The whistle is a very underrated musical instrument. People forget that it's not just for referees and traffic cops. It's a brilliant musical instrument. Sure, it can only play one note, but still it's cool. And under-used.
There are many examples of songs in which the use of a whistle solo made it that much cooler. Right now, I'm thinking of three.
Guns N Roses -- Paradise City
Supertramp -- The Logical Song
Led Zeppelin -- Fool in the Rain
What are some others?
now playing:
Mogwai Young Team
But the whistle in 'The Logical Song' is not the one-note traffic-cop-type, it's a multi-note pursed-human-lips-type. Or am I missing something?
ReplyDelete"Don't Worry, Be Happy"
ReplyDeleteHans, you were thinking of a different Supertramp song that uses normal pursed lip-type whistling.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, be happy features normal pursed lip-type whistling.
I'm looking for songs that have traffic cop whistles.
As Hans and I discussed in an IM conversation, the Logical Song whistle is more complicated than a traffic cop whistle. It's a simultaneous multi-note, multi-octave whistle. Like a tiny siren operated by the mouth.
Morrissey's "Speedway" uses a chainsaw. Sure, it's not the same as a traffic cop whistle, but imagine if a traffic cop was standing in the middle of the intersection with a chainsaw instead of a whistle! Boy, that would be something.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking more in the lines of a whistle used in sporting events. At work, one of the nurses - Colleen uses what she refers to as a "bitch wistle." When people start being bitches, she blows the whistle and hollers "STOP!" I know it's not a song, but it's pretty damn funny.
ReplyDeleteDear David,
ReplyDeleteDon't forget "I'm Gonna Whistle My Ass All Weekend" by Joey and the Whistlers. It wasn't that big of a hit, but it's a hell of a great song.
Sincerely,
The Rhetorical Letter Writer