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For this list we’ve looked at back-ups that were made by human voice. So, we’re not going to be looking at songs with those unusual sounds made by animals, mechanical devices, or elaborate soundbites; that’s a whole other list.
#9 The Safety Dance
This 1982 hit was by Canadian new wave band Men Without Hats.
The memorable, happy and easy-to-dance-to Safety Dance was written by lead singer Ivan Doroschuk as a protest against some bouncers who kicked him out of a night club for pogo dancing, which had become common in the early 80’s for dancing to many types of songs. However, the bouncers at one particular club thought Ivan was dancing too dangerously. Well, it did eventually evolve into slam dancing, so they were kind of right.
But, it’s clear that Ivan still felt strongly about his protest, even when making the video, as can be seen in the extreme seriousness and intensity in his face, for what is supposed to be a happy dance song.
The weird back-up vocals are thanks to Anne Dussault, who provided the female vocals on the album Rhythm of Youth, which included The Safety Dance. That’s right, just one word ‘Dancez’ (being French for ‘to dance), just once in the whole song; that’s it!
This one word is lip-synced by one very excited safety dancer in the official video of The Safety Dance, who then dances around acting like an escaped psycho patient through the rest of the video. Crazy girl’s true identity was not made public until 2013, when we discovered that she is actually Louise Court, former Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine in the UK.
#8 Kung Fu Fighting
Carl Douglas’ huge 1974 hit, Kung Fu Fighting was so well-timed, coming out at a time when martial arts movies were big business. Even though that well-known oriental riff is used a lot through the song, it was very much a funky disco song, and you can hear Carl’s enthusiasm for the genre throughout the lyrics.
Interestingly, this was originally intended as a B-side song to a much more romantic song. In fact, after spending over three hours recording the intended A-side song - Carl only had ten minutes left to throw together this ninja-worthy hit.
The weird back-ups are of course, all of that fighting action. Okay, sure, the back-up vocalists are simply making a range of grunting sounds to enhance the effect of a Kung Fu fight. But I’m imagining those guys auditioning and rehearsing those sounds - “Okay guys from the top - I want to hear real pain in your huhs and hahs.”
Over the years, the song became so easily recognised - that it has been used in several movies and TV shows - including Scrubs, Beverly Hills Ninja and Rush Hour 3.
#7 Genius of Love
The quirky and clever Genius of Love was a hit for Tom Tom Club in 1981. Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth and fellow Talking Heads drummer (and husband), Chris Frantz’s side project also included Tina’s sisters Laura and Lani, providing those awesome harmonies.
The song and unique animation came out at a time when, thanks mostly to MTV, there was a growing demand for more elaborate music videos on TV.
The weird back-up vocals in Genius of Love are provided courtesy of Chris Frantz. When first heard, that James Brown line hits you as a total surprise, unless you’re also watching the video. And yet it just works perfectly with the rest of the song.
When I first heard Genius of Love, I wondered about how this repetitive chant must have affected James Brown himself at the time. Brown was already a living legend, but now he’s got every smart-alec, jerk shouting out - “James Brown, James Brown”, every time they see him. You’d think that eventually it’s going to drive him nuts. Oh look, it did.
#6 Should I Stay or Should I Go
The Clash’s 1981 hit ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’, with Mick Jones on lead vocal, is actually their only song to reach number 1 in the UK. That clever and catchy constant riff, from the opening and throughout the song, just grabs the listener and keeps them bouncing along.
It is so easy to understand why this song is listed in Rolling Stones’ 500 Greatest Songs of all Time, although I would have ranked it much higher than 228.
Should I Stay or Should I Go is so well-known that, even after more than 30 years since its release, it has been used in many different forms of media, including the highly popular video game, Far Cry 4. It was also heavily used in the first season of the hit Netflix show, Stranger Things, perfectly enhancing the feel and mood of the 80’s setting, making even the scary scenes fun, and also telling us that Jonathan is a rocker.
