Sunday morning music

Let's have a slightly zany look at a ridiculous song that grew out of 1960's rhythm & blues, segued into rock 'n roll, and went from there through punk rock, thrash rock and even Brazilian self-described "porno rock".

In 1962, the Rivingtons recorded a nonsensical doo-wop song titled "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow".

They went on to adapt the song into a follow-up tune called "Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow (The Bird)".

They developed this, in turn, into a third song called simply "The Bird".  Here's a live performance, showcasing the dance they "developed" for it.

That should sound familiar, because The Trashmen combined "Mana-Oom-Mow-Wow" and "The Bird" to produce a close copy of the songs.  They called it "Surfin' Bird".  It became a big hit for them in 1963.  They originally claimed it was their work, but the Rivington's lawyer intervened.  Thereafter, the latter group was credited as the originators.

You'd think the songs, individually or in combination, would die a natural death as later musical styles and genres succeeded them;  but you'd be wrong.  They've been recorded by a number of groups in different styles over the years, their nonsensical lyrics lending themselves to adaptation.  Here, for example, is disco star Giorgio Moroder's first hit, "Looky Looky", from 1969.  The backing singers are using "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" as a lyric.

Punk rock group The Ramones produced their rendition in 1977.  This recording is a live performance from late 1978.

German thrash metal band Sodom also performed the song.  I'd have thought it anything but suitable for that genre, but I guess anything can be made to fit if you beat it heavily enough!

Let's have one last example.  Brazilian rock group Os Cascavelletes (who described their genre as "porno rock") had a go at it in the 1980's.  They called their version "Pombo Surfista", and recorded it on their demo album.

I have little doubt future versions will be recorded, by groups and in genres as yet unknown.  The Bird lives!

Peter