“Fly Me to The Moon” by Frank Sinatra – Live at The Kiel Opera House – St Louis – 1965

“Fly Me to The Moon,” a classic song with a timeless allure, has captured the hearts of generations since its inception. Written by Bart Howard in 1954, this iconic tune has been covered by numerous artists, finding its way into movies, commercials, and cultural references. Let’s delve into the history, significance, and enduring popularity of “Fly Me to The Moon.”

The Origin and Inspiration
Bart Howard, the songwriter behind “Fly Me to The Moon,” composed the piece originally titled “In Other Words.” Inspired by the burgeoning space race of the 1950s and 60s, Howard’s lyrics embodied a yearning to escape the confines of Earth and venture into the vast unknown. The song’s title was later changed to the more recognizable “Fly Me to The Moon,” reflecting its dreamy and aspirational essence.

original 7 inch single

Frank Sinatra’s Signature
While the song gained popularity in its early years, it was Frank Sinatra’s rendition that truly catapulted it to stardom. Sinatra’s 1964 recording of “Fly Me to The Moon” became synonymous with the Apollo space missions and the broader spirit of exploration during that era. His velvety voice and impeccable phrasing infused the song with a sense of romance and adventure.

Cultural Impact
“Fly Me to The Moon” has transcended its original context to become a cultural touchstone. Its inclusion in various films, TV shows, and commercials has kept the song alive in the collective consciousness. The song’s themes of love, dreams, and escapism make it relatable across generations, ensuring its place in modern pop culture.

Cover Versions and Interpretations
Over the years, countless artists have put their own spin on “Fly Me to The Moon,” showcasing its versatility and timelessness. From jazz and pop artists to instrumental ensembles, each interpretation adds a unique layer of emotion and style to the song. The song’s adaptability has allowed it to resonate with different musical sensibilities.

Legacy and Enduring Appeal
“Fly Me to The Moon” continues to hold a special place in music history. Its elegant melodies and evocative lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia while remaining relevant to contemporary audiences. The song’s enduring appeal is a testament to its ability to evoke emotions and capture the imagination, reminding us of the human desire to explore and connect.

Conclusion
“Fly Me to The Moon” stands as a testament to the power of music to transcend time and space. From its origins as a reflection of the space race to its status as a romantic and aspirational anthem, the song’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. With its ability to touch hearts and minds across generations, “Fly Me to The Moon” will likely continue to enchant listeners for many years to come.

“Pee-Wee’s Dance” by Joeski Love – Old School HipHop – Goofy Video

The death of Paul Reubens made me really sad. I spent a week reviewing his appearances on Late Night TV. People posted a lot about him and his work on social media. I waited to write a blog for FunHouse Radio but I didn’t want to just repeat the same stuff.

It seems like a lot of Pee-Wee fans never became familiar this track by Joeski Love. I remember the first time I heard it. I was in a small discount store called Shopper’s World in Detroit. They had a small electronics section that included a selection of boomboxes. This track was blasting through one or more of them.

Believe it or not, it was actually on the radio! There was at least one radio station in Detroit at the time that was playing this amusing track.

At the time though, it was only available as a 12 inch single, in limited numbers and on a small independent label. I never found a copy but the label looked like this.

Eventually I found a cassette tape compilation with the song on it. Rap’s Greatest Hits was released in 1986 and it was my main jam until volume two came out.

courtesy of ebay

The video is another story. I might have seen in on TV a few times as a kid. Is that a young Jack Black playing the teacher? Ha! Made you look! Can you do that move with your neck?

Special thanks to Hip Hop History Guy for sharing this restored-ish version of the video. The original master film is probably now considered lost media. It would be great to get the 4K scan and AI remaster treatment if it ever resurfaces.

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“She Tortures Barbies” by Captain Ambivalent – 2023 lyric video

Not all girls are into Barbie dolls. Barbie is in the headlines and some people have been torturing the dolls for views on YouTube.

Captain Ambivalent has a niece who is no stranger to doll torture. She beat these amatures to the punch back in 2014. “She Tortures Barbies” was track three on Private Ninja Zombie and the young lady had just turned 10 years old. The lyrics recall actual conversations he had with his niece at the time.

