Teenage tragedy song - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The "teenage tragedy song", also known as death rock, "tear jerker" or a "splatter platter", is a style of ballad

Ballad

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...

that was most popular between the late 1950s and early 1960s. These songs lamented the early deaths of teenagers and were either sung from the viewpoint of the dead person's sweetheart or from the viewpoint of the dead (or dying) person.

Examples

Title	Original artist	Year	Notes
"Black Denim Trousers"	The Cheers	1955	U.S. #6
"Endless Sleep"	Jody Reynolds Jody Reynolds Jody Reynolds was an American singer and guitarist. His biggest hit single was "Endless Sleep", which reached #5 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on July 7, 1958. He wrote it in a single afternoon in 1956 in Yuma, Arizona...	1958	U.S. #5, precursor of the genre, sweetheart is rescued in final chorus
"El Paso El Paso (song) "El Paso" is a country and western ballad written and originally recorded by Marty Robbins, and first released on Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs in September 1959. It was released as a single the following month, and became a major hit on both the country and pop music charts, reaching number... "	Marty Robbins Marty Robbins Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...	1959	U.S. #1
"Running Bear Running Bear "Running Bear" is a song written by J. P. Richardson sung most famously by Johnny Preston in 1959. Preston first sang the song in 1959 with background vocals by Richardson and George Jones, who do the Indian chanting of "UGO UGO" during the three verses, as well as the Indian war cries... "	Johnny Preston Johnny Preston Johnny Preston was an American pop music singer, who was best known for his international number one hit in 1960, "Running Bear".-Life and career:...	1959	U.S. #1
"Teen Angel Teen Angel (song) "Teen Angel" is a teenage tragedy song written by Jean Dinning and her husband, Red Surrey, and performed by both Jean's brother, Mark Dinning, and Alex Murray in 1959.... "	Mark Dinning Mark Dinning Max Edward Dinning was an American pop music singer. In February 1960, the song "Teen Angel", written by his sister Jean and her husband Red Surrey, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Charts...	1959	U.S. #1 in 1960, considered the primary prototype of the genre
"Tell Laura I Love Her Tell Laura I Love Her "Tell Laura I Love Her," a teenage tragedy song written by Jeff Barry and Ben Raleigh, was an American Top Ten popular music hit for singer Ray Peterson in 1960 on RCA Victor Records, reaching #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart... "	Ray Peterson Ray Peterson Ray Peterson was an American pop music singer who was best remembered for singing "Tell Laura I Love Her" and "Corrine, Corrina" in the 1960s.-Career:...	1960	U.S. #7, cover by Ricky Valance Ricky Valance Ricky Valance is a Welsh singer. He is best known for the number one single, "Tell Laura I Love Her", which sold over a million copies in 1960.-Life and career:... was #1 in the U.K.
"Ebony Eyes Ebony Eyes (John D. Loudermilk song) "Ebony Eyes" is a song written by John D. Loudermilk, recorded in 1961 by The Everly Brothers , and reached #8 on the US charts. The lyrics tell a young man's tragic story of losing his beloved fiancee in an airplane crash during the dark, long nighttime, which reminds him of her "ebony eyes".The... "	The Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...	1961	U.S. #8, U.K. #1
"Moody River Moody River "Moody River" is a number-one Billboard Hot 100 song from June 1961 performed by Pat Boone. It was written by and originally performed by country rockabilly singer Chase Webster . Webster was a labelmate of Boone's at Dot Records.This was the title track from one of Boone's better-selling albums... "	Pat Boone Pat Boone Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...	1961	U.S. #1
"Patches"	Dickey Lee Dickey Lee Royden Dickey Lipscomb , known professionally as Dickey Lee , is an American pop/country singer and songwriter, best known for the 1960s teenage tragedy songs "Patches" and "Laurie ."-Career:Lee made his first recordings in his hometown of Memphis for Tampa...	1962	U.S. #6
"Leah"	Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...	1962	U.S. #25
"Chapel Bells Ringing"	Gene Summers Gene Summers Gene Summers is an American rock/rockabilly singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds"...	1962
