Week Seventy-Eight: Spooky Tunes - Part Deux - Bubblegum Rock Style - Vic Mizzy - "The Addams Family Theme Song"

Happy Halloween!!!

I have already mentioned that I ADORE The Addams Family, and I realize that the theme song is not exactly Bubblegum Rock. However, it was released around the same era as the Bubblegum Rock craze, and I'm hoping you'll let it slide. I have also already mentioned that I had the pleasure of seeing The Addams Family musical performed as part of the Dallas Summer Musicals last year, and I even dressed up as Wednesday Addams for Halloween two years ago --- because dressing up as Morticia would have been less-than-appropriate school attire. All of the adults knew that I was Wednesday, but my students thought I was Esther from the film, Orphan. When I cleared it up for them that I was actually Wednesday, most of them had no clue to whom it was I was referring, until they went home and looked it up that evening... it's a sad state of affairs these days, folks, when the youngsters are not familiar with The Addams Family!!!

Since Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, I dug through some old photos and tried to find some pictures to commemorate my celebrations throughout the years. You have to keep in mind that every day was pretty much Halloween for me from the ages of about 15 to 26, and I posted many of those photos last year on October 31st. However, I did find some others to share with you this year... so here goes:

This one was taken around 1981 because we were still living in Mesquite at that time. I loved my costume, but it was so hard to breathe in that silly mask. I was supposed to be some kind of princess!

This one was taken around 1982 at our house on McNeil Street. This was one of the first pumpkins that I ever remember helping to carve. I think we did a fairly decent job!

Please excuse my lapse in judgment for this one --- I was still drinking very heavily at this point!!! This one was taken in 2003 when I dressed up as a pimp-ette, complete with a pimp-ette cane and a pimp-ette hat. I got lots of free drinks that night though!!! :-D Believe it or not, I became a Catholic school teacher less than one year later!!!

This one was taken in 2008 when my ex and I decided to dress up as vampires. I actually had red hair at that point, from using henna, which is why I am wearing a wig in the picture --- please also excuse the poor quality of this photo; it was printed on very cheap photo paper. I still had braces at that point too, which is why my mouth and lips look a little funny!

And as a treat for you today, I will include another Spooky Tune that would qualify as Bubblegum Rock called "Love Potion #9" below the lyrics... I hope you have a fantastic All Hallow's Eve!!!

They're creepy and they're kooky,

Mysterious and spooky,

They're all together ooky, 

The Addams Family.

Their house is a museum 

Where people come to see 'em 

They really are a scream 

The Addams Family. 

(Neat) 

(Sweet) 

(Petite) 

So get a witches shawl on 

A broomstick you can crawl on 

We're gonna pay a call on 

The Addams Family.

Week Seventy-Eight: Spooky Tunes - Part Deux - Bubblegum Rock Style - David Seville - "The Witch Doctor"

I had no knowledge of this until I saw YouTube comments and consulted Wikipedia, but it is the same David Seville (a "stage name"), who sings this song, that is responsible for creating Alvin and the Chipmunks.

I loved Alvin and the Chipmunks when I was growing up. It was one of the after-school cartoons that I simply could not miss!!!

Interestingly enough, I taught a set of triplets whose names were Allen, Eric, and Kevin. I used to tell them that they better be glad that I was never their mother because I would have made them dress up as Alvin, Simon, and Theodore every year for Halloween. They would always assure me that they would have loved for me to be their mother even if they had to run around as Chipmunks once a year!!! :-D

I will include both the original version of this song, as well as the version that is marketed as Alvin and the Chipmunks...

I told the witch doctor I was in love with you

I told the witch doctor you didn't love me too

And then the witch doctor, he told me what to do

He said that ....

[Chorus:]

Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang

Walla walla, bing bang

Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang

Walla walla, bing bang...

Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang

Walla walla, bing bang

Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang

Walla walla, bing bang

I told the witch doctor you didn't love me true

I told the witch doctor you didn't love me nice

And then the witch doctor, he game me this advice

He said to ...

[Chorus]

Now, you've been keeping love from me

Just like you were a miser

And I'll admit I wasn't very smart

So I went out and found myself

A guy that's so much wiser

And he taught me the way to win your heart

My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to say

My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to do

I know that you'll be mine when I say this to you

Oh, Baby ....

[Chorus]

Week Seventy-Eight: Spooky Tunes - Part Deux - Bubblegum Rock Style - Sheb Wooley - "The Purple People Eater"

Today, I have a really fun tale for you. My little dog, Pixie (pictured below), whom I mentioned last week, is a Chihuahua-Terrier mix, and she is a playful little thing!!!

Her favorite toy is called a loofa (pictured below), and the very first one I ever bought for her was purple.

