Back-up Singer English

Lisnaholic · 03-12-2019, 04:33 PM

The pop music industry is famously tough and unforgiving, and must seem especially so if you are an aspiring backing singer. Not only do you have to sing in English, you are expected to master another language altogether. The Hollies managed to do it pretty well in their 1963 cover version of Stay: notice how fluently they pronounce "bub bub sha wally" and how they can even use it correctly in a sentence, i.e.:
Well your mama don't mind bub bub sha wally.

Anyone else with a favourite gem of Back-up Singer English?

Psy-Fi · 03-12-2019, 05:02 PM

Blue oo oo oo oo doobie doobie doobie doo...

The Shangri-Las - I'm Blue

**Marie Monday** · 03-12-2019, 05:24 PM

I really don't know how to transcribe it, "shimmy shimmy shay-ay missidis"? Whatever, it's brilliant
edit: forgot the third shimmy, shame on me

And the Kinks opening the Something Else album with the line 'fafafafafafafafa' is still one of the greates moves in music history

Lisnaholic · 03-13-2019, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psy-Fi

Blue oo oo oo oo doobie doobie doobie doo...

^ Hey, I love those low-swinging "oo"s, Psy-Fi !

Quote:

Originally Posted by MariaExpressesHerself

I really don't know how to transcribe it, "shimmy shimmy shay-ay missidis"? Whatever, it's brilliant
edit: forgot the third shimmy, shame on me

^ That's quite a complex, inventive line that they're singing, before they go completely wild about half-way through the song. Good call.
(Total rookie mistake to forget how many shimmies you're supposed to sing, Maria. I don't think you'd make it as a backing vocalist, I'm afraid.

)

This song starts with something that's tricky to transcribe too. I think it's "root-toot-too do woodit. Catch it while you can, because after a while they abandon singing in favour of acrobatics which shift in a matter of minutes from charming to clever, to painful-looking and finally, disturbing.

**Marie Monday** · 03-13-2019, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

(Total rookie mistake to forget how many shimmies you're supposed to sing, Maria. I don't think you'd make it as a backing vocalist, I'm afraid.

)

there's like a thousand reasons why I wouldn't make a good backing vocalist

And Rock Lobster has great backing vocals too of course, especially the 'ewww's

Edit: that potato salad dance is hilarious Lisna

Lisnaholic · 03-17-2019, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MariaExpressesHerself

there's like a thousand reasons why I wouldn't make a good backing vocalist
Edit: that potato salad dance is hilarious Lisna

^ Sorry you can't make it as a backing vocalist. How's your flexibility for doing that potato salad dance?

My doctor has advised me against trying the potato salad dance, so instead I'm now singing along with the Beach Boys in hopes of backing Brian Wilson one day.

OccultHawk · 03-17-2019, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ Hey, I love those low-swinging "oo"s, Psy-Fi !

^ That's quite a complex, inventive line that they're singing, before they go completely wild about half-way through the song. Good call.
(Total rookie mistake to forget how many shimmies you're supposed to sing, Maria. I don't think you'd make it as a backing vocalist, I'm afraid.

)

This song starts with something that's tricky to transcribe too. I think it's "root-toot-too do woodit. Catch it while you can, because after a while they abandon singing in favour of acrobatics which shift in a matter of minutes from charming to clever, to painful-looking and finally, disturbing.

That’s sexy crazy and like you said disturbing af

In the 40’s it was considered cute entertainment but by the 70’s people were horrified by a fraction of the same weirdness

Lisnaholic · 03-17-2019, 10:06 PM

That's a good point. In many ways our appetite for freaks and freakish behaviour has been in decline for hundreds of years I suspect. From gladiators to Victorian freak shows, there has been plenty of pretty tacky entertainment in our past. (And, yes, that spider walk is creepy - neat comparison to the sweetly smiling Ross Sisters!)

OccultHawk · 03-17-2019, 10:12 PM

The Ross Sisters could’ve done a great musical version of The Exorcist for Broadway

In some other universe that’s probably huge right now

I’m probably rich in that universe come to think of it

**Marie Monday** · 03-18-2019, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ Sorry you can't make it as a backing vocalist. How's your flexibility for doing that potato salad dance?

I'm horribly inflexible. I have a friend who trained as a ballerina and I once tried to do pilates with her, that was a humbling experience

03-12-2019, 04:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Back-up Singer English The pop music industry is famously tough and unforgiving, and must seem especially so if you are an aspiring backing singer. Not only do you have to sing in English, you are expected to master another language altogether. The Hollies managed to do it pretty well in their 1963 cover version of Stay: notice how fluently they pronounce "bub bub sha wally" and how they can even use it correctly in a sentence, i.e.: Well your mama don't mind bub bub sha wally. Anyone else with a favourite gem of Back-up Singer English? __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

03-17-2019, 10:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	That's a good point. In many ways our appetite for freaks and freakish behaviour has been in decline for hundreds of years I suspect. From gladiators to Victorian freak shows, there has been plenty of pretty tacky entertainment in our past. (And, yes, that spider walk is creepy - neat comparison to the sweetly smiling Ross Sisters!) __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

03-17-2019, 10:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	The Ross Sisters could’ve done a great musical version of The Exorcist for Broadway In some other universe that’s probably huge right now I’m probably rich in that universe come to think of it __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html