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

noncewords

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

now more than ever call them by their name!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about this whilst dancing to 'Galang' at Poptimism. The best bit is clearly the "YA YA HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! OH-WEY-OH-WEY-OH-OH-OH" as proved by dancefloor science. So in the right hands = Most Definitely.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Though they're not quite repeated syllables, are they? Sorry, must pay more attention.

[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

A Stereolabhead responds

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Take a candy flippin' wild guess. ;)

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Occasionally, such as the start of 'Self Esteem' by ver Offspring but by no means all the time. It depends on the level of HORRIBLE JAUNTINESS involved really.

[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.

Re: A Stereolabhead responds

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

they were the first band to pop into my head too :-)

WORST OFFENDER BY MILES

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Hey c0cking Jude :( :( :(

Re: WORST OFFENDER BY MILES

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

Although well adapted by Manchester United fans for their midfielder Nani.

Na, na na, na na na na, na na na na, Na ni

Re: WORST OFFENDER BY MILES

[infov0re.livejournal.com]

Not "De Do Do Do De Da Da Da" by the Police?

Re: WORST OFFENDER BY MILES

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

Shurely the Kaiser Chiefs are prime offenders - they even called one of their songs Na Na Na Na Na, plus on I Predict a Riot - the bridge consists of La La La La Las and on Everyday I love you less and less there are Na Na Na Na Nas all over the chorus

Having seen them play at a couple of festivals it certainly seems to increase their singalongability for large crowds :(

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."

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I generally disapprove of this altho I do like Cortney Tidwell's doing of it on her song cunningly titled 'La La'

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)

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.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

I was going to write a post about this very topic... mostly so I could share the fact that I learnt the technical word for it is "friscajoly".

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.

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Classic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzUxXy9rV_8)