So you can probably see where this story is going, but I would call her toy the Purple People Eater. I eventually got tired of saying the whole thing, and I started to say: "Pixie, go get Purple!!!" She would come running down the hall, with her Purple in her mouth, tripping over herself and her toy, just as happy as could be...

Now, it doesn't matter what color loofa I purchase because to her they are all Purple. In fact, her current loofa is tiger-striped (pictured below), but it's still a Purple People Eater as far as she is concerned!!! :-D

Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky

It had the one long horn, one big eye

I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"

It looks like a purple eater to me

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater

(One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)

A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater

Sure looks strange to me (One eye?)

Well he came down to earth and he lit in a tree

I said Mr. Purple People Eater, don't eat me

I heard him say in a voice so gruff

I wouldn't eat you cuz you're so tough

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater

One-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater

One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater

Sure looks strange to me (One horn?)

I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line

He said it's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine

But that's not the reason that I came to land

I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band

Well bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater

Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater

(We wear short shorts)

Flyin' purple people eater

Sure looks strange to me

And then he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground

He started to rock, really rockin' around

It was a crazy ditty with a swingin' tune

Sing a boop boop aboopa lopa lum bam boom

Well bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater

Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater

I like short shorts

Flyin' little people eater

Sure looks strange to me (Purple People?)

And then he went on his way, and then what do ya know

I saw him last night on a TV show

He was blowing it out, a'really knockin' em dead

Playin' rock and roll music through the horn in his head

[Clarinet solo]

Tequila

Week Seventy-Eight: Spooky Tunes - Part Deux - Bubblegum Rock Style - Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers - "The Monster Mash"

So this is the first time since the school year started that I'm a little sad that I'm no longer teaching. I love Halloween, and every year around October 31st, I would show my 8th grade class The History Channel: Haunted History of Halloween --- my actual copy is pictured below on VHS:

If you've ever seen it, then I will assure that I would always turn off the projector and fast forward past the naked painting of Pamona, goddess of the harvest, because that is not something anyone should be sharing with a room full of adolescent boys!!!

Regardless, the documentary is so rich with religious references, which is why I was ultimately given the "okay" to show it, but it also covers the fact that the holiday was taken from the Pagans; so, in my opinion, it really gives a fair evaluation of both sides.

Today's song, "The Monster Mash", is featured throughout the documentary. Additionally, towards the end, there is another really fun song called "Boogie-Woogie Boogie Man Halloween" by The Brian Sisters that I'm including today, as well.

I was working in the lab, late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab, began to rise

And suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash, he did the monster mash

The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash

He did the mash, it caught on in a flash

He did the mash, he did the monster mash

From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the mash, they did the monster mash

The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash

They did the mash, it caught on in a flash

They did the mash, they did the monster mash

If you've ever seen a monster before

Dancin' across the dance floor

Don't be afraid, don't run and shout

Turn around and help the monster turn it out

Get down with the monster mash

Get down with the monster mash

Get down with the monster mash

Get down with the monster mash

And if you don't have core hard cash

You can still do the monster mash

The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, 'The Crypt-Kicker Five'

They played the mash, they played the monster mash

The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash

They played the mash, it caught on in a flash

They played the mash, they played the monster mash

Out from the coffin', Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

He opened the lid and shook his fist and said

"Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?

It's now the mash, it's now the monster mash

The monster mash, it was graveyard smash

It's now the mash, it caught on in a flash

It's now the mash, it's now the monster mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash, then you can monster mash

The monster mash and do my graveyard smash

Then you can mash, you'll catch on in a flash

Then you can mash, then you can monster mash

The monster mash

Get down with the monster mash

Get down with the monster mash

Get down with the monster mash

Mash

Week Seventy-Seven: Songs of 1977 - The Ramones - "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" - Rocket to Russia

In honor of my 36th birthday, which I will celebrate on Sunday, October 27th, for Week Seventy-Seven, I am going to cover songs from the year 1977, which just so happens to be the year of my birth!!!

~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~

This song is really special to me for an incredibly bizarre reason, and I can't even believe that I am sharing this with you --- but here goes...

I have now owned three dogs that I actually went to the city pound and picked out from all of the available doggies to come home and to be my very own. Each one of these pets has had a very distinct personality. The two dogs that I still own today are Pixie and Budgie. Pixie is a total hippie. She's very easy-going and an extreme pacifist. Budgie, on the other hand, is a complete gansta'. He growls at everything and is constantly trying to pick fights with dogs 10x's his size. My other little dog, Siouxsie, who passed away in 2007 due to kidney failure, was none other than... a punk rocker!!! :-D

I would sing this song to her, obviously changing the name Sheena to be replaced by the name Siouxsie. I would even make her do the pogo dance while I was singing it to her. I'll include a picture of my little Siouxsie below while she was on-guard to protect me from the picture taker while I was sleeping... she would have bitten his hand off if he had gotten any closer... that precious little dog loved me more that I can even put into words here, and I loved her back just the same!!!

(You can totally see the "come closer... I dare you" look in her eyes!!!)

"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" was released somewhere between April and July of 1977, depending on which source you consult. I have already shared a cover of "Let's Dance" that The Ramones did, and I probably should have an entire week dedicated to them. Instead, I will include some of my favorites below today's lyrics called: "I Wanna Be Sedated", "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Do You Wanna Dance?" (cover), and "California Sun" (cover)

Additionally, I will include a patch that I have --- it was sewn on a jacket, but that jacket fell apart a few years ago --- and an album for the soundtrack to Rock 'N' Roll High School that a student gave me for Christmas one year. Apparently, his dad was cleaning out his closet and thought I might want it; so he brought it to school, along with a Starbucks card, just in case he was mistaken about the album! :-D

Another female who would have been a total punk rocker is Carmencita from the opera, Carmen. I had the pleasure of seeing the first dress rehearsal on Tuesday night. Donnie Wayne is crooning his heart away... Morrissey-style (as he likes to say)... as a soldier in The Dallas Opera production of Carmen. The scenery is breathtaking, and the singing brought tears to my eyes at certain points... and they weren't even necessarily giving it their all since it was a rehearsal. Friday night is opening night... go check it out!!! All of the pertinent info is on the back of the ticket below, along with Donnie Wayne's autograph!!! ;-)

Well the kids are all hopped up and ready to go

They're ready to go now

They've got their surfboards

And they're going to the discotheque a go go

But she just couldn't stay

She had to break away

Well New York City really has it all

Oh yeah, oh yeah

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker now

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker now

Well She's a punk punk, a punk rocker

Punk punk, a punk rocker

Punk punk, a punk rocker

Punk punk, a punk rocker

Well the kids are all hopped up and ready to go

They're ready to go now

They've got their surfboards

And they're going to the discotheque a go go

But she just couldn't stay

She had to break away

Well New York City really has it all

Oh yeah, oh yeah

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker now

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker now

Well She's a punk punk, a punk rocker

Punk punk, a punk rocker

Punk punk, a punk rocker

Punk punk, a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker now

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker

Sheena is a punk rocker now [x2]

Week Seventy-Seven: Songs of 1977 - Iggy Pop - "Lust for Life" - Lust for Life

In honor of my 36th birthday, which I will celebrate on Sunday, October 27th, for Week Seventy-Seven, I am going to cover songs from the year 1977, which just so happens to be the year of my birth!!!

~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~

"Lust for Life" is one of those tunes that has the uncanny ability to get me so pumped. I love when it comes on my iPod when I'm getting ready in the morning or when I hear it on 1st Wave on Sirius when I am on my way to work!!!

Interestingly enough, this song was co-written by David Bowie... on a ukelele?!?!?!

It was also included in one of my all-time favorite films, Trainspotting. I swear that I will never be able to shake my Ewan-McGregor-Trainspotting-Era-Crush... that one will never, ever go away --- not that I even really want it to go away!!!

"Lust for Life" was released on August 29, 1977. You might remember me mentioning during the Duets week, when I posted "Candy" by Iggy Pop and Kate Pierson, that I was never a huge Iggy Pop fan; therefore, I have nothing Iggy Pop-related to share with you today. However, what I can share with you is Siouxsie Sioux's cover of "The Passenger", which was originally by Iggy Pop, and I will include Iggy's version, as well!

Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another strip tease.
Hey man, where'd ya get that lotion?
I've been hurting since I've bought the gimmick
about something called love
Yeah, something called love. 
Well, that's like hypnotizing chickens.
Well, I'm just a modern guy 
Of course, I've had it in the ear before.
I have a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life.
I'm worth a million in prizes 
With my torture film 
Drive a GTO 
Wear a uniform all on a government loan. 
I'm worth a million in prizes 
Yeah, I'm through with sleeping on the sidewalk
No more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With liquor and drugs 
With liquor and drugs. 
Well, I'm just a modern guy 
Of course, I've had it in my ear before
Well, I've a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause of a lust for life (lust for life, oooo) 
I got a lust for life (oooo) 
Got a lust for life (oooo) 
Oh, a lust for life (oooo) 
Oh, a lust for life (oooo) 
A lust for life (oooo)
I got a lust for life (oooo)
Got a lust for life.
Well, I'm just a modern guy Of course, 
I've had it in my ear before
Well, I've a lust for life
'Cause I've a lust for life.
Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine I know He's gonna do another strip tease.
Hey man, where'd ya get that lotion? 
Your skin starts itching once you buy the gimmick about something called love
Love, love, love 
Well, that's like hypnotizing chickens.
Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in the ear before 
And I've a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause I've a lust for life (lust for life)
Got a lust for life Yeah, 
a lust for life
I got a lust for life 
A lust for life
Got a lust for life 
Yeah a lust for life
I got a lust for life 
Lust for life 
Lust for life 
Lust for life
Lust for life
Lust for life

Week Seventy-Seven: Songs of 1977 - The Clash - "White Riot" - The Clash

In honor of my 36th birthday, which I will celebrate on Sunday, October 27th, for Week Seventy-Seven, I am going to cover songs from the year 1977, which just so happens to be the year of my birth!!!

