all to stick their edicts, and their fines and VAT
And their rules and regulations
Brussels louts can go to hell
Tie them up with metrication, throw them down the deepest well

What is right and what is wrong, is not a easy thing to say
Might is right is not a fight, to overcome minorities
Respect is only earned from others
Brussels sprouts can go to hell
Nations can be joined as brothers
Without losing dignity

Stuff the ruddy Eurocratics and the federal EC dream
Tell them all to stick their edicts, and their fines and VAT
And their rules and regulations
Brussels louts can go to hell
Tie them up with metrication, throw them down the deepest well

Ross Scrivener 2004

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22 Dec 11 - 09:11 PM (#3278697)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST,Ralph Wigg

I have a live vinyl album by 1812, on which appears 'The 1812 Overture' you describe. In fact I did the artwork for the back cover.

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12 Jul 15 - 11:47 PM (#3723178)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST,CWWJ

I just ran across this thread a few minutes ago. Here are all the lyrics to "The Emperor Napoleon" (unknown recording, but I think maybe you're right that it was Spike Jones):

There was an emperor Napoleon
Who never heard a nickelodeon
But if he had, there'd have to be
A little change in history

Instead of going off to fight a war
He'd capture glory on the ballroom floor
And you can bet your bottom sou
He'd never get to Waterloo

And when he put his hand inside his vest
The people said he looked the craziest
And the word soon spread through all of France
That the emperor Napoleon sure could dance

We know he fought the Duke of Wellington
But if he'd heard the Duke of Ellington
He would've been the coolest one
The emperor Napoleon

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18 Jul 15 - 07:00 AM (#3724521)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST,Australian army reserve song parody of 1812

Australian I was taught at school..
I think your looking for

Was join the army get your head blown off
Doesn't matter if it's hard or soft
Duh duh duh dutta duh duhhh.

Hope that helps to Aussies here

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23 Nov 15 - 05:32 AM (#3752842)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST,apl

Hi all,

So given this thread is nearly 12 years old, I hate to revive it, BUT:

I'm after the lyrics to the Gnus and Roses track, variously listed as either "God Bless the Peacemakers" or "Blessed are the Peacemakers". The post by Snuffy on 10/09/2003 (UK date format) suggests s/he has the lyrics, but didn't post them. I've lost my own CD case/insert with the lyrics, but I've still the audio files. I've had a listen and transcribed as much as I can, but need some help filling in it all (esp when the chorus is singing). My current version reads (dots indicate where I could only catch a short refrain):

Remember Mr Bonaparte,
A great exponent of the art,
The finest art of all mankind,
The art that we have so refined.
We barter science what you will (?)
We did it then; we do it still,
We might want, what we do (?)
World war one, world war two
….?
….such fun, especially if you've got a gun (?)

Deary me, I didn't know,
This was the way mankind would go,
They're saving up for world war three,
Is it for them? No, it's for me.
It always seems a little odd:
"Is that a bomb?" "Yes, it's for God!"
You've got it wrong, you stupid sods,
Read the chapter, read the verse,
I only wanted gardeners!
Mind the trees, mind the plants,
Dolphins, do-dos, elephants,
What's the use of all that brain?
We've all turned out like bloody Kane,
A king, a flag, a bit of sand,
It's more than I can understand,
The old parades with marching bands,
It hasn't gone the way I planned,
Look at 'em: they've all gone crazy,
No one minds the sodding daisies,
Didn't hear a word I said…
Time for bed!

Sound your seashell (?)
Esther shell lie surfer (?)

The bells the bells,
Oh where am I?
The place ice-cream vans go to die?
I'm going to cry.

Sound your sound sweet bells (?)
…
Bless your sweet bells (?

Look; don't be hurt,
But as a guide, don't look at me as on your side,
They think so too -
My hands are tied!

Sound seat bells (?)
….
...guided missiles...bloody god

I've crossed you off my Christmas list,
I've had enough; I don't exist!
Heavens, I'm an atheist.

Time to talk for peace (?)
Time to trust in me,
...united states of...?
…
Ignore the peasants when they hanker after grain,
Another year and they'll be saying it again,
...quite humane

made to measure…

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23 Nov 15 - 04:58 PM (#3752992)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST,CupOfTea, no cookies

Les Barker revisited the music parody somewhat with "The William Patel Overture" on the "Oranges and Lemmings" album with the Mrs Ackroyd Band, part spoken, part sung
"papadam, papadam, papadamdamdam..."

Joanne in Siberia on the Heights

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21 May 18 - 12:09 AM (#3926020)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST

There was an emperor Napoleon
who never heard a nickelodeon
and if he had there had to be
a little change in history

Instead of going off to fight a war,
he'd capture glory on the ballroom floor

And the word would travel around through all of France
that emperor Napoleon sure can dance.

--all I remember now . . .

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21 May 18 - 02:52 AM (#3926027)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: BobL

It must have been at one of Gerard Hoffnung's music festivals, back in the '60s, that I saw the 1612 Overture performed - by a consort of recorders and a single popgun!

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21 May 18 - 02:58 AM (#3926028)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: peteglasgow

rangers fans still like to sing their 'billy boys' song 'hello! hello! we are the billy boys....we're up to our knees in fenian blood - surrender or you die'

in recent years celtic fans have enjoyed to mock them by laughing to the same tune 'ha ha, ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha......etc'

funny old game football. sadly, not always beautiful

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21 May 18 - 04:48 AM (#3926063)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Jack Campin

I have seen a parody of the Tsar's Hymn, sending up the Russian despotism, written by a British radical shortly after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, when British state policy was unconditional backing for the Tsarist regime.

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21 May 18 - 10:52 AM (#3926109)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: GUEST,Wayne

It's not funny - quite the opposite - but Dan Fogelberg's Same Old Lang Syne started as a musical pastiche of the 1812 Overture.

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22 May 18 - 03:39 PM (#3926463)
Subject: RE: Parodies to the tune of 1812 overture
From: Tattie Bogle

Well, if you search on YouTube for 1812 parodies, this is what comes up! Had me splitting my sides: not many words unless you're a good lip-reader, but hilarious:

1812 parodies

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