Now regarding those weird back-up vocals - that short, almost hiccup-like scream is such a memorable and easily recognizable introduction to this classic rock song. Interestingly, Mick Jones took that scream with him to Big Audio Dynamite II, and included it when creating the 1991 single The Globe.
The other unusual backup vocals were provided by Joe Strummer and Joe Ely. Strummer decided, at the last minute, to do the backups in Spanish, and thanks to the, over the phone, translation help of sound recorder Eddie Garcia’s mum, the two Joes are heard singing in Ecuadorian Spanish.
#5 Unbelievable
British band EMF’s big 1990 hit Unbelievable was a chart topper in the USA and hit number 3 in the UK. That fast-paced rhythm and catchy riff just shouts action and fun. Although it was deemed a one hit wonder for EMF, the song was ranked 31 in VH1’s list of the ‘100 Greatest 1 Hit Wonders’. Many people might remember the song being used in the movie Coyote Ugly.
These interesting back-ups were provided courtesy of American comedian Andrew Dice Clay. The regular inclusion of the shocked “oh’ works so well, stressing the surprise at how unbelievable the person being sung to really is. After regularly listening to this hit for the past thirty years, it’s pretty hard to imagine the song without it.
#4 Sick and Tired
Anastacia delivered her 2004 hit song ‘Sick and Tired’ with so much emotion and passion that it resonates throughout the song. The song reached the top 5 of charts across Europe and the UK in 2004.
The song failed to reach similar peaks on the U.S. charts, suggesting that Anastacia is proof that being American, having an amazing voice and being an awesome songwriter and performer won’t guarantee you huge success in the U.S. Fortunately, the rest of the world listened and loves her, especially in Europe and the UK.
This is definitely one of those songs that we’re so happy to have the tech to check the back-up lyrics of this song, otherwise we’d all be humming and guessing. That is except those that can understand Punjabi.
The male vocals are from the song ‘Let the Music Play’ by Shamur, released in the same year. The line being sung means “I have given my heart to someone who does not care at all”.
#3 She Blinded Me With Science
Thomas Dolby’s synthesizer driven, oddball 1982 hit, ‘She Blinded Me with Science’ was another one of those just-right-for-music-video songs. In fact, that’s exactly what happened. Dolby actually wrote and recorded the song to accompany the already story-boarded video, and then he also directed the music video.
Full of early 80’s techno sound effects, it successfully convinces the listener that the song is about mad scientists. What better way to push the message of a mad scientist than to have a scientist repeatedly shouting out “science” throughout the song
Hey - why not make it a real scientist? Which is exactly what they did. The mad scientist in this song and video is renowned British scientist and TV presenter of the 70’s and 80’s, Magnus Pyke.
#2 Hooked On A Feeling
Blue Swede’s 1974 immortal hit ‘Hooked on a Feeling’ was originally performed by BJ Thomas in 1968. Swedish band Blue Swede’s rejigged version, with a strong horn section and rockier lead vocals and guitar riffs, fitted easily with the growing early 70’s rock scene and was a huge hit, reaching number 1 in the U.S., number. 2 in Canada and number 4 in Australia.
But what most people remember as the distinct highlight of this love song is that chant. What you may not know is that this was not the first version to include the “ooga chaka” chant. British singer, Jonathan King came up with the idea of putting a bit of a reggae feel into the song in his 1971 version.
But it actually doesn’t start there. The guys in Blue Swede claimed that their extra tweaking of the song’s jungle chant was actually inspired by the Beach Boys song ‘Do you like worms?’, which was originally on the unfinished Smile album.
#1 Rock Lobster
We’re here - number 1, and quite fittingly it is the B52’s 1978, hugely successful Rock Lobster. The unusual-for the-time length of the song, which almost sounds more like a jam session at times; the surf-style guitar riffs with Fred Schneider’s matter-of-fact way of delivering the lyrics, combined with Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson’s vocals, made this song such a breath of fresh air at the time
The B52’s’ first big hit is also listed at 147 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. But it was the incredible vocal feats of both Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson that made this hit so unique. This awesome song is just rich with amazing sounds, ranging from the imaginative creations of cries from different types of aquatic life, through to the broad range of coos and screams that complete the picture of this musical tapestry.
Well, there you have it Rockers, did I get it right? If you can think of any that I might have missed, please write and let us know.
If we get enough good suggestions – we might make a second list.
DISCLAIMER: Some links included in this blog might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting Rock Reflections so that we can continue to provide you with free content.
Check out Cranky’s video ‘Strangest Backup Vocals’ on YouTube
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You know that opening riff, don’t you? That well-known sound tells us immediately what the next destination is.
In creating the introduction to Highway to Hell - AC/DC’s Angus Young came up with a basic guitar riff, which became one of the most recognizable in rock music.
‘Highway to Hell’ is the opening track of AC/DC's album of the same name. Released in 1979, it soon entered the top 40 charts around the world, and has shown up in charts several times since then.
The reason for the title of the song (and the album), was brought about during an interview in which the journalist asked the group about their tour life. Guitarist Angus Young described it as a "road to hell".
In a later interview Angus said: “All we’d done is describe what it’s like to be on the road for four years. A lot of it was bus and car touring, with no real break. When you’re sleeping with the singer’s socks two inches from your nose, that’s pretty close to hell.”
Sadly, lead vocalist and complete rock legend, Bon Scott was found dead in the back of a friend's car on the 19th of February 1980, after a night of partying. The actual cause of his death remains a mystery to this day. We love you Bon.
#5 I Put a Spell on You – Credence
Witches and wizards and their ability to cast spells has always been a key element of the spookiness of Halloween.
Credence Clearwater Revival's rocky and spooky ‘I Put a Spell on You’ is a cover version of the 1956 classic, written and composed by Jalacy ‘Screamin' Jay’ Hawkins, whose own recording of it was selected as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's ‘500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll’.
Hawkins had originally intended to record ‘I Put a Spell on You’ as "a refined love song, a blues ballad". However, Hawkins recalls “the producer got everybody drunk, and we came out with this weird version. I found out I could do more destroying a song and screaming it to death”.
‘I Put a Spell on You’ has been covered by other artists extensively; there are several hundred versions of the song. Nina Simone's truly memorable version reached No. 23 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in 1965
Credence Clearwater Revival's version reached No. 58 on the U.S. Hot 100 in 1968. The band later performed it at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Combining an awesomely haunting guitar solo with John Fogerty’s scary vocals, Credence’s version of this spooky classic is an important part of any Halloween playlist.
One of the most spell-binding versions of the song was Bette Midler’s performance in the 1993 film Hocus Pocus.
#4 Werewolves of London
‘Werewolves of London’ by the late great American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, was a surprise hit in 1978. Zevon’s howling throughout the song, mixed with lyrics about a rather classy monster, painted a picture where it was easy for listeners to like the character and the funky song.
The song actually began as a joke by Phil Everly (of The Everly Brothers) in 1975. Everly had just seen the 1935 film Werewolf of London on UK TV, and suggested Zevon adapt the title for a song.
Written in 15 minutes with LeRoy Marinell, and Waddy Wachtel - it was 3 years before it was considered for inclusion on an album. However, after hearing the novelty song the day after it was written, friend Jackson Browne started performing it live in 1975.
For any of us not living in London, when Zevon sings that the werewolf was “looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook”, it would’ve meant nothing. However, the significance changes when you find out that it’s actually a real Chinese restaurant in London.
“Werewolves of London” became an overnight hit. BBC Radio listeners rated it as having the best opening line in a song. Zevon later said of the song, "I don't know why that became such a hit. We didn't think it was suitable to be played on the radio” describing ‘Werewolves of London’ as a novelty song. He also referred to the song as “a dumb song for smart people,”
The folklore tale of a man that can shapeshift to a wolf has fascinated people since the time of the Roman Empire – becoming more widely known after the middle ages when witchcraft also became widely feared – continuing until now.
The song had a brief resurgence in popularity in 1986, due to its use in a scene in The Color of Money, where Tom Cruise dances and lip-synchs to the song.
#3 Don’t Fear the Reaper
The best song about another dude who has become a favourite at any serious Halloween party.
Blue Oyster Cult’s 1976 classic, ‘(Don't Fear) The Reaper’ was written and sung by lead guitarist Donald ‘Buck Dharma’ Roeser, who says the song deals with eternal love and the inevitability of death. He wrote the song while picturing an early death for himself - fun guy.
The song was Blue Öyster Cult's highest chart success, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1976. It is listed at number 405 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 500 Songs of all Time.
With lines like "Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity", many listeners thought the song was about a murder-suicide pact, but Dharma insists that the song is about eternal love, rather than suicide, using Romeo and Juliet to describe a couple who wanted to be together in the afterlife.
The line "40,000 men and women" every day, which is used several times in the song, was actually just a guess at the statistic at the number of global deaths per day, and turned out to be 100,000 less than the real figure.
In the four decades since its release - the song has been used in more than two dozen times in film, television and video games. In the original Halloween movie, the song plays in the car when Jamie Lee Curtis' character is being stalked by serial killer Michael Myers.
In April 2000, Saturday Night Live aired the now famous comedy sketch ‘More Cowbell’. Written by Will Ferrell, the sketch has a fictionalized version of the recording of ‘(Don't Fear) The Reaper’ on an episode of VH1's Behind the Music. The sketch soon took on its own identity as ‘More Cowbell’, and became one of the first super-memes of the 21st century.
#2 Psycho Killer
If there was ever a song that could send shivers up your spine as soon as it starts, this is it.
The 1977 hit ‘Psycho Killer’ by Talking Heads first appeared on their debut album ‘Talking Heads: 77’. However, they had been playing the song since 1974, when they were known as the Artistics.
The unnerving lyrics are sung like they are the thoughts of a serial killer, and were inspired by the character Norman Bates in the movie Psycho.
Due to the timing of its release as a single in December 1977, many people instantly associated ‘Psycho Killer’ with Son of Sam serial killings that had been happening around that time. Although the band always insisted that the song had no inspiration from the notorious events, some people have still insisted that the single's release date was “eerily timely" and marked by a "macabre synchronicity".
Lead singer and songwriter David Byrne never thought this would be a hit calling it a "silly song" at the time, and was surprised when it took off. He also said that he believed that both the Joker and Hannibal Lecter were much more fascinating than the good guys, suggesting that everybody sort of roots for the bad guys in movies.
Massachusetts-based band The Fools parodied the song in 1980, calling it ‘Psycho Chicken’.
#1 Welcome to My Nightmare
Who else, but rock music’s king of scariness and horror would be number one on this list?
Welcome to My Nightmare is the title track to Alice Cooper's first solo album, released in March 1975. This was a concept album. Played in sequence, the songs form a journey through the nightmares of a boy named Steven.
In an interview, Alice said he has always loved horror movies, and also loves theatre and musicals. He claims that he always had the grand idea that he could take the basic album and create a stage show from it, which is what he eventually did.
The album inspired the Alice Cooper Nightmare TV special, then a worldwide concert tour in 1975, plus the Welcome to My Nightmare concert film in 1976. The album tour was noted as one of the most over-the-top rock shows of the late 70’s.
Not satisfied with scaring rock music fans – Alice took his freakiness into family living rooms when he appeared on the Muppet Show
DISCLAIMER: Some links included in this blog might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting Rock Reflections so that we can continue to provide you with free content.
Check out Cranky’s video ‘Best Halloween Rock Songs’ on YouTube
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Everyone needs it, the world runs on it, we’re all trying to get some of it and no-one seems to have enough of it – let’s check out the stories behind the best money songs.
