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".
"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 La. I 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?
Na Na Na: https://krakenfiles.com/view/ZAasvGOgKf/file.html
ReplyDeleteSha La La: https://krakenfiles.com/view/MgNOi6XnLz/file.html
Another Stinky Production
I must be the only one who likes these guys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq-FyNYSdas
ReplyDeleteThat's a great one!
DeleteViacom 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.
ReplyDeleteThanks 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
ReplyDeleteGenius, I was just having a na na musical debate the other day and now you deliver a comp, thx a ton. Jeremy
ReplyDeleteGlad we could help! That sounds like my kind of debate.
DeleteGreat 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
ReplyDeleteAnother 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!
DeleteNa Na Na - NO TRACK 21......!
ReplyDeleteCorrupt file!?
Cheers
Stephen
All of our compilations are FULLY guaranteed!
ReplyDeleteHere's Track 21: Na Na Na - My Chemical Romance:
https://www111.zippyshare.com/v/kaaCUeFE/file.html
- Stinky "Quick Fix" Le Pew
A "Guarantee" that actually means something...with great Customer Service.
Delete(Lacking in most other interactions with being a "customer").
Thank you.
Cheers
Stephen
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
DeleteThe "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
DeleteThis 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
DeleteGreat 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!
DeleteYes. 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.
DeleteSuperb job! Thanks very much, Stinky and Jonder!
ReplyDeleteGreat 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.
DeleteAnother great suggestion, gela! Thank you. My knowledge of Nederbeat is sorely lacking.
Delete