# Let's give a shout out to all the great lyricists both past and present. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235 "2005-09-30T18:42:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/21 "2005-09-30T21:29:53Z")
Paula Abdul _Srtaight Up_ “A bop-pa-ba-ba bop-pa-bop-pa-pa” ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/22 "2005-09-30T21:36:00Z")
The end of Journey’s _Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’_: Nah nah, nah naaah nah, nah nah, nah naaah nah, nah nah, nah naaaah nah, nah naah nah naah nah naaah. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/23 "2005-09-30T21:36:52Z")
Na na na na, Na na NA nA Hey Hey-ey, Good-bye. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/24 "2005-09-30T21:38:54Z")
Eep. Op. Ork. Ah Ah. That means I love you. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/25 "2005-09-30T21:43:08Z")
Beep-beep 'm beep-beep, _yeah!_ ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/26 "2005-09-30T21:48:00Z")
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang ---
**Author:** ![SleepyDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@SleepyDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SleepyDuck)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/27 "2005-09-30T21:50:29Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Duran Duran _Reflex_ > > “Why-yi-yi-yi … w-w … why-yi-yi … yeah” Hey, Duran Duran was eclectic: First Album (_Planet Earth_): Bop bop bop ba ba ba ba bop Rio (_Hungry Like the Wolf et al_): Do do do do do do do… ---
**Author:** ![3catshappy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/b9e5f3/32.png) [@3catshappy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3catshappy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/28 "2005-09-30T22:02:11Z")
"Lolliepop,lolliepop,oohh lollielolliepop,lolliepop, POP! ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/29 "2005-09-30T23:00:20Z")
Don’t worry if it’s not good enough … la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la ( I had a Sesame Street album with all the lyrics written out, in case I forgot them) Trio’s ‘da da da’ actually had a lot more words to it than just the one. Heck, there’s more words in the title : “da da da Ich Lieb Dich Nicht du Liebst Mich Nicht Aha Aha Aha” They don’t write 'em like that anymore … uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/30 "2005-09-30T23:12:30Z")
I would like to shake his hand, but I don’t know who he is. I’m talking about the guy who comes up with the brilliant lyrics for all those foxy little R&B divas I hear on the local Top 40 station. Who can forget classic lines like: OoooooooOOOOOOooooo, baaaaaaaaby baaaaby, baaby, oh ooooooh oooooooh uh-huh, yeah yeeeeaaaah… aaaaaaaaah ah ah aaah aaaay-yeeaaah… Actually, that line wasn’t from any specific song. But you know the type I mean. The R&B songs where the backup singers seem to actually have more lines to sing than the foxy diva? There are two variations on the style: 1. The backup singers do the actual singing while the foxy diva goes really high and provides a steady stream of obligattoes over the top. 2. The music uses the “call and response” technique, except that the backup singers do the “call” part and the foxy diva provides the “response”. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/31 "2005-09-30T23:33:46Z")
and unless i missed it, Sting’s Da Doo Doo Doo Di Dah Dah Dah ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/32 "2005-09-30T23:37:14Z")
I don’t think do wop songs should count. The non-words serve a purpose. They are there to show off the beautiful harmonies. And I hate to rag on a Guest, but Lollipop, lollipop oh, lolly lollipop are actual words. Stupid words but words nontheless. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/33 "2005-09-30T23:41:59Z")
look what the google ads were (are?) right now: Download Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Listen to Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Yahoo! Music Unlimited Crash Test Dummies music and more! 1,000,000+ Songs ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/34 "2005-09-30T23:51:06Z")
_No-no, no, no, no, no-no-no, no, no-no, no, no-no Na-no, no, na-no, no-no, na-no, no-no, no, no-no, no_ …that will show those “yeahs”. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/35 "2005-10-01T00:01:46Z")
MMMBop, ba duba dop ba do bop, Ba duba dop ba do bop, Ba duba dop ba do. Oh yeah, MMMBop ba duba dop ba do bop, Ba duba dop ba do bop, Ba duba dop ba do Oh yeah, in an MMMBop they’re gone. Yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/36 "2005-10-01T00:05:39Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom ba ba bom ba ba bom ba ba dang a dang dang > Ba ba ding a dong ding Blue moon moon blue moon dip di dip di dip > Moo Moo Moo Blue moon dip di dip di dip Moo Moo Moo Blue moon dip di dip di dip > Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom ba ba bom ba ba bom ba ba dang a dang dang > Ba ba ding a dong ding > > Who was that man? I want to shake his hand! Keep looking. In a ‘Great singles of Rock’ book by (I think) Dave Marsh he reveals that the whole intro section was _improvised_ by the band in one take. Now _that’s_ genius. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/37 "2005-10-01T00:05:57Z")
I love all those Esquivel “space-age bachelor pad” songs with the backcup singers going “zu zu zuuuuu zu zu zu zu zuuuuuu…” And don’t forget Hasil Adkins’s “She Said” (memorably covered by The Cramps): \*\* Oo! Ee! Ah-ah! Oo! Ee! Ah-ah! Oo! Ee! Ah-ah! OOOOOoooooooo… ahhhhhhhh\*\* ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/38 "2005-10-01T00:10:58Z")
I love all those Esquivel “space-age bachelor pad” songs with the backcup singers going “zu zu zuuuuu zu zu zu zu zuuuuuu…” And don’t forget Hasil Adkins’s “She Said” (memorably covered by The Cramps): \*\* Oo! Ee! Ah-ah! Oo! Ee! Ah-ah! Oo! Ee! Ah-ah! OOOOOoooooooo… ahhhhhhhh\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/39 "2005-10-01T07:11:47Z")
Didn’t Kylie Minogue have a huge hit in which the chorus consisted of: > [@](#): > > _na na na, na na na na na, na na na, na na na na na, na na na, na na na na na_ ? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235/40 "2005-10-01T07:13:54Z")
:smack: And the Google ads, once again, have switched to “Mailing Lists”. How the hell does that almost invariably happen? Have we _ever_ talked about mailing lists here, except maybe in GQ threads about how to get _off_ of them? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-a-shout-out-to-all-the-great-lyricists-both-past-and-present/324235.md?page=3)