# What song is this? (Warning: Worst description ever...and yodeling?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364 "2008-06-01T17:23:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/1 "2008-06-01T17:23:05Z")
So there’s this song I hear every now and then, but I can never remember what it’s called. The song, as I recall, starts off relatively normal, then maybe around halfway, there’s some quasi-yodeling added. It goes like this: Yodeling sound, yodeling sound, yodeling sound, bum dum dum. (I think it then repeats again – Then right after that, the vocalist starts making a noise which keeps getting higher in pitch, over the span of 3-4 seconds) Told you that was a terrible description – sorry. So yeah, it’s a male vocalist, and it’s a very upbeat song. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/2 "2008-06-01T17:30:15Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpV5InLw52U) ? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/3 "2008-06-01T17:37:52Z")
Dude, I freaking love you. I can’t believe you figured it out based on my horrendous description, not to mention that I even got the timing of the yodeling wrong. So major, major props and thanks! ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/4 "2008-06-01T17:41:13Z")
Not too many songs that feature yodeling. Man could that lead guitar player shred a guitar or what? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/5 "2008-06-01T17:43:00Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] Man could that lead guitar player shred a guitar or what? [/QUOTE] Yeah, hardcore. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/6 "2008-06-01T17:47:15Z")
BTW I was on the same quest about 15 years ago, trying to figure out the name of this song. Hocus Pocus…by Focus. It’s available in different versions so if you’re thinking of dloading an mp3, keep that in mind. Youtube is your friend. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/7 "2008-06-01T17:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] BTW I was on the same quest about 15 years ago, trying to figure out the name of this song. Hocus Pocus…by Focus. It’s available in different versions so if you’re thinking of dloading an mp3, keep that in mind. Youtube is your friend. [/QUOTE] Wow, I’m lucky you post here on the dope then! And thanks for the tip about the different versions. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/8 "2008-06-01T20:23:14Z")
Too bad that song isn’t available for _Rock Band_ or on any Karaoke playlists I have seen; that would be the definition of “hilarity ensues.” ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/9 "2008-06-01T23:18:00Z")
Don’t know why they had different versions, Red. It could have been that the original was too long for radio play, I guess. At any rate, quite a tour de force musically. I’d like to see some guitar heroes attempt it. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/10 "2008-06-01T23:54:51Z")
Ha! About 15 years ago, I had the same burning question! I was entranced by the song. I was somehow convinced that it was Jethro Tull (the flute part, I guess). I asked the school’s “Tull expert,” but he had never heard it. One day, I heard it again, and called the station for like 10 minutes, and finally got through and found out the name. Bought the tape, which isn’t so hot, IIRC. Just by the subject line of the OP, I knew it HAD to be Hocus Pocus, before even opening it. Good times, good times… Joe ETA : Looks like this is a common tale… ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/11 "2008-06-02T00:08:49Z")
I read yodeling in the thread title and immediately thought _“Hocus Pocus”_. Saw them at Winterland back in the day…they did indeed ROCK. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/12 "2008-06-02T00:13:21Z")
[QUOTE=wheresgeorge04] Ha! About 15 years ago, I had the same burning question! I was entranced by the song. I was somehow convinced that it was Jethro Tull (the flute part, I guess). I asked the school’s “Tull expert,” but he had never heard it. One day, I heard it again, and called the station for like 10 minutes, and finally got through and found out the name. Bought the tape, which isn’t so hot, IIRC. Just by the subject line of the OP, I knew it HAD to be Hocus Pocus, before even opening it. Good times, good times… Joe ETA : Looks like this is a common tale… [/QUOTE] My thought process exactly, re: the flute and Jethro Tull. I happened to find a local store that would search for hard-to-locate vinyl etc. I asked. Some other instrumentals people may not know the names for: Santo & Johnny/Sleep Walk [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_bFp-DlVNtk/maxresdefault.jpg "Santo & Johnny - Sleep Walk") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bFp-DlVNtk) B Bumble and the Stingers/Bumble Boogie ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GApq1XGzNNE/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/GApq1XGzNNE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Edgar Winter Group/Frankenstein [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x1mV_5-bRPo/hqdefault.jpg "Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1mV_5-bRPo) Mason Williams/Classical Gas ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mguzKze1sYo/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/mguzKze1sYo?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Dick Dale/Misirlou [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZIU0RMV_II8/hqdefault.jpg "Dick Dale & The Del Tones "Misirlou" 1963") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIU0RMV_II8) Percy Faith/Theme from “A Summer Place” ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mERbQIvgJXs/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/mERbQIvgJXs?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Hugh Masekela/Grazing in the Grass ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KVpcDyjn3a0/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/KVpcDyjn3a0?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Practically instrumental… Gary Glitter/Rock ‘n’ Roll Part 2 ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7xd44PWZGzg/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/7xd44PWZGzg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/13 "2008-06-02T00:34:29Z")
Oops, one more, and unfortunately youtube doesn’t have it. Billy Preston (RIP)/Space Race > **[Best Buy: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of Billy...](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/20th-century-masters-the-millennium-collection-best-of-billy-preston-cd/4608918.p?skuId=4608918&st=Billy%2BPreston)** > > Shop 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of Billy Preston \[CD\] at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee. (track 5) ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/14 "2008-06-02T14:54:02Z")
I was sorting out some singles I still have a couple of months ago and leaned back - snap! And that was the end of my _Hocus Pocus_ 45. ☹ The ‘b’ side was _Sylvia_, as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/15 "2008-06-02T15:34:34Z")
Wow, I hadn’t thought about Focus for years. I remember wondering how “Thijs,” which I think was the lead man’s first name was pronounced. Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/16 "2008-06-02T15:46:28Z")
Wow, I hadn’t thought of Focus in years, either. There’s another [17-minute clip](http://youtube.com/watch?v=pRd0Z37Dt8Y&feature=related) of them on You Tube that’s much more recent. I wonder if they’re still touring? I’d forgotten how musically solid they were – so many bands of that era sucked, even if I did love them, but these guys rocked! ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/17 "2008-06-02T15:50:12Z")
I used to say ‘This’ like the beginning of ‘thistle’. Thjis Van Leer and Jan Akkerman are both still touring - Ackermann was the guitarist, Van Leer played the organ & flute - as Focus, and also individually, I think. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/18 "2008-06-02T15:52:13Z")
[QUOTE=RiverRunner] Wow, I hadn’t thought about Focus for years. I remember wondering how “Thijs,” which I think was the lead man’s first name was pronounced. Anybody know? [/QUOTE] “Tice” (rhymes with mice). ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/19 "2008-06-02T16:04:38Z")
I expect **Biffy** ’s right; we just guessed back then and never had much reason to say his name anyway! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364/20 "2008-06-03T15:45:17Z")
That rocked, although I didn’t love the vocals. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-is-this-warning-worst-description-ever-and-yodeling/451364.md?page=2)