YAKETY YAK
MY SONG PRESENTATION is "Yakety Yak," a hit for the doo-wop group The Coasters in 1958.
Doo-wop is a form of Rhythm and Blues with mainly vocal harmonies supporting a lead vocal, with the group singing nonsense syllables in the background, such as "doo-wop"; hence the name (listen to "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," by The Platters, where "doo-wop" can be clearly heard). Although doo-wop was usually in ballad form, such as "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," The Coasters specialized in comic vignettes, or short-short stories in Rock form.
The song gets its name from an idiomatic expression used when someone talks too much or "nags." The husband may tell his nagging wife, "Yakety yak! Stop yakking!"
The song sums up in a few minutes the irritation teenagers feel when their parents nag them about chores or friends.
The lyrics are a capsule of 1950s youth culture that a sociologist might take dozens of pages to describe as well. References are made to Rock 'n' Roll dances, Friday night dates, "talking back," "trash" (garbage), "hip" (wise) fathers, and laundromats.
Using the point of view of the mother, the writer refers to a teenager's chores (scrubbing floors, caring for pets, etc.), using contemporary jargon and idiomatic expressions ("dirty looks," "what cooks," "hip," and "hoodlum friends"). "Dirty looks" are angry looks. "What cooks" means what's happening. A laundromat uses coin-operated clothes washers and dryers. Most teenagers can probably identify with this little vignette even today, half a century later.
Words and music are by Lieber and Stoller, who wrote famous Rock hits in the 1950s, including many for Elvis Presley, such as "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," "Love Me" (not to be confused with "Love Me Tender") and others.
The arrangement is highlighted by a stuttering sax solo by King Curtis, a well-known session player of the time. The solo is a gem and stands repeated hearings. It begins with Curtis's trademark sax stutter 54 seconds into the song.
The solo is a model of simplicity, based on strict repetition or simple sequential patterns (that is, a phrase repeated at different pitch levels). The rhythmic changes add interest to the repetitions.
The refrain ("Yakety Yak" and its answer, "Don't talk back") adds humor and realism to this marvellous vignette of the early Rock era and closes the song nicely with repeats of the title, and the teen's symbolic victory, since he has the final word, which must have pleased teenagers.
Unfortunately the original recording is not available on youtube except in an edited cartoon version that especially mars the solo with sound effects (go here). The song begins several seconds into the cartoon and the solo is barely audible and edited to repeat the opening strain. What sounds like a cover version can be heard here. Though at a faster tempo than the original, it gives an idea what the original sounds like and the solo is intact. Taiwan students can probably easily locate the original.
Doo-wop is a form of Rhythm and Blues with mainly vocal harmonies supporting a lead vocal, with the group singing nonsense syllables in the background, such as "doo-wop"; hence the name (listen to "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," by The Platters, where "doo-wop" can be clearly heard). Although doo-wop was usually in ballad form, such as "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," The Coasters specialized in comic vignettes, or short-short stories in Rock form.
The song gets its name from an idiomatic expression used when someone talks too much or "nags." The husband may tell his nagging wife, "Yakety yak! Stop yakking!"
The song sums up in a few minutes the irritation teenagers feel when their parents nag them about chores or friends.
The lyrics are a capsule of 1950s youth culture that a sociologist might take dozens of pages to describe as well. References are made to Rock 'n' Roll dances, Friday night dates, "talking back," "trash" (garbage), "hip" (wise) fathers, and laundromats.
Using the point of view of the mother, the writer refers to a teenager's chores (scrubbing floors, caring for pets, etc.), using contemporary jargon and idiomatic expressions ("dirty looks," "what cooks," "hip," and "hoodlum friends"). "Dirty looks" are angry looks. "What cooks" means what's happening. A laundromat uses coin-operated clothes washers and dryers. Most teenagers can probably identify with this little vignette even today, half a century later.
Words and music are by Lieber and Stoller, who wrote famous Rock hits in the 1950s, including many for Elvis Presley, such as "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," "Love Me" (not to be confused with "Love Me Tender") and others.
The arrangement is highlighted by a stuttering sax solo by King Curtis, a well-known session player of the time. The solo is a gem and stands repeated hearings. It begins with Curtis's trademark sax stutter 54 seconds into the song.
The solo is a model of simplicity, based on strict repetition or simple sequential patterns (that is, a phrase repeated at different pitch levels). The rhythmic changes add interest to the repetitions.
The refrain ("Yakety Yak" and its answer, "Don't talk back") adds humor and realism to this marvellous vignette of the early Rock era and closes the song nicely with repeats of the title, and the teen's symbolic victory, since he has the final word, which must have pleased teenagers.
Unfortunately the original recording is not available on youtube except in an edited cartoon version that especially mars the solo with sound effects (go here). The song begins several seconds into the cartoon and the solo is barely audible and edited to repeat the opening strain. What sounds like a cover version can be heard here. Though at a faster tempo than the original, it gives an idea what the original sounds like and the solo is intact. Taiwan students can probably easily locate the original.
Take out the papers and the trash
Or you don't get no spending cash
If you don't scrub that kitchen floor
You ain't gonna rock and roll no more
Yakety yak (don't talk back)
Just finish cleaning up your room
Let's see that dust fly with that broom
Get all that garbage out of sight
Or you don't go out Friday night
Yakety yak (don't talk back)
You just put on your coat and hat
And walk yourself to the laundromat
And when you finish doing that
Bring in the dog and put out the cat
Yakety yak (don't talk back)
(KING CURTIS SAX BREAK)
Don't you give me no dirty looks
Your father's hip; he knows what cooks
Just tell your hoodlum friend outside
You ain't got time to take a ride
Yakety yak (don't talk back)
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak!
Or you don't get no spending cash
If you don't scrub that kitchen floor
You ain't gonna rock and roll no more
Yakety yak (don't talk back)
Just finish cleaning up your room
Let's see that dust fly with that broom
Get all that garbage out of sight
Or you don't go out Friday night
Yakety yak (don't talk back)
You just put on your coat and hat
And walk yourself to the laundromat
And when you finish doing that
Bring in the dog and put out the cat
Yakety yak (don't talk back)
(KING CURTIS SAX BREAK)
Don't you give me no dirty looks
Your father's hip; he knows what cooks
Just tell your hoodlum friend outside
You ain't got time to take a ride
Yakety yak (don't talk back)
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak!
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