KENNEDY’S BARBER CLUB®: REMEMBERING MUSIC THAT SHOULD STAY FORGOTTEN

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Our Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® recently saluted the proud American tradition of barbershop quartet singing in a recent article (BARBERSHOP QUARTETS: OR, WHO WANTS TO JOIN “SPEBSQSA?”). 30,000 Americans still actively participate in it, quartets still perform in such public arenas as Disney World – and remember, even Homer Simpson found success in a barbershop quartet (“The Simpsons,” Season 5, Episode 1 – when the Be Sharps conquered the music world).

The traditional barbershop quartet songs are fairly well known – “By the Light of the Silvery Moon,” “For Me and My Gal,” and “Sweet Adeline.” But we became intrigued by the Barbershop Harmony Society’s giant online index of sheet music – what other buried treasures lurked there, just waiting to be brought to life in four-part man harmony?

The answer was quite illuminating. For instance, TV fans can enjoy arrangements of “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island,” “The Jeopardy Theme,” “The Happy Days Theme” and “The Muppet Show Theme, ” while 60’s and 70’s music aficionados can hum along with “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a “Carpenters Medley,” “Build Me Up Buttercup,” “Candy Man,” and “Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road.” We were sad to note the absences of “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” and “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero.”

What was even more interesting than the songs we knew was the songs we had no idea ever existed – vintage (read: not only before we were born, but possibly before our grandparents were born as well) tunes with intriguing titles that made us want to order the entire lyric sheet for a full-blown psychological inquiry.

Here are a few that stood out for us – and please remember, all these are real songs:

“I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Hot Dogs” – Yes? And what do you intend to do with them?

“The Spaniard That Blighted My Life” – Another argument against illegal immigration.

“Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” – Don’t tell PETA.

“Your Bulldog Drinks Champagne” – Yes, and my hamster eats caviar, what of it?

“If I Knock the ‘L’ Out of Kelly” – He’ll probably beat the ‘S’ out of you

“If He Can Fight Like He Can Love, Goodnight, Germany” – And he’s worse than Hitler

“Never Throw a Lighted Lamp at Mother” – What, an unlit one is fine?

“Never Hit Your Grandma With a Shovel” – Seriously – were these common problems?

“Where did Robinson Crusoe go with Friday on Saturday Night?” – I give up. To hit Grandma with a shovel?

So, when you hear the next terrible Britney Spears song, remember – it could be worse. She could record “I Like to Go Swimmin’ With Wimmin’.” Actually, now that she’s been alerted to the existence of it – she just might. Sigh.

We can’t promise barbershop quartets at our Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club® – but we can promise upscale surroundings, all the modern amenities including a complimentary beverage, as well as our outstanding Signature Straight Razor Shaves and Haircuts. Watch for more Kennedy’s locations opening soon – and find out how to invest in an outstanding franchise business opportunity of your own at http://www.kennedysbarberclub.com.

In the meantime, please remember to remove all shovels and lighted lamps from your home. No sense inviting temptation.

Leave a Reply

As Seen In:

Join Our Mailing List