Whilst writing about the Yardbirds hit single “For Your Love” for my rock history class, I stumbled upon a track listing for the album of the same name, where the last track was a cover of “My Girl Sloopy” (aka “Hang On Sloopy”). I clicked on same, and was taken to this page where I did find The Most Awesome Piece of Legislature Ever:
In April 1985, a columnist for the Columbus Citizen-Journal, Joe Dirck, saw a wire service story about a proposal to designate “Louie, Louie” the state rock song of Washington and wrote a column about it. This goaded the 116th Ohio General Assembly into action and it designated “Hang on Sloopy” the state rock song by House Concurrent Resolution 16 on November 20, 1985. The General Assembly did not enact the measure into law—unlike “Beautiful Ohio” when it was made the state song—or even take it seriously, e.g., certain clauses read,
"WHEREAS, "Hang On Sloopy" is of particular relevance to members of the Baby Boom Generation, who were once dismissed as a bunch of long-haired, crazy kids, but who now are old enough and vote in sufficient numbers to be taken quite seriously"
and
"WHEREAS, Adoption of this resolution will not take too long, cost the state anything, or affect the quality of life in this state to any appreciable degree, and if we in the legislature just go ahead and pass the darn thing, we can get on with more important stuff".
Ohio is the only state to have an official state rock song.
ftg
May 15, 2006, 2:18am
2
A much better choice would be “Whip It” by Devo.
It may also help to know that “Hang On Sloopy” is/was frequently covered by marching and/or pep bands at Ohio State University, and therefore also at many Ohio high schools (including mine).
Funk 49 by the James Gang.
EVERY high school pep band I have ever heard plays Hang on Sloopy. And I’m in California, so I doubt that there is that much reasoning behind that.
Frank
May 15, 2006, 3:26am
6
Yeah, but I bet that in California they don’t go O!-H!-I!-O! in the middle of the song.
I didn’t know it was that universal. Ohioans do tend to claim it as their own, anyway, which may have been some of the reasoning for the legislature.
Not to take anything away from Ohio, but I think Idaho’s resolution on Napoleon Dynamite is some pretty sweet legislation. It includes the famous clause :
They’ve still got a way to go before the match the awesome coolness of Kentucky’s legislature and HR256
A RESOLUTION encouraging the purchase and vigorous use of the USS Louisville 688 VLS Class submarine.
They even included a provision to notify the Casinos of their impending whoopin’!
It’s amazing to me that this fun fact was posted to two different threads in the same day (once by me). Link
