Sunday, January 14, 2018

The 10 best gibberish pop song titles

Poppydash and baldercock! 

There could not be a ranking more unscientific (or insignificant). But why so serious?


Parameters (four of 'em!):


  • this list ranks only the absurdity of the title, not the appeal of the song itself 
  • only hit songs were considered
  • the title had to be multiple words, meaning timeless classics from "Sussudio" to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" didn't qualify (try again next time, "Mmmbop")
  • some of these songs have been covered by multiple artists; I singled out what I think is the most famous of the recordings (there's one tie)

10. "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop"—Little Anthony and the Imperials, 1960
  9. "Boogie Oogie Oogie"—A Taste of Honey, 1978
  8. "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"—The Beatles, 1968
  7. "Be-Bop-A-Lula"—Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, 1956
  6. "Rama Lama Ding Dong"—The Edsels, 1958
  5. "Da Doo Ron Ron"—The Crystals, 1963; Shaun Cassidy, 1977
  4. "Do Wah Diddy Diddy"—Manfred Mann, 1964
  3. "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"—The Police, 1980 (a response to songs such 
      as the previous two on the list)
  2. "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"—James Baskett (Song of the South), 1946
  1. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"—Iron Butterfly, 1968

As you see, most were not novelty songs. Title length is a factor (eight words are better than two). The most represented decade is the 1960s.


Honorable mentions:


  • "MMMBop"—Hanson, 1997
  • "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"—Steam, 1969
  • "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day"—Stevie Wonder, 1968 (inspired "Shoo-Bee-Doo" on Madonna's Like a Virgin album)
  • "Yakety Yak"—The Coasters, 1958
  • "Sh-Boom"—The Chords, 1954
  • "Wooly Bully"—Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, 1965
  • "Da Da Da"—Trio, 1982
  • "Bawitdaba"—Kid Rock, 1999
  • "Ooby Dooby"—Roy Orbison, 1956
  • "Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu"—Dicky Doo and the Don'ts, 1958
  • "Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang"—Silver, 1976
  • "The Oogum Boogum Song"—Brenton Wood, 1967

Not released as a single but I feel like mentioning:

  • "Impacilla Carpisung"—The Ting Tings, 2008

In case you want to make your own list, here are more to choose from.

1 comment:

Bob Rivard said...

How can neither your list nor the linked list have what SHOULD be the #1 entry... Mairzy Doats?