Tom T Hall's "I Like Beer" used a few echoes for comedic effect. But with "California Dreaming" the whole song was an echo. Imagine playing that over the speakers at a ballpark (at a ballpark). Funny.

I'll keep it simple and say I agree!

Now that is a title that really stands out, talking about "Echoes Are Obnoxious" (Echoes Are Obnoxious) (Echoes Are Obnoxious) (Echoes Are Obnoxious)...

Echoes are obnoxious, to parody writers, but I think the test of time has proven you wrong here, this OS is great. ;-)

Like I said in my heading (which your famous for Peter) is that I don't mind the original song (in fact I kind of like it) but the echoes are obnoxious in this particular song.

I really liked this! (I really liked...oops! Sorry!) While I am loathe to advocate "echology", in this case my taste (or maybe horrid taste) is not particularly offended. So I guess you can call me .....Mama Crass! ;D

I 'echo' all comments above! Oops, sorry Matt! But love the OS and your parody! I love the Beach Boys version of the song though. Well, echoing 5-5-5-5-5-5-5! Sorry, I couldn't resist that!

Considering how often echoes are used in songs, we'd probably have to trash half the repertoire. It can be a nice effect.

I can think of a lot of band names stupider than this one, but haven't the time to list them.

I agree with Peter A. about the test of time and this OS, but disagree about parody writers: Echoes can be used to good effect, by making a *different* sub for the echo. Like, say, in the spins on "Oklahoma" Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and many other TT parodies (can't plug 'em *all*, ya know). Echoes are opportunities for your wit to play a little more.

Nonetheless, you made your point well and executed it well. (Would you like them better if they were called "reiterations"?) No too-easy echo jokes here, just reverberating you Fives.

(Your next mission, should you choose to accept it: Trash all the bands and artists who would be helpless without an echo chamber in which to sing, and electronic reverberators for their guitars, etc., etc. IOW, if they had to do all the singing and music with only their own abilities - gasp! :-D

Uh, Tommy Turtle, that's like all dance pop and R&B pop after Cher did Believe. . .that'd be quite a challenge. (For the record I like TOS too, but I always kinda chuckled at them repeating their lines after the lead vocalist sang them, and as for bad band names--there are much worse out there--Naked Brothers anyone? Or how about Barenaked Ladies--which is the exact opposite of what they are. . .or oh, here's the kicker, Papa Roach--as if the baby ones aren't enough--and I actually like two of those three bands (Barenaked Ladies and Papa Roach make enjoyable music-in my opinion)) The test of time has allowed many songs which I think are not any good to survive, but that's the beautiful thing about opinions--is they are just like buttholes, we all have them, and we all have poo in there from time to time, I don't have a problem with this TOS, but I scratch my head at Bob Dylan and The Who's success. . .thats a to each their own I guess--and a lot of people like them so I guess that makes me weird.

Thanks for sticking up for my opinion Dave. Barenaked Ladies and Papa Roach are both dumb band names but so is Mamas And The Papas.

Then again you didn't say you love it. ;-)

Chipping in on the band name issue there was a prog band over here during the same era as The Mamas and The Papas, they were named (translated) "Trees, Grass and Stones". They're second on my dumb band name list, only beaten by local punk band (again name translated) "Uncle Dingleberry", but then again maybe punk band names shouldn't count since they're kinda supposed to be obnoxious. :-)

Uncle Dingleberry??? What on Earth--yeah Peter--I think that a band name like that certainly deserves mention--even for a punk band which usually comes up with some weird names, that's pretty out there

I'm tossing my hat into the band name ring. In the San Francisco Bay Area there is an indie band named "f**k" (I didn't spell it out). I read an interview from one of the band members on a website that does spell the name. He said he didn't know why radio won't play the band's music! Hmmmm... Then there's the Toronto post-punk band "F*cked Up". I have heard the F-word used on Toronto rock radio but it's different around here...

I love the OS. and have no problem with the echos.

I agree with this song Echoes are Obnoxious because I do NOT like the Mamas and the Papas at all. Their songs are sooooo annoying and they repeat the sentences too much and their harmonizing annoys me to. The Mamas and the Papas really is a stupid name for a band. I also thought Cass Elliot was too fat when she was with the Mamas and the Papas. I like Peter, Paul, and Mary a lot better than the Mamas and the Papas because Peter, Paul, and Mary are totally great and they ROCK, while the Mamas and the Papas STINK!

I've never heard of the Mamas and the Papas before and I've never listened to them, but they do look like everybody's least favorite 60's group. I mostly like Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, The Zombies, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Rascals, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Three Dog Night, Carole King, Carly Simon, James Taylor, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, The Jackson 5, The Spinners, Stevie Wonder, The O'Jays, The Doobie Brothers, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Kool & the Gang, Donna Summer, KC & the Sunshine Band, and more. I like, heard of, and listened to most of the music from the 60's, 70's, and 80's, but them, The Mamas and the Papas.

