What is it about a song that features whistling that makes it all the more memorable? Probably best to ask Otis Redding or Monty Python for the definitive answer but it may be down to the fact that everyone can do it making the song somewhat more accessible. While air expellation doesn’t always hit the bullseye (‘November Rain’ by GNR being the excretable poster boy in that regard) it tends to pop in many people's all time favourite tunes. At mp3hugger we’re no exception so we’ve patched together our top 10 songs (in no particular order) that feature the noble art of whistling.



This bird dispensed with the tweets a long time ago and appears to have made a conscious decision to incorporate whistling into each and every one of his songs. On ‘Dark Matter’ the decision was made for him because it slots in so seamlessly with the songs' epic approach.

Andrew Bird - Dark Matter

More Info: Andrew Bird


This band are perhaps better known for their day job as Electric President but that didn’t stop them from creating this marching epic. Who needs flutes and drums when the sound of a thousand men whistling into battle is enough to carry the day?

Radical Face - Glory

More Info: Radical Face


The sine wave in this case stands apart from the others because it melds itself seamlessly with the singing. A case of a champion whistler at the height of his/her powers but you'd nothing less from a band signed to a label called Labrador.

Club 8 - Whatever You Want

More Info: Club 8


This only came out in 2010 and the whistling offers so much to the success of the tune that removing it would take much of the sheen from the glorious opening passages. Suited to intermediate whistlers only as beginners may be flummoxed by the elastic pitch changes.

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros - Home

More Info: Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros


An obvious choice because the whistling is so central to the song’s overall thrust. This London troupe will have to work very hard to top this slice of jollity for it also supplies one of the cutest mandolin lines heard in years.

Noah And The Whale - 5 Years' Time

More Info: Noah and the Whale


The Happy Mondays were Madchester kingpins who could have skied down the mountains of white stuff they consumed through the years. Their beacon was of course 'Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches' which included about half a dozen baggy classics, chief amoung them this one and the hyperactive sound coming from its resonant chambers.

The Happy Mondays - Step On

More Info: The Happy Mondays


Ferghal McKee gave inexperienced and amateur whistlers the world over some light when he offered the patently out of tune air warbling at the end of this tune from his band’s remarkable debut album ‘Submarine’. He was an angry boy and gnarl’s aren’t conducive to the particular art being discussed today.

Whipping Boy - Bettyclean

More Info: Whipping Boy


Taken from the equally superb ‘Writer’s Block’ LP the threesome managed to capture the zeitgeist on this particularly obvious choice. Also helped that the video that came with ‘Young Folks’ was as near as we’ve come to a contemporary ‘Take On Me’.

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks

More Info: Peter Bjorn and John


The most contemporary of our top 10 and if anything on the occasion pursed lips are overshadowed by the beefy and wonderfully memorable bass line.

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing

More Info: The Drums


Given Gedge’s track record the last thing we’d expect him to be doing is whistling but then this song did come out in 1987 so we’ll put it down to youthful exuberance. And anyway who could be anything other than jolly with choppy chords like this flying around.

The Wedding Present - Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft

More Info: The Wedding Present


What did we miss?

KD

If ‘It’s Because of People Like You’ were an item of clothing it would be a slinky night dress, nothing too sexy just a piece of cool frockery to enhance it’s wearer. The song has a delicious awkwardness that only enhances its aura, perhaps that comes from the drifting organ which resembles those great Inspiral Carpet moogles of yesteryear. Alex Lilly’s voice never falters so it’s no wonder she has guested with the Bird and the Bee and Rilo Kiley, talents like this need to be showcased. You can find ‘It’s Because of People Like You’ on Obi Best’s 2009 debut ‘Caspades’. KD

Obi Best - It's Because of People Like You

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Obi Best
Year: 2009

Christopher Willits ain’t your common-or-garden artist, there are many strings to his bow (teacher, philospher) so even if his music doesn’t do for him what he wishes then a life on social welfare remains unlikely. His musical output is staggering, as ‘Tiger Flower Circle Sun’ is his latest in a 20+ LP discography. Willits occupies the foggy electronica/dream pop divide as evidenced by the intricate ‘Light Into Branches’ (the light of which doesn’t appear until the 2 minute mark, but what a bright shot it is), which was inspired by an serious injury that self healed (told you he was one of a kind) against the better wishes of medical advice. Slightly challenging ‘Light Into Branches’ offers plenty of rewards and even for the casual listener trips along like a swoosh of airy background noise. KD

Christopher Willits - Light Into Branches

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Christopher Willits
Year: 2010

With only a smidgeon of evidence in the case for Jonny I have finally been able to get over my reservations about Teenage Fanclub’s recent output. That’s because the Norman Blake/Euro Childs (Gorky’s) collaboration sounds like things used to sound for the fabulous Glaswegian outfit. The first single is called ‘Candyfloss’ and represents classic jangle pop