Snapshots #360: A Top Twelve Sitcom Songs

This week's Snapshots involved songs that share their name* with sitcoms.

But who had the last laugh...?

(*Or almost share their name, if you're a pedant.)

12. Marti lied? It's not clear.

"Marti lied" was an anagram...

Del Amitri - Some Mothers Do Have Them

(Strictly speaking, Frank Spencer's show was called Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.)

11. Midnight Rider definitely has a favourite Indiana Jones movie.

Paul Revere was famous for his midnight ride. Raiders is the first, and arguably best, Indiana Jones movie.

Paul Revere & The Raiders - Birds Of A Feather

10. Robert's purple sweets.

Robert Palmer loved his violets.

Palma Violets - Last Of The Summer Wine

9. Abba's fourth.

Abba's fourth album was Arrival.

Arrival - Friends

8. No morals.

The Libertines - What Became of the Likely Lads?

(Strictly speaking, Bewes and Bolam returned in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?)

7. As long as the groom's other half isn't sick, she can take this cab. 

The Bridewell Taxis - Just Good Friends

6. Super Nice Monks!

Super Nice brothers.

The Pernice Brothers - One Foot In The Grave

5. The real Marilyn is keen on getting bronzed in the sun.

Marilyn's real name was Norma Jean. This lady is eager for a tan...

Norma Tanega - Bread

4. Hexed by a Hawaiian god.

Lono is the Hawaiian god of fertility, agriculture, rainfall, music and peace.

Curse Of Lono - Man Down 

3. E=Man in Crown².

Albert Einstein came up with E=MC². A man in a crown might be a king.

Albert King - I Love Lucy

2. Kim / Ann / Nancy supergroup.

Kim is Wilde, Ann and Nancy are in Heart.

The Wildhearts - Cheers

(That's the only song on this list - I think - which is an actual TV theme tune reworked into a song. Although actually it's two... the first 50 seconds are the theme from Taxi.)

1. Affleck catches a theatre award. 

Ben Affleck catches a Tony in his net.

Tony Bennett - The Good Life

Twelve sitcom songs... and I'll be back with a few more later in the week.

My Top Ten Laundrette / Laundromat Songs

This one was inspired by The Swede who posted one of these tunes a few weeks back. I liked it so much, I thought I'd dig out nine more and toss them in the washing machine...

10. Joe Jackson - Laundromat Monday

Joe wonders where his Mondays went, while trying to find someone else to do his chores...

I want a French maid, someone to wash my jeans
Each quarter I've made is lost in washing machines
I'm gonna change the world, I could be President
If I could just work out where all my Mondays went

9. Camper Van Beethoven - (I Was Born In A) Laundromat

Another CVB song that appears to have an anti-racism subtext mixed among the tumbled socks...

I was born in a laundromat
I was born in a cul-de-sac
Some of us are brown
And some of us are white
Just give me some tension release

8. The Dead Milkmen - The Laundromat Song

Ever fallen in love across the laundromat floor? Hide your embarrassing undies...

Clothes go round and round
And my heart goes up and down
She's drying her jeans
In separate machines

My mind grows dirty when my clothes get clean

7. The Avett Brothers - Laundry Room

I suspect there's more going on here than just a little fluffing and folding...

Close the laundry door
Tiptoe across the floor
Keep your clothes on
I've got all that I can take
Teach me how to use
The love that people say you made

6. Rory Gallagher - Laundromat

Rory Gallagher sleeps inside a washing machine. Those crazy 70s.

5. The Detergents - Leader of the Laundromat

An answer song written as the male response to Leader of the Pack. I remember hearing Brian Matthews play this years ago. It's quirky and kitsch, but can't hold a candle to the original.

4. Trent Willmon - Dixie Rose Deluxe's Honky Tonk, Feed Store, Gun Shop, Used Car, Beer, Bait, BBQ, Barber Shop, Laundromat.

I might give this one to Charity Chic for his Most Country of Country Song Titles series...

3. Albert King - Laundromat Blues / Answer To The Laundromat Blues

Don't put your blues in with your whites, Albert.

You take two or three pieces
And go down to the laundromat
An' take ya eight hours to wash 'em
No good!

2. The Pretenders - Watching The Clothes

Imagine bumping into Chrissie Hynde down the washeteria!

1. Vivien Goldman - Laundrette

Thanks again to The Swede for this lost early 80s gem. Had to make it Number One because it's just so quirky/offbeat/cool.



What's in your washing basket?