Author Topic: Dead Teenager Songs  (Read 7294 times)

Offline tampatalon

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Dead Teenager Songs
« on: October 11, 2008, 04:44:35 pm »
"Dead Teenager" Songs seemed especially popular during the late 50's & early 60's.
Some such as "Last Kiss" even have popular remakes such as the "Last  Kiss" Pearl Jam
version in 1999. Since its near Halloween I thought this would be a fitting poll. What is
your favorite even if its from a later time period. Mine top choice is obviously "Last Kiss"

Lyrical Inspiration. The orginal version by Wayne Cochran the the CC Riders had little
commercial sucess. Cochran was inspired to write the song after having lived near a dangerous
highway where several accidents occured yearly. He began writing the song in 1956 and
dedicated it later to a teenager, Jeanette Clark who died out on the highway while on a date
in a 1954 Chevrolet. The accident was so horrific that when Mr Clark, on the response team
pulled his own daughter from the wreckage he was unaware that she was his offspring.

TampaTalon^">
"Lean on me, Let our hearts beat in time, Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long. Who cares where we go on this rutted old road, In a world that may say that we're wrong."--EmmyLou Harris

Offline Katie77

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2008, 01:40:30 am »
Yes, Tampa, there were a few songs like that in the 50's and 60's....

Another one was Leader of the Pack by The Shangrilas

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2008, 01:46:31 am »
I'm not sure I understand this "Dead Teenager" deal. I was born in 1962.

Anyway, I'm very fond of 50s songs. I always have been, even as a little kid. My two favorites are probably "The Great Pretender" by Freddie Mercury and "Earth Angel" by The Penguins. I remember hearing those two songs on the radio quite often when I was little and they both bring back memories for me. :)
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Offline Katie77

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2008, 03:32:12 am »
The Great Pretender.........by Freddy Mercury...........is that the same song as the Platters had in the 50's which is one of my favourites.

I love 50's music, and have downloaded hundreds of those bee bop songs. I was born in 1951 but was a teenager of the 60's, so both 50's and 60's stuff brings back lots of memories......Songs were so simple then.
Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfection

Offline David In Indy

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2008, 03:41:18 am »
The Great Pretender.........by Freddy Mercury...........is that the same song as the Platters had in the 50's which is one of my favourites.

I love 50's music, and have downloaded hundreds of those bee bop songs. I was born in 1951 but was a teenager of the 60's, so both 50's and 60's stuff brings back lots of memories......Songs were so simple then.

I may have the singers/groups wrong Sue. Whomever is the most famous for singing the song is probably the version I remember. It was always playing on the radio when I was little. :)

I remember the 1960s a little bit. Things like the VietNam War and the first landing on the moon, things like that. I'm more of a child of the 1970s though. But I remember that wonderful 50s music playing on the radio. I loved it and still do! :D

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Offline Katie77

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2008, 03:50:26 am »
Freddy Mercury I am thinking of is the lead singer of Queen....and Ive just looked up a list of Queen songs, and they did do that song. That would probably have been recorded in the 70's.

The Platters had the original in the 50's....other songs of the Platters were Only You, Twilight Time, Smoke Gets in your Eyes and many many many more.

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfection

Offline David In Indy

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2008, 04:16:07 am »
Maybe the one I'm thinking of was sung by the Platters Sue. The one I'm thinking of is the 1950's version. :)

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Offline tampatalon

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2008, 07:29:46 am »
Those are all wonderful choices! I also remember some songs were call
by a style name "Twilight Songs". In research I can't find a specific group
of these but I did love the song "Twilight Time"

 :) :) :)

TampaTalon^">
"Lean on me, Let our hearts beat in time, Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long. Who cares where we go on this rutted old road, In a world that may say that we're wrong."--EmmyLou Harris

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2008, 10:24:30 am »
My favorite was "Leader of the Laundromat"...

but that might have come out later.....

 ;D ;D

Offline Katie77

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2008, 06:50:07 pm »
I received this email today, with this poem........It is so so sad, and I thought it might fit in here......

