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Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 16th, 2014, 3:21 pm
by chris_mcmartin
I'm not talking about songs which casually mention herps, but bands or songs which are actually herp-inspired/herp-themed.

I was looking for the book Zonata on Amazon, and came across a Swedish band by the same name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonata

I can't say they are exactly herp-themed, as I can't determine if they are in fact named after mountain kingsnakes, but it was interesting nonetheless.

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 16th, 2014, 5:53 pm
by cbernz
Great topic. As a musician and naturalist, animal-inspired music has always interested me. Naturally, there is a ton of bird-related music, going back hundreds of years. Herp-related music, maybe not so much.

There are a couple pieces that come to mind right away. There is a concerto for violin by Georg Phillip Telemann called "The Frogs," from the early 18th century. I wouldn't say it sounds exactly like frogs, but the repetitive notes of the violin solo, echoed by the other strings, creates an effect reminiscent of a frog chorus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9LBzXoJqyk

The other, more famous example I can think of is from Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint-Saens. This is a suite which includes the famous "Swan" and a bunch of other pieces based on chickens, lions, fish, etc. There is one movement called "Tortoises," which is actually just a really, really slow version of the famous "Can Can" music by Offenbach. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba_kOUmlDME

Those are two interesting, kind of goofy examples of herp-inspired music from the Classical music world. I'll definitely be thinking hard to remember more if I can.

Oh, there's also a beautiful, yet depressing, Bluegrass tune, "The Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jddd7Yvd9Go

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 16th, 2014, 7:06 pm
by Kelly Mc
Heres an interesting find.. A totally chill song sung by some beautiful ladies, inspired by the distinctive posturing of the Australian elapid Vermicella annulata!


http://youtu.be/aEj9QZakbxU

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 16th, 2014, 8:18 pm
by cbernz
How could I forget this one by the blues master? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veam26T9WR4

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 17th, 2014, 1:40 pm
by Bryan Hamilton
Terrapin Station has always been one of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugRct9pNQYM

and I like Phish for road cruising. Cavern talks about a serpent deflector.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTpb-cPuo4A

"Hook" is excellent. I think his nickname has a double meaning.

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 17th, 2014, 3:59 pm
by Kelly Mc
Alligator li-zards in the air....

In the Air...

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 18th, 2014, 11:41 am
by gbin
Kelly Mc wrote:Alligator li-zards in the air....

In the Air...
I've always loved that song, partly for that line. Too bad the member of America who wrote it said it was inspired by cloud formations he saw as a kid. Fond childhood memories of chasing alligator lizards around on desert mountaintops would have been way cooler.

Gerry

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 23rd, 2014, 3:09 pm
by Coluber Constrictor
Atomic Rooster-"Black Snake livin' in a black hole"...

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 23rd, 2014, 7:55 pm
by nightdriver
There is of course Whitesnake , Kingsnake, and Viper just off the top of my head.

And lets us not forget the classic song "Boa Constrictor" as in " I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor......" One of my favorites as a kid.

And at least a couple of "Rattlesnake Shake" songs, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Peter Green/Fleetwod Mac, ......

"The Snake" Al Wilson and Johnny Rivers recorded.

-nightdriver

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 23rd, 2014, 8:52 pm
by Coluber Constrictor
Witchcraft-"The Snake"

"I can hear the bullfrog callin' me on home to Green River"-Creedence

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 24th, 2014, 5:54 am
by hellihooks
cbernz wrote:How could I forget this one by the blues master? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veam26T9WR4
I like Elvin Bishop's version, off his Juke Joint Jump album... :thumb: jim

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: March 21st, 2014, 8:09 pm
by John Martin
"Crawling King Snake" - Doors / L.A. Woman / 1971

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: March 22nd, 2014, 4:36 am
by chris_mcmartin
The original point of this thread:
chris_mcmartin wrote:I'm not talking about songs which casually mention herps, but bands or songs which are actually herp-inspired/herp-themed.
With this in mind,
Coluber Constrictor wrote:Witchcraft-"The Snake"
Yes!
"I can hear the bullfrog callin' me on home to Green River"-Creedence
No! :lol:

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: March 24th, 2014, 10:09 pm
by Zach_Lim
My old band Yadokai (I sang and wrote lyrics) had a song called "Aestivate".

