Hooked on Polkas

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
JEDM
Deliriously Dedicated
Posts: 25970
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:52 am

Hooked on Polkas

Post by JEDM »

Not the best polka... but not the worst. It's not much better than "Polka Party!". :?
User avatar
Good Enough For Now
Occasional
Posts: 134
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:23 pm

Re: Hooked on Polkas

Post by Good Enough For Now »

Alright, it's time to throw down. I've been reading a lot of negative comments about the older polkas, in particular this one, and I'm mystified! I was sure it couldn't just be my nostalgia blinding me to the lousiness of the early polkas, so I sat down and listened to "Hooked on Polkas". It's unbelievably amazing. There's tons of variety, lots of sound effects, and it's just a heck of a lot of fun.

I heard most of these songs for the first time in this polka. Some of them were on my parents' records, but some of them I had to wait until the internet existed to look them up! I only ever had the cassette and it didn't list the individual song titles.

I believe "The Compleat Al" has that bizarre video of the guy singing "State of Shock"? Well, it sounds better here. :lol: Not even sure I've ever heard the original version, but I love how this kicks things off. The entrance of (Steve Jay's!) banjo for "Sharp-Dressed Man" is genius, and it's followed by a nice wacky sound effects section. "What's Love Got to Do With It?" has Al exercising his delicate female voice, and the quick "Method of Modern Love" segment serves as a high energy transition to "Owner of a Lonely Heart". Then he references the synth sound from the original "OoaLH" after a pause, which has another nice fill/percussive segue to "We're Not Gonna Take It" - a great example of Al switching from his "high & happy" voice to his "low & sleazy" voice. Love the trumpet (?) line after this part, and the little bit before "99 Red Luftballoons" (aka "some German song, I guess?" until the internet educated me). How often does Al sing in another language?

The "breakdown in the middle" has become a staple of the polkas (my friend insists on singing "Hot Blooded" over ANY of the polkas I play for him - makes me wish I had a crowbar handy...) and "Footloose" works great here. It actually picks up to the proper tempo while still playing the same song, which I'm not sure is typical. "The Reflex" has yet another Al voice that I'm not sure we've ever heard again! (aka "what the..?!" until the internet...) Then a rise to "Bang Your Head", with another well-utilized sound effect. By the time it hits "Relax", I'm up off my feet, heart pumping, hands clapping...dare I say the suggestive nature of the "when you wanna come" climax is intentional?

Anyway - go back and listen to this one, folks! Al uses a multitude of voices, there are some great sound effects, it's SUPER high energy, and it was only his second try! Obviously I have to give the band a huge amount of credit too.

However...I actually came here to ask if somebody could explain the "Hooked on.." part of the title. I get the "Polkas on 45" reference and I assume this is similar, but eh? I know I could Google, but maybe we could all learn together. ON THE JACKSON PARK EXPRESS!! (uuh.. :ph34r:)
User avatar
Big Spoon
Welp.
Posts: 28060
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 5:44 pm
Awards: - Most Dedicated Non-Spoiler (2007)
- Best GC Thread (2010)
- Best TTR Skit (2010)
- Outstanding Achievement In Fan Parody (Recorded), Shared With The Rest Of The Minor Celebrities (2015)
Location: Pacific Palisades, CA
Contact:

Re: Hooked on Polkas

Post by Big Spoon »

The title is a reference to Hooked On Classics, a record in which snippets of classical music pieces are played together in a continuous, disco-y style.
And Peggy
User avatar
Good Enough For Now
Occasional
Posts: 134
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:23 pm

Re: Hooked on Polkas

Post by Good Enough For Now »

Thank you! That sounds..bizarre.
User avatar
Good Enough For Now
Occasional
Posts: 134
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:23 pm

Re: Hooked on Polkas

Post by Good Enough For Now »

What, you're all still listening to Mandatory Fun? That album is sooo last week. Let's discuss this 30-year-old polka instead! :P
User avatar
Bruce the Duck
Deliriously Dedicated
Posts: 25029
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2003 3:49 am
Location: Here

Re: Hooked on Polkas

Post by Bruce the Duck »

I don't have a problem with this polka at all. Honestly, most of the ones that I rank higher are only ranked higher due to recency bias. Most of Al's polkas are on equal footing for me.

On the other hand, there are things in an individual polka that make it stand out. Those things include smoother transitions (as in NOW), beginning and ending with the same song (as in PF), false starts (TAP, PYEO, BP), thematic polkas (TAP, BP, THRP, AWBP).

But what works better than anything is when Al uses more angst-filled originals in his polkas (AWBP & TAP). "Gangnam Style" is already a happy, upbeat song. The contrast of songs like "Closer" and "Down With the Sickness" makes those other polkas stronger for me.
User avatar
Muldernscully
Addicted
Posts: 685
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:52 pm
Location: Roy, Utah

Re: Hooked on Polkas

Post by Muldernscully »

Polkas work better for me when I know and like the songs in them. I know most of the songs from this polka, so I probably like it more than some polkas. That being said, polkas are not songs I search for when listening to Al, so they all kind of average for me. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
User avatar
Yankomaniac
Off The Deep End
Posts: 3621
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:50 am
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada \m/
Contact:

Re: Hooked on Polkas

Post by Yankomaniac »

:lame:
What a racket they're makin', Jack, they keep me up at night playin' their electric guitars!!
Heds
Obsessed
Posts: 1776
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:43 pm

Re: Hooked on Polkas

Post by Heds »

So, while I’m absolutely loving Yes thanks to a good pal, does anybody else want to come along and say that they would definitely pay money for a full polka version of “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” by Al?

Not to mention that the original track was produced by the one and only Trevor Horn of Buggles fame!
aaaa

//heds

https://twitter.com/birdhousey" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post Reply