Flanders & Swann: Happy Song For Our Time

Subject: happy noise (Flanders & Swann)
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Nov 15 - 05:53 PM

My reason for starting a thread about this song: that non-verbal exclamation in the chorus. Erm, WHAT is it?

Okay, I grew up with this record. I have the sound of the very performance (the earlier mono version, Fortune Theatre) in my ear. And I'm not sure what Michael Flanders is hollering or how to spell it.

Look / search online versions of the lyric, and usually it looks like

QUEE / POP / OH!

Well, maybe. I always thought it sounded like

QUAAAACK / boom /   DYYYYYEAAAAAD!

You want context? I'll show you context:


Sing this happy song with me
( the happy noise )
Just a simple melody
( the happy noise )
What tho' skies above are gray
You can face the world to-day
If you'll only learn to say
( the happy noise )


When your life is filled with care
( the happy noise )
You will hear it everywhere
( the happy noise )
Tho' the world may wear a frown
Here's the way to win renown
Tell them as they strap you down:

Donald Swann utters a piercing shriek, and hits the final chord. The End. Much Applause.

On the recorded show, "At the Drop of a Hat," this commotion is to be found under "Songs for Our Time / A Happy Song."

What do you say that happy noise is?

Subject: RE: Flanders & Swann: Happy Song For Our Time
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 08:48 PM

I like this one, after surviving the presidential election.

Subject: RE: Flanders & Swann: Happy Song For Our Time
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jan 23 - 05:25 PM

“Quack, pop, yay” is how I hear it.

Subject: RE: Flanders & Swann: Happy Song For Our Time
From: robomatic
Date: 23 Jan 23 - 05:45 PM

An old favorite since I was just past toddler-hood.

It is probably the language lab from high school, but for the third sound I yell: "NYET"

Subject: RE: Flanders & Swann: Happy Song For Our Time
From: robomatic
Date: 26 Jan 23 - 02:51 PM

I should add by way of explanation that I took Russian all through high school and there was an auditory language lab you periodically sat in to be introduced to proper pronunciation of the language.

In the F & L Happy Song, the final sound is not 'NYET' but a kind of wolf-like "OWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

It is a great song for feeling good.

There is also a song for how to say 'NO' in Tonga.

Subject: RE: Flanders & Swann: Happy Song For Our Time
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Jan 23 - 03:16 PM

"If I ever have the money,
'tis to Tonga I shall go . . ."