‘John and Marsha’: How a 1950s song told an entire romance with just two words
Brevity is key.
Novelty song
‘The Legend of Xanadu’: A teen cop, a dead rock star, and a 1960s novelty hit
Dave Dee always wanted to start a band, but it took a tragedy to set him on the right path.
Chipmunk soul: How a 1950s recording trick inspired a hip-hop trend in the 2000s
What Kanye West learned from Alvin, Simon and Theodore.
‘Beans in My Ears’: The tragic novelty song that hospitalised multiple children
Don’t try this at home.
Pre-Velvet Underground Lou Reed tried to create a new dance with a novelty tune
‘The Ostrich’ did not catch on.