~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~

So during my very first year of teaching, I was informed that the 8th graders that year were bound and determined to be the "worst 8th grade class ever" that graced the halls of the school --- in reality, they turned out to be my favorite class!!!

The personalities in that group of 78 adolescents were so widely varied, but I had a handful of boys who were die-hard fans of The Clash. It was most likely less than appropriate to allow them to enter my classroom singing "White Riot" and "London Calling", but I swear that I would have the equivalent of what must be a proud parent moment when I would hear them reciting The Clash. 

That was the only class that I ever taught that had musical tastes anywhere near my own. In fact, I ran into one of the girls from that class at the Depeche Mode show a few weeks back.

I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I really don't own a ton of memorabilia relating to The Clash, but I will share an image of a patch that is sewn onto one of the bags that I carry around.

You may already know this, but The Clash snagged that design from Elvis Presley:

"White Riot" was released on March 18, 1977, and since we are celebrating the year of 1977, it would be completely apropos to include the tune by The Clash called "1977", as well as "London Calling", since I mentioned it above. I will also include another favorite called "Train in Vain"...

White riot - I wanna riot
White riot - a riot of my own
White riot - I wanna riot
White riot - a riot of my own

Black people gotta lot a problems
But they don't mind throwing a brick
White people go to school
Where they teach you how to be thick

An' everybody's doing
Just what they're told to
An' nobody wants
To go to jail!

White riot - I wanna riot
White riot - a riot of my own
White riot - I wanna riot
White riot - a riot of my own

All the power's in the hands
Of people rich enough to buy it
While we walk the street
Too chicken to even try it

Everybody's doing
Just what they're told to
Nobody wants
To go to jail!

White riot - I wanna riot
White riot - a riot of my own
White riot - I wanna riot
White riot - a riot of my own

Are you taking over
or are you taking orders?
Are you going backwards
Or are you going forwards?

Week Seventy-Seven: Songs of 1977 - The Sex Pistols - "God Save the Queen" - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols

In honor of my 36th birthday, which I will celebrate on Sunday, October 27th, for Week Seventy-Seven, I am going to cover songs from the year 1977, which just so happens to be the year of my birth!!!

~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~

I was looking through a long list of songs from 1977, and I was quite intrigued by the fact that so many pivotal punk tunes were released during the year of my birth. I think I mentioned, at one point, that I went through roughly a summer's worth of a punk phase, when I was in high school, after I got a wee bit tired of being goth... It was very short-lived, but I still possess and wear some of my super-cool plaid pants that I scored that summer at local thrift stores.

I also still possess a somewhat rare Sex Pistols shirt that I picked up in 1994 at Hairy's, which was located at Ferguson and Lakeland in Dallas. I say somewhat rare because I have only seen a few others here and there on eBay. Additionally, I still possess a few books about The Sex Pistols, Nancy Spungen (Sid's girlfriend), and Johnny Rotten --- all of which I will share pics or scans with you.

My love for the punk lifestyle may have been fleeting, but my love for The Sex Pistols will remain eternal!!!

"God Save the Queen" was released on May 27, 1977, in conjunction with Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. Although Johnny Rotten has claimed that it was purely coincidental that it was released at precisely the same time as the Jubilee, as opposed to being intentional, I'm not so sure that I believe Mr. Rotten!!! There are obviously so many Sex Pistols tunes that I could share with you, but instead, I will share another one of their major hits, "Anarchy in the U.K." If they turn out to be your cup o' tea (yeah, I know that was a terrible English pun), you can easily locate their other tunes on YouTube.

God save the queen

It's a fascist regime

They made you a moron

A potential H-bomb

God save the queen

She ain't no human being

There is no future

In England's dreaming

Don't be told what you want

Don't be told what you need

There's no future, no future,

No future for you

God save the queen

We mean it man

We love our queen

God saves…

God save the queen

'Cause tourists are money

And our figurehead

Is not what she seems

Oh God save history

God save your mad parade

Oh Lord God have mercy

All crimes are paid

When there's no future

How can there be sin

We're the flowers in the dustbin

We're the poison in your human machine

We're the future, your future

God save the queen

We mean it man

We love our queen

God saves…

God save the queen

We mean it man

And there is no future

In England's dreaming

No future, no future,

No future for you

No future, no future,

No future for me

No future, no future,

No future for you

No future, no future

for you