I first had this one recommended to me from Shaenon K. Garrity‘s mad science song list on her Narbonic strip and I’ve been hooked ever since. So here it is for today’s song, Aimee Mann‘s Frankenstein. Enjoy
Today’s music is Funeral March of a Marionette by Charles Gounod best known as the theme music for Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
It’s interesting how our perceptions of music changes with context from individual to individual. Having first ever seen Alfred Hitchcock presents in reruns on A&E in my thirties this music never really had the scary Halloween connotations for me. In fact the first time I ever heard it was an audio version of Rudyard Kipling‘s Just So Stories.
Therefore when everyone else thinks of dark thrillers when they hear this music, I picture Sterling Holloway reading the Elephant’s Child.
Today’s song is from the opening of Ranken & Bass‘s Mad Monster Party? sung by Ethel Ennis.
I’m very fond of most of Ranken & Bass’s animated features mostly due to nostalgia but also that they’re pretty wacky fun that holds up fairly well watching it as an adult. Besides this one has Boris Karloff as the voice of Frankenstein.
A very happy birthday to Dizzy Gillespie.
Lets celebrate by listening to him perform “Groovin’ High” with Stan Getz, Chick Corea, Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes at the White House.
Today’s Song Warren Zevon‘s Werewolves of London. Cause I like werewolves and think there should be more songs about them.
I have a confession to make. Today’s song scared the crap out of me when I was ten. The first time I ever heard it was at summer camp. While it was being sung, two counselors were walking around the group dressed as a makeshift headless ghost. They were standing right behind me when they “Gave the mighty whoop.” It was traumatic enough that I was reluctant to go to camp ever again. Even now I’m not sure if I can appreciate the songs dark humor quite as much as, given my tastes, I should.
It’s kind of interesting that it was through this song that I ever even heard of Anne Boleyn and it is interesting how she grew from Ghost to tragic innocent victim, to the actual historical figure as my knowledge grew.
But anyway here is “With Her Head Tucked Underneath her Arm” performed by the Kingston Trio.