"Last Kiss Last Kiss "Last Kiss" is a song that was released by Wayne Cochran in 1961 on the Gala label. It was unsuccessful chartwise. Cochran subsequently re-recorded his song for the King label in 1963. The song was later revived by J... "	Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders	1962	Cover by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers were an American 1960s group, best remembered for their 1965 million selling record, "Last Kiss".-Career:The Cavaliers formed around 1955 with leader and guitarist Sid Holmes, bassist Lewis Elliott, saxophonist Rob Zeller, drummer Ray Smith and vocalist Alton... was a 1964 U.S. #2 Cover by Pearl Jam Pearl Jam Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready... was a 1999 U.S. #2
"A Young Man Is Gone"	The Beach Boys The Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...	1963
"Dead Man's Curve Dead Man's Curve (song) "Dead Man's Curve" is a 1964 hit song by Jan and Dean detailing a teen street race gone awry. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.... "	Jan and Dean Jan and Dean Jan and Dean were a rock and roll duo, popular from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence...	1964	U.S. #8
"Terry Terry (song) Terry is a song written and performed by British singer Lynn Ripley, AKA Twinkle. It was her first single, and reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1964, spending fifteen weeks in the charts... "	Twinkle Twinkle (singer) Twinkle is an English singer-songwriter, primarily in the 1960s. Twinkle's most famous songs were "Terry" and "Golden Lights".-Career:...	1964	U.K. #4
"Leader of the Pack Leader of the Pack "Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:... "	The Shangri-Las The Shangri-Las The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...	1964	U.S. #1
"Laurie (Strange Things Happen)"	Dickey Lee Dickey Lee Royden Dickey Lipscomb , known professionally as Dickey Lee , is an American pop/country singer and songwriter, best known for the 1960s teenage tragedy songs "Patches" and "Laurie ."-Career:Lee made his first recordings in his hometown of Memphis for Tampa...	1965	U.S. #14
"Give Us Your Blessing"	The Shangri-las The Shangri-Las The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...	1965	U.S. #29
"I Can Never Go Home Anymore"	The Shangri-las The Shangri-Las The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...	1965	U.S. #6
"A Young Girl"	Noel Harrison Noel Harrison Noel Harrison is an English Olympic athlete, actor and singer. He is the son of British actor Sir Rex Harrison.-Early life:...	1965	U.S. #51. Originally a French song co-written and recorded by Charles Aznavour Charles Aznavour Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world... .
"Green, Green Grass of Home"	Tom Jones Tom Jones (singer) Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...	1966	U.S. #11, U.K. #1
"Ode to Billie Joe Ode to Billie Joe "Ode to Billie Joe" is a 1967 song written and recorded by Bobbie Gentry , a singer-songwriter from Chickasaw County, Mississippi. The single, released in late July, was a number-one hit in the United States, and became a big international seller. The song is ranked #412 on Rolling Stones list of... "	Bobbie Gentry Bobbie Gentry Roberta Lee Streeter , professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is a former American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material...	1967	U.S. #1
"Death Cab for Cutie Death Cab for Cutie (song) "Death Cab for Cutie" is a song composed by Vivian Stanshall and Neil Innes and performed by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. It was included on their 1967 album Gorilla.-Content:... "	Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band are a band created by a group of British art-school denizens of the 1960s...	1967
"Condition Red"	The Goodees The Goodees The Goodees were an American pop music girl group who enjoyed brief popularity in the late nineteen-sixties...	1968	U.S. #46
"The Visitations"	White Noise White noise White noise is a random signal with a flat power spectral density. In other words, the signal contains equal power within a fixed bandwidth at any center frequency...	1969
"Once You Understand"	Think Think (band) Think was a studio group put together by producers and songwriters Lou Stallman and Bobby Susser in 1971. The group released a single, "Once You Understand", on Laurie Records which included a spoken dialogue between male and female teenagers and their parents regarding a youth overdose. The single...	1971	U.S. #23
"D.O.A. Children's Heritage/D.O.A. "Children's Heritage/D.O.A." is a 7" vinyl single by Texas hard rock band Bloodrock released under Capitol Records in early 1971. The version of "D.O.A." featured on the single is roughly half the length of the album version found on Bloodrock 2. The motivation for writing this song was explained... "	Bloodrock Bloodrock Bloodrock was an American hard rock band, based in Fort Worth, Texas, that had considerable success in the 1970s, and was one of the earliest of a number of significant bands to emerge from the Fort Worth club and music scene during the early to mid 1970s and on into the new century.-Early...	1971	U.S. #36 despite many radio stations choosing to not play
