Children’s songs tend to be lively and playful, but as we grow older we try to be more serious. It’s therefore important that we rekindle our childhood sense of fun, creativity, and play. Some songs have funny-sounding words, like “Aweemaway,” “Chim-Chim Cheree,” “Hinky Dinky Parlez Vous,” “Polly Wolly Doodle,” “Shipoopi,” or the “Oompa Loompa” song from The Wizard of Oz. Some of these funny words relate to real-world sounds. If you turn on the motor of a really old car, it might sound like “Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang,” “Pop Goes the Weasel,” or “Seventy-Six Trombones.” Examples of songs that are for exercise and require physical activity include “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,” or “You put your left foot in; you put your left foot out; you put your left foot in and shake it all about” or “The Hokey Pokey,” The “Beer Barrel Polka,” and “My Hat / It Has / Three Corners.” There are also creative songs designed for learning languages, like “Alouette,” “Frère Jacques,” and “Sur le Pont D ’Avignon.” Some playful and creative songs demonstrate linguistic principles, like the assimilation of “Mairzy Doats,” or Gilbert and Sullivan’s patter “Major General Song.” A contrast of feminine rhyme with masculine rhyme can be seen in “Hennesy Tennesy Tootles the Flute” in “Me Name is McNamara; I’m the Leader of the Band.” Visual imagery is demonstrated in “Camptown Races,” and “Would you Like to Swing on a Star.” In Monty Python’s Spamalot there is a parody song entitled “The Song that Goes Like This.”
on a Star, and Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Country music fans of a certain age are familiar with the parodists duo (Sandy) Pinkard & (Richard) Bowden.
I remember interviewing them years ago about copyright, fair use et al and being informed that most artists and songwriters were flattered to have their work parodied with one notable exception: Jimmy Dean.
Dean, the writer of his crossover smash "Big Bad John," refused to cooperate with Pinkard & Bowden.
Nothing personal. He just didn't see the humor in parodies of his songs.
Stacy: Thanks for your insights. In my PowerPoint about "Humor and Law," I discuss the issue of copyright and fair use in relation to parody. I'm attaching that PowerPoint. Thanks again for your insights.
Very great Prof. Dr. Don L. F. Nilsen Childhood is the foundation of life... May Allah reward you with the best reward.
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