6 - Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) – Pet Shop Boys
‘Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)’ was a good example of the boys’ determination to do what the song suggests. Their original version of the song didn’t do very well when it was first released in 1985. So after some reflection and a remix, the song was re-released in 1986, not long after the success of West-End Girls. This time it was a big hit in many countries, including the UK and US.
The song came about after Chris Lowe asked duo partner Neil Tennant to make up some lyrics around the idea ‘let’s make lots of money’.
With that instruction, Tennant wrote a satire about 1980’s Thatcherism in the UK, focusing on two losers – one who thinks of himself as being intellectual and educated, telling the other person that by combining the singer’s brains with the friend’s looks and brawn, they will be able to come up with a plan to make lots of money.
Tennant said that he wrote their plotting to show how they were doomed to fail, as is often the case in real-life, in these types of situations.
This satirical story cemented the Pet Shop Boys' reputation as ‘musical ironists’. Neil Tennant compared the song to the movie "Midnight Cowboy", where Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight pair up as a brains-and-brawn hustler combination.
5 - Money for Nothing – Dire Straits
This next song has one of the most recognizable intros of the 80’s.
Dire Straits’ 1985 song ‘Money for Nothing’ combined Mark Knopfler’s unique opening riff with the distinctive sound of guest vocalist, Sting’s pleading to watch MTV.
This hugely successful single from the Brothers in Arms album, plus its accompanying video, seemed perfectly timed for a huge global MTV audience. Sting reprised his guest vocals when Dire Straits performed "Money for Nothing" at the Live Aid Concert at Wembley in 1985.
Mark Knopfler says he modelled that guitar sound on ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons' trademark guitar tone. The song has a very recognizable opening hook, in the form of the guitar riff that begins the song and is repeated throughout the track. The well-known video included one of the first uses of computer-animated human characters and was considered ground-breaking at the time
Mark Knopfler says that he came up with the idea of the song when he was in New York, where he noticed a guy who worked in an appliance store, standing next to a wall of TV’s showing MTV at the rear of the shop. He was ranting to a fellow worker who was delivering boxes.
Knopfler quickly borrowed some paper and starting writing down what the man was saying, including phrases such as “that ain’t workin’” and “what are those, Hawaiian Noises?”
By drawing on these real words of an everyday worker, Knopfler was able to show how the excesses of the rock-star life are perceived by the average worker.
"Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody based on the Beverley Hillbillies for his 1989 movie UHF. Mark Knopfler OK'd the parody under one condition, he would play guitar on the song.
4 - Money, Money, Money – ABBA
I know – you’re thinking “WHAT, an ABBA song!?” But, you know that at some point when you’ve thought of money, this song has crept into your mind.
You want it so much you’ve got to say it three times. At least that’s what ABBA believed when they released the song in November 1976.
Of course, they got the money. in fact, they made so much from this and their many other hit songs, that they turned down a US$1 billion offer in 2,000, to get back together for a series of concerts.
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus claimed that they wrote the song to show both the practical and philosophical perspectives of a woman acknowledging her serious debt troubles, in spite of her efforts in working long hours and wallowing in extreme self-pity.
She plots and schemes to come up with a master plan that would solve all of her financial woes, involving successfully romancing and catching a rich man. Well, it has been done before, but not always with a happy ending.
The song was included in the 2008 film Mamma Mia!, sung by Meryl Streep’s character Donna. Hey, at least it was better than Pierce Brosnan singing.
3 - Take the Money and Run – Steve Miller Band
“Woo, Woo!”
‘Take the Money and Run’ was a big hit for the Steve Miller Band in 1976. From their 9th studio album, ‘Fly Like an Eagle’, the song reached number 11 on the U.S. Billboard charts.
