This Ask is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S
March 19, 2024 11:16 AM Subscribe
I'm throwing a banana-themed birthday party in a week. What are the best banana-related songs? Preferably mentioning or being about bananas (e.g. "Hollaback Girl," "Yes! We Have No Bananas") or possibly by a musician or group with a banana name if the song is good (e.g. Bananarama's "Cruel Summer.") Any genre works. Difficulty: it's for a young child, so super-explicit music is probably out (Ween's "Bananas and Blow" is a maybe at the moment).
Surely you have Raffi's "Bananaphone" on the list. Though it dates from when my kids were young, a surprisingly long time ago, so maybe not.
There's always the Apples and Bananas song, but it's more of a singalong than something to listen to. (The lyrics are "I like to eat apples and bananas," for your googling pleasure.)
posted by Well I never at 11:20 AM on March 19 [9 favorites]
There's always the Apples and Bananas song, but it's more of a singalong than something to listen to. (The lyrics are "I like to eat apples and bananas," for your googling pleasure.)
posted by Well I never at 11:20 AM on March 19 [9 favorites]
At the Copa,
Copacabanaaana....
posted by Rev. Irreverent Revenant at 11:21 AM on March 19 [7 favorites]
Copacabanaaana....
posted by Rev. Irreverent Revenant at 11:21 AM on March 19 [7 favorites]
DAY-O DAY-AY-AY-O!
(Harry Belafonte - Day-O (The Banana Boat Song))
posted by zamboni at 11:24 AM on March 19 [20 favorites]
(Harry Belafonte - Day-O (The Banana Boat Song))
posted by zamboni at 11:24 AM on March 19 [20 favorites]
The TV show Bananas in Pajamas has a catchy theme song.
The Minions singing Ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-nana
Come mister tally man, tally me banana, Beetlejuice version
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:25 AM on March 19 [3 favorites]
The Minions singing Ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-nana
Come mister tally man, tally me banana, Beetlejuice version
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:25 AM on March 19 [3 favorites]
Yellow by Coldplay. You could play it at the end to make people leave.
posted by rpophessagr at 11:27 AM on March 19 [9 favorites]
posted by rpophessagr at 11:27 AM on March 19 [9 favorites]
Liz Phair & Material Issue's cover of The Tra La La Song (The Banana Splits)
posted by zamboni at 11:28 AM on March 19 [2 favorites]
posted by zamboni at 11:28 AM on March 19 [2 favorites]
Ah, Zamboni, surely you meant this link...
Harry Belafonte on The Muppet Show.
posted by calgirl at 11:29 AM on March 19 [5 favorites]
Harry Belafonte on The Muppet Show.
posted by calgirl at 11:29 AM on March 19 [5 favorites]
"Eat It" by Weird Al (YouTube) prominently features a line about bananas.
posted by May Kasahara at 11:29 AM on March 19 [1 favorite]
posted by May Kasahara at 11:29 AM on March 19 [1 favorite]
The official name might be "bananas unite"? But that "cheer" from middle school about banana splits! banana unite! peel banana, peel peel banana, peel banana, peel peel banana. peel to the left, peel to the right, peel to the middle and take a bite!
posted by Ms Vegetable at 11:32 AM on March 19 [1 favorite]
posted by Ms Vegetable at 11:32 AM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Melt-Banana - Lefty Dog
Shirley Ellis - The Name Game
Don't invite any kids named 'Chuck.'
posted by box at 11:44 AM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Shirley Ellis - The Name Game
Don't invite any kids named 'Chuck.'
posted by box at 11:44 AM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Banana Split for My Baby - Louis Prima
Also: HECK YEAH to TALLY HALL.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:53 AM on March 19 [2 favorites]
Also: HECK YEAH to TALLY HALL.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:53 AM on March 19 [2 favorites]
Best answer: My kids love Parry Gripp (the songs can be super annoying tho), and he has several banana songs - I am a Banana, Hamster Banana, Banana Rainbow
posted by maleficent at 11:56 AM on March 19
posted by maleficent at 11:56 AM on March 19
Best answer: “I Like Bananas (Because They Have No Bones)” by the Hoosier Hot Shots
posted by bgrebs at 12:01 PM on March 19 [4 favorites]
posted by bgrebs at 12:01 PM on March 19 [4 favorites]
I prefer The Dickies’ cover of the Banana Splits song but it may not be age-appropriate.
posted by rd45 at 12:19 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
posted by rd45 at 12:19 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Shonen Knife - Banana Chips
Hackamore Brick - Oh! Those Sweet Bananas
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:20 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Hackamore Brick - Oh! Those Sweet Bananas
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:20 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I cannot believe no one has mentioned that classic, 30,000 Pounds of Bananas from Harry Chapin. What is wrong with you people?
posted by DrGail at 12:22 PM on March 19 [4 favorites]
posted by DrGail at 12:22 PM on March 19 [4 favorites]
Hopefully the kids won't ask too much about what the CIA is, but I bet they'll love jump-dancing to The Ramones Havana Affair., "Pickin the banana!... Hooray for Havana!"
posted by ojocaliente at 12:29 PM on March 19
posted by ojocaliente at 12:29 PM on March 19
Anything by Bananarama
Edit: Saw you mentioned Cruel Summer!
posted by atlantica at 12:45 PM on March 19
Edit: Saw you mentioned Cruel Summer!
posted by atlantica at 12:45 PM on March 19
The Banana Splits - Doin' the Banana Split (written by Barry White!)
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:53 PM on March 19
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:53 PM on March 19
Best answer: I feel that James Taylor's Gorilla should be included.
posted by theora55 at 1:11 PM on March 19
posted by theora55 at 1:11 PM on March 19
Best answer: Jorge Ben - Vendedor De Bananas (Banana Vendor). Part of a medley, but there's also a cover.
Gordurinha - Chiclete com Banana (Chewing gum with banana). There are quite a few versions out there, and also a group with the same name, although I don't know if they've got any songs about bananas.
Yes ! Nós Temos Bananas (Yes, We Have Bananas) was a hit samba in response to Yes! We Have No Bananas. Also lots of versions out there.
posted by hydrophonic at 1:11 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Gordurinha - Chiclete com Banana (Chewing gum with banana). There are quite a few versions out there, and also a group with the same name, although I don't know if they've got any songs about bananas.
Yes ! Nós Temos Bananas (Yes, We Have Bananas) was a hit samba in response to Yes! We Have No Bananas. Also lots of versions out there.
posted by hydrophonic at 1:11 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
My gram used this song from her youth on the organ and have me to sing it "Yes! We have no Bananas"
I was like 5 and did not get it.
But here is a very fun French/English version.
posted by beccaj at 1:14 PM on March 19
I was like 5 and did not get it.
But here is a very fun French/English version.
posted by beccaj at 1:14 PM on March 19
Maybe throw in The Coffee Song for a little hemispherical import diversity. (link is to the Soul Coughing version)
posted by credulous at 1:20 PM on March 19
posted by credulous at 1:20 PM on March 19
A Dr. Demento staple: My wife left town with a banana … it had a-peel …
posted by Melismata at 1:22 PM on March 19
posted by Melismata at 1:22 PM on March 19
Here's my favorite: Banana Man by Ghoti Hook.
Fun fact: the name of the band is Fish Hook, but spelled Ghoti Hook. Why?
If you take the "gh" from the word "enough" it sounds like an F.
The "o" in the word "women" sounds like an I.
And the "ti" in "connection" sounds like SH.
Thus GHOTI = FISH
posted by tacodave at 1:29 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Fun fact: the name of the band is Fish Hook, but spelled Ghoti Hook. Why?
If you take the "gh" from the word "enough" it sounds like an F.
The "o" in the word "women" sounds like an I.
And the "ti" in "connection" sounds like SH.
Thus GHOTI = FISH
posted by tacodave at 1:29 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
the song is quite dreadful, but if we're scraping the bottom of the barrel: "Bananas Gorilla!"
posted by elkevelvet at 1:34 PM on March 19
posted by elkevelvet at 1:34 PM on March 19
Little Angels - Apples and Bananas - my kids still love this song - it's a twist on the little kids version. "Lets wreck those unfortunate fruits!" The video is kid hilarious as well, and the next song "where are my spots" is fun.
Beat Happening - 14 it's got one questionable word.
Neil Sedaka - I Go Ape this is from a kids CD where he re-wrote his biggest hits for kids, but this one has the same lyrics as the original I think.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:36 PM on March 19
Beat Happening - 14 it's got one questionable word.
Neil Sedaka - I Go Ape this is from a kids CD where he re-wrote his biggest hits for kids, but this one has the same lyrics as the original I think.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:36 PM on March 19
Best answer: A terrible, terrible 1984 German language banger they like playing on the children's radio station.
I listened to all of it just now to make sure it wasn't explicit and my brain's still hurting.
posted by Omnomnom at 1:41 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
I listened to all of it just now to make sure it wasn't explicit and my brain's still hurting.
posted by Omnomnom at 1:41 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A small child you say? Banana Bread by Caspar Babypants!
posted by rockindata at 2:26 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]
posted by rockindata at 2:26 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]
Nobody so far remembered Donovan's Mellow Yellow? (Initially believed to be a referenced to smoking banana peel scrapings for hallucinogenic effects; nope, Donovan later said it was about vibrators. But the lyrics are plenty clean enough for your party.)
posted by beagle at 2:44 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
posted by beagle at 2:44 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]
Subwoolfer
> At the Copa, Copacabanaaana....
Yes, also a thing
posted by BobInce at 2:47 PM on March 19
> At the Copa, Copacabanaaana....
Yes, also a thing
posted by BobInce at 2:47 PM on March 19
Neither is a song I'd recommend, but mentioned for completeness' sake: 'Banana Banana' by King Kurt (I recall there being an extended 12" mix called 'Banana Banana Banana Banana'); and 'Guru Banana' by Kevin Ayers.
posted by misteraitch at 2:49 PM on March 19
posted by misteraitch at 2:49 PM on March 19
40 Performing Bananas
Peanut Butter Jelly Time could be a good dance number (assuming you can find a big video player)
posted by Rhaomi at 5:43 PM on March 19
Peanut Butter Jelly Time could be a good dance number (assuming you can find a big video player)
posted by Rhaomi at 5:43 PM on March 19
Best answer: Banana Bread, by Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew from the Presidents of the United States of America)
posted by jozxyqk at 6:42 PM on March 19
posted by jozxyqk at 6:42 PM on March 19
Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
posted by paradeofblimps at 7:31 PM on March 19
posted by paradeofblimps at 7:31 PM on March 19
Monkey in Me from the amazing 80's musical 'Starstruck' (there's a line about bananas in there!)
posted by h00py at 4:55 AM on March 20
posted by h00py at 4:55 AM on March 20
Ooh I cant believe no one mentioned this yet! Go Bananas by Little Big!
posted by silverstatue at 10:54 AM on March 20
posted by silverstatue at 10:54 AM on March 20
The McGuire Sisters - Banana Split
The Mellotones - Banana Water
King Sunny Ade - Sweet Banana
Laurel Aitken - Green Banana
The Aggrolites - Banana
posted by hydrophonic at 10:59 AM on March 20
The Mellotones - Banana Water
King Sunny Ade - Sweet Banana
Laurel Aitken - Green Banana
The Aggrolites - Banana
posted by hydrophonic at 10:59 AM on March 20
The Monkees have a variety of kid-friendly songs, and a few that are questionable.
Disney's Tarzan and The Jungle Book may have good tunes.
posted by TrishaU at 6:55 PM on March 20
Disney's Tarzan and The Jungle Book may have good tunes.
posted by TrishaU at 6:55 PM on March 20
Smoking Banana Peels by The Dead Milkmen?
May not be appropriate
posted by SystematicAbuse at 12:55 PM on March 21
May not be appropriate
posted by SystematicAbuse at 12:55 PM on March 21
To run on the big TV in your video installation alcove: The Banana Man
posted by diodotos at 4:01 PM on March 23
posted by diodotos at 4:01 PM on March 23
Response by poster: Thank you everyone for your excellent suggestions! The party went smashingly—I like to think it was due to all the banana-themed music. Here's the final playlist in case anyone is interested.
posted by miltthetank at 8:35 AM on March 29 [5 favorites]
posted by miltthetank at 8:35 AM on March 29 [5 favorites]
Your question has opened my eyes to the insane amount of banana songs that exist in the world.
posted by Omnomnom at 2:55 PM on March 29
posted by Omnomnom at 2:55 PM on March 29
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posted by avocet at 11:19 AM on March 19 [3 favorites]