Songs We're Too Cool To Sing

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Stephen R.
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 08:50 PM

"Happy Birthday to you"

"Jingle Bells"

Anyone remember "How much is that doggy in the window?"?

Generally, the more people that know it, the less cool, I suppose. I'm happy to say that I don't hear "Mary Ellen Carter" often enough to be tired of it.

(To my fellow Orthodox: I won't discuss the way Russians sing troparia of Tone 4, which includes the great majority of festal troparia, other than to ask: Why not a tune?)

Stephen

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: GUEST,Sidewinder.
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 08:32 PM

Thank you for your kind words Jerry and keep up the good work.

Best Wishes.

Sidewinder.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 07:58 PM

Gee sidewinder... I'm with you... I'm never tempted to do songs by any of the above. :-)

Add I had a dog and his name was blue (which I still can enjoy singing, loving dogs and all.

There's A Tavern in the Town is another one I still can sing.

Birthday was fine, Art. Thanks. Your's is coming up, in case no one else has noticed yet.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: GUEST,Sidewinder.
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 07:47 PM

My least favourite song of all time is "In The Year 2525" by Zager and Evans and I have been fortunate in never hearing anyone, other than the aforementioned, perform the song.However, if I were to enter into a hostelry and hear some guitar playing goofball attempt to perform this travesty I would have to disembowel the unfortunate soul with his instrument. I myself refuse to perform anything by Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Steeleye Dan,Uriah Heep,REO Speedwagon, Styx, Emerson Lake and the other one, Genesis and/or Phil Collins. Because "it don't move me".How anyone can rubbish a Woody Guthrie classic is beyond me!Refer to previous posting on that one.

Regards.

Sidewinder.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: sixtieschick
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 07:41 PM

Jivin' Jerry and da Big Poppa, I'm hip, daddy-O. Crazy man, crazy!

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 07:33 PM

Hey, Poppa: We are all so un-cool that we are the definition of cool. Too cool to be worried that we are un-cool.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 07:32 PM

"Cool Water", "The Frozen Logger", "Cold Cold Heart", anything at all from Cool And The Gang, "Hannah", "The Frozen Charlotte", "On The Wild Moor"---many others.

I hope you had a good birthday, Jerry.

Art

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 07:31 PM

PoppaGator:

Well, I am only marginally familiar w/Scarlet Ribbons. I was only 5 years old in '64, so my standards of what was hokey were, perhaps, yet undeveloped.

GUEST:

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: PoppaGator
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 07:26 PM

RE: "Hokey Song Surcharge"

For many years, this old and by-now-yellowed sign has been hanging in New Orleans' Preservation Hall, home to authentic classic ("Trad") jazz:

Requests: $2
Traditional Requests: $1
"The Saints": $10

Keep in mind that we're talking pre-inflation 1960s dollars here. For traditonal jazz-band players, "When the Saints Go Marchin' In" is the single definitively un-cool piece.

sixtieschick ~ Who are you trying to kid? You're absolutely cool! (I suppose not caring can only help one's coolness quotient...)

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: sixtieschick
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 07:00 PM

I'm not cool, so it's not a problem.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: breezy
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 06:53 PM

'Athenry,' but I do it and it always works cos I treats it with respect.


'Zoo tomorrow' by T P, but I dont do it....yet

Lts facit some of the songs mentioned are naff, but only cos I dont know the chords for Teddy Bear's Picnic

I revived Blowing in the Wind cos not many of our youth know it and its still highly relevant as is Where Have all the Flowers Gone?

bye

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 06:52 PM

The Wild Rover

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 06:47 PM

When Irish Eyes are Smiling
I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen
The Unicorn Song

Claire -- I second the "hokey song surcharge". I've been heard to advise punters to write their request on the back of a $50 bill -- no one has yet taken me up on that.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 06:41 PM

Well, I always used to feel that way about "Oh Danny Boy," but my somewhat more financially astute/desperate partner amended my "It'll be a cold day in hell before we..." to "We'll only sing that one for a $20 tip." (By the way this was 1976, when $20 was a lot more than it is now.)

Much to my surprise, we got the tip. (Actually I kind of recall that the guy gave us $50, but I could be misremembering that.)

I developed a great fondness for Danny Boy that day!

