Author Archives: Wacky Alex

About Wacky Alex

Creator of FunHouse Radio

“Corporation” by Jack White

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I have a lot to say about Jack White. I’ll try not to make this blog too long.

First off, I knew the guy back in the day. He and I went to both the same grade school and high school. I was one grade ahead of him. I didn’t know him in grade school. We met in High school. Jack was known as John back then but I will continue to use the name Jack for the sake of simplicity.

The grade school was part of a Catholic Church complex called Holy Redeemer. Jack appeared in a movie that was filmed on location. He played an alter boy in Rosary Murders in part because he was an alter boy in real life.

About one hundred members of the church community were invited to play church goers as extras. I got to be part of that crowd. Filming was a lot of fun. I was way in the back so you won’t see me in the movie.

Just like Jack, I had considered going to seminary school in Wisconsin but ultimately decided to go to public high school. We both ended up at Cass Tech in Detroit. I first met him in his second or third year. I wasn’t cool enough to get invited to watch his band practice but some mutual friends got to see them.

I remember asking Jack if his band could play at an environmentalist demonstration. He said maybe, but the band didn’t show up. I also remember asking him if he liked the new classic rock radio station, WCSX. He told me that he liked it but they played “Oye Como Va” by Santana way too often. I agreed but yeah, good song.

After high school, I went off to Michigan State and Jack went to work as a furniture repairman. While still in college, I tried to do what Jack ended up doing. I recorded music and tried to start a corporation, that is, a record label and promotions business. It went nowhere fast. I had naive dreams. Jack has the real talent to do it, obviously. I admire him.

We play “Corporation” on the air all the time because it is a bit odd. It reminds me of the excitement a child feels when the ice cream truck shows up on your street. The more serious meaning of the lyrics though strikes a chord with me personally. I own this track on vinyl. I purchased the LP Boarding House Reach at Third Man Records in Detroit.

I wish I could say I took the photo below but I found it in this very cool article on TapeOp about his record pressing plant.

What is your favorite Jack White track? Have you met him? Tell us your Jack White story in the comments.

-Wacky Alex

“Call Any Vegetable” by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

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Today is National Eat Your Vegetables Day. Don’t let us down! I just had some carrots. Let Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention inspire you to eat a more healthy diet while they feed your head.

Zappa explained the meaning behind the song in Absolutely Free: The Complete Libretto:

“The best clue to this song might lie in the fact that people who are inactive in a society … people who do not live up to their responsibilities are vegetables. I feel that these people, even if they are inactive, apathetic or unconcerned at this point, can be motivated toward a more useful sort of existence. I believe that if you call any vegetable it will respond to you.”

So go eat a salad or prepare a veggie plate. Something. JEEZ.

-Wacky Alex

“Feelin’ Groovy” by Liberace & The Young Folk on The Red Skelton Hour 1968

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“This is a perfect example of how network television was totally out of touch with what was going on in the 60’s and early 70’s.” -Dane F

“This is how the generation gap ended. All the kids loved hanging out with their parents after this aired, and Jack Webb opened an insurance business with Timothy Leary.” -Rudy S

“…For my birthday in 1969, I received a bike that had a white seat with groovy flowers just like those on the piano.” -Trisha D

“I read that they toured at Leningrad Stadium and sang for Kruschev. It nearly started WW3 when he choked on his vodka and the Politburo took it as an American plot to assassinate him.” -roblindsay101

Wait. WHAT? These are all from the comment section on YouTube.

In my opinion, this bit of footage is so bad that it’s good. It’s like watching a train-wreck but with all the cars painted up in groovy color patterns. Far out man.

If you can find something musical on youtube that is so bad that it’s good, please let us know in the comments!

“Take Me Out to The Overpriced Ballgame” by Carla Ulbrich

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Today is National Softball Day. Taking the family out to a softball game will not end up costing you two week’s salary, unlike a baseball game at a major stadium. Carla Ulbrich brings the rage in the form of a hilarious yet hypnotic waltz. This rather sarcastic tune was released on The Fump Vol 81 in 2020.

According to this article from 2021 :

Cost To Attend Wrigley Field: $177.14

  • Two tickets: $118.98
  • Two hot dogs: $13
  • Two beers: $19
  • Parking: $26.16

These were the figures from last year, before the inflationary events. We did not find this year’s figures, but they are probably be even higher.

“One of the truly historic stadiums in baseball history, only Fenway Park has a longer history than Wrigley. But, if you want to enjoy your Old Style and the ivy-covered outfield walls, it’ll cost you. Those Old Styles, for starters, are coming at the highest beer price in baseball. And if you’re thinking you can just skip the concessions stand and not end up spending too much at a Chicago Cubs game, think again — ticket prices are also the highest in baseball.” (Andrew Lisa)

By the way, the image above was found on a page titled “Confessions of a Ballpark Food Vendor” It’s a great read. Check it out.

