An estimated 92% of us experience earworms. Despite the annoying times we can’t get a chorus or a hook of an overplayed pop song out of our heads, getting a really good earworm stuck can be one of the best things, ever. We here at Nerdist are dead set on bringing you those types of songs—even if only for the weekend. So shove this into your grey matter!
I know I’m a few days late but I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Friends, family, jobs, health, love, and life–chances are, there is some aspect of one of those things we can all appreciate and be thankful for. Personally, I am beyond thankful that my dum-dum ideas and words get to be published in articles like this and I am thankful for you, the reader, for spending time reading them. While we all slowly meander in and out of our food comas only to dive back into them by building Ross’ Moistmaker, here’s a Thanksgiving meal of a playlist.
Ohio Players – “Jive Turkey”
Oh yes, that’s how this week’s article is going and there’s no better way to start a Thanksgiving playlist than with the star of the meal. The Ohio Players are certainly more well-known for songs like “Love Rollercoaster” and “Fire,” but I think “Jive Turkey” certainly earns a spot in regular rotation or at least on a few holiday playlists.
Dee Dee Sharp – “Mashed Potato Time”
What’s a turkey dinner without mashed potatoes? This, among other songs of the era, always reminds me to keep things in perspective when it comes to judging new music. Growing up, any time parents or older family members criticized the music I listened to, I would think of songs like this one by Dee Dee Sharp and how they were just as weird as anything I enjoyed. The phenomenon of songs instructing you to do a particular dance resurfaces every so often, but none had such a spot-on (and batsh*t crazy) supplemental song as Sharp’s “Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)“.
We need more side dishes!
Louis Jordan – “Beans and Cornbread”
I proffer that there isn’t a person out there that hates this song. Strong words, I know, but how can you dislike such an upbeat and silly song about anthropomorphic foods? Most are probably familiar with this tune as the theme for the TBS series Dinner and a Movie. One of my favorite things to do with this song, since it’s available on most jukeboxes, is put it on at a busy bar. The people-watching you get when people realize what they’re listening to is some of the finest in the world.
What’s Turkey Day without some drinks?
Reel Big Fish – “Beer”
There is certainly no shortage of songs about drinking. Most, like the one above, aren’t entirely happy affairs, but given all the choices for songs to share, I have to go with ska every time. Plus, even though it’s the earwormiest of earworms that ever earwormed, what kind of jerk would I be if I shared a drinking song like Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping“?
There are certainly more food-related or, at least, slightly food-adjacent songs that would go well with any holiday that involves big meals. Share your favorites in the comments below so we can compile a smorgasbord of songs to hopefully keep “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” away from our ears in the coming weeks.
Image: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Blake Rodgers writes for Nerdist from Chicago, IL where he lives happily with his Guinness World Record for High Fives. You can be his pal by following him on Twitter (@TheBlakeRodgers)
