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PaperclipPerfector  14d ago (text post)   2905 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for May 3, 2024

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Stumbled upon this unreasonably catchy parody of a Cheburashka (famous Soviet cartoon series) song on Youtube. Like most of the best Russian memes, apparently the lyrics themselves are way older than the rendition (70s? 80s?).

This made me think - I seem to know a disproportionate number of political songs, grassroots parodies (this one is about siphoning off ethanol rocket fuel to get wasted) and snowclones from Russia. Do other cultures make much of those? The only one I can think of off the top of my head is "Napalm Sticks to Kids".

I knew what it was going to be before I clicked the link. The lyrics are old enough that my dad taught them to me 30 years ago.

Johnny I hardly knew ya fits the bill. I have sent Blood on the risers to a dear friend before her bungee jump from which she was dearly afraid. https://youtube.com/watch?v=VWgsdexkv18

Military songs are a goldmine. They are cynical enough to be catchy and real.

The recording industry managed to spread the idea that non-professionals singing is lame and embarassing. So gathering around the campfire or a piano and singing as a group is pretty unusual for adults, at least in the US & CAN.

So there's not much of an opportunity for people to spread grassroots parodies.

You need to train your voice so it's not horrible. It used to be rather common, now is much less so.

Yes, many more people learnt to sing in school, and choirs were also more popular. With training most people’s voices can be made pleasant at singing, especially with conservative vocal range.

I remember a teacher from grade school who was very passionate about it, and dismayed by the ongoing process of 'less singing, more listening to music' and then, radios. She said it is a special sort of experience, that people should learn it. I hated singing then, only did it a little in the Scouts. Now I wish I'd tried giving it a go.

She was also extremely against street food and eating on the move, calling it uncultured. "If you're going to eat, you should sit down, take your time. It's a special occassion. Don't rush it, enjoy it." If only she knew...

With hindsight, I understand her attitudes and her exasperation much more. All she feared came to pass, and more. I think it's fortunate that people die, because were some of early 20th century guys around and hale, we'd probably have art/culture related terrorism.

Also hated most of rock music, calling it primitive and just bad. She was very fond of Queen and held them as an example of actually good popular music.

The recording industry managed to spread the idea that non-professionals singing is lame and embarrassing.

How did they accomplish this? What was the vehicle of delivery for this idea? Can you point me to specific sources?

English is much less conducive to good lyrics in the first place. Weird Al Yankovic is the only example that comes to mind (but he sometimes does a fantastic job): https://youtube.com/watch?v=lOfZLb33uCg&pp=ygUOYW1pc2ggcGFyYWRpc2U%3D

It's probably true. In Czech, I believe someone wrote an entire play or at least a short story that's a 'tautogram'. Every word in every sentence starts with the same letter.

We also have political songs with actually good lyrics and non-cringe politics (Karel Kryl). Kryl was pretty pissed with Stalinism, but his later work seemed to be generally aimed against high modernism too.

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