Crimp (song)
Encyclopedia
A crimp is one of the humorous a cappella
nonsense songs sung by Noel Fielding
and Julian Barratt
in the comedy television series The Mighty Boosh
. A crimp is sung in a scat
style featuring lyrics characterized by non-sequiturs that are rhythmically similar to beatboxing
. A crimp is often sung about a single event that happened to one or both of the crimpers, and usually can only be entirely understood by them and in this way it is very personal. Crimp is more than just a song, it often sports a small performance of hand gestures and pantomimes performed in sync with the music as well as all other crimpers.
's 1979 song "African Night Flight
". The term "crimping" was first coined in "The Power of the Crimp", episode 3 of the third season of The Mighty Boosh
. Originally they did not want to name it; however, after fan reaction, they decided to do so and made an episode about it. The name was derived from the word Krumping
.
and beatboxing. Unlike beatboxing and scat, crimp contains lyrics bearing a similarity to puirt a beul in the sense that the rhythm is more important than the words themselves. Two features that particularly distinguish a crimp from similar styles are that:
A crimp must be a cappella, and It must be sung by two or more people in synchrony.
The skill of crimping is in maintaining a synchronized rhythm. Crimps often are fast paced and tend to have a twist at the end, often being a sudden change such as the Four Way Crimp ending with "Fuck you!", from an episode of The Mighty Boosh
.
was shown to have imitated the particular style of crimping.
In their 2008–2009 Stage show, the Mighty Boosh made reference to this event when they are shown decapitating Honey Monster. Tony Harrison is later shown "raping" Honey Monster's head whilst screaming, "Take it! Take it like you take other people's ideas, you plagiaristic yellow wanker!"
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
nonsense songs sung by Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding is a British artist, comedian and actor. He is known for his roles as Vince Noir in The Mighty Boosh, which he co-writes with comedy partner Julian Barratt, and as team captain on the music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.-Stand-up comedy:Noel Fielding performed regularly as a...
and Julian Barratt
Julian Barratt
Julian Barratt is an English comedian, musician, music producer and actor. Barratt is best known for playing the character of Howard Moon in the cult comedy The Mighty Boosh, which he also co-writes with comedy partner, Noel Fielding.-The Mighty Boosh:Barratt stars as the character Howard Moon...
in the comedy television series The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy troupe featuring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Developed from three stage shows and a six episode radio series, it has since spawned a total of twenty television episodes for BBC Three and two live tours of the UK, as well as two live shows in the...
. A crimp is sung in a scat
Scat singing
In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
style featuring lyrics characterized by non-sequiturs that are rhythmically similar to beatboxing
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
. A crimp is often sung about a single event that happened to one or both of the crimpers, and usually can only be entirely understood by them and in this way it is very personal. Crimp is more than just a song, it often sports a small performance of hand gestures and pantomimes performed in sync with the music as well as all other crimpers.
Origin and creation
The term "crimping" was officially created by Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt, although its stylistic origins reach back to David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's 1979 song "African Night Flight
African Night Flight
"African Night Flight" is a song written by David Bowie and Brian Eno in 1979 for the album Lodger. It is a surreal and exuberant tribute to the music and culture of the veldt.Musicians on this song:* David Bowie: Piano, Vocals...
". The term "crimping" was first coined in "The Power of the Crimp", episode 3 of the third season of The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh (TV series)
The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy television show created by Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding and others . The Mighty Boosh is a comic fantasy containing humour and pop-culture references. Episodes often featured elaborate musical numbers in different genres, such as electro, heavy metal, funk, and...
. Originally they did not want to name it; however, after fan reaction, they decided to do so and made an episode about it. The name was derived from the word Krumping
Krumping
Krumping, also spelled Krumpin, is a street dance popularized in the United States that is characterized by free, expressive, exaggerated, and highly energetic movement involving the arms, head, legs, chest, and feet...
.
Characteristics of crimp
Crimp is rhythmically related to puirt a beulPuirt à beul
Puirt a beul is a traditional form of song native to Scotland, Ireland, and Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.-Name:The Scottish Gaelic for such a tune is port à beul: "a tune from a mouth—specifically a cheerful tune—which in the plural becomes puirt à beul...
and beatboxing. Unlike beatboxing and scat, crimp contains lyrics bearing a similarity to puirt a beul in the sense that the rhythm is more important than the words themselves. Two features that particularly distinguish a crimp from similar styles are that:
A crimp must be a cappella, and It must be sung by two or more people in synchrony.
The skill of crimping is in maintaining a synchronized rhythm. Crimps often are fast paced and tend to have a twist at the end, often being a sudden change such as the Four Way Crimp ending with "Fuck you!", from an episode of The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh (TV series)
The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy television show created by Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding and others . The Mighty Boosh is a comic fantasy containing humour and pop-culture references. Episodes often featured elaborate musical numbers in different genres, such as electro, heavy metal, funk, and...
.
Sugar Puffs controversy
Controversy arose in March 2008 when a new advertisement campaign for the cereal Sugar PuffsSugar Puffs
Sugar Puffs are a honey-flavoured breakfast cereal made from sugar-coated wheat sold in the United Kingdom. For many years it was made by the Quaker Oats Company but in 2006 it was sold to Big Bear t/a Honey Monster Foods, based in Leicester...
was shown to have imitated the particular style of crimping.
In their 2008–2009 Stage show, the Mighty Boosh made reference to this event when they are shown decapitating Honey Monster. Tony Harrison is later shown "raping" Honey Monster's head whilst screaming, "Take it! Take it like you take other people's ideas, you plagiaristic yellow wanker!"
External links
Video links
- Official BBC World Wide video of "Soup Song" crimp
- Official BBC World Wide video of "Four Way" crimp
See also
- The Mighty BooshThe Mighty BooshThe Mighty Boosh is a British comedy troupe featuring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Developed from three stage shows and a six episode radio series, it has since spawned a total of twenty television episodes for BBC Three and two live tours of the UK, as well as two live shows in the...
- Scat singingScat singingIn vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
- BeatboxingBeatboxingBeatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
- A cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
- Puirt a beulPuirt à beulPuirt a beul is a traditional form of song native to Scotland, Ireland, and Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.-Name:The Scottish Gaelic for such a tune is port à beul: "a tune from a mouth—specifically a cheerful tune—which in the plural becomes puirt à beul...