"Billy Don't Be a Hero Billy Don't Be a Hero "Billy Don't Be A Hero" is a 1974 anti-war pop song by Paper Lace and was also recorded by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. It was written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander.... "	Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods are an American pop music group, known mainly for their 1970s hit singles, "Billy Don't Be A Hero" and "Who Do You Think You Are".-History:The band was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1965 by their leader Bo Donaldson...	1974	U.S. #1
"Seasons in the Sun Seasons in the Sun Apart from the versions noted above, there have been numerous cover versions of the song. Generally, these use the same translation as the Terry Jacks version, and thus inherit that version's less harsh interpretation of the song's storyline.... "	Terry Jacks Terry Jacks Terrence Ross "Terry" Jacks is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer and environmentalist.-Early life:...	1974	U.S. #1. A reworking of "Le moribond'" aka "The Dying Friend" by Jacques Brel Jacques Brel Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
"Emma Emma (song) Emma, also known as Emma, Emmaline or Emmeline, is a song by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson released as a single by Hot Chocolate in 1974. It reached No.3 in the UK charts and No.8 in the US charts. Brown explained to The Mail on Sunday in 2009: "The story is tied to the death of my mother, aged 38... "	Hot Chocolate	1974	U.S. #8
"I Was in Love with Danny (But the Crowd Was in Love with Dean)"	Kimi and Ritz Kimi and Ritz Kimi and Ritz were a short-lived English pop vocal duo in the early 1970s, comprising Richard O'Brien and his then wife, Kimi Wong O'Brien...	1975	Rare U.K. single by Rocky Horror Picture Show creator Richard O'Brien Richard O'Brien Richard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze... and his former wife, Kimi Wong
"Run Joey Run Run Joey Run "Run Joey Run" is a teenage tragedy song performed by soft rock singer David Geddes. It was a U.S. Top 5 hit which peaked at #4 in the fall of 1975.-Story:The song opens with a female voice pleading with her father:... "	David Geddes	1975	U.S. #4
"Rocky Rocky (song) "Rocky" is a 1975 song written by Jay Stevens . "Rocky" would be Dickey Lee's most successful single on the country chart, becoming his only number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country chart.Other versions... "	Austin Roberts Austin Roberts (singer) Austin Roberts is an American singer and songwriter. His most successful recording was 1975's "Rocky"; a transatlantic Top 40 hit single.-Early years:...	1975	U.S. #9
"You're Gonna Kill That Girl"	Ramones Ramones The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...	1977	Released on album Leave Home Leave Home Leave Home is the second studio album by American punk rock band The Ramones. It was released on January 10, 1977 through Sire Records. The album features the classic Ramones songs "Pinhead" and "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment"...
"Tuttie Fruttie Alice"	Elton Motello Elton Motello Elton Motello was a punk and New Wave band.Elton Motello is both the moniker of Alan Ward, the lead singer and songwriter, and the name of the band itself...	1978	Released on the album Victim of Time
"Hello This Is Joanie"	Paul Evans Paul Evans (musician) Paul Evans is an American rock and roll singer and songwriter, who was most prominent in the 1950s and 1960s...	1978	U.K. #6
"Back of My Mind"	Breathless (led by Jonah Koslen Jonah Koslen Jonah Koslen is an American singer-songwriter and musician best known for his work with the Michael Stanley Band and Breathless in the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:... )	1980	Released on the album Nobody Leaves This Song Alive (EMI-America Records). Tells the story from the bereaved boyfriend's viewpoint of a young girl's death while undergoing an abortion.
"7-11"	Ramones Ramones The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...	1981	Released on the album Pleasant Dreams Pleasant Dreams Pleasant Dreams is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band the Ramones. It was released on July 20, 1981 through Sire Records. Pleasant Dreams reached #58 on the US Billboard album charts. It was frowned upon by guitarist Johnny Ramone because to him it sounded "too slick" and is...
"Blasphemous Rumours"	Depeche Mode Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...	1984
