I’m looking for songs in which a human makes animal noises. Real animal noises that have been dubbed in don’t count. I’ll start with David Bowie howling like a dog in “Diamond Dogs.” I think he also says “bow wow” at one point.
99 Responses to “Last Man Standing: Songs Containing Animal Noises”
If Lennon had spent more than 5 minutes writing the lyrics, “Hey Bulldog” would be seen as one of the great late-era Beatle tracks. It’s rather a stomping little groove.
This is actually worth listening to in its entirety – proof that Procol could rock out with some serious power when they wanted to. They weren’t just Bach-borrowings and prog rock – not by a long shot.
Interesting question – Adrian is good at animal noises, isn’t he? Listen to King Crimson’s “Elephant Talk” and “Dinosaur”. But in the spirit of the question, I’d have to say no it doesn’t count.
All kinds of jungle animal sounds on Bowie/Eno’s African Night Flight off Lodger – too — I think they are made by humans, but could be in the same boat as Belew.
I am pretty sure there are humans making dog noises towards the end of the Monkees “Gonna Buy Me a Dog.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBlitTE9kLk But judge for yourselves.
I will accept the Werewolves of London noises because they just sound like regular old wolf noises to me.
I was torn about using the guitar to make animal noises. One the one hand, it would open the contest up to all manner of chirping bird noises. But ultimately, I think it would lead to too many distracting side issues so as a point of clarification, the noise has to be made without the benefit of an instrument.
Speaking of bird noises, the tweets and tweedly-deets in Rockin’ Robin by Little Anthony and the Imperials (?)
crimson played chicago/philly/new york in ’08. great show. saw belew solo in ’85 or ’86. paled in comparison to crimson, but probably still worth seeing.
I was going to ask you to tell us when the alleged muskrat noises come in so all of us wouldn’t have to suffer but jazzcoleman seems to have performed some sort of public service.
Were those noises really Roger? They sound awfully synthetic… Not that I’m going to challenge you and run the risk of having to verify the muskrat noises in the previous post, just wondering.
Again with the chickens. Slim & Slam – “Chicken Rhythm” (aka “The Dirty Rooster”)…also sounds a little like a common expletive, but I’m sure that’s purely coincidental:
The Folksmen – Barnyard Symphony has chickens clucking, horses neighing, crickets fiddle dee deeing, bullfrogs croaking and pigs oinking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH5XGMzc8No
Ha! Norm Nardini and the Tigers. I have to check some of that stuff out on youtube. I saw him in 81 and he was bizarre and fascinating on stage. I recal the music being cool too but I was not particularly sober at the time.
OK, this is a stretch and probably doesn’t count….but, loooong ago I had a Slade live album one of the guys in the band howls prior to a song. Then afterwards he says “My howlin’ wolf”! It always kind of cracked me up that he felt the need to explain his actions. Perhaps, I’m way off but I almost picture Noddy looking over at with a “WTF” look on his face.
I think they were pretty cool. The live album that song comes from was recorded on a WMMS Coffeebreak concert, which means it was 11:00 AM on a Wednesday. I cut school for some of those. I remember Wiggy Bits being particularly fun, but it may have been the Bloody Mary’s and my underage self just tickled to death to be avoiding all my responsibilities and rocking out instead.
More jungle animal noises at the beginning of “Everybody Wants Some” by Van Halen….Plus, Diamond Dave utters the immortal line, “A chicka booble laba lookin’ for a moo-pee” :
Bobby, according to several lyric sites, the line is: “I took a mobile light looking for a moonbeam.” But obviously you are closer to the reality of it.
I don’t think even Dave knows what he said there. In fact, I kind hazily recall him even saying as much when queried on that line in an interview somewhere.
I recall that the band wore matching outfits except for Norm, who started out the set wearing long pants and a trench coat and ended the set with just a tiger striped marble bag. Also, he drooled incessantly throughout the set, and I don’t me just a little bit of slobber. It was buckets full. really gross but mesmerizing in a sideshow kind of way.
I found this picture of NN and the Tigers wearing matching basketball jerseys. It’s athletic wear, and sleeveless at that, but I’d still like to hear the Mod’s take on it. Surely they must get some points for the (hopefully) intentional ridiculousness of their getups.
I think they understood the ridiculousness of the outfits, but then again, they were from Pittsburgh so it’s entirely possible they thought they were cool. I like them and I like The Iron City Houserockers. I think they both kick some ass, and I never did see either of them. I saw Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, and they sucked. I’m sure Norman or the Houserockers would have blown them away.
Mr. Royale assures me that the band is making monkey noises in The Bees’ “Chicken Payback.” Plus it allows me another chance to share one of my favorite music videos:
According to “Return of the Last Gang in Town” that yelping Strummer does during “London Calling” is supposed to be seagulls. 20 yrs of listening to it and I never suspected until then.
I think they had a novelty hit with that one in places other than New England. I seem to remember Dr. Demento playing it, but I’m not completely sure …..& I mostly grew up in MA., so, of course, I knew ’em from local radio….even saw them with The Stompers at The Club Casino in Hampton Beach, NH…it was wicked good!)
During “I’m Nature’s Mosquito” Mr. J. Richmond starts the track off with a unique mosquito like sound. This occurs again and perhaps with more authenticity during the guitar jam at 1:45. I believe during the jam several members the band are joining in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfr8qoFwZjk
During “Party in the Woods” Mr. Richmond is clearly singing the sounds of the animals in the woods.
The Moose go “meew” at 0.11 and then Birds go “tweet” at 0.43
The Beatles bark in “Hey Bulldog”.
David Byrne snorts like a pig and make many other animal sounds in the closing of Talking Head’s “Animals”
Do Belew’s animal noises, produced by a human on guitar, count? Or is this vocal only?
If Lennon had spent more than 5 minutes writing the lyrics, “Hey Bulldog” would be seen as one of the great late-era Beatle tracks. It’s rather a stomping little groove.
Rufus Thomas — Do the Funky Chicken:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L79SFH2fTgE
Mick Jagger makes monkey noises at the tail end of “Monkey Man”…
Procol Harum make pig noises at the end of “Piggy Pig Pig”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60b3VYfLOiA
This is actually worth listening to in its entirety – proof that Procol could rock out with some serious power when they wanted to. They weren’t just Bach-borrowings and prog rock – not by a long shot.
Interesting question – Adrian is good at animal noises, isn’t he? Listen to King Crimson’s “Elephant Talk” and “Dinosaur”. But in the spirit of the question, I’d have to say no it doesn’t count.
Somebody in The Time makes a monkey noise at the start of “The Bird.”
Sorry — that should be “Jungle Love.”
Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs with “Little Red Riding Hood” – lots of howling and a sheep bleat too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JOwxnVoG6Q
Are those vocal sounds in the middle of Surfin’ Bird supposed to be a bird?
tonyola — Is Belew still worth seeing these days?
O, if only werewolves were real
aloha
LD
Bobby, those aren’t monkey noises, those are Mick noises.
All kinds of jungle animal sounds on Bowie/Eno’s African Night Flight off Lodger – too — I think they are made by humans, but could be in the same boat as Belew.
http://youtu.be/JFbjCrJi0MQ
I am pretty sure there are humans making dog noises towards the end of the Monkees “Gonna Buy Me a Dog.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBlitTE9kLk But judge for yourselves.
I have no idea. Crimson hasn’t really toured since 2004 and I’ve never seen Belew’s solo shows.
I will accept the Werewolves of London noises because they just sound like regular old wolf noises to me.
I was torn about using the guitar to make animal noises. One the one hand, it would open the contest up to all manner of chirping bird noises. But ultimately, I think it would lead to too many distracting side issues so as a point of clarification, the noise has to be made without the benefit of an instrument.
Speaking of bird noises, the tweets and tweedly-deets in Rockin’ Robin by Little Anthony and the Imperials (?)
Just to be clear, I posted this after Misterioso above but inadvertently did so in a reply so here it is again:
the tweets and tweedly-deets in Rockin’ Robin by Little Anthony and the Imperials (?)
You sneak.
Spike Jones & His City Slickers with “Ill Barkio”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdQ1NXA4GJc
hee hee! Last Man Stan… …aw, crap…
Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay
Some song by Snoop Dog (Gin and Juice maybe?)
The Who, “Wasp Man.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdjv55zwMv4
Incidentally, I have it on good authority that Wasp Man was to be a key song in Lifehouse. Pass it on.
Piggies by the Beatles
crimson played chicago/philly/new york in ’08. great show. saw belew solo in ’85 or ’86. paled in comparison to crimson, but probably still worth seeing.
Disco Duck?
The Who, Dogs, part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U9uGSGUliM
Clyde the Camel in Ray Stevens’ “Ahab the Arab”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNigDOHz4j0
boo boo the cat – hasil adkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYWozPR8LMQ&feature=related
Not sure if this will count, but Cap’n ‘n’ Tennille, Muskrat Love. And, no, I’m not proud of myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYV_7a0FQs
Roger Waters makes pig noises throughout Pink Floyd’s Animals album.
Dog “vocals” at the end of Love and Rocket’s “Dog End of a Day Gone By.”
I was going to ask you to tell us when the alleged muskrat noises come in so all of us wouldn’t have to suffer but jazzcoleman seems to have performed some sort of public service.
Were those noises really Roger? They sound awfully synthetic… Not that I’m going to challenge you and run the risk of having to verify the muskrat noises in the previous post, just wondering.
If it hustles like a duck…
Thanks — In Vienna VA on 9/34
9/24!
B-52’s – Rock Lobster has a noises of the aquatic kind
stingray – wah-ooh-wah
manta-ray – ike-ike-ike
jelly fish – ewwwwugggghh
dog fish – reeeooooww (?)
cat fish – wahfooo
sea robin – naahhhooooooooo
piranha – eeky-eeky-eeky – oooh
narwhale -neeenee naha
bikini whale – eeeeeeeeeeeee
Pink Floyd – actually Roger Waters – with “Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cf2GoS3U_Q
How about any one of a number of Yoko Ono records where she does that great imitation of a seagull being tortured? I love that.
Love Cats – The Cure
Alex Chilton does a really crappy dog impression in Mod Lang.
No, they are definitely yammering monkey noises at the very end of his vocals on the song.
Singer clucks like a chicken in The Spark Plugs’ “Chicken”:
http://youtu.be/XYO8vZlVVsM
The late Lux Interior makes cat and dog noises on the Cramps’ “Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sZuESpcsWw
Again with the chickens. Slim & Slam – “Chicken Rhythm” (aka “The Dirty Rooster”)…also sounds a little like a common expletive, but I’m sure that’s purely coincidental:
http://youtu.be/1Tn7lOvXSHI
Speaking of chickens, who can forget “Psycho Chicken” by The Fools?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnBlst3T7bY
Back to The Cramps again – On “Cornfed Dames” Lux, at various points throughout the song, moos like a cow, baahs like a sheep and snorts like a pig:
http://youtu.be/Xp93cPHG6Ts
Norman Nardini and the Tigers – Love Dog. They even get the whole Agora audience involved in the Woof Woofs.
http://youtu.be/79vqoNTjnnk
Nervous Norvus – “The Wild Dogs of Kentucky” – lots of chipmunk noises on this….nah, I’m just kiddin’, it’s dog barks again:
http://youtu.be/ZsftT3USsmU
The Folksmen – Barnyard Symphony has chickens clucking, horses neighing, crickets fiddle dee deeing, bullfrogs croaking and pigs oinking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH5XGMzc8No
The Cadets (also, The New York Dolls) – “Stranded in the Jungle” – various jungle animal noises:
http://youtu.be/LAxPua7IkfY
Ha! Norm Nardini and the Tigers. I have to check some of that stuff out on youtube. I saw him in 81 and he was bizarre and fascinating on stage. I recal the music being cool too but I was not particularly sober at the time.
“Rockin’ Robin:”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4VCUbL7jsc
The Nighthawks – “Chicken Grabber”:
http://youtu.be/MVAN6H27PuM
AC/DC “Dog Eat Dog” with a Bon Scott dog howl near the end.
http://youtu.be/DmI8ms5-tB8?t=2m27s
Jungle animal noises again – Kip Tyler & His Flips – “Jungle Hop” (Later covered by The Cramps):
http://youtu.be/tVxrRkuFJ1Y
Joe Walsh and crew make some weird bird noises at the very end of the album version of “Life’s Been Good”.
Lou Reed – “Animal Language” – A dog’s bark & a cat’s meow…with a Long Island accent.
http://youtu.be/dTk2KiKTf8g
OK, this is a stretch and probably doesn’t count….but, loooong ago I had a Slade live album one of the guys in the band howls prior to a song. Then afterwards he says “My howlin’ wolf”! It always kind of cracked me up that he felt the need to explain his actions. Perhaps, I’m way off but I almost picture Noddy looking over at with a “WTF” look on his face.
I think they were pretty cool. The live album that song comes from was recorded on a WMMS Coffeebreak concert, which means it was 11:00 AM on a Wednesday. I cut school for some of those. I remember Wiggy Bits being particularly fun, but it may have been the Bloody Mary’s and my underage self just tickled to death to be avoiding all my responsibilities and rocking out instead.
Did Noddy have another look?
ha!
It’s a fine line with Mick.
God, not me. Did the Fools get much airplay outside of New England? I’ve always wondered.
I feel confident in saying that the growling noises Van makes at the end of Listen to the Lion are meant to me authentically leonine.
I agree!
Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers make very convincing buzzing noises in Hey There Little Insect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzOEO2Iy7pQ
LMS!
Good one!
Ook!
The Cramps (again) – Human Fly – “Buzzzzzzzzzz!”
http://youtu.be/WPOVmWzeqEo
I don’t know what animal is being channeled, but The Cramps (or Ronnie Cook for that matter) make plenty of weird creature noises in “Goo Goo Muck.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7RVymaTMkc
More jungle animal noises at the beginning of “Everybody Wants Some” by Van Halen….Plus, Diamond Dave utters the immortal line, “A chicka booble laba lookin’ for a moo-pee” :
http://youtu.be/fAktV72_nnE
Bobby, according to several lyric sites, the line is: “I took a mobile light looking for a moonbeam.” But obviously you are closer to the reality of it.
I don’t think even Dave knows what he said there. In fact, I kind hazily recall him even saying as much when queried on that line in an interview somewhere.
“kind of”, I meant to write.
“The Snake” by Al Wilson. Either those are some snakey noises or he has some sibilant speech issues:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_ZBqpEUbik
A single wolf howl in Link Wray’s “Hillbilly Wolf”:
http://youtu.be/_pDgMcQtj90
I recall that the band wore matching outfits except for Norm, who started out the set wearing long pants and a trench coat and ended the set with just a tiger striped marble bag. Also, he drooled incessantly throughout the set, and I don’t me just a little bit of slobber. It was buckets full. really gross but mesmerizing in a sideshow kind of way.
I found this picture of NN and the Tigers wearing matching basketball jerseys. It’s athletic wear, and sleeveless at that, but I’d still like to hear the Mod’s take on it. Surely they must get some points for the (hopefully) intentional ridiculousness of their getups.
http://normannardini.com/pics/TigersDays/scan0008.jpg
I think they understood the ridiculousness of the outfits, but then again, they were from Pittsburgh so it’s entirely possible they thought they were cool. I like them and I like The Iron City Houserockers. I think they both kick some ass, and I never did see either of them. I saw Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, and they sucked. I’m sure Norman or the Houserockers would have blown them away.
The Meters “Chicken Strut”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUMmyjx7uMI
LMS!!!
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – “Alligator Wine” – VA (various animals)
http://youtu.be/FqxEXYxvUW8
No.
Mr. Royale assures me that the band is making monkey noises in The Bees’ “Chicken Payback.” Plus it allows me another chance to share one of my favorite music videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN48kxZut98
Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs -“Little Red Riding Hood”
http://youtu.be/1JOwxnVoG6Q
X, “The Hungry Wolf” with Billy Zoom on wolf howls.
LMS!!!
brilliant-ish
The bird calls at the end of Steve Miller’s “Jungle Love” sound more like whistling than synths. But I’m sure I’ll be corrected if wrong on this.
Lots of songs seem to have either chicken sqawks or wolf howls added by the artists. Not a lot of frogs I’m afraid.
According to “Return of the Last Gang in Town” that yelping Strummer does during “London Calling” is supposed to be seagulls. 20 yrs of listening to it and I never suspected until then.
aloha
LD
On the version of Duppy Conqueror on the Wailers’ Burnin’ someone (Bunny?) makes bird noises during the bridge leading up to the chorus.
I think they had a novelty hit with that one in places other than New England. I seem to remember Dr. Demento playing it, but I’m not completely sure …..& I mostly grew up in MA., so, of course, I knew ’em from local radio….even saw them with The Stompers at The Club Casino in Hampton Beach, NH…it was wicked good!)
Club Casino, of course!
walking on the moon by lucia pamela, mother of former st. louis rams owner georgia frontiere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qACGIfJIirA
http://www.keyofz.com/lpobit.htm
Jonathon Richmond was mentioned previously.
Here are few more with the evidence. 🙂
During “I’m Nature’s Mosquito” Mr. J. Richmond starts the track off with a unique mosquito like sound. This occurs again and perhaps with more authenticity during the guitar jam at 1:45. I believe during the jam several members the band are joining in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfr8qoFwZjk
During “Party in the Woods” Mr. Richmond is clearly singing the sounds of the animals in the woods.
The Moose go “meew” at 0.11 and then Birds go “tweet” at 0.43
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msmXxyTZ884
I rest my case.
“the world…” by brute force
http://web.archive.org/web/20060225095212/http://www.brutesforce.com/sounds/bruteforce-theworld.mp3
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brute-force-p406901/biography