Following news that the "Fanfare for the First Lady" was nothing more than the lightly reworked theme music from "F Troop", a number of readers left suggestions as to what alternative theme tunes might be used. One of them, perhaps inevitably, was "Yakety Sax", also known as the Benny Hill theme. However, the Benny Hill Show used only part of "Yakety Sax" as its theme, omitting several of the variations in the original piece.
"Yakety Sax" is also said to be very hard to play for any saxophonist, due to the very difficult breath control needed to play some of the longer sections. Boots Randolph allegedly called it the most difficult saxophone piece he'd ever played, and kicked himself for having composed it! Be that as it may, it became his signature piece, demanded by audiences wherever he appeared.
Here's Boots Randolph performing his own composition.
The music has been used to indicate a funny, satirical or slapstick video more times than I can recall. My favorite is still one I put on this blog back in 2013. The authorities in New York City had banned an annual skateboarding event known as the "Broadway Bomb". After the organizers defied the ban, the NYPD was ordered to stop the skateboarders. Mayhem (of the very funny variety) ensued. Someone filmed it from his apartment balcony, and set the resulting video to the tune of the Benny Hill theme, with highly entertaining results. The music was a perfect fit for the action.
I hope that brought a smile to your face this Sunday morning!
Peter
3 comments:
Personally, I think that "The Lady Is A Tramp" is perfect for Jill .
Later, Chet Atkins recorded it for guitar, as "Yakety Axe". Atkins and Randolph (plus piano) can be seen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4RoT6DwWOg . And Atkins and Knopfler recorded it for two guitars on their Neck and Neck album, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBK5AGFZWQ8
That piano player is Ray Stevens, who is an excellent singer and musician, and probably worthy of his own Sunday music post.
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