Phonemes

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Do you like it when bands use "do do do" or "ba ba ba" or "la la la" syllable runs for hooks? Or dislike it? Or are you not bothered either way?

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I ask because, as a songwriting technique, this always feels kind of self-consciously 'retro' to me, the sort of thing beat groups did. I never like it much on those - quite possibly precious - grounds.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

do you give 'can't get you out of my head' a bye cos it's part of the song's theme

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean but there are plenty of songs where they're not used in this way surely? Though my mind has gone completely blank of ANY songs with phonemes at all, so I have no examples either way.

d-dit d-dit dit

[koganbot]

Into the rush, you don't have to know how, know it all before you try, yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah (and not remotely retro).

Bom b-b-bom b-bom b-bom bom, b-b-bom b-b-bom, f-dang a-dang dang, d-ding a-dang ding (before there were "beat" groups)(you will like this, Lex)

Dang diddy dang d-dang d-dang diggy diggy

[koganbot]

Thought you liked "Cobrastyle"?

And I can't imagine how you would dislike Sugarhill Gang's "8th Wonder," which indeed was reference back to doo-wop, but was a way of incorporating the past into a 1980s Right Now.

I can imagine how you might dislike the Kooks' "Always Where I Need To Be."

Re: Dang diddy dang d-dang d-dang diggy diggy

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes, I shouldn't have said "always" and "never" - and I was indeed thinking of the Kooks.

Re: Dang diddy dang d-dang d-dang diggy diggy

[koganbot]

I was irritated by the Kooks' chorus for its way of announcing "This Is Pop," but in fact its syllabic repetition was catchy but was undone by the poor singing.