Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Na Na Na, Sha La La

 

Stinky brings us a pair of mixes that go together: one with songs featuring the phrase "na na na" and another with "sha la la" songs. 

Don't underestimate the appeal of "na na na" in popular music! The J. Geils Band had a #1 hit called "Centerfold" with a catchy "na na na" intro, and "na na na" was the chorus of Blink 182's #1 hit "All The Small Things". Journey's first Top 40 hit might include the most na na na's of all. 

Joe South was a believer in the power of "na na na": he wrote "Games People Play" and covered Billy Joe Royal's song "Hush".

Of course, you've gotta include "Hey Jude" and "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" if you're making a compilation of "na na na" songs (and Stinky acknowledges that it may have been done before).

"Sha La La" is another vocal phrase with a rich musical history. There's "Sha-La-La" by The Shirelles, "Sha La La" by Thin Lizzy, and "Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La)" by The Ramones. I like the way Stinky includes lesser known versions of some familiar songs. 

I lobbied for "B.Y.O.B." by The Fleshtones -- maybe it will make the cut if there's a Volume 2 of Sha La LaI also suggested "Street Waves" by Pere Ubu, but it turns out that David Thomas isn't singing "na na na" in the chorus, and Stinky isn't an Ubu fan. Who knew? Indeed, who knows what Stinky will put his mind to next -- maybe Tra La La, Ooh La La, or Shoo Be Doo?

20 comments:

  1. Na Na Na: https://krakenfiles.com/view/ZAasvGOgKf/file.html

    Sha La La: https://krakenfiles.com/view/MgNOi6XnLz/file.html

    Another Stinky Production

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  2. I must be the only one who likes these guys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq-FyNYSdas

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  3. Viacom must be dreaming a dreaming a dream if he thinks he's the only one who likes Brooklyn's beloved band. CHA! CHA! CHA! Oh, & thanks Stinky...guess I shoulda started with that.

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  4. Thanks for checking these out folks! They were fun to make. Even Jimmy Durante liked that little band from Brooklyn! No, wait... that was "RA-Cha-Cha!" - Stinky

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  5. Genius, I was just having a na na musical debate the other day and now you deliver a comp, thx a ton. Jeremy

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    1. Glad we could help! That sounds like my kind of debate.

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  6. Great compilations, thanks! Here's one you may not have heard before, which betrays the kind of music I was into in, say, 9th grade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy6KkAbIgHc

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    1. Another good Na Na Na song! A little pitchy near the end, dawg. I had not heard this before, and I like the rough edge in her voice. Thanks!

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  7. Na Na Na - NO TRACK 21......!
    Corrupt file!?

    Cheers
    Stephen

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  8. All of our compilations are FULLY guaranteed!

    Here's Track 21: Na Na Na - My Chemical Romance:
    https://www111.zippyshare.com/v/kaaCUeFE/file.html

    - Stinky "Quick Fix" Le Pew

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    1. A "Guarantee" that actually means something...with great Customer Service.
      (Lacking in most other interactions with being a "customer").

      Thank you.
      Cheers
      Stephen

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    2. Okay, let's take it back one step further. "Land of 1,000 Dances" was a song by soul/R&B singer Chris Kenner. Good song, but no real hook. But in 1965...Cannibal & the Headhunters added their famous "Na na na naa" chant to the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZFzKZyyQK0

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    3. The "na na" chant was kept when Wilson Pickett took "Land of 1,000 Dances" to the top of the charts (#1 R&B, #8 Pop): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mz_EXHKGHs

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    4. This particular "na na" gets musically quoted a LOT, hitting the charts again in the 1990s with Ina Kamoze's "Here Comes The Hotstepper" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0N4twV28Mw

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    5. Great one! I read recently that Cannibal added the "na na na's" because he couldn't remember the words to Chris Kenner's song. Inspiration was born out of desperation, and the Headhunters scored a hit!

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    6. Yes. Later covered by Wilson Pickett, who kept the "na na na's" and took it to the top of the R&B and Pop charts. Also, check out Ini Kamoze's 1994 hit "Here Comes The Hotstepper." The "Cannibal na na na's" also became a chant used a sporting events and pep rallies.

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  9. Superb job! Thanks very much, Stinky and Jonder!

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    1. Great Na Na Na list! But where is the Dutch band The Shoes (with Theo van Es on vocals)) with their Na Na Na? A toptenner in 1967. They had about 10 hits in The Netherlands. Worked with the same producer as Golden Earring(s) did.

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    2. Another great suggestion, gela! Thank you. My knowledge of Nederbeat is sorely lacking.

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