JumboXL Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I just heard Guns 'n Roses' Patience on the radio. Nice song, until the whistling starts. It suddenly struck me that songs that have whistling in them really are no good. Brian Ferry ruined Jealous Guy by whistling at the end. The whistling in the opening tunes of The Scorpions' Gorky Park automatically triggers my finger at the remote control. Is there ever any whistling done in rock 'n roll that can be approved of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I think if it's a funny or really light-hearted, just-don't-care kind of song it's alright. Not always, it can get really annoying, but those songs get away with it more easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Me and Julio Down At the Schoolyard - Paul Simon Daydream - Lovin' Spoonful Walking the Dog - Rufus Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 All of Andrew Bird's whistling is excellent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeBB Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 (edited) Jungle Love - Steve Miller (this is tuneless dog-whistling, like "Walk The Dog" and "Me And Julio"... I don't think the original poster's point holds at all for this kind of whistling) Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding (super cool!!!) The Stranger - Billy Joel Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel (spooky whistling) Centrefold - J. Geils Band Generals and Majors - XTC And let's not forget that John Lennon's original version of Jealous Guy featured him whistling. It wasn't just some weird thing that Roxy Music decided to throw in. LBBBbb Edited December 16, 2008 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 The whistling in the opening tunes of The Scorpions' Gorky Park automatically triggers my finger at the remote control. Is there ever any whistling done in rock 'n roll that can be approved of? the song's called "Wind of Change" and it's their biggest hit here by far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 "Walk Like An Egyptian" has some whistling in it that I always thought quite well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding (super cool!!!) this one was sampled in De La Soul's Eye Know, which is also super cool this one's quite catchy, dunno if it's really a good song though Young Folks ~ Peter, Bjorn & John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Sorry Jumbo but your anti-whistling campaign seems to have run aground here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viaene Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Hocus Pocus features whistling too, and that's a great song Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Man, you hit it there...Hocus Pocus surely rocks and features some serious whistling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I think if it's a funny or really light-hearted, just-don't-care kind of song it's alright. Not always, it can get really annoying, but those songs get away with it more easily. Such as this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 ^ good one after listening to "Whistling" Radio for an hour or so I got some more ideas: Alpha Beta Gaga ~ Air Twisted Nerve ~ Bernard Herrmann For a few Dollars more ~ Ennio Morricone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 The whistling in Patience ruins the song? I think it's one of G 'n' R's better songs, meself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 "Wunderbar" - Tenpole Tudor has a cracking whistling break (in lieu of a guitar solo), as well as one of the catchiest choruses you're ever likely to hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viaene Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 The whistling in Patience ruins the song? I think it's one of G 'n' R's better songs, meself I join this opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Here is a live recording of "Jolly Roger" - Adam And The Ants; my least favourite song from the "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" album, but it does boast a splendid whistling solo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_s_1987 Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 I just heard Guns 'n Roses' Patience on the radio. Nice song, until the whistling starts. It suddenly struck me that songs that have whistling in them really are no good. Brian Ferry ruined Jealous Guy by whistling at the end. The whistling in the opening tunes of The Scorpions' Gorky Park automatically triggers my finger at the remote control. Is there ever any whistling done in rock 'n roll that can be approved of? Sorry, but like most people here, I disagree with everything you said there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 Don't fret, Jumbo, I can't stand whistling in any way. It completely gets under my skin and I damned sure don't want to hear it in a song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 my former co-worker used to whistle all the time. He was an excellent whistler, which is why I never minded it at all. When he was whistling, I knew he was happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Baloni Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 Don't fret, Jumbo, I can't stand whistling in any way. It completely gets under my skin and I damned sure don't want to hear it in a song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KSYeAAWbIw Merry Christmas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 In a way, this thread has illustrated the point of the original poster (whoever that was; I forget), in that we have provided lots of examples of whistling in songs, but almost all are from pop, soul, etc. (i.e relatively "lightweight" musics); very little from the "rock" genre, and even less that amply demonstrates the ability of whistling to enhance the song. However, The Circle Jerks were a punk band, and no mistake. Punk, as I understand it, is a strain of hard rock. Argue, if you will. Here- "Wonderful"- the Circle Jerks use whistling to great effect. Without it, the song would just be...nowhere near as good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 alright, then listen to: Engel ~ Rammstein and how about Whistle for the Choir ~ The Fratellis? not their 'hardest' song, but... btw, wasn't there some Meat Puppets song with whistling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyberjudge Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 Here's another rock classic, whistling included: Love is a Battlefield-Pat Benatar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeBB Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 btw, wasn't there some Meat Puppets song with whistling? Yes, there's a few Meat Puppets songs with whistling. There's the Whistling Song, surprise surprise, but that's not very rock. "Maiden's Milk" is much rockier, basically an instrumental, from my favourite MP album, Up On The Sun. I've got to go listen to that album now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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