Friday videos this week are my attempts to cheer everyone up with some evil: both of them are horrible earworms of the first degree. You’ll be humming one or both for hours.
First, from Barb Ferrer, we have Petula Clark, an entirely catchy song, and some of the most incredible prancing dancers I’ve ever seen. They have legs like Gumby.
And second, from Rebecca, we have this incredibly treacly tribute to girl ballads, one that will move into your brain and refuse to leave, like an antibiotic-resistant ear infection (God forbid).
In other news, while cruising YouTube (that sounds naughty – whee!) I found out that in 2006 Emma Bunton aka Baby Spice covered Edie Brickell & New Bohemian’s “What I Am.” For the love of salad cream, why did she do that?
The MRSA of break up songs.
I’m tempted to give in to my urge to sing the second one aloud, because omigosh—those lyrics are. so. perfect.
Mmmm . . . salad cream.
I don’t see why Bunty deserves a smackdown any worse than Edie Brickell, whose calculated flower-child musings might have fooled Paul Simon, but never impressed me much.
Don’t worry, Edie. There’s no chance of you getting “too deep.” Shallow water is already over your head, dear.
Vienna – Edie’s song is a staple from my high school years, and though I love me some Baby Spice in a kitschy retro kinda way, I love the original like I loved pegging my jeans back in the day.
That said, I once saw a parody of Edie that mocked her odd singing postures and squats, with the lyrics, “I’m not aware of too many things but I know that it looks like I pee when I sing.”
Oh.My.God. You might have mentioned that I should use headphones while watching the second one at work…
Oh my goodness…that second one is HYSTERICAL!!! And definitely an earworm!
HAPPINESS. i heart you bitches! i’ve seen both vids, but they were a good pick-me-up after a boring/sucky day 🙂
Was Petula Clark lipsincing? Not obvious or anything, was it?
Edie Brickell—I had that cassette. I think I still have it somewhere—if I didn’t leave it in the glovebox and it turned into the Best of Queen.
Can I just say how awesome Petula looks in that video?
As for the second one I loved it from the first time I saw it and it’s true, you HAVE to sing the chorus out loud.
Am I evil if I sent this to an ex?
Edie Brickell always made me want to paraphrase Douglas Adams. She sang “almost, but not entirely, off key.”
The Baby Spice cover makes that extra clear.
DS, whoever you are, thank you for the Pratchett/Gaiman reference! Mwah.
I’ve never been too keen on Petula Clark but I’ve always had a yen for backup dancers. Now I want those particular folks to follow me around like a commercial, make me look sophisticated, sassy, and suave. It’s all in the hips, I think.
Eeegh! The word “earworm” is so much worse, and sticks in my brain so much more painfully, than anything it’s applied to 🙂
I love Petula’s dress! I want it!
So, um, would the second one be considered sweet and sour pork?
Petula’s not lipsynching, she’s actually singing. I know because she’s actually a little off on the recorded rythm in places (and she keeps going over the instrumental bridge, to give the dancers something to gumby to.)
Those dancers disturbed me in the way male belly dancers do—it’s not totally unsexy, but it’s just not…. I guess I’m too much a child of the Midwest, where men just don’t *bend* that way!
Spaminator word: tax55. Why yes, that is what I got back on my state taxes!