Unusual popular songs from when you were a teen

[ChiroDoc]

One that pops into my head once in awhile is the haunting 1961 song, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", by Brit group The Tokens. which became a number 1 hit in the U.S.

It was based upon a version of the song "Wimoweh" by The Weavers in 1951, which in turn had been based upon "Mbube" by Zulu singer Soloman Linda and his group The Evening Birds in 1939.

 

[hollydolly]

One that pops into my head once in awhile is the haunting 1961 song, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", by Brit group The Tokens. which became a number 1 hit in the U.S.

It was based upon a version of the song "Wimoweh" by The Weavers in 1951, which in turn had been based upon "Mbube" by Zulu singer Soloman Linda and his group The Evening Birds in 1939.

I remember it well....

a couple of many from my youth were these 2....

this from '71in the middle of the skinhead era

 

[jujube]

"Telstar". You couldn't dance to it, fast OR slow.

 

[CallMeKate]

1976... Disco Duck. Didn't understand the reasoning back then... or now!

 

[MaddHollander]

“Rumble” was unusual because it was an instrumental without any lyrics and became immensely popular because it was banned, seldom if ever played on the radio, but it could be found in jukeboxes.

 

[Brookswood]

A Boy Named Sue.

 

[Disgustedman]

"They're coming to take me away" (ha-haaa) that was about a dog running away from home.

"Timothy" song about three miners trapped in a cave in and two came out with full stomachs.

T

 

[Paladin1950]

Neanderthal Man - Hot Legs (later changed their name to 10cc)

I actually bought this single.

 

[Elsie]

Rock Around The Clock...(Bill Haley and the Comets)

 

[Krystal]

Unusual or popular, we still had the best music!!

 

[Twostep]

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainesbourg

 

[JustBonee]

 

[CallMeKate]

"Timothy" song about three miners trapped in a cave in and two came out with full stomachs.

Oh.My.Lanta! I wasn't a teen yet in early '70 when the song came out... but although I do remember the song, I never knew what it was saying... until today. Kinda wish it had stayed that way.

 

[Aunt Bea]

 

[Georgiagranny]

Purple People Eater. I was 17 that summer and working as a car hop at a place that blared pop music. It created an ear worm that just wouldn't go away! Then I got lucky and got a job at the University of Michigan, far far away from that drive-in.

 

[Aunt Bea]

 

[Aunt Bea]

 

[Naturally]

 

[JustBonee]

 

[Naturally]

 

[hollydolly]

I love this song..always have

 

[ChiroDoc]

“Rumble” was unusual because it was an instrumental without any lyrics and became immensely popular because it was banned, seldom if ever played on the radio, but it could be found in jukeboxes.

I wonder why it was banned, being an instrumental? Maybe because it was suggestive of the bump and grind of a striptease artist. Dunno.

 

[Paco Dennis]

In 1968 /9 this song was shocking. To say the bad words right out. Also they are cursing about BAD drugs. There must be a difference.?

 

[ChiroDoc]

If you were a teenager in 1969 you might have found "Frownland" pretty unusual.. From Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band from the album Trout Mask Replica:

 

[NotCompSavvy]