Songs played on non-instrument objects

I think it’s a valid example for this thread.

Queen’s Bicycle Race uses cycle bells. Wouldn’t have thought of that without you post.

When my Dad went stereo shopping, he carried along a cd of the 1812 overture. He wanted to hear how well the speakers could produce the cannons. (about 12 minutes in.)

I’m still not quite sure what the OP is after, and I can’t think of a specific song, but of some objects that are sometimes used. Jug bands blow on jugs, skiffle and folk bands use washboards played with a thimble and sometimes paper-covered combs blown on, and I have seen people playing songs on water-filled (wine) glasses by rubbing their fingers on the rims. And what about steel drums? Originally they were modified oil barrels.

ETA: the mentioning of “Money” reminded me of the fact that before recording “Dark Side Of The Moon”, Pink Floyd tried to produce a whole album exclusively using non-instrument common objects. The working title was “Household Objects”. They soon gave up.

Beat It, played on floppy drives.

PDQ Bach’s Concerto for Horn and Hardart. The Hardart was an automat, a kind of vending machine.

In Phish’s “I Didn’t Know,” the drummer plays a vacuum cleaner. (also heard at the end of “Bouncing Around the Room.”)

This is what @Beckdawrek was alluding to above, when she paged me. I play the spoons, hence my username. They’re a percussion instrument. I’ve played them to British and Irish traditional; Canadian Newfoundland, Maritime, and Ontario traditional; and Bluegrass and American Applachian tradional. Some Australian tunes fit also, but I’ve never had the opportunity to play spoons in Australia. I have played in the US and Canada, however.

But I wouldn’t say that you can play a song on them, in the way steel drums can be played to produce a melody. Oh, I can modify my style and playing to produce different sounds, but it’s always with a band that plays the genres I mentioned above. A spoons solo sound like a spoons solo. “Click-pop-clickety-slam-pop.” Not terribly interesting, unless I’ve got a band behind me.

But when I do, it’s Katie bar the door. Do I—do we, the band and I—ever have fun!

In the end, if you ever have me over as a guest in your home, inventory the silverware before I arrive. You might find that you’re missing a couple of spoons when the evening concludes. :wink:

“Ave Maria” - played on piano….and saw. Musical saw - Ave Maria - Schubert - YouTube

Einstürzende Neubauten play (in addition to traditional instruments) various non-instruments such as power tools, industrial ducting, steel sheets, springs, water tanks, shopping carts…
Here’s an early piece that really gets the effect across, here’s a later full concert.

Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia” was based on a recording of someone playing a piano bench.

Here’s Bach’s Toccata & Fugue in D Minor played on glasses partially filled with water. Remarkably good.