Wednesday, August 27

Geek

I Say Ostinahto, You Say Ostinayto, Let's Call The Whole Thing Off

So, some few days ago, it happened that I posted this:



Those who saw it the first time are probably still suffering flashbacks.

What I was actually looking for when I stumbled across that... item... though, was this:



Although the sound is better in this:



Why, you may ask, was I looking for that?  Well, because of the little song sings at the end of this:



Which is one of the most popular videos on Youtube and fast closing in on fifty million views - the significance of which will become apparent in just a moment.

If one were to visit the Wikipedia page for the Potter Puppet Pals - and yes, of course it has a Wikipedia page - one would learn that the particular musical conceit used in this episode - The Mysterious Ticking Noise - is known as an ostinato.  And if one were to visit the Wikipedia page for ostinato, one would learn that other examples of this device include Pachelbel's Canon...  And ABBA's Take a Chance on Me.

The significance of which will become apparent...  in just a moment.

Now, if we were (for whatever reason) to leap from Wikipedia back to Youtube in search of Pachelbel's Canon, we would soon stumble upon this:



Which just happens also to be one of the most popular videos on Youtube and fast closing in on fifty million views.

And which just goes to show that ostinatos in general and Pachelbel's Canon in particular are pernicious:



Which, sadly, has only racked up five million views, or it would be an even better chain, but still takes us back to refugee's comments on this:



How does ABBA come into it?

Well, the very next day, I was listening (as is my wont) to Dave and Joel's Fast Karate for the Gentlemen (a wonderful show wherein two intelligent and college-educated men talk about cartoons and video games) and the closing music was - you guessed it - Take a Chance on Me.



Dave has mentioned previously the psychic influence he expresses through his music selections - one day he puts something in a podcast, and the next it's released as downloadable content for Rock Band.  Most recently Duran Duran... 



But this time it seems to have worked in reverse somehow.

And the reason Dave chose that particular piece of music to close with was that the actual theme song for the anime being reviewed (Amon Saga, not that it matters) is called Kaze no Take a Chance.  Which tells you everything you need to know about Fast Karate for the Gentlemen.

So, that was how my day went.  You?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 12:13 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
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1 I'm tickled to have at least partly inspired this post.

I missed the Mika Lollipop song first time around, but now of course it's going to be looping for me all day.

The tune for the chorus is nagging at me. It reminds me of something, and I swear it's a hymn. Something classical, at leat.

Posted by: refugee at Wednesday, August 27 2008 02:46 AM (l5DzU)

2 The song Mika's "Lollipop" chorus reminded me of is "Mary's Boy Child", a Caribbean Christmas carol. Not a hymn, exactly, and certainly not classical. There's a version of it here, performed by M. Boney.

The tune is not exact, I think, but close enough to nag.

No, I suspect no plagiarism here; something more along the lines of Spider Robinson's Melancholy Elephants.

I grew up listening to the version by the De Paur Chorus, but regrettably I can't find it on Youtube. I ripped my own digital copy from the horribly worn family vinyl, then hamfistedly scoured it of snaps, crackles, and pops. It's a great album, great good fun, and I'm thrilled to find it on Amazon. I plan to post this, and another track or two, as soon as my copy arrives.

Posted by: refugee at Wednesday, August 27 2008 05:08 PM (l5DzU)

3
So, that was how my day went.  You?


Well it started out all kinds of productive...but then, while on the computer to check my E-mail and delete some comment-spam, I stopped by Ambient Irony and suddenly it was getting dark outside...



Wow...You Tube reception is much clearer in the States than it is in Japan. 

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Thursday, August 28 2008 06:44 AM (V5zw/)

4 BTW here is Mika's website...complete with background music that sort of segues into the larger point...somehow...I'm sure. 

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Thursday, August 28 2008 06:57 AM (V5zw/)

5 Err...here is the one with sound.....sorry

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Thursday, August 28 2008 01:36 PM (V5zw/)

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