Three Tune Tuesday: Cheerful Oddities

avatar
(Edited)

I've seen other folks post their Three Tune Tuesday compilations from time to time, and I thought I might join in with a trio of guilty pleasure cheesy cheerful tunes.

Beck, Funky Lil' Song

You've probably heard of Beck. You may not have heard of this song, and especially not the original version by Bruce Haack and Miss Nelson, unless you explore weird corners of music history. Haack was a pioneer of electronic music in the 1960s. I claim no expertise in music history, but I have been known to follow strange rabbit holes as I browse around.

If you want to explore electronic music with more polish and less outsider art roughness, the Dimension Mix tribute album is worth a look. Your library may offer access to Freegal music, and if so, you should be able to download it all digitally.

Hive Divider Bar Centered.png

Pigeon John, Weight of the World

I first ran across Pigeon John at least 15 years ago when I heard one of his tracks on a sampler album. This track samples Angeline by Neil Innes & The World. Innes also worked with Monty Python, and was also a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, which is worth a look if you like off-beat music or just want to know more about that other band in the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour.

Back to Pigeon John, this song is so superficially cheerful, yet the lyrics explore the contrast between outward appearances and internal strife.

Wake up to another day,
Gotta peek out just make sure it safe,
Cause these times are changing and reshaping,
Into something I can't face.

And later on in the bridge, he says,

I'm having a great day, everything's okay,
I'm doing fine just don't look in my eyes.

I still think the song holds some underlying optimism, but with a lot of brutal honesty about the struggles of real life as well. And this song also appears to be available on Freegal.

Hive Divider Bar Centered.png

John Hartford, Julia Belle Swain

The first song was a cover, and the second relied heavily on a sample, but this is an original tune by one of the greatest masters of the American folk music tradition. I first borrowed this album from the library in Sandpoint, Idaho almost 20 years ago, and I have been a fan of Hartford's music ever since. His original compositors and unique arrangements of traditional melodies are all an absolute joy.

This tune is about a real steamboat he piloted on the Mississippi River, and that real connection adds another dimension of authenticity to his music. You owe it to yourself to explore this corner of Americana. You won't regret it. But you'll probably need to look outside Freegal on this one. Sorry.

Hive Divider Bar Centered.png

Mean person, I'm gonna sing my funky little song.

dizzy d20 128.png

HIVE | PeakD | Ecency | LEO

If you're not on Hive yet, I invite you to join through InLeo or PeakD. If you use either of my referral links, I'll even try to delegate some Hive Power to help you get started.



0
0
0.000
5 comments
avatar

Waking up to see another bright new day

0
0
0.000
avatar

I’ve never heard of Beck or any of these songs but I love the songs
They are very pleasant to the ear
Nice one!

0
0
0.000
avatar

I myself have not heard of this song before but the way you described it is very interesting so I will definitely give it a listen.

0
0
0.000
avatar

The first song was actually a powerful message passed across

0
0
0.000
avatar

I really must memorize Funky Little Song; I know exactly who I need to sing it to. I didn't make it very far into the Pigeon John song. Not my style of music at all. But I love The Julia Belle Swain. Now that's my style of music!

0
0
0.000