Song was written about snakes aestivating...but under the guise of an angry punk/hardcore song haha

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: March 25th, 2014, 5:47 am
by cbernz
Zach_Lim wrote:My old band Yadokai (I sang and wrote lyrics) had a song called "Aestivate".

Song was written about snakes aestivating...but under the guise of an angry punk/hardcore song haha
Did you record it? I'd like to hear it.

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: March 25th, 2014, 12:42 pm
by Zach_Lim
cbernz wrote:
Zach_Lim wrote:My old band Yadokai (I sang and wrote lyrics) had a song called "Aestivate".

Song was written about snakes aestivating...but under the guise of an angry punk/hardcore song haha
Did you record it? I'd like to hear it.
https://soundcloud.com/videodisease/yadokai-aestivate

My new band, Scalped:

http://scalped415.bandcamp.com/

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: July 15th, 2017, 9:30 am
by chris_mcmartin
I don't know if I'd call this "inspired," but listening to some "nostalgia rock" the other day I heard this lyric:
Quiet Riot wrote:I'm like a laser six streamin' razor
I got a mouth like an alligator
Quiet Riot, "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)"

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: July 18th, 2017, 1:05 pm
by intermedius
Similarly on Johnny Cash's "Drive On" from the American Recordings album.
We were crazy, we were wild
And I have seen the tiger smile
I spit in a bamboo viper's face
And I'd be dead , but by God's grace
My new avatar is ripped from one of my favorite hip-hop artists, MF DOOM, who has a song "Gazzillion Ear" with the following bars which mention frogs.
Villain and ya won't find him in no gym
Probably a foggy bog with the frogs
With a dot on the guard as he squat on a log
Didn't look too deep into the lyrics but the song titles have herps in the name for the following:

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard has a song called "Rattlesnake", a good band for those Psychedelic Rock fans.

Even in the Indie Pop world, we have the song "Funny Little Frog" by the group Belle and Sebastian.

– Justin

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: July 18th, 2017, 1:45 pm
by kevin h
A newer rock band out of LA area called the Mountain Goats have some great herp related songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTrDJm_70BE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HILnK3lf5a8

Not to mention that one of their albums is called All Hail West Texas. While I don't have any evidence to back it up I swear these guys are herpers.

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: July 18th, 2017, 1:59 pm
by intermedius
kevin h wrote:A newer rock band out of LA area called the Mountain Goats have some great herp related songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTrDJm_70BE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HILnK3lf5a8

Not to mention that one of their albums is called All Hail West Texas. While I don't have any evidence to back it up I swear these guys are herpers.
I enjoyed. I'm going to check out their albums in entirety. I get an Americana vibe in them, despite the Indie influences.

– Justin

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: July 18th, 2017, 7:08 pm
by kevin h
intermedius wrote:
I enjoyed. I'm going to check out their albums in entirety. I get an Americana vibe in them, despite the Indie influences.

– Justin
Glad I could introduce you to a great band! :thumb:

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: July 18th, 2017, 7:24 pm
by Kelly Mc
I liked them too, Im interested in this band..

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: February 12th, 2018, 11:03 am
by vontrek
Down near Miami, Florida late in the afternoon where there was a Cabana band playing Samba style Cuban music whilst on a palm tree near my table was a large Cuban Anole. The music raised into an intense set and the lizard appeared to be "dewlaping" intensely along with the music! I may have been imaging a connection though it was a fun thought at the time. These big green foot long lizards have a huge head and a large gular sac.

Re: Herp-Inspired Music

Posted: March 20th, 2018, 7:55 pm
by JuanDowe