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Songs that ended up as novelty songs when they weren't meant to
Leicester_Hunk
Posts: 18,316 Forum Member
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I was thinking about this the other day and I thought of the following that I absolutely hate:
Sweet Caroline
Build Me Up Buttercup
Come On Eileen
The first two at least I don't think were intended as novelty songs, but they have ended up that way because of them being sung by people at parties and weddings who have drunk too much and start waving their arms about and drunkenly lurching to them - I hate them!
Any more songs anyone can think of that have suffered the novelty fate?
Sweet Caroline
Build Me Up Buttercup
Come On Eileen
The first two at least I don't think were intended as novelty songs, but they have ended up that way because of them being sung by people at parties and weddings who have drunk too much and start waving their arms about and drunkenly lurching to them - I hate them!
Any more songs anyone can think of that have suffered the novelty fate?
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Given that it was written and sung by a group of 60-70 year old South American men and just happened to have a remix and a dance that became a big fad.
I dont think its a novelty song, crap yes but not novelty.
I agree I don't think any of the listed songs are novelty songs.
'Sweet Caroline' is the unofficial theme tune of the Northern Ireland football team which is hardly what Neil Diamond expected?:D
Would 'No Charge' be a 'novelty' song that wasn't really intended?
Double Barrel by Dave (Barker) & Ansel Collins
Return Of Django by The Upsetters
Uptown Top Ranking by Althea & Donna (which was an 'answer record')
The Liquidator by The Harry J. All Stars
Girlie Girlie by Sophia George
One Dance Won't Do by Pam Hall's sister Audrey Hall
Informer by Snow (which was unusual but not unique in that it was a white guy toasting)
Here Comes The Hot Stepper by Ini Kamoze
Compliments on Your Kiss by Red Dragon
etc.
Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin.
Written by McFerrin and based on his take on an Indian philosophy, the song was used (without McFerrin's permission) in Republican George H. W. Bush's presidential campaign.
The organisers obviously hadn't taken onboard the song's meanings.
McFerrin, a democrat, made a big public protest about Bush's use of the song and wouldn't perform it himself for ages afterwards.
Most serious Quo fans don't mind it as they know Quo did not write it.
Quo's version is a cover version.
Was Chinese water torture intended with that? Because it is just like that
None of those songs are "novelty", they are just popular songs which are regularly sung along to. I love them all!
I'm not sure when this was released if this was meant to be a serious song or not but over the years it has become famous for its 'Oirish' sections:
"I fight like me da' as well"
The middle Riverdance lite section
I agree with those that have said the list the OP has mentioned are not novelty songs but just popular songs played at weddings and other functions/gatherings
dont really agree with that sir.... ive never known any of those tracks/reggae tracks being thought of as 'novelty' because they are reggae. reggae was a popular and often heard genre from the 60's onwards.
ok, 'uptown top ranking' was abit noveltyish after their dire performance on totp.
think the tracks the op cites have been 'karaokefied' , and used as party pieces.
bib: Damn that TOTP Orchestra!>:(
Oh I don't know. Their performance was really very amateurish, messed up totally at 2.11, so I think the naff orchestration is quite fitting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVBmeWAsRAA
That said, I love the song. I didn't when it came out (I really didn't get it at ALL, and it did knock my beloved Mull of Kintyre off the top spot).
As for songs that became novelties - that one that goes "Heyyyy baby, ooh! ahh!, I wanna know-woh-woh if you'll be my girl." Due to the darts probably.
In the world of J-Pop, it's really not THAT out of the ordinary.
Once again an example of a popular song along songs and not a novelty song.
And gangnam style was definitely written as a novelty song.
Yet to see one decent example on here!
give us one then!
Maybe the fact that no one can give a decent example means that it very rarely happens.:)
I don't think there are many but what about 'Living Next door to Alice' that turned into a sort of novelty song. http://youtu.be/iYAt22mWiWc