Sunday, July 08, 2012

Pop song parodies honoring 5th anniversary of Summorum Pontificum

Back in 2007, official WDTPRS Parody Song Writer, our own esteemed Tim Ferguson, offered Fr. Z a tune in honor of the July 7, 2007, release of the text Summorum Pontificum by Pope Benedict XVI. The tune was based on Pete Seeger’s classic, made famous by the Byrds in 1965, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Fr. Z thought Ferguson's lyrics good enough to repost again this year HERE, and anyone unfamiliar with the tune can find the Byrds' rendition of it HERE.

Inspired by the reposting of his offering 5 years ago, Ferguson has come to Fr. Z's service again this year with an endeavor that takes the cake, this one to the Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” Ferguson remarks: "Unfortunately, to fit the tune, you have to put the emphasis on the last syllable of “Summorum”, but it works." Indeed it does.

In case you don't know the tune, click on the following online recording of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" by the Beatles, and sing along with Ferguson's lyrics HERE.

3 comments:

  1. Ralph Roister-Doister10:46 AM

    Blecchhhh! The Beatles. Gaaaggghhhkk!! Paul McCartney. If you’re going to play with the devil’s music, then push the jinglesmith sissy boys out of the way and get to the main course. How about a paean to the absent Latin Mass based on the Stones’ “Miss You”? How about one to the legacy of the Novus Ordo based on Jagger & Richards’ “Shattered”? And maybe an oratorio to the fruits of the nouvelles based on Savoy Brown's "Hellbound Train"?

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  2. Ralph Roister-Doister10:49 AM

    And just to make life complete, how about a celebration of ecumenism based on Procol Harum's "Poor Mohammed" ?

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  3. Anon III7:29 PM

    I quite agree as to the Beatles, but also as to the Stones and most every other pop group or singer from that nefarious generation of the 60s.

    Still, I do think Ferguson's creations quite clever and on the mark. Also, any appropriate set of lyrics (like Ferguson's) set to any more noble musical composition would fail to reach the necessary audience: those come of age in that nefarious generation of the 60s.

    Bravo, Mr. Ferguson!

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