Reading My Way Around the World

Friday, 2 June 2017

Five bits of Music Trivia

I love useless information - probably the result of watching so many quiz shows - we're addicted to The Chase in this house.  An ageing opera singer who lives near here told me once: "Dahling, you must have another interest outside of your music, or you will go crazy - in my case I watch football!"  Good advice, so we ended up getting addicted to quiz programmes lol

So for today's Five on Friday here's some useless information related to music.

1.  The Longest Song Title in the World

"I'm a Cranky Old Yank In A Clanky Old Tank On The Streets of Yokohama With My Honolulu Mama Down' Those Beat-o, Beat-o Flat-on-my-seat-o, Hirohito Blues" !!   Recorded by Hoagy Carmichael in 1942.
What a Mouthful!  Here's Bing Crosby singing it.

2. Water Music

Most toilets flush in E flat - something to think about!

3.  Mozart ...

was only five when he wrote the melody that is now sung to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

4.  Beatles

At the end of the Beatles song "A Day in the Life", an ultrasonic whistle audible only to dogs was recorded by Paul McCartney for this Shetland sheepdog.

5.  The Ice Cream Code

In another lifetime I used to drive an ice cream van - for about three weeks, by which time I had eaten more than sold and found a real job for a while.   But did you know there's a Code of Practice for ice cream vans?  Penned in 1982.
And it states that you should not sound chimes ....

  • for longer than four seconds at a time
  • more often than once every three minutes
  • when the vehicles is stationary
  • when in sight of another van that is trading
  • when within 50m of schools during school time or of places of worship during worship times
  • more often than once every two hours in the same street  
There y'are now, as Frank Carson would say. 


Joining in today with FAST for Five on Friday.   Thank you to Tricky and Carly for hosting.


22 comments:

  1. :DD I have now a wasching machine that sings like an ice cream van when the washing is ready :) Only once, thanks to god!

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    1. Oh no Riitta - that would drive me mad

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  2. What a fun post! I giggled at "water music"... Happy Friday!

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  3. What fascinating musical factoids as Steve Wright would say!
    I love to hear an ice cream van...who new they had a code of conduct? x

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  4. Wow GREAT facts! I love the longest song title and who knew about the loos?

    Happy Five on Friday

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    1. Kudos to the singers who got their tongues around singing that mouthful ...

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  5. I used to live in a street where someone who drove an ice cream van lived. It was kind of creepy hearing the chimes playing at 9pm when they were heading back home for the night!

    Cait @ Click's Clan

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    1. That'd be weird - I live out in the country now and never hear them anymore

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  6. I'm tonedeaf or I would check out my toilet right now!

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    1. I've resisted testing it myself Inger, I'm sure someone will though :)

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  7. What fun! Have a good weekend.

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    1. A bit of ridiculous - have a lovely weekend yourself too :)

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  8. Knowing you used to drive an ice cream van is an interesting fact in itself. Wishing you a good weekend.

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    1. Oh I didn't last very long - the kids terrified me lol

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  9. What a fun post. Now, I'll be listening to the ice cream truck in these parts to see if they are adhering to the code. And I'll be sure to share the toilet music info with my sons :)

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  10. That long song title is alsmost a tongue twister, what a mouthful! thanks for joining in with Five on Friday :)

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  11. Oh what wonderful trivia! I loved all this fun stuff! What Mozart gave the world with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...every child's favorite tune!

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