Regular readers will know
that I love Rainbow. I would
marry it if I could. But then, I'm a terrible one for wanting to
marry things you can't actually marry – last night I bought a jar
of gingerbread flavoured coffee syrup, and I just stood in the
kitchen hugging it until the mister got jealous. I should explain
that I've been looking for that stuff for a long time, not that I
just found it attractive.
That
whole thing sounded better in my head.
Anyway.
I love Rainbow, but I
don't write much about Rod Jane and Freddy, the show's veteran
musical group, because I am usually too busy writing about Bungle's
nipples or something.
Rod,
Jane and Freddy were mostly famous for knowing songs about bloody everything ever, from going to India to being a milk bottle. In a
moment of boredom, I started thinking about my favourite RJF songs.
At first I didn't know if I'd be able to come up with ten, but then I
began to realise how much their songs stuck in my mind. Sometimes I
do catch myself trying to hum their tunes, which is difficult because
they generally change octave about six times per song, due to all
three of them having solo parts. With all the harmonies going on, you
never quite know which bit you're supposed to be singing at any given
moment. I suppose I could get really good at science and invent
cloning so i can sing all of it, but I'm not that bothered.
Here
are my ten favourite RJF songs - my choices are based on which ones
have the catchiest tunes, which ones I loved as a kid, and ones where
Rod has fetching hair in the video. Look out for videos where Freddy looks particularly like Lovejoy.
1. “If
you're going camping too” - from Camping preparation
This
song seriously has about four notes in it the whole way through, but
I challenge you to hear it and not find yourself singing it later on
today. Bonus points for Freddy's shorts.
2. “On
the narrow boat” - from Journey on a narrow boat
The
most chilled out song you will ever hear, and matching jumpers for
good measure.
3. “We're
all together” - from Journey by coach
Catchy
as hell, but what really makes this song special is its appearance in
another episode, enabling Bungle to fanny about pretending to be Jane
-
4. “Da
di da di dum dum” - from The hare and the tortoise
An
inspiring song about trying to do stuff, because you never know, you
might not actually fail miserably. A few years ago, this song was my
morning alarm call on my phone, and now I can't hear it without
feeling a bit weird and sleepy, but I still love it.
5. “The
bits n pieces song” - from Music
The
most obviously dubbed over song in the world, but oh so jaunty. Wins
a prize for the kazoo solos alone.
6. “Red
Balloon” - from Daydreaming
A
lovely song with a failure to grasp even the most basic principles of
space travel.
7. “Sports
day” - from (unsurprisingly) Sports day
Bonus
points for shorts again, and also for having Geoffrey dicking about
in the background. Plus, they point out that the best you'll probably
ever do is to come last at everything. It's like they've met me.
8. “You're
not helping” - from Helping out
Not
sure of the proper title, but it's an intricate rock opera about
Alice trying to get a tea party ready while the mad hatter and the
hare dick about and keep getting in the way. Watch out for the part
where Freddy, dressed as the hare (in an overgrown Pipkins
nightmare) shouts “cucumbers!” for no apparent reason.
9. “Lions
and tigers” - from Lions and tigers
Peril!
The gang get their Steve Irwins on and sing about the dangers of
being in the jungle. Why Rod is trying to be Vincent Price or
something at the start is a mystery.
10. “Having
a picnic” - from Day in the country
Another
song I loved as a kid. Bonus points for having Geoffrey sing along.
They point out in the song that the birds can sing along if they want
to, but they fail to realise that they've probably scared all the
birds away with their banjoing.
Maybe
I'll do a part 2 to this, because I keep finding songs I'd forgotten
about. And obviously I need to write about Rod Jane and Freddy's
various Christmas offerings. I won't do it right now though, I have a
Toblerone to eat first.
Also, why not follow my blog – it gives my meaningless life a sense of validation.
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