This rather disturbing song has been in rotation at FunHouse Radio for two years now. We’ve always been a little unsure of the lyrics none-the-less. Lucky for us, The Good Captain released this new lyric video yesterday. Everything makes so much more sense now.

I look forward to watching the Barbie movie, but in 20 minute segments. I can’t look at the color pink for more than 20 minutes at a time.

courtesy of discogs

“Slimey To The Moon” by Tony Bennett – on Sesame Street – FAR OUT!

For some reason we find Tony Bennett looking at the stars one night atop one of the buildings on Sesame Street. Big Bird decides to join him when Tony breaks into song. Essentially it’s a parody of “Fly Me To The Moon” made famous by Frank Sinatra.

The Lyrics were reworked to pertain to the situation at hand in that particular episode from 1998. Apparently Oscar The Grouch’s little pet, Slimey The Worm decided to become an astronaut. CUTE!

Not to spoil the fun, but I am pretty sure that the first worm in space was a subject of a science experiment. Just sayin’.

“Reasons To Be Miserable” by Marvin, The Paranoid Android – 45 RPM Double B-Side

“Reasons To Be Miserable” was released in 1981 in the UK only. It was the ‘A’-Side of 45 RPM 7 inch release called The Double ‘B’-Side on Depressive Discs (Polydor).

The part of Marvin is voiced by Stephen Moore, the same actor that voiced the emotionally disturbed android in the 1981 BBC Television miniseries based on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy series of novels and stories by Douglas Adams. If you are a fan of the books or the movie, I highly recommend that you check out the BBC TV miniseries. It’s brilliant and campy. I love it. Here is a clip from the series.

You can also check out the BBC Radio series that was first broadcast in 1978.

The song involves Marvin describing his views on life (“I’d feel a little better if they broke me up for spares”, “If I had my time again, I’d rather be a lemming”), to a rather clever synthpop backing track.

Apparently the title is a reference to the hit song “Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3” by Ian Dury and The Blockheads.

You can still find copies of the record for sale today on the secondary market but the prices are kind of out there.

front side of the sleeve
back side of the sleeve
close up on the label

images courtesy of discogs

“I Wear Speedos” by Mikey Bustos – Parody of “Despacito” by Kuis Fonzi

How can you not love this? Mikey Bustos is Filipino-Canadian and he’s made a damn near perfect parody. He’s perfect in the video too. It looks a little higher in budget, but maybe it’s just talent. This track is PERFECT for Summertime. We have this in rotation through the summer.

This writer wore Speedos to swim class back in 1994. I wouldn’t dream of doing that today.

found on facebook

“Human Video Game” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince + Ready Rock C

This was the final track on the epic double LP from Jeff & Will. He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper was so chaotic that it’s hard to say if this is really just a filler track.

Not all classic Hip-hop is good. A lot of it is SO BAD that it’s good. I think this track would meet criteria for the latter.

Songs about video games were also only being made for 10 years at most by 1988.That gives this track some novelty value as well. “Human Video Game” mentions Donkey Kong and in the longer version also Pac-Man. The cassette release had the longer version.

The “beat box” style of mouth music had been around only a few years by the time this track was recorded. Now this is common place, even quaint. At the time, however, it was mind-blowing. I’m not kidding. I was there. Yeah, I’m old. Shut up.

I was a kid at the time and it was 1988 so naturally I had this on cassette. It was one of the few tapes I owned so it was well played on my little boombox.

“Jamaican In New York” by Shinehead – Alternate Lyrics to “Englishman In New York” by Sting

It’s kind of crazy to hear this take in 2023. New-Jack-Swing beats were on EVERYTHING in 1992, the year this one dropped. At least is slowed down a bit so as to be more tolerable.

The melody is all Sting. He naturally received a writing credit on this track. It’s not quite a parody and not quite a cover. Le’ts call it a reinterpretation. It charted in several countries reaching #30 in the USA and #5 in New Zealand.

courtesy of discogs
7 inch single, UK

For your reference, here is the original version by Sting.