Miller’s Bonnie-and-Clyde-type story, about a young couple tired of being stoner TV zombies, takes Billie Joe and Bobby Sue to a bungled robbery that ends up being a murder, with the Texas police in pursuit.
Miller stated that he wrote the song as a salute to the road trip songs he used to sing a long to when he was a kid, in the back seat of his parents’ car. Another characteristic of Miller's road songs is the mention of various locations, this time it was El Paso. In "Rock 'N Me," he does shout-outs to more cities, including Phoenix, Atlanta and Philadelphia
While some music critics have slammed the song for cheering on the wilful murder of an innocent home occupant and stealing their money, maybe they have failed to pay attention to all of the lyrics - where it is clear that Billy Joe ran into a ‘great big hassle’ and shot the man while robbing his castle. This suggests that the shooting was not intended and that the not-too-bright former stoner TV zombies will now have to spend the rest of their lives on the run from a Texan detective, plus probably other cops who are determined to bring them to justice.
The listener isn’t being asked to cheer Billy Joe and Bobby Sue on, but to actually realize the hopeless situation that they are now in, and that the only way they can survive is to take the money and run.
2 - Money (That’s What I Want) – Barrett Strong
While you’ve probably heard several versions of this well-known song, It was Barrett Strong who gave us the original in 1960.
Written by Motown founder Berry Gordy, with the help of Janie Bradford and Barrett Strong, this became the first hit record for Motown and was listed as number 288 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The upbeat song, with 18-year-old Barrett loudly insisting his need for money, was Strong’s only hit as a singer. However, Strong soon became a Motown writer lyricist, co-writing some of the biggest soul songs ever to be released by Motown, including ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’; ‘War’, and ‘Papa Was a Rollin' Stone’, plus many others.
The timing of this song was interesting, as it was a hit right in the middle of the Payola scandal, where U.S. disc jockeys were being investigated for taking bribes in exchange for playing records. Berry Gordy was warned that DJ’s wouldn't play a song about craving cash, but that sure didn’t stop them putting it on their turntables.
In 1979, Strong’s original version was used in the movie Animal House, helping establish it as a frat party favourite
The Beatles recorded their own rocked-up version in 1963, after spotting Strong's version in Brian Epstein's NEMS record store. The boys had already played the song during their audition at Decca Records on January 1, 1962, when Pete Best was still on drums.
The quirky 1979 Flying Lizards version was probably the one that was the most accurate in the desperate financial need of the artists. This theory was confirmed during an interview with band founder David Cunningham, who declared that the budget for their recording of Money was less than $10.
1 - Money – Pink Floyd
That easily recognizable opening sound mix has been telling listeners what this song is about, even before the first word is sung, for over 45 years.
Pink Floyd’s Money is from their 1973 album ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’. Ironically, while Money may be about the bad things money can bring. Pink Floyd made lots of it thanks to this song and the album, as the album sold over 34 million copies.
Money was Pink Floyd’s first USA hit, and was the highest-charting single from ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’. The iconic album stayed on the Billboard charts for 14 years.
That mix of coins and cash register sounds was thanks to Roger Waters creating a tape loop that plays throughout the song. It also contains the sounds of tearing paper and bags of coins being thrown into an industrial food-mixing bowl.
The album was engineered by famed British producer and studio genius Alan Parsons at Abbey Road Studios, where he also worked with The Beatles on the ‘Abbey Road’ and ‘Let it Be’ albums. Parsons later started his own band called The Alan Parsons Project.
The powerful lyrics of the song satire the attitude of the world’s wealthy. The line, "Money, so they say, is the root of all evil today" was intended as a paraphrase from the Bible scripture in 1st Timothy 6:10: that says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." This is where the boys seem to have misinterpreted the scriptural verse, which was actually talking about GREED and how the LOVE of money is the problem, rather than money itself.
The lyrics are briefly referenced in the film The Wall, when the young student Pink is caught writing poems in class by his teacher.
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Check out Cranky’s video ‘Best Money Rock Songs’ on YouTube
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