JumboXL 0 Report post 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? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Seeker 0 Report post 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bluesboy 5 Report post Posted December 16, 2008 Me and Julio Down At the Schoolyard - Paul Simon Daydream - Lovin' Spoonful Walking the Dog - Rufus Thomas Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scott 0 Report post Posted December 16, 2008 All of Andrew Bird's whistling is excellent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeeBB 0 Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Farin 2 Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shawna 1 Report post Posted December 16, 2008 "Walk Like An Egyptian" has some whistling in it that I always thought quite well done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Farin 2 Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Joe 0 Report post Posted December 16, 2008 Sorry Jumbo but your anti-whistling campaign seems to have run aground here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viaene 0 Report post Posted December 16, 2008 Hocus Pocus features whistling too, and that's a great song Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonJonSurfer 15 Report post Posted December 16, 2008 Man, you hit it there...Hocus Pocus surely rocks and features some serious whistling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Seeker 0 Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Farin 2 Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levis 6 Report post Posted December 16, 2008 The whistling in Patience ruins the song? I think it's one of G 'n' R's better songs, meself Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blind-fitter 0 Report post 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viaene 0 Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blind-fitter 0 Report post 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c_s_1987 0 Report post 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tenacious_Peaches 0 Report post 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shawna 1 Report post 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Baloni 0 Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blind-fitter 0 Report post 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Farin 2 Report post 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? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cyberjudge 0 Report post Posted December 17, 2008 Here's another rock classic, whistling included: Love is a Battlefield-Pat Benatar Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeeBB 0 Report post 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... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites