Name That Tune: Da Da Da Daa Da Daaaa...
November 30, 2007 6:11 AM   Subscribe

Song ID Filter: I want to identify a song, but the only lyrics I know are "da da da daa daaaa...."

I'm guessing that it's from the 70s, but not sure. The only 'words' i remember are the singer singing the melody line as the syllables "da da da daa da daaaa... da da da daa da daa. da da da daaa da..."etc in unison with a trumpet. This is definitely in the beginning of the song, and I have no idea if it's just an intro, or if it pops up again as a chorus, or if there are any other words at all. There are other brass instruments, and a kind of country-sounding band playing a slow march. It definitely sounds kind of funereal, in a kind of drunken, New Orleans style way to me.

I've heard the tune in question recently on This American Life (I think it was on the episode where a robber came into a small get-together at a house, but eventually drank some wine, requested a hug from the narrator and left), but have been unable to track that episode down or find any other details.

When I first heard it, I thought Lee Hazelwood for some reason, but then I subconsciously decided that this was Bob Dylan or The Band. I can try to transcribe the melody line if that would help.
posted by sluggo to Media & Arts (16 answers total)
 
Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner?
posted by Salvatorparadise at 6:18 AM on November 30, 2007


If you could provide a link to the This American Life episode where you heard it, that would help.
posted by JanetLand at 6:23 AM on November 30, 2007


Sounds to me like it's Da Da Da by Trio. It's an 80's song that became popular in the 90's as it was featured in a VW commercial. Youtube is blocked at work for me, but I'm pretty sure this is it.
posted by sephira at 6:34 AM on November 30, 2007


Or it seems that I don't have the original Da Da Da on my iPod but some bizarre remix. Oh well. Good luck figuring it out.
posted by sephira at 6:40 AM on November 30, 2007


Da Da Da does not sound funereal, like Lee Hazlewood, Bob Dylan, or the Band, in my humble opinion.

Although it does sound excellent.
posted by dirtdirt at 6:42 AM on November 30, 2007


Response by poster: No, not Suzanne Vega or Trio - it's definitely older and more of a countryish, bluesy thing.

JanetLand, I searched the TAL archives but couldn't find anything - although I did find the original news story about the event, which happened in Washington DC this past July... so I guess it had to be newer than that.
posted by sluggo at 6:48 AM on November 30, 2007


A Rolling Stones song perhaps? They like a lot of Do, Da Da Da don't they?
posted by GoodJob! at 6:50 AM on November 30, 2007


Response by poster: It seemed too un-rocking to be the Stones, but it could be...
posted by sluggo at 6:53 AM on November 30, 2007


I'm pretty sure I have this song somewhere but I can't find it at the moment because I can't remember who it's by either.
posted by Tuwa at 6:56 AM on November 30, 2007


If it's not Tom's Diner, check the list of music themes played in The American Life here. It's a long list, but still better to scan through it to find familiar ones than nothing at all.
posted by manish at 7:10 AM on November 30, 2007


Van Morrison - Jackie Wilson Said?
posted by iconomy at 7:26 AM on November 30, 2007


Response by poster: I'll check out the Van Morrison possibility - meanwhile, I just wasted a whole lot of time recording a crappy midi version of the melody in garage band - please forgive my awful timing/etc, but the MP3 is here.
posted by sluggo at 7:29 AM on November 30, 2007


Response by poster: Okay, not Van M. either - it's a whole lot slower.
posted by sluggo at 7:30 AM on November 30, 2007


Best answer: Could it be Wigwam by Bob Dylan?
posted by otolith at 7:31 AM on November 30, 2007


Upon hearing your version, I'm going to say definitely Wigwam.
posted by otolith at 7:33 AM on November 30, 2007


Response by poster: YES, that's definitely it! thank you otolith!
posted by sluggo at 7:33 AM on November 30, 2007


« Older Recommended Stata alternatives?   |   What's a good portable console to burn my public... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.