A drunk man in an Oldsmobile

They said had run the light

That caused the six-car pileup

On 109 that night.



When broken bodies lay about

And blood was everywhere,

The sirens screamed out eulogies,

For death was in the air.



A mother, trapped inside her car,

Was heard above the noise;

Her plaintive plea near split the air:

Oh, God, please spare my boys!



She fought to loose her pinned hands;

She struggled to get free,

But mangled metal held her fast

In grim captivity.



Her frightened eyes then focused

On where the back seat once had been,

But all she saw was broken glass and

Two children's seats crushed in.



Her twins were nowhere to be seen;

She did not hear them cry,

And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,

Oh, God, don't let them die!


Then firemen came and cut her loose,

But when they searched the back,

They found therein no little boys,

But the seat belts were intact.



They thought the woman had gone mad

r> And was traveling alone,

But when they turned to question her,

They discovered she was gone.



Policemen saw her running wild

And screaming above the noise

In beseeching supplication,

Please help me find my boys!



They're four years old and wear blue shirts;

Their jeans are blue to match.

One cop spoke up, they're in my car,

And they don't have a scratch.




They said their daddy put them there

And gave them each a cone,

Then told them both to wait for Mom

To come and take them home.



 I've searched the area high and low,

But I can't find their dad.

He must have fled the scene,

I guess, and that is very bad.



The mother hugged the twins and said,

While wiping at a tear,

He could not flee the scene, you see,

For he's been dead a year.



The cop just looked confused and asked,

Now, how can that be true?

The boys said, Mommy, Daddy came

And left a kiss for you.



He told us not to worry

And that you would be all right,

And then he put us in this car with

The pretty, flashing light.



We wanted him to stay with us,

Because we miss him so,

But Mommy, he just hugged us tight

And said he had to go.



He said someday we'd understand

And told us not to fuss,

And he said to tell you, Mommy,

He's watching over us.



The mother knew without a doubt

That what they spoke was true,

For she recalled their dad's last words,

I will watch over you.



The firemen's notes could not explain

The twisted, mangled car,

And how the three of them escaped

Without a single scar.



But on the cop's report was scribed,

In print so very fine,

An angel walked the beat tonight on

Highway 109.



Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfection

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2008, 11:22:40 pm »
In the 50s there was a singer named Paul Evans.  Had a few hits.

In 1978 he recorded the song "Hello, This Is Joannie".  It hit the country charts, and got to #6 on the UK pop charts.

I remember hearing the song on the radio back in '78.



[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRfS10Ae46o[/youtube]


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline Katie77

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2008, 11:55:10 pm »
Ive never heard that one Chucky..........

Seems a joyful type tune for such sad words, and the singer does not seem to have much emotion, but he plays a mean guitar....
Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfection

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2008, 11:56:25 pm »
He released a CD about 10 years ago called "I Was a Part Of The 50's" and that song is on it.  It's sorta like a greatest hits type of thing.


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline Katie77

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #13 on: October 13, 2008, 12:00:23 am »
I guess it didn't make it down here to the land downunder........I guess there were  a lot of songs,  that didn't, back then.
Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfection

Offline Lynne

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #14 on: October 13, 2008, 01:57:10 am »
Would ME AND BOBBY MCGEE be a dead teenager song?  Otherwise I will vote for DEAD MAN'S CURVE...not familiar with the others.
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Offline tampatalon

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #15 on: October 14, 2008, 06:07:27 am »
Would ME AND BOBBY MCGEE be a dead teenager song?  Otherwise I will vote for DEAD MAN'S CURVE...not familiar with the others.
I think that qualifies Lynne. Is that the one where he jumps off the bridge?

TampaTalon^">
"Lean on me, Let our hearts beat in time, Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long. Who cares where we go on this rutted old road, In a world that may say that we're wrong."--EmmyLou Harris

Offline Kerry

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Re: Dead Teenager Songs
« Reply #16 on: October 14, 2008, 07:12:09 am »

My all-time favourite dead teenager song is Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billy Joe." And I love the movie too.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc#[/youtube]
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