Would you rather go to a softball game or maybe just watch a baseball game on television? How are you dealing with the high cost of sporting events? Let us know in the comments.

-Wacky Alex

“Istanbul (not Constantinople)” by They Might Be Giants

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Hooray!! It’s National Falafel Day! Nearly every Turkish restaurant (outside of Türkiye) offers this delicious fried chic-pea dish. Conversely, people living in Türkiye do not frequently consume the dish. It’s not really a Turkish food. Unlike in The Middle East, Falafel is not served as street food in The Republic.

The City of Istanbul was once called Constantinople. Türkiye was formerly known as Turkey. Now it’s Türkiye not Turkey. Why did Turkey get the works?

The version by They Might Be Giants appeared on the album Flood which was released in 1990. It also appeared in an episode of Tiny Toon Adventures.

The song was first made famous in 1953 by The Four Lads.

The most recognizable landmark in The City of Istanbul would be the Haga Sofia. Below is a photo I found from “7 Interesting Facts About Haga Sofia“. First it was a Church then a Mosque. Then it became a Museum and then a Mosque again. They switch things up a lot.

Hagia Sophia domes and minarets in the old town of Istanbul, Turkey, on sunset

What food do you eat that has been wrongly lumped in with a certain culture’s cuisine? Tell us about it in the comments.

-Wacky Alex

“99 Words For Boobs” by Robert Lund (Parody of “99 Luftballons” by Nena)

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Sun’s out, jugs out. It’s that time of year. The laddies are letting them show. Celebrate the summer blooms with Robert Lund. He’s the nutty creator of this track.

According to discogs, this track has been released on three different compilations. These are The FuMP Volume 2, Dr. Demento’s Basement Tapes 16, and The Best Of Robert Lund. I hope to get a copy of that best of on CD at some point. We love Robert’s parodies!

A number of people have created slideshow-style music videos for this song. You can find them on YouTube but they are all age-restricted. Here is an example.

I found the lyrics too. Go ahead and count the synonyms. See if there are really 99.

Jugs and orbs and darts and gourds
Elmer Fudds and bouncing Buddhas
Sweater stretchers, lung protectors
Beach umbrellas, frost detectors
Scooby Snacks and snake-eyes dice
Jell-o molds and high-beam lights
Every day I probably use
99 words for boobs
Humpty Dumplings, Hardy Boys
Double lattes, Ode to Joys
Hooters, shooters, physics tutors
Bobbsey Twins and bald commuters
Double-WMD’s
MRE’s and PFD’s
Snow-white dwarfs, Picasso cubes
99 words for boobs
Gerber servers, holy grails
Whoopee cushions, humpback whales
Flying saucers, traffic stoppers
Super Big Gulps, Double Whoppers
Pillows, billows, Don DeLillos
Soft-serve cones and armadillos
Pimped-out hubcaps, inner tubes
99 words for boobs
Midget earmuffs, warming globes
Strobes and probes and frontal lobes
Knockers, honkers, knicker bonkers
Smurfs and Screaming Yellow Zonkers
Tannin’ cannons, Mister Bigs
Big bad wolves and Porky Pigs
Jogging partners, saline noobs
99 words for boobs
Two-point jumpers, Bambi’s Thumpers
Rubber baby buggy bumpers
Rutabagas, Chi Omegas
Schwag the showgirls show in Vegas
Congo bongos, bowling pins
Fast-pitch softballs, siamese twins
Your claims I’m breast-obsessed are true
We’re quite a pair ’cause I’m a boob too

Did the song forget to mention a certain word? Do you use a unique word for boobs? My grandma used to call them “chi-chis”. Let us know what you call them in the comments.

-Wacky Alex

“Cheese Roll Call” by Pinky & The Brain

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Celebrate National Cheese Day with this classic cartoon and song from Pinky & The Brain. Pinky points out that there are so many different kinds of cheeses in the world that it’s actually quite bizarre.

The song itself is sung to the tune of “Semper Fidelis”, the official march of the United States Marine Corps.

Do you hanker for a hunk of cheese? What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments.

“Picnic In The Summertime” by Deee-Lite

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June 1st is considered the first day of meteorological summer in North America. I think we could all use a picnic with a chill vibe right now. With DJ Towa switched out for ANI, we have a sequenced track in the style of 1970s classic soul.

The music and the video are as innocent as it gets. Let’s have a peaceful summer this year.

Picnic In The Summertime was released as a single and I have the CD version. If you wan’t a sealed copy on vinyl, it’s $60 and up on ebay.

What is your favorite unique thing to bring to a picnic? Let us know in the comments.

-Wacky Alex