Top 10 Reasons why I don't like the Mamas & the Papas: 1. Their Songs 2. Their Harmonizing 3. Cass Elliot was too fat and too round when she was with the Mamas & the Papas 4. The band name is DUMB 5. The lines repeat way too much in their boring songs 6. They wrecked everybody's day when they become popular 7. John Phillips was a bad singer 8. Denny Doherty was also a bad singer 9. Michelle Phillips was also a bad singer 10. The Mamas & the Papas were the WORST rock 'n' roll group ever Notes: I like Peter, Paul, and Mary was better than the Mamas & the Papas. I like Peter Yarrow way better than John Phillips. I like Noel Paul Stookey way better than Denny Doherty. I like Mary Travers way better than Michelle Phillips. Everything in the mid to late 60's was all the Mamas & the Papas' fault and everything is still their fault. I like Cass Elliot more during her solo years. If there was any member dropped form the band, it would be Cass Elliot because she was too FAT and ROUND.

I wish there was no such thing as the Mamas and the Papas. I wish the band was called John, Denny, and Michelle, then I would like that band as much as I love Peter, Paul, and Mary. I still think Peter Yarrow is more good looking than John Phillips. Also, I still think Paul Stookey is more funny and good looking than Denny Doherty. And I still think Mary Travers was more beautiful than Michelle Phillips.

I just discovered this brilliant parody thanks to Leah's spirited diatribes. So passionate is her dislike that she returns two months later simply to repeat what she said last time (talk about echoes). I could think of dozens of sixties bands more worthy of contempt ...

I love parodies that turn the song or the artist back on themselves and satirize their style, as you did here, Matt. It's beautifully paced and subbed also. I tried a similar approach with the Supremes and the Four Seasons a while back.

But I'm not sure if 'echoes' is the right word. To me it brings to mind the recording tricks of rockabilly or techno, or gimmicky stuff like 'Crimson and Clover' or 'Green Tambourine', songs best forgotten, imo. I think simply 'repeated lines' is more apt. It's a standard device for vocal groups. I note that you like the song. Me too, but I have no problem with the repeated lines either. Just a matter of taste. There are some fine instrumental versions. My personal favorite is on a solo album recorded in the seventies by Mike Auldridge, the dobro ace who died just last week.

Re. silly band names, they're not really related to a band's success - e.g. Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Herman's Hermits, It's A Beautiful Day and yes, the Mamas and the Papas. When I first heard their name on the radio I thought 'They seem a bit old to be on the pop charts.' In Australia there were bands called 'People with Chairs up their Noses' and 'This is Serious, Mum', popularly known as TISM. The U.S. gave us the memorable 'Rock and Roll Double Bubble Trading Card Company of Philadelphia 1948' (I think I got the year right). Then there's The The, and dorky stage names like 'Madonna' and 'Prince' and 'Lady Gaga', 'Flea' and 'Slash' which to me just suggest identity crisis. In Japan Mr Children, Kinki Kids and Glay are still popular.

@ Leah: If you're not irritated enough already, for more excellent irritation you could check out my tribute to the Mamas and Papas here:
http://www.amiright.com/parody/60s/thebeatles3179.shtml

Your anti Ms & Ps raves are a little tongue-in-cheek, I know, but statements like 'Mary Travers is more beautiful than Michelle Phillips' are nowhere. They are both beautiful in their own way. There's no question Mary was a more gifted and passionate singer, one of the finest folk sopranos (though still, like all the others, a long-distant also-sang compared with the greatest of them, Joan Baez). And Michelle would be the first to acknowledge her own modest vocal talents.

As for Cass's appearance, since when does that disqualify her from being a high-profile lead vocalist? Fortunately for us, her bandmates didn't feel that way. I don't know the medical reasons for her obesity but it has nothing to do with her musicianship. In fact, some fine singers just never make it because pop fashion dictates that they have to look like models as well, and they're the ones we hear about. She also happened to be very much admired and accepted among her peers and was probably the most popular member of the group.

Denny Doherty in his younger days had a beautiful sweet tenor when given the right material. But sometimes he had to sing commercial crap like 'I Saw Her Again Last Night ' Ugh!

Excuse the long rave, just me indulging myself and thanks to anyone who could be bothered wading through my keyboard diarrhoea.

Thanks for that comment, but I still love Peter, Paul & Mary way better than the Mamas & the Papas.

@ Leah: And so do I, as it happens.

Good reply.

Peter, Paul, and Mary are the best!

I just like Cass Elliott.

Stop trolling and write a parody about them, Leah. I'm sure your doctor would approve.

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