Songful Style: “The Witch Doctor”

“The Witch Doctor”

I hope all of you had an amazing Thanksgiving if you live in the US. I totally missed Final Friday because I didn’t realize Black Friday and Final Friday would coincide! I was just a skosh busy! On top of that, I also missed the last Monday of the month for Songful Style, but better late than never, right? Shelbee, Suzy, and I are also throwing a link party for Songful Style so make sure you link up! Songful Style is the brainchild of Suzy and Shelbee. They decided to play on the idea behind Style Imitating Art and apply it to music! What that means is each month, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of The Grey Brunette, and I share looks based on a song selected by one of us. You can find us on our blogs and Instagram.  Our ensembles (pun intended) may be inspired by the lyrics of a song, the artwork of the album cover, maybe the MTV video, or even a memory the song evokes. This month’s selection comes from Shelbee! It is “The Witch Doctor” by Rob Bagdasarian. So, when you go to sleep and wake up with this ear worm in your head, blame Shelbee! Last month, Suzy chose “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift. She wanted all of the spooky vibes this song gave. I must admit I had lots of fun with that one! You can see it here.

The artist…

Ross S. Bagdasarian was an Armenian American, born in Fresno, California on January 27, 1919. He served four years in the Army as a control tower operator. One of the cities in which he was stationed was Seville, Spain. His career included stints on Broadway as well as well-known movies (Rear Window, Stalag 17, and The Proud and Profane). Most of us, however, know him by his stage name, David Seville (after the city)! Together with his cousin, William Saroyan (award winning novelist and playwright), Bagdasarian wrote Come On-a My House. They originally wrote that song for their own play, The Son. The song became a huge hit when Rosemary Clooney (aunt to George) sang it and was number four on the Billboard year-end top 30 singles of 1951.

A little more…

In 1958, Bagdasarian wrote and released The Witch Doctor which became a number one single on Billboard. It eventually sold 1.56 million copies! The song was an experiment with the speed control of a tape recorder he bought for $200. That must have been one heck of a tape recorder! Apparently, he recorded his voice, slowed it to half speed, then played it at normal speed. At this point, there were no Chipmunks! Bagdasarian introduced the Chipmunks later that same year. I did not realize they were named after the executives of Liberty Records. I’m not sure how many of you watched the original Chipmunk show, “The Alvin Show.” I think most of us are more familiar with the many Chipmunk cartoons and movies. The David Seville in those shows is actually Ross Bagdasarian, Jr! I honestly had no idea there were two!

The song…

Hey witch doctor, give us the magic words
All right, you go ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
All right

Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang
Doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh

Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting ting walla walla bang bang
Doh, doh, doh, doh

I told the witch doctor, I was in love with you
Doh, doh, doh, doh
I told the witch doctor, I was in love with you
Doh, doh, doh, doh
And than the witch doctor, he told me what to do
He told me

Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang wall awalla bang bang
Doh, doh, doh, doh

I told the witch doctor, you didn't love me true
Doh, doh, doh, doh
I told the witch doctor, you didn't love me nice
Doh, doh, doh, doh
And than the witch doctor, he gave me this advice

Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang

You can keep your love from me just like you were a miser
And I'll admit it wasn't very smart (ey-ey-ey-ey)
So I went out to find myself a guy that's so much wiser
And he told me the way to win your heart
Doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh

Ooh ee ooh ah ah (doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh)
Ooh ee ooh ah ah (Doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh)
Ooh ee ooh ah ah (Doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh, doh)
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang
Come on and

Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bang bang

What does it mean…

Nothing deep here, my friends! Basically, there’s this guy who is in love. That love does not appear to be reciprocated. So, he goes to a witch doctor. The unending (seemingly) chorus is a a call for love. I think I’d be more apt to fall for a guy with roses and chocolates rather than this love song!

Interesting covers…

Surprisingly, there weren’t many covers of this song. I almost wish I had seen this video before planning my post! There are a few more styling options to it! OK…this video is so much fun, but I’m not sure exactly what I would have done with it! I wonder if Shelbee has seen it! Now, remember, I taught fourth graders for several years! This video has me howling!!! This one doesn’t have any video (just a static photo), but it’s a heavy metal version! Just what you needed in your life, right?

My interpretation…

I will admit it! I had absolutely no clue of how to style this song (though I might have if I’d seen the Kidz Bop video). I decided to go with how this song made me feel. And, the way it makes me feel is happy. So, I decided to create a look that contained elements that make me happy. I love a good denim shirt; I love ruffles. So, this shirt definitely makes me happy! I love floral prints, and I love skirts! This skirt absolutely makes me happy. It’s by April Cornell and was on sale…win win! The belt gives me a waistline which also makes me happy!

The Lewk!

These Josef Seibel mules are so comfortable. I bought them in both black and grey once I realized they were both comfy and cute! They are over 10 years old because I bought them after my first foot surgery. The earrings are from Banana Republic. I don’t wear them very often because they must be the heaviest pair of earrings I have! I’m still going with the less is more approach to accessories, apparently!

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I am rarely completely stumped by a fashion challenge. At one point, I considered sewing a huge A, S, or T onto a sweater to mimic the Chipmunks! I’m glad I decided to go with a look filled with things that make me happy! And, that is why my post features a lead photo of my toilet! I love this space and think it is the one place in my house that really reflects me! So, can we talk? What direction would you have taken with this song challenge? Are there certain pieces of clothing or a certain accessory that make you happy? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise to get back to you as soon as possible!

Affiliate links and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Thank you!

I continue to be grateful for each and every one of you! I thank you for commenting, subscribing, and emailing! It means the world to me that you are a part of this journey! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, Being a Wordsmith, and I do deClaire and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I also host Final Friday Print Mixing on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

And, now it’s your turn!

Please link up your favorite posts…cooking, baking, DIY, fashion, gardening…it really doesn’t matter as long as it’s family friendly! If you don’t have a blog, please poke around. You just may discover a new blog! Next month is my turn! My choice is “Here to Forever” by Death Cab for Cutie! I do hope you’ll find some inspiration there.

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