Herp-Inspired Music

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chris_mcmartin
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Herp-Inspired Music

Post by chris_mcmartin »

I'm not talking about songs which casually mention herps, but bands or songs which are actually herp-inspired/herp-themed.

I was looking for the book Zonata on Amazon, and came across a Swedish band by the same name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonata

I can't say they are exactly herp-themed, as I can't determine if they are in fact named after mountain kingsnakes, but it was interesting nonetheless.
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cbernz
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by cbernz »

Great topic. As a musician and naturalist, animal-inspired music has always interested me. Naturally, there is a ton of bird-related music, going back hundreds of years. Herp-related music, maybe not so much.

There are a couple pieces that come to mind right away. There is a concerto for violin by Georg Phillip Telemann called "The Frogs," from the early 18th century. I wouldn't say it sounds exactly like frogs, but the repetitive notes of the violin solo, echoed by the other strings, creates an effect reminiscent of a frog chorus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9LBzXoJqyk

The other, more famous example I can think of is from Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint-Saens. This is a suite which includes the famous "Swan" and a bunch of other pieces based on chickens, lions, fish, etc. There is one movement called "Tortoises," which is actually just a really, really slow version of the famous "Can Can" music by Offenbach. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba_kOUmlDME

Those are two interesting, kind of goofy examples of herp-inspired music from the Classical music world. I'll definitely be thinking hard to remember more if I can.

Oh, there's also a beautiful, yet depressing, Bluegrass tune, "The Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jddd7Yvd9Go
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Kelly Mc
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by Kelly Mc »

Heres an interesting find.. A totally chill song sung by some beautiful ladies, inspired by the distinctive posturing of the Australian elapid Vermicella annulata!


http://youtu.be/aEj9QZakbxU
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cbernz
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by cbernz »

How could I forget this one by the blues master? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veam26T9WR4
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Bryan Hamilton
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by Bryan Hamilton »

Terrapin Station has always been one of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugRct9pNQYM

and I like Phish for road cruising. Cavern talks about a serpent deflector.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTpb-cPuo4A

"Hook" is excellent. I think his nickname has a double meaning.
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Kelly Mc
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by Kelly Mc »

Alligator li-zards in the air....

In the Air...
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gbin
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by gbin »

Kelly Mc wrote:Alligator li-zards in the air....

In the Air...
I've always loved that song, partly for that line. Too bad the member of America who wrote it said it was inspired by cloud formations he saw as a kid. Fond childhood memories of chasing alligator lizards around on desert mountaintops would have been way cooler.

Gerry
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

Atomic Rooster-"Black Snake livin' in a black hole"...
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nightdriver
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by nightdriver »

There is of course Whitesnake , Kingsnake, and Viper just off the top of my head.

And lets us not forget the classic song "Boa Constrictor" as in " I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor......" One of my favorites as a kid.

And at least a couple of "Rattlesnake Shake" songs, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Peter Green/Fleetwod Mac, ......

"The Snake" Al Wilson and Johnny Rivers recorded.

-nightdriver
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

Witchcraft-"The Snake"

"I can hear the bullfrog callin' me on home to Green River"-Creedence
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by hellihooks »

cbernz wrote:How could I forget this one by the blues master? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veam26T9WR4
I like Elvin Bishop's version, off his Juke Joint Jump album... :thumb: jim
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John Martin
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by John Martin »

"Crawling King Snake" - Doors / L.A. Woman / 1971
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chris_mcmartin
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by chris_mcmartin »

The original point of this thread:
chris_mcmartin wrote:I'm not talking about songs which casually mention herps, but bands or songs which are actually herp-inspired/herp-themed.
With this in mind,
Coluber Constrictor wrote:Witchcraft-"The Snake"
Yes!
"I can hear the bullfrog callin' me on home to Green River"-Creedence
No! :lol:
Zach_Lim
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by Zach_Lim »

My old band Yadokai (I sang and wrote lyrics) had a song called "Aestivate".

Song was written about snakes aestivating...but under the guise of an angry punk/hardcore song haha
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by cbernz »

Zach_Lim wrote:My old band Yadokai (I sang and wrote lyrics) had a song called "Aestivate".

Song was written about snakes aestivating...but under the guise of an angry punk/hardcore song haha
Did you record it? I'd like to hear it.
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by Zach_Lim »

cbernz wrote:
Zach_Lim wrote:My old band Yadokai (I sang and wrote lyrics) had a song called "Aestivate".

Song was written about snakes aestivating...but under the guise of an angry punk/hardcore song haha
Did you record it? I'd like to hear it.
https://soundcloud.com/videodisease/yadokai-aestivate

My new band, Scalped:

http://scalped415.bandcamp.com/
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chris_mcmartin
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by chris_mcmartin »

I don't know if I'd call this "inspired," but listening to some "nostalgia rock" the other day I heard this lyric:
Quiet Riot wrote:I'm like a laser six streamin' razor
I got a mouth like an alligator
Quiet Riot, "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)"
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intermedius
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by intermedius »

Similarly on Johnny Cash's "Drive On" from the American Recordings album.
We were crazy, we were wild
And I have seen the tiger smile
I spit in a bamboo viper's face
And I'd be dead , but by God's grace
My new avatar is ripped from one of my favorite hip-hop artists, MF DOOM, who has a song "Gazzillion Ear" with the following bars which mention frogs.
Villain and ya won't find him in no gym
Probably a foggy bog with the frogs
With a dot on the guard as he squat on a log
Didn't look too deep into the lyrics but the song titles have herps in the name for the following:

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard has a song called "Rattlesnake", a good band for those Psychedelic Rock fans.

Even in the Indie Pop world, we have the song "Funny Little Frog" by the group Belle and Sebastian.

– Justin
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kevin h
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by kevin h »

A newer rock band out of LA area called the Mountain Goats have some great herp related songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTrDJm_70BE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HILnK3lf5a8

Not to mention that one of their albums is called All Hail West Texas. While I don't have any evidence to back it up I swear these guys are herpers.
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intermedius
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by intermedius »

kevin h wrote:A newer rock band out of LA area called the Mountain Goats have some great herp related songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTrDJm_70BE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HILnK3lf5a8

Not to mention that one of their albums is called All Hail West Texas. While I don't have any evidence to back it up I swear these guys are herpers.
I enjoyed. I'm going to check out their albums in entirety. I get an Americana vibe in them, despite the Indie influences.

– Justin
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kevin h
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by kevin h »

intermedius wrote:
I enjoyed. I'm going to check out their albums in entirety. I get an Americana vibe in them, despite the Indie influences.

– Justin
Glad I could introduce you to a great band! :thumb:
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Kelly Mc
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by Kelly Mc »

I liked them too, Im interested in this band..
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Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Post by vontrek »

Down near Miami, Florida late in the afternoon where there was a Cabana band playing Samba style Cuban music whilst on a palm tree near my table was a large Cuban Anole. The music raised into an intense set and the lizard appeared to be "dewlaping" intensely along with the music! I may have been imaging a connection though it was a fun thought at the time. These big green foot long lizards have a huge head and a large gular sac.
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