So...I respectfully suggest a hefty "hokey song surcharge" for such requests. Usually the requester will demur -- whoopee, then you don't have to sing it! -- but if they say yes, the financial incentive can handsomely offset any momentary lapse in coolness.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: GUEST,celtaddict at work
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 06:32 PM

Pseudolus, welcome back; haven't seen you in t-o-o l-o-n-g. And congratulations on the youngsters (which likely explains why we haven't heard from you).

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Peace
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 06:27 PM

Silver Threads and Golden Needles
On Top of Ol' Smoky
Bicycle Built for Two

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Janie
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 06:25 PM

Notice the overlap in songs in this thread and the thread "Songs to Get People Singing?"

Janie:>)

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: PoppaGator
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 06:20 PM

DonMeixner: I've always liked "Teddy Bears' Picnic," and if it was good enough for Dave Van Ronk ~ a definitively cool individual ~ who else could possibly claim to be "above" it?

GUEST,Jim: You agree with me on "Kumbaya" and "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" but NOT my other nomination?

I can only assume you are completely unfamiliar with the extremely cheesy quasi-folk pop song "Scarlet Ribbons." Well, it was my first fingerpicking piece, playing 6/8 arpeggios, three notes up and three notes down each measure. (I was very young, and not very cool at all.)

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 05:53 PM

Agree w/"Kumbaya" and "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore."

How about "Wimoweh," "This Land is Your Land," "Dem Bones," "Skip to My Lou?" There are a bunch that have been done so much that its now 'uncool' to sing them. I'm usually immune to this, as I love to sing the old standards, but I have to admit that "Mary Ellen Carter" (which i once loved) is rapidly becoming unendurable.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: DonMeixner
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 05:53 PM

The Teddy Bears Picnic.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 05:46 PM

I'll Tell Me Ma.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 05:43 PM

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 05:39 PM

"Little White Duck" and anything sung by Barney, the giant purple Zuccini.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: PoppaGator
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 05:27 PM

"Kumbaya"

"Michael Row the Boat Ashore"

"Scarlet Ribbons"

Even in 1966/67, when I thought it was pretty cool to play and sing the above, they weren't really all that cool at all...

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 05:16 PM

Mark Dvorak sings "What a Wonderful World" with pictures no less. But not It's a Small World, thank God.
Mark aslo does Smile (Chaplin).
Great guy, Mark is.

Chris in Wheaton

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Pseudolus
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 04:59 PM

Wait a minute, I have 20 month old sons, your naming all their favorites!!!!

Frank

P.S. ...uh, and they think I'm cool!

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 04:29 PM

I draw the line at any song ever sung by a Care Bear.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 04:17 PM

If you're happy and you know it, don't clap your hands -- blow a razzberry!

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 04:12 PM

"Eeentsy Weentsy Spider"????

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 04:09 PM

Rocky Mountain High and Blowing In The Wind

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Midchuck
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 04:04 PM

I credit Ian Tyson, with his performance on his CD, "And Stood There Amazed," with convincing me that it was all right to sing "Home on the Range."

Peter.

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 04:03 PM

Aha! Now we know the motivation for your singing, Joe. To get the chicks!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 04:02 PM

I don't really think of myself as "cool," but even I am too cool to sing "Today" (Randy Sparks) - but I sing it anyhow because women like it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Songs We're Too Cool To Sing
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 03:58 PM

Many years ago at a North Country Folk Festival in the northern penninsula of Michigan, I had a real treat. I was slotted in to a
workshop titled "Songs We All Know But Are Too Cool To Sing." I thought that it was a great idea. Bordering on cool. I sang I've Been Working On The Railroad," but the real topper came from my friend Jerry Rau who sang ABCDEFG, and got everyone to sing along.
Someone did On Top Of Old Smokey, from what I remember.

It was a good reminder that our purpose in singing is NOT to look cool. Just because a song is overly familiar doesn't make you un-cool to sing it.

In the reverse, I was amazed many years ago when I sang Blue Diamond Mines at a gathering in a home and someone else was furious with me. She had "discovered" the song (a little late as Jean Ritchie had already recorded it) and was angry that someone else was doing "her" song. I wonder if she thought it was alright for Jean to do it, as she was the one who wrote it..

Very uncool.

So fess up.. what song would you do in the workshop?

(Another strange workshop was simply titled "Out On A Limb." But that's another story..)

Jerry

Still uncool after all these years