September 29, 2021

"Bill invited me to a show but I said, 'No,' cannot go/There's a dress that I've got to sew and wear for Norman."

If you were listening to the radio in 1961, this will strike a chord of memory. 

Posted today because: "Sue Thompson, Who Sang of ‘Norman’ and Sad Movies, Dies at 96/She started out a country singer, but she found fame and pop-chart success in the early 1960s with catchy novelty songs, as well as the occasional ballad." 

You remember all the "name" songs — lyrics focused on a name — like "Linda" and "Sheila" and "Oh, Donna"? "Norman" has to be the silliest choice of a name to build a song on. Who would choose that? I feel like maybe the writer was bragging about how easy it is to write a song based on a name and someone said oh, yeah, write a song called "Norman."

18 comments:

cassandra lite said...

Even as a little kid I loved the "ooooooooo ooo ooo" that followed "Nor-man" in the lyric; though it was genius.

Will Cate said...

Everybody loves a polka...

This song was covered a few years back by the great N.R.B.Q. (retitled "Norma")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sni5cDooHMw

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

Not bad. She has a nice voice. But, all of the humming tells me she's at a loss for words to go with Norman.

cubanbob said...

I can't say I ever heard about her but if I were Norman I'd be grateful as hell to have such a pretty woman crazy about me.

Steve from Wyo said...

Remember it? As soon as the music started I not only remembered it well but was able to sing along.

Wilbur said...

JD Loudermilk was the writer. Seemed like he died last year but I checked and it was 2016.
He had a number of hits, both country and pop:
Abilene
Break My Mind
Ebony Eyes
Indian Reservation
Talk Back Trembling Lips
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Tobacco Road
Waterloo
He was also a cousin of personal favorites of mine, The Louvin Brothers , who changed their name from Loudermilk.

Wilbur said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BillieBob Thorton said...

I remember that song. After listening I now have an ear worm. Thanks.

Skeptical Voter said...

You could say it's a silly lyric---but John D. Loudermilk wrote a bunch of great songs. And they were recorded by many different artists. Talent ran in the family. His cousins recorded as the Louvin Brothers. And the songs covered a lot of genres. "Waterloo" for Stonewall Jackson. "Indian Reservation" for Paul Revere and the Raiders. "Ebony Eyes" for the Every Brothers. "And Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" for a late 60's Doo Wop group.

I don't know--whatever Norman had, he had the girl parked out late. Pretty good for a nerd! Ooh Ooh Ooh indeed!

T J Sawyer said...

Seems time that it has sort of a "Rockwell qualuty" to it.

T J Sawyer said...

I'll see your Bernadette, and raise you one Bernadine!

Tom T. said...

Here's a video of Brian from Family Guy listing 31 songs named after a girl. Warning: curse words.

svlc said...

I am so glad I was not alive back then and subjected to crap music like that.

readering said...

I assume the songwriter was inspired after going to see Psycho.

Tim DeRoche said...

My kids -- 6 and 3 -- love this song.

So cool to discover that the writer is a cousin of the Louvin Brothers.

Skippy Tisdale said...

"I feel like maybe the writer was bragging about how easy it is to write a song based on a name and someone said oh, yeah, write a song called "Norman.""

I've written you a song
A beautiful routine
(I hope you like it)
My technique can't be wrong
I learned it from the screen
(I hope you like it)
I studied all the rhymes that all the lovers sing
Then just for you I wrote this little thing

Blah blah blah blah moon
Blah blah blah above
Blah blah blah blah croon
Blah blah blah blah love

Tra la la la tra la la la la merry month of May
Tra la la la tra la la la la 'neath the clouds of gray

Blah blah blah your hair
Blah blah blah your eyes
Blah blah blah blah care
Blah blah blah blah skies

Tra la la la tra la la la la cottage for two
Blah blah blah blah blah darling with you!


Songwriters: George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

Amadeus 48 said...

"'Norman' has to be the silliest choice of a name to build a song on. Who would choose that?"

Tell it to the Vikings (Normans) who settled in northern France (Normandy). They took their Norman ways to England and kicked the locals' butts. You know. 1066 and all that. William the Conqueror was a right bastard. You can look it up.

So when you mock "Norman", you had better smile.

effinayright said...

svlc said...
I am so glad I was not alive back then and subjected to crap music like that.
************

Great! So here you are alive today, to be entertained and edified by this, the lyrics to Carly B's "WAP":

"Beat it up, nigga, catch a charge
Extra large and extra hard
Put this pussy right in your face
Swipe your nose like a credit card
Hop on top, I wanna ride
I do a kegel while it's inside
Spit in my mouth, look in my eyes
This pussy is wet, come take a dive
Tie me up like I'm surprised
Let's roleplay, I'll wear a disguise
I want you to park that big Mack truck right in this little garage
Make it cream, make me scream"
************

That's a whole lot better, ain't it....

We've cum so far!!!