“Your Horoscope For Today” by Weird Al Yankovic – PARODY – It’s “Endoscope” by Steve Goodie

Somebody in a Facebook group asked this question. “Has anyone ever recorded a parody of Weird Al?” That sounds backwards, right? Well, the answer is yes and in the worst way.

“Horoscope For Today” is an original song by Weird Al Yankovic. It is not a parody of anything. It’s a ska-inspired goofy rant about newspaper horoscopes. The track appeared on his 1999 album, Running With Scissors.

“Endoscope” by Steve Goodie is a parody of the Yankovic song and it’s all about having a colonoscopy. Good times. The track appeared on his 2016 release What, And Quit Showbiz??!! and on The Fump Volume 55.

For more information, see this article: 9 Frequently Asked Questions About Colonoscopy

“Spooky” by Classics IV – Halloween Classic – COVERED by Dusty Springfield, Martha Reeves, Daniel Ash and More!

Spooky” was originally an instrumental tune by saxophonist Mike Sharpe. It charted as an instrumental in 1967 hitting No. 57 in the US. One year later vocals were added by Dennis Yost and the song was re-released as by Classics IV. That’s the version featured above. This version went on to hit No. 3 in the USA and 46 in the UK.

7 inch single cover art, France version

Shortly after, Dusty Springfield released her version, with genders flipped. This version is my favorite but does not lend itself to the Halloween season quite as well.

Eleven years later, a band called The Atlanta Rhythm Section recorded a nice 70s pop-rock version. Man the bass playing on this kicks ass.

Martha Reeves went on to recreate the song in the first person. This time it’s a Spooky Old Lady and she specifically mentions Halloween. It appeared on her 1986 album In the Midnight Hour.

Daniel Ash, best known for he work with goth-rockers Bauhaus and the new wave Love And Rockets released his take in 2006.

It got the Latin Jazz treatment earlier this year by the Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band on the 2023 CD, Vox Humana featuring Janis Siegel on vocals.

And if you are curious about how the original 1966 instrumental sounded, here it is!

That’s a lot of versions. There are probably dozens of others. If you know of one that we missed, let us know in the comments!

“Star Trekkin'” by The Firm – From Self-Published Single to International Chart Topper – Goofy Video With Puppets and Stop Frame Animation

Back in 1987, The Star Trek franchise had established a strong cult following after a string of successful motion pictures and decades of reruns of the original series on TV. Public enthusiasm was so strong that the now ubiquitous reboot, Star Trek: The Next Generation. began in the Fall.

But this song is not about TNG. A British novelty music act called The Firm created “this song”Star Trekkin'” with lyrics based on catch phrases and dialog from Star Trek: The Original Series which originally aired in the 1960s.

They tried to get the track published on a major label but they all declined. So the band decided self-published single on 7 in 45 RPM. The original run was just 500 copies. These original pressings are highly collectible today.

The song caught on, but not in North America, It hit number one in The UK and charted in Australia, Japan and parts of Europe. The group subsequently included the song on their first album.

The music video is weird and goofy. It utilized crude puppetry and stop frame animation. It’s so bad that it’s good. It kind of reminds me of Robot Chicken. The original print is believed to be lost today. YouTube has a a few attempts at recovery. The best one I could find is included at the top

Back in North America, “Star Trekkin'” was released on Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty CD of All Time in 1988, Dr. Demento: 20th Anniversary Collection in 1991, and Dr. Demento: Hits from Outer Space in 2006.

I had a very cool and strange roommate my sophomore year in college. He was lucky enough to own one of the compilations. I had never heard the syndicated radio show, but I had seen music video specials, so I was aware of the good doctor. This was not quite the beginning of my love affair with novelty records but Dr D has obviously been a huge influence on me and this radio channel.

Of course we also love Star Trek around here too.

“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.

Sphynx Hairless Cats in Clown Makeup – Series of AI Images

Please do not apply makeup to a real cat. This is just PRETEND. I used the Bing AI image generator to create these. They are for concept purposes only. The best examples from the AI session appear on this blog.

At first I wanted to see what the AI would come up with for a “Cat in Clown Makeup”. After the first batch of images, I decided that the hairless sphynx cat would look best as a clown.

Then I decided to ask the AI to create cartoon style images.

Isn’t he cute?

I hope you enjoyed these weird images!

Songs About Food – A Delicious Menu of Music – Don’t Look if You’re on a Diet!

Welcome to The FunHouse Diner. Here’s our menu. It’s all food for the soul, really. Take your time perusing. We have many great options for you to consider. My name is Wacky Alex and I’ll be your server today. Can I get you started with a beer or wine song?


We asked our social media communities to come up with songs about food. They delivered, big time! There were so many submissions that we needed to establish some rules to create this menu of music.

  1. No commercial jungles
  2. The song must actually be about real food that people eat. This does not include what animals, zombies, cartoon witches or monsters eat.
  3. No metaphors. No songs that just mention food but are really about something else entirely.
  4. Candy is not food but cookies and pastries are.
  5. Only one song per artist.

If you have more ideas for this menu, feel free to leave a comment.


BEER AND WINE

“Pump Ab Das Bier” by Werner Wichtig – Parody of “Pump Up The Jam” by Technotronic


“Red Red Wine” by UB40 – Written by Neil Diamond


APPETIZERS

“Potato Chips” by Slim Gaillard & His Baker’s Dozen


“Airport Shrimp Cocktail” by The Alton Brown Trio


SOUP AND SALAD

“Chicken Soup For The Rapper’s Soul” by The Whitest Kids You Know


“Beef Stew” by Obie Plenty


“Let’s Make A Salad” by Kenny King


TODAY’S SPECIAL

“All You Can Eat” by (The) Fat Boys – From the movie Krush Groove


MAIN COURSE

“Cheeseburger in Paradise” by Jimmy Buffet


“Two Triple Cheese Side Order of Fries” by Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen


“Lasagna” by Weird Al Yankovic – Parody of La Bamba a Mexican folk song made famous by Ritchie Valens


“Raining Tacos” by Parry Gripp & BooneBum


“My Mother’s Brisket” by Rick Moranis


“Fish Stick Sandwich Burrito” by Robert Benfer


“Eat Steak” by The Reverend Horton Heat


“You Must Give Me Beef” by Powered By Satan


“Hold Tight (I Want Some Seafood Mama)” by Fats Waller


“The All Chicken Restaurant” by Art Paul Schlosser


SIDE ITEMS

“Call Any Vegetable” by Frank Zappa


“Buttermilk Biscuits” by Sir-Mix-A-Lot


“I Love Onions” by Laurie


“Toast” by Heywood Banks


DESERTS

“Savoy Truffle” by Ella Fitzgerald – Cover of the Beatles / George Harrison


“Cheesecake” by Louis Armstrong


“Chocolate Chip Cookies” by Wise Guys (English Version)

“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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