10 Obscure Songs On My iPod

Sometimes I go through my ipod and think, "Why the hell is this on here? WTF was I thinking?!" Here are the top ten most recent songs that elicited this response and their WTF-OMETER rating (Titles link to YouTube videos where available.)

1. Du Bist ein Wunder (Wolfgang Petry)

Link is to live version. Cool early 90's German singer. Some guys in high school used this song in a movie, along with Petry's "Sehnsucht Nach Dir" and "Millionair".

WTF-OMETER: 6.5/10

2. Dream #2 (Ken Tobias)

A rare song by Canadian artist Ken Tobias from 1972. My sister once did a report for school on him and she met his brother Michael. This song also reminds me of my Dad.

WTF-OMETER: 7/10

3. Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? extended version (Rockapella).

They only had enough time to bust out a few verses for the show, but the extended version includes some pretty cool beats. I fuckin love Rockapella. And I can’t find this anywhere on youtube, so you might have to download it (Legally, of course.)

WTF-OMETER: 4/10

4. I’m The Urban Spaceman (Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band)

This is the original maybe? It's crazy. I like it. But check out Monty Python's version from Live At The Hollywood Bowl in 1982.

WTF-OMETER: 7/10

5. Are You Lonesome Tonight? - laughing version (Elvis Presley)

Instead of the line, “do you gaze at your doorstep and wish I was there,” Elvis improvises “do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair” (the rumour is that he saw a man in the audience with a toupee.) He busts up laughing at the joke and, when his backup singer continues to warble without missing a beat, he continues laughing. He manages to compose himself enough to sing the last verse of the song.

This guy has such an infectious laugh.

FAST FACT: His backup signer was Whitney Houston’s mom, Cissy Houston.

WTF-OMETER: 7/10

6. Angelina (Harry Belafonte)

David Copperfield used the song in the second half of this illusion. Every time I hear it, I think of dancing ties.

FAST FACT: There are two other Belafonte songs you probably know: Shake Senora and Day-O (The Banana Boat song) from Beetlejuice.

WTF-OMETER: 5/10

7. Chime Bells (Jewel)

I don’t care who says otherwise, Jewel yodeling is sexy.

WTF-OMETER: 7/10

8. Maybe Tomorrow (Terry Bush)

The Littlest Hobo theme song. Shit yeeeeah.

WTF-OMETER: 6.5/0

9. Llorando (Rebekah Del Rio)

The first time I heard this was in the final scene of season 3 of Prison Break, but It was also used in Mullholland Drive.

FAST FACT: Original version (Crying) is by Don McLean of American Pie fame and was later re-recorded by Roy Orbison.

WTF-OMETER: 7/10

And the number one obscure song to get a "What the fuck?" from me this week...

1. Come And Follow Me (Max Carl and Marcy Levy)

This is the closing/credit music from the movie Short Circuit, when Number 5 is driving the van through the winding mountains and into the sunset.

WTF-OMETER: 10/10