So I was just sitting here at my desk listening to the song "People in the City" by AIR and realized how drawn I am to song that spell words in their songs. It's just a clever twist on the use of language or something.

I was wondering what everyone's favorite songs are that include the singer spelling random or not so random words for the listener. And which do you think are the most clever or thoughtful.

I'll give my quick list to start us off

AIR - "People in the City" I love it when French people spell in English!

Sufjan Stevens - "They are Night Zombies! etc.." My nomination for the best use of spelling in a song. Spelling has never sounded so undead before.

Subtle - "Falling" From their Yell&Ice" EP. It took me forever to realize that he actually spelling something real. "E to the V to the E to the R to the Y to the T to the H to the I to the N to the G to the I to the S to the E to the M to the P to the T to the Y, and it runneth over!" Nice!

Share!

The first thing that came to mind is "Saturday Night" by the Bay City Rollers. "S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night! S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night!"

My favorite spelling song might be "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers. "Now the D and the A and the M and the N and the A and the T and the I-O-N"

I'll play along:

Over & Over - Hot Chip
k-i-s-s-i-n-g
s-e-x-i-n-g
c-a-s-i-o
p-o-k-e
y-o-u
m-e
i


Turn On Me - The Shins
You had to know that I was fond of you, fond of Y-O-U.

and of course:

D.A.N.C.E. - Justice
Do the D-A-N-C-E 1,2,3,4, fight!
Stick to the B-E-A-T get ready to ignite
You are such a P-Y-T catching all the lights
Just easy as A-B-C that how we make it right

F-I-R-E I-N C-A-I-R-O!

The first thing I thought of was Cap'n Jazz's "In The Clear":

a-b-c-d-e-f-g-h-i-j-k-lost!

"Washington, D.C." by the Magnetic Fields

And we can't forget about Van Morrison's Gloria:

G-L-O-R-I-A!!!

Plus some Faith No More:

Be aggressive
B-e aggressive
B-e a-g-g-r-e-s-s-i-v-e

Interesting topic.

I can only think of one at the moment:

The Format - Dog Problems (spells B-E-C-C-A)

F-R-I-C-T-I-O-N

It's been on the tip of my tounge all day, but I couldn't place it. I just realized the killing blow to end this discussion.

In my mind the undebatable best use of spelling in a song goes to:

"D, world destruction
Over and overture
N, do I need
Apostrophe T, need this torture?

Don't don't don't let's start!"

-Don't Let's Start by They Might be Giants

If you "count" counting, I'll include "Jenny (867-5309)" by Tommy Tutone

Muddy Waters "Mannish Boy"
Magnetic Fields "Washington DC"
Aretha Franklin "Respect"
XTC "Your Dictionary"
Herman's Hermits "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am"
Kinks "Lola"
Gwen Stefani "Hollaback Girl"

Another one I just thought of: Stephen Malkmus' "Troubbble". It might be the only song that features incorrect spelling of a word.

I had forgotten "Troubbble". I have misplaced that album and haven't heard it in a long time. Now I really want to try and find it...

There's an Okkervil River song that spells out "unconditional love." I'm pretty sure it's on the Sleep & Wake Up Songs EP. I'll probably figure it out here soon.

EDIT: I guess it was "Happy Hearts" off of Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RavingLunatic,

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
"Washington, D.C." by the Magnetic Fields

This was the first one I thought of.

I apologize in advance, but I would be remiss to omit "Spelling Bee" by Missy Elliot. I'm sorry but everyone's got to have at least one vice.

And kudos to EricG for busting out the Squirrel Nut Zippers reference. Hoo-hah!

The end of Weezer's "Death and Destruction" spells out "I love you" at the end.

And of course, there is Wu-Tang's brilliant, "Method Man" (M-E-T-H-O-D MAN)

There's a Books song off of their first album Thought For Food that is built around recordings from a spelling bee. I don't remember the name of it though. Reviewers really liked it, but I thought the song sucked.

How about "The Canadian Dream" by Sam Roberts? (This is off of his first album, We Were Born in a Flame.)

S.O.C.I.A.L.I.S.M. is here to stay,
S.O.C.I.A.L.I.S.M. is the only way.