SILLY SONGS and SATIRE: February 2021

Sunday, 28 February 2021

Neapolitan Uke-Song: "UKULELÍ, UKULELÁ", an anachronistic anecdote

PARODY-LYRICS

MUSICAL UNDERPINNINGS: "Funiculì, Funiculà", a song by Italian composer Luigi Denza, 1880, to honour the inauguration of the funicular railway taking tourists up Mt. Vesuvius.

PARODY COMPOSED: Giorgio Coniglio, February 2013. The lyrics were initially posted at the online parody website "AmIRight.com", with a few subsequent re-edits, including a change of the song's title.

To return to the corresponding post on "Daily Illustrated Nonsense" (or to review the lyrics without the chord-chart indications) click HERE.

EXPLANATION: Readers might note that in Italian, and presumably in Neapolitan, lì and là are casual terms for "here and there" (or possibly (in the context of funicular railways "up and down").

The curious reader is referred back to the extensive notes accompanying the lyrics for this "singable satire" on the Daily blog. Use the link above to instantly transport you there.

The fanciful existence of ukuleles in Europe in the 19th century is an anachronism; hence, the song was initially titled "Anacroní, Anacroná".

UKULELÍ, UKULELÁ

(to the tune of "Funiculi, Funicula")

Outro: ’N[Bb]coppa jammo [F] ja’, ukule[C7]lí, ukule[F]lá.

PSEUDO-ORIGINAL SONG-LYRICS

(Click on any verse-slide in this presentation to enlarge it)

Admittedly, the Neapolitan lyrics of the original Denza-Turco song are difficult to vocalize, and are now a bit obscure for modern audiences. Two sets of lyrics have been developed that have been widely used with English-speaking audiences:
1) A British campfire-song type parody published by Fields and Hall in 1937 entitled "My High Silk Hat".
This spoof will be the basis of further discussion -- stay tuned.

2) "A Merry Life", by Edward Oxenford, a translator of librettos. Although this version became traditional in the English-speaking world in the late Victorian period, it bears little relationship to the story told in the original.

Friday, 19 February 2021

Wordy Uke-Song: "LEGAL LANGUAGE NONSENSE" (formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic doublets) FORMULAIC-PLEONASTIC-LEGALISTIC DOUBLETS"

PARODY-SONG with UKULELE CHORDS

MUSICAL UNDERPINNINGS: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", from the movie "Mary Poppins", Sherman Brothers, 1963, as performed by Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews.

PARODY COMPOSED: Dr. G.H. and Giorgio Coniglio, 2015. This song is the tenth and final in the series on Word-Pairs.

WORDPLAY LINK: For discussion of legalese on our sister blogsite "DAILY ILLUSTRATED NONSENSE", click HERE. (You can also find a simpler version of the parody-lyrics displayed without the chords, should you desire.)

FORMULAIC-PLEONASTIC-LEGALISTIC-DOUBLETS

(to the tune of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" - Mary Poppins)

UKULELE-FRIENDLY FORMAT:

(Click on any chord-chart slide to move to 'song-presentation mode'; then navigate through thumbnails at bottom of page.)

The ukulele chords for this song are extremely simple, and the song could easily be transposed to a different key.

ORIGINAL SONG:

Now, "formula" applies
Whereas word-order's always set;

And if the first one shows up

So'll the other, you can bet!
And "pleonasm" indicates
A frank redundancy,
If clients check out Wiki'
"Legal doublets" they shall see.

They're formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic-doublets
Now and henceforth use them to stay free and clear of trouble, it's
Fit and also proper, to pursue them and enjoy, it's
A formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic ploy.

Um diddle diddle diddle, um diddle ay!
Clear and Correct and Complete and Concise

When I was still a minor,
As you've heretofore inferred,
I'd swear, even subscribe
With a sole and exclusive word.
But then I felt an urge to cover
Each and every base
Proclaiming with force and effect,
Thereby I'll rest my case.

They're formulaic pleonasms, they aid and abet, it's
Not so new or novel, yet you get full faith and credit
You can't annul or cancel, now that you've deposed and said it
Formulaic pleonasms - don't revise or edit.

Um diddle diddle diddle, um diddle ay!
Clear and Correct and Complete and Concise

While touring all and sundry ports
To furnish and supply,
Surprising lets and hindrances
Provoked a hue and cry.
He sought to be indemnified
And also held harmless
He had and held a trick that
He'll acknowledge and confess.....

Spout formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic diction!
In a court of law where there's dispute and even friction -
Helps attesting and asserting facts or only fiction
Formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic diction.

Um diddle diddle diddle, um diddle ay!
Clear and Correct and Complete and Concise

When liens and encumbrances
You can't shun and avoid,
Your power and authority
Is rendered null and void
Just cite and quote these phrases
And you'll double what you say,
And over and above
You still can transfer or convey.

Use formulaic pleonasms in your legal documents,
To give and grant, or bequeath and devise such lands and tenements.
With signed and sealed, full-and-complete testimony 'n' evidence
Heirs and assigns keep and maintain their chattels, with due diligence.

Um diddle diddle diddle, um diddle ay!
Clear and Correct and Complete and Concise.

They're legalistic pleonasms - not sure what those terms meant?
That should be a focus of attention and concernment;
Unless and until there's a postponement or adjournment
Formulaic-pleonastic-legalese discernment.

CODICIL

Oh! Formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic thinking
Though such words seem laudable, implies a brain that's shrinking,
With cause good and sufficient, you might find your case dismissed
If judge-and-jury order-and-direct cease-and-desist.

Notwithstanding legal valid rules and regulations
Please deem and consider all due terms and stipulations.
Legal doublets - part and parcel, final formulation
Is your last will and testament, and end and termination.

Formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic thinking!

This song is the final submission in a cycle of 10 parody-songs dealing with word-pairs.