What is this?
December 23, 2013 8:17 AM Subscribe
Is this *trigger warning terrible whistling* the theme song to something? If not, what is it?
I've been whistling this with various friends for many years and yet we're all damned if we know where it comes from. Can you help?
I've been whistling this with various friends for many years and yet we're all damned if we know where it comes from. Can you help?
Best answer: It's A Taste of Honey. Covered by many, but the most famous version is Herb Alpert's.
posted by O9scar at 8:27 AM on December 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by O9scar at 8:27 AM on December 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Yeah, that particular rhythm is Alpert's version, which was also strictly instrumental, unlike earlier ones (like the Beatles'). Not sure if it was used on a particular show or commercial, etc.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 8:33 AM on December 23, 2013
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 8:33 AM on December 23, 2013
Response by poster: I'm convinced I heard it in conjunction with a tv series or movie or something. Maybe it's just a memory lodged in my brain as a result of being a child of the '70's. I've searched Wikipedia now that I know the name but nothing is stirring a memory.
posted by h00py at 8:36 AM on December 23, 2013
posted by h00py at 8:36 AM on December 23, 2013
You're not in the UK are you? It was the theme song to Hardware. Another song off the same album was the theme song to the Dating Game.
posted by jessamyn at 8:57 AM on December 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn at 8:57 AM on December 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Probably The Dating Game. They used a lot of his music.
posted by empath at 9:01 AM on December 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by empath at 9:01 AM on December 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
It was the theme song to the UK comedy series "Hardware" starring Martin Freeman.
It's not a song Herb Alpert wrote, by the way. Their version was a cover. The Beatles covered it, too.
posted by inturnaround at 9:17 AM on December 23, 2013
It's not a song Herb Alpert wrote, by the way. Their version was a cover. The Beatles covered it, too.
posted by inturnaround at 9:17 AM on December 23, 2013
I've always known the Beatles version of A Taste of Honey.
posted by oceanjesse at 10:32 AM on December 23, 2013
posted by oceanjesse at 10:32 AM on December 23, 2013
Best answer: You want to give the original credit to Bobby Scott:
In 1960, Bobby Scott wrote the title theme for Shelagh Delaney's play "A Taste Of Honey", and the song was made famous by pianist Martin Denny. Being transformed, the instrumental tune was given lyrics for Tony Bennett to sing by Ric Marlow. The Beatles were so taken by the combination, they included "A Taste of Honey" on their first UK album. Bobby's big hit won a Grammy in 1962. Then, 3 years later, Herb Alpert took the song to even greater heights winning three more Grammys with their US Top 10 hit.
Shelagh Delaney's play was turned into a movie in 1961, with the song as it's theme song. (The movie was pretty gritty, and still holds up fairly well.)
posted by gudrun at 11:00 AM on December 23, 2013
In 1960, Bobby Scott wrote the title theme for Shelagh Delaney's play "A Taste Of Honey", and the song was made famous by pianist Martin Denny. Being transformed, the instrumental tune was given lyrics for Tony Bennett to sing by Ric Marlow. The Beatles were so taken by the combination, they included "A Taste of Honey" on their first UK album. Bobby's big hit won a Grammy in 1962. Then, 3 years later, Herb Alpert took the song to even greater heights winning three more Grammys with their US Top 10 hit.
Shelagh Delaney's play was turned into a movie in 1961, with the song as it's theme song. (The movie was pretty gritty, and still holds up fairly well.)
posted by gudrun at 11:00 AM on December 23, 2013
Shelagh Delaney's play was turned into a movie in 1961, with the song as it's theme song. (The movie was pretty gritty, and still holds up fairly well.)
Don't know how long this link will last, but for now you can watch it here.
posted by marsha56 at 6:43 AM on December 24, 2013
Don't know how long this link will last, but for now you can watch it here.
posted by marsha56 at 6:43 AM on December 24, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jessamyn at 8:27 AM on December 23, 2013