"A Girl Like Emmylou"	Southern Pacific Southern Pacific (band) Southern Pacific was an American country rock band that ran from 1983 to 1991. They are best known for hits such as "Any Way the Wind Blows" , which was used in the soundtrack for the film Pink Cadillac starring Clint Eastwood and Bernadette Peters, and "New Shade of Blue"...	1986	Top 20 country hit
"Girlfriend in a Coma Girlfriend in a Coma (song) -Covers:* Mojo Nixon's cover of "Girlfriend in a Coma" on his 1995 album Whereabouts Unknown is in his usual psychobilly style. After the bridge, Mojo asks that the listener not blame him for the lyrics, launching into one of his trademark "rants" in which he finally declares that "I, Mojo Nixon,... "	The Smiths The Smiths The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...	1987	U.K. #13
"18 and Life 18 and Life "18 and Life" is the second single from Skid Row's 1989 eponymous debut album.The song was to be the band's biggest hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, but only reaching No. 11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, which was previously their biggest market. It was named the 60th... "	Skid Row	1989	U.S. #4
"Hazard Hazard (song) "Hazard" is a 1991 song performed by adult contemporary artist Richard Marx. It has since become one of the most popular songs by Richard Marx, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, the song spent one week atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart... "	Richard Marx Richard Marx Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...	1991	U.S. #9, U.K. #3, Australia #1
"Jeremy Jeremy (song) "Jeremy" is a song by the American grunge band Pearl Jam that features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by bassist Jeff Ament. "Jeremy" was released in 1992 as the third single from Pearl Jam's debut album, Ten . The song reached the number five spot on both the Mainstream... "	Pearl Jam Pearl Jam Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...	1992	Inspired by a high school student who killed himself in front of his classmates
"Saturday Night"	The Misfits	1999	Released on the album Famous Monsters Famous Monsters -Chart positions:- Credits :* Michale Graves - vocals* Jerry Only - bass* Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein - guitar* Dr. Chud - drums...
"Adam's Song Adam's Song "Adam's Song" is a song by American pop punk band Blink-182, from their third album Enema of the State, the album largely credited for the band's success. It was released as the third and final CD single from the album behind "What's My Age Again?" and "All the Small Things" on September 5, 2000... "	Blink-182 Blink-182 Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...	1999
"Stan Stan (song) "Stan" is the third single from The Marshall Mathers LP, by rapper Eminem featuring Dido. It peaked at number one in the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also included on Curtain Call: The Hits, performed with Eminem and Dido as well track 17 on Curtain Call: The Hits as a live Performance from... "	Eminem Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...	2000	U.K. #1
"Days of Graduation"	Drive-By Truckers Drive-By Truckers Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...	2001	A first person narrative about a fatal car crash the night before the victims' high school graduation.
"Crazy Cat Corner"	Gene Summers Gene Summers Gene Summers is an American rock/rockabilly singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds"...	2004	available on 2004 CD release
"Not Now Not Now "Not Now" is a song written by Blink-182 during the recording for their Blink-182 album. An article with Rolling Stone in 2003 states Tom DeLonge was upset that this song didn't make it on the final album, but the song still appears on the UK release, the single "I Miss You", on the compilation... "	Blink-182 Blink-182 Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...	2004
"Who Knew Who Knew "Who Knew" is a pop rock song written by Pink, Max Martin and Dr. Luke for Pink's fourth album, I'm Not Dead . It was released as the album's second single worldwide in 2006, and was re-released to U.S... "	P!nk P!nk Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....	2006	Re-released in 2007
"Star Crossed"	Scary Kids Scaring Kids Scary Kids Scaring Kids Scary Kids Scaring Kids was an American post-hardcore band formed in Gilbert, Arizona in 2002. The band's name comes from the Cap'n Jazz song of the same name...	2007	Nobody actually dies
"Teenage Tragedy"	Dive	2009
"Joey Joey (song) "Joey" is the title of a song recorded by the American country music duo Sugarland. The duo's two members, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, wrote it along with country singer Bill Anderson. It was released in July 2009 as the fourth single from the duo's third studio album, Love on the Inside... "	Sugarland	2009
"Death of a Surfer Girl"	L.Stadt	2010

Queen

Queen (band)

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...

's "Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...

" is considered sometimes teenage tragedy, due to some of the lyrics talking about a young man about to be executed. Some of the songs in The Who

The Who

The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...

's Tommy are also considered of this genre (though the protagonist, Tommy Walker, does not die, he suffers from mistreatment).

Precedents

Two songs by Stephen Foster

Stephen Foster

Stephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...

, the 19th century "father of American music," are said to have a similar basis. The lyrics to "Gentle Annie

Gentle Annie (song)

"Gentle Annie" is a popular American song composed by Stephen Foster in 1856. The song has original lyrics but is said to be based on a traditional Irish melody. According to his niece, Evelyn Foster Morneweck, there is a tradition that it was written in honor of Annie Jenkins, the daughter of a...

" long for a young sweetheart who is said, in some sources, to be inspired by the death of a young woman in an accident, and in "Beautiful Dreamer

Beautiful Dreamer

"Beautiful Dreamer" is a parlor song by Stephen Foster . It was published posthumously in March 1864 by Wm. A. Pond & Co. of New York. The first edition declares on the title page that "Beautiful Dreamer" is "the last song ever written by Stephen C. Foster. Composed but a few days prior to his...

" (Foster's last song) the singer begs his beautiful dreamer to awake because 'Then will all clouds of sorrow depart'.

Satires/Parodies

Bob Luman
Bob Luman
Bob Luman was an American country and rockabilly singer.-Early life and career:...

mocked the genre in "Let's Think About Living" in 1960.
One parody that looms large in the genre's legend is Jimmy Cross
Jimmy Cross
Jimmy Cross was an American radio producer and singer who attained a minor Billboard Hot 100 hit with the novelty song "I Want My Baby Back" in 1965....

' 1965 novelty, "I Want My Baby Back". The singer narrates a traffic crash that at first glance seems to be the one described in J. Frank Wilson
J. Frank Wilson
J. Frank Wilson was an American singer, the lead vocalist of J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers.-Career:Wilson joined the Cavaliers after his discharge from Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas in 1962....

's "Last Kiss
Last Kiss
"Last Kiss" is a song that was released by Wayne Cochran in 1961 on the Gala label. It was unsuccessful chartwise. Cochran subsequently re-recorded his song for the King label in 1963. The song was later revived by J...

", but is revealed to be another angle of the fatal crash at the climax of The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...

' #1 hit "Leader of the Pack
Leader of the Pack
"Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...

"; the singer is the sole survivor, and his girlfriend was fatally dismembered by the impact ("Over there was my baby.. and over there was my baby.. and way over there was my baby"!). After months of unabated grief, the distraught singer, in an apparent fit of insanity, decides that he is going to have his girl back "one way or another". With realistic sound effects, he unearths her grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....

, crawls into her coffin
Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...

, and closes the lid for a muffled final chorus of "I Got My Baby Back." Though the single barely made the Hot 100 (#92) during its initial release, it has since become a cult classic, rescued from obscurity by Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....

, who played it regularly on his syndicated radio show. In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

the song was rediscovered by Kenny Everett
Kenny Everett
Kenny Everett was an English comedian, radio DJ and television entertainer. Born Maurice James Christopher Cole, Everett is best known for his career as a radio DJ and for the Kenny Everett television shows.-Early life:...

, who played it on his own radio series, which resulted in May 1977 with it being voted, by listeners, as The World's Worst Record.
The Smothers Brothers
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...

song "Jenny Brown", from their 1964 album It Must Have Been Something I Said!
It Must Have Been Something I Said!
"It Must Have Been Something I Said!" was the fifth comedy album from the Smothers Brothers . It reached number 23 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. The single "Jenny Brown" peaked at #84 on the 1963 Pop Singles chart. The album was recorded at The Ice House in Pasadena, California...

, spoofs the genre. The melody and lyrics of the opening verses mimic a typical "dead teenager" song, but in the last verse, it is revealed that Jenny was playing a prank on her boyfriend.
A more direct parody of "Leader of the Pack
Leader of the Pack
"Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...

" is "Leader of the Laundromat" by the Detergents
The Detergents
The Detergents were an American music group consisting of Ronnie Dante, Danny Jordan, and Tommy Wynn. The group's speciality was parody songs, as with their first and best-known hit record, "Leader of the Laundromat", written and produced by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss...

(1964). The song was written by Paul Vance
Paul Vance
Paul Vance is an American songwriter and record producer.With over 300 recorded songs, Vance co-wrote such hits as "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," recorded in 1960 by Brian Hyland, which rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and "Catch a Falling Star," recorded in 1957 by...

and Lee Pockriss
Lee Pockriss
Lee Julian Pockriss was an American songwriter who wrote many well-known popular songs and several scores for films and Broadway shows.-Early life and career:...

, and performed by a studio group including singer Ron Dante
Ron Dante
Ron Dante is an American singer, songwriter, session vocalist, and record producer...

, later of The Archies
The Archies
The Archies are a garage band founded by Archie Andrews, Reggie Mantle, and Jughead Jones, a group of adolescent fictional characters of the Archie universe, in the context of the animated TV series, The Archie Show...

.
On a 1965 episode of The Lucy Show
The Lucy Show
The Lucy Show is an American situation comedy that aired on CBS from 1962 until 1968. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to I Love Lucy. A significant change in cast and premise for the 1965-66 season divides the program into two distinct eras; aside from Ball, only Gale Gordon, who joined the program...

, "Lucy in the Music World," Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...

tried to appeal to teenage music fans by singing the tragic tale of a boyfriend whose "surfboard
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...

came back by itself," thereby sending up two 1960s teenage song genres at once. She had been advised that youth today "aren't happy unless they're miserable," referring to the death disc trend.
10cc
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...

's 1973 song "Johnny Don't Do It," done in the style of early 1960s girl-group songs, parodies the teenage trope of the bad boy who is good but misunderstood. Johnny steals a motorcycle but then hits a truck, killing his girlfriend along with himself.
In the film Phantom of the Paradise
Phantom of the Paradise
Phantom of the Paradise is a 1974 musical film written and directed by Brian De Palma. The story is a loosely adapted mixture of The Phantom of the Opera, The Picture of Dorian Gray and Faust and also briefly references Frankenstein and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari...

, the opening song "Goodbye Eddie Goodbye" is a homage and parody of these songs.
The song "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!
Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!
Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! is the ninth studio album released by British band Jethro Tull. It is widely considered a concept album. The remastered 2002 CD version contains two bonus tracks that were cut from the original LP, "Small Cigar" and "Strip Cartoon"...

" by Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...

is another homage and parody of the theme. The lyrics tell the tale of a now (1976) old rocker
Rocker (subculture)
Rockers, leather boys or ton-up boys are a biker subculture that originated in the United Kingdom during the 1950s. It was mainly centered around British cafe racer motorcycles and rock and roll music....

who, while "living in the past" and refusing to "grow up" like his friends did, suffers a motorcycle accident and meets his certain death. (Although, in the following song of the concept album, it is revealed that he survived.) The music (featuring a string quartet) and lyrics are noted for being overly dramatic for the sake of dark humor.
Bob Rivers
Bob Rivers
Bob Rivers is a well-known American rock and roll radio on air personality in the Pacific Northwest as well as a prolific producer of parody songs, most famous for his Christmas song parodies....

also did a parody of "Leader of the Pack
Leader of the Pack
"Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...

" called "Leader of Iraq". The song was centred around the execution of former president of Iraq Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...

.
Another satirical take on the theme was "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun
The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun
"The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" is a 1984 song by American singer–comedian Julie Brown parodying 1950s "teen tragedy" songs.The song and music video—both released more than a decade before school shootings became real-life events— revolve around a teenaged Valley girl's oblivious...

" by Julie Brown
Julie Brown
Julie Ann Brown is an American actress, comedienne, screen/television writer, singer-songwriter, television director. Brown is perhaps best known for her work in the 1980s, where she often played a quintessential valley girl character...

from 1984, which rather eerily anticipates a Columbine
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...

-like massacre.
The cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....

did a parody called "Where Oh Werewolf?"

External links

Ray Peterson, balladeer of teenage tragedy, Boston Globe, January 29, 2005
http://oldies.about.com/library/weekly/aatpteen.htm

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Examples

Precedents

Satires/Parodies

See also

External links