What is this song?

November 28, 2009 6:41 PM

This has vexed me for more than half of my life. What song is this?

I recorded the final snippet of this song from a Comedy Central rerun of (I think) SNL in 1993. I've been randomly singing it every now and then for the last 16 years but I still have no idea what the song is and who the singer is.

Luckily, thanks to modern technology, I can put VHS tapes on my computer and put the video up on YouTube (yay!). Any music buffs know the answer? I think it's an early 80s SNL episode...

posted by Holygrail2 to sports, hobbies, & recreation (20 answers total)

YouTube tells me I can't view the clip because of copyright restrictions in my country (US).
posted by katemonster at 6:42 PM on November 28, 2009

ditto for me from Canada.
posted by kch at 6:44 PM on November 28, 2009

You've Googled phrases from the lyrics, right? (Enclose them in double quotes so Google only shows matches with those exact words in that exact order. Remember that lyrics are often spelled slangily in print (e.g., "gonna").

If that doesn't work, try Shazam.
posted by ixohoxi at 6:52 PM on November 28, 2009

Oops; Shazam won't work if it's a live performance.
posted by ixohoxi at 6:58 PM on November 28, 2009

Since we can't view the video, can you tell us who might have been on the SNL episode? It might help us find another recording of it.
posted by cabingirl at 7:00 PM on November 28, 2009

Crap, it's blocked worldwide. Hmm, I have googled the lyrics. I don't know anything else about episode it was on. I'm at a loss.

Let me think about this for a bit
posted by Holygrail2 at 7:11 PM on November 28, 2009

This video has been removed by the user.
posted by ctmf at 7:11 PM on November 28, 2009

What are the lyrics?
posted by biochemist at 7:15 PM on November 28, 2009

Was it a band playing on SNL or music in a skit?

Do these transcripts from SNL 1992-93 or SNL 1993-94 help?
posted by sharkfu at 7:46 PM on November 28, 2009

Since we can't see the video, we need details. Some of the lyrics (especially a hook/chorus/memorable line)? What is the style of music? What did the performers look like?

You might also try this episode list.
posted by ixohoxi at 7:46 PM on November 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

I can put VHS tapes on my computer and put the video up on YouTube (yay!).

Please put it back on YouTube with a different account and filename? Or somewhere else so we can see/hear it?
posted by rokusan at 9:08 PM on November 28, 2009

'Don't Fear the Reaper' - Blue Oyster Cult
posted by Flashman at 9:36 PM on November 28, 2009

Okay, it's back up....for now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ_6oBgxOSE
posted by Holygrail2 at 11:11 PM on November 28, 2009

Or, here's an actual link to it
posted by Holygrail2 at 11:12 PM on November 28, 2009

Put it somewhere else. I'm in the US but it says it can't be viewed due to copyright restrictions. Best would be if you just had some regular file hosting you could upload it to where nobody else can mess with it.
posted by floam at 11:16 PM on November 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

(In fact, if you memail me, I can help you with that if you're unable).
posted by floam at 11:17 PM on November 28, 2009

This video is not available in your country due to copyright restrictions.

Did we lose a war?
posted by codswallop at 11:19 PM on November 28, 2009 [2 favorites]

Oooh, oooh, IXOHOXI's episode list actually just solved it for me. I just eliminated the ones it couldn't be and looked into the remaining singers' hit songs. It's Ellen Shipley singing "Fotogenic" (I couldn't find it for all these years probably because i was searching for the lyric - "photogenic.")

Thanks everyone for the help.
posted by Holygrail2 at 11:24 PM on November 28, 2009

Oh, and of course it's not available on iTunes. :(
posted by Holygrail2 at 11:26 PM on November 28, 2009

it's the Crash Test Dummies MMM mmm mmm mmm---
be glad the links don't work.

That song has been haunting me for half my life also.
posted by at the crossroads at 11:28 PM on November 28, 2009 [1 favorite]