The bird is the word? Hardly
While everyone waits patiently for this week's Stuck in the 80s podcast on "Novelty Songs of the 80s," here's an obnoxious video to keep you company: Pee Wee Herman doing the "Surfin' Bird" -- one of the 80s songs we played yesterday during my WMNF gig.
Not only is it sometimes difficult to hear and watch, but I take great perverse pleasure in knowing that I actually paid money to see the movie in which this scene appears: 1987's "Back to the Beach," starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. "Why-o, why-o, why-o, did I ever leave Ohio?"
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
I saw the movie too although until you mentioned it I had completely blocked it from my mind. And probably with good reason.
Posted by: 80sfan | January 22, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Not only did I see the movie, but I bought the soundtrack as well. It's an interesting mix of New Wave and 60's surf music, and I still listen to it now and again (which is more than I can say for the movie!)
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | January 22, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Come on, Al, everybody knows that the bird is the word.
Posted by: Walter Cox | January 22, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Ah, Johnny. Those were happy days.
Posted by: Spears | January 22, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Of course, hearing those lyrics probably were your inspiration, many years later, to chant: "Go back to Ohio! Go back to Ohio!" to tourists on Bourbon Street.
Posted by: Johnny B. Goode | January 22, 2008 at 11:51 AM
This is a horrible cover. The 1st song by the Trashmen wasn't good, but come on......
Posted by: Al | January 22, 2008 at 11:49 AM