Daily Dirt: And we’ll have Fun, Fun, Fun ’til her daddy takes the T-Bird away

Daily Dirt for Aug. 16, 2021
By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture

Songs that repeat the same word repeated in the title have long been catchy and provided some of our all-time favorites. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best such songs we’ve enjoyed in the rock era for Vol. 39 of the Daily Dirt:

A. Here’s my top 20 songs that have doubled (or even tripled or quadrupled) up the same word in the title:

1. “Sugar, Sugar,” by the Archies (1969). It’s been 52 years since I first heard this song, and it still sounds great. The lead singer for this studio group was Ron Dante, who is still singing today at age 75.

2. “Chewy, Chewy,” by the Ohio Express (1968). Faithful readers of the Daily Dirt know the Ohio Express was from my hometown back in Ohio. These guys were the unofficial kings of bubble-gum pop music in the late 1960s.

3. “Cherry, Cherry,” by Neil Diamond (1966). Neil Diamond has enjoyed dozens of hits during his long and successful career, but I think this remains his finest overall offering. My No. 2 Neil Diamond hit was “Thank the Lord for the Night Time.”

4. “Louie, Louie,” by the Kingsmen (1963). Check out the history of this song if you want an entertaining read. 

5. “Woman, Woman,” Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (1968). Arguably the finest pop voice of that era.

6. “Do Do Do Do, Da Da Da da,” by the Police (1980). One of the all-time great sing-a-long songs.

7. “Mony, Mony,” by Tommy James and the Shondells (1968). Tommy James had three No. 1 songs, but this — surprisingly — was not one of them.

8. “Rebel, Rebel,” by David Bowie (1974). Not a big fan of Bowie, except for this song.

9. “Monday, Monday,” by the Mamas and the Papas (1966). Michelle Phillips of this group went on to stardom on the small screen in “Knots Landing.”

10. “Shame, Shame,” by the Magic Lanterns (1969). One of those marvelous one-hit wonders from a magical era in pop music.

11. “Dance, Dance, Dance,” by the Beach Boys (1965). It’s hard to fathom the Beach Boys are now Beach Grandpas.

12. “Talk, Talk,” by the Music Machine (1966). One of those garage rock classics.

13. “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” by the Buckinghams (1967). The only time the words “mercy, mercy, mercy” are mentioned are at the very end of the song, and you have to listen carefully.

14. “Mercy, Mercy,” by the Ohio Express (1969). “Have mercy, mercy, have mercy on me.” Lyrics were never one of the group’s strong suits.

15. “Hello, Hello,” by the Sopwith Camel (1967). See No. 10.

16. “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy,” Ohio Express (1968). See No. 14.

17. “Turn, Turn, Turn,” by the Byrds (1965). The Byrds were one of those mid-1960s bands that produced songs with deep meanings … yawnnnn.

18. “Baby, Baby,” by Amy Grant (1991). Amy Grant wrote this for her daughter, Millie, who is now 31 years old.

19. “Fun, Fun, Fun,” by the Beach Boys (1964). If it seems like these guys have been around forever, well … they have.

20. “Bang, Bang,” by Sonny and Cher (1966). Is it just me, or could Sonny not sing a lick? Cher carried this duo for years.

B. The worst item I have ever ordered in a restaurant was something called a “shrimp steak,” basically mashed up shrimp into a huge patty. To this day, I’m not sure what possessed me to order such a monstrosity, but 46 years later I still have occasional nightmares about that choice. I got terribly sick a couple of hours afterward. My stomach has never forgiven me for that night.

C. It’s always a good night when you can manage to watch a few episodes of “Seinfeld.” Here are a few excerpts from my latest venture into the land of Jerry:

Elaine: “See, the great thing about robbing a fat guy is it’s an easy getaway, you know? They can’t really chase ya!”–

Frank Costanza (George’s father): “George, we’ve had it with you. Understand? We love you like a son, but even parents have limits.”

Kramer: Moles (are) freckles’ ugly cousins.”

Steve Eighinger writes for Muddy River News. He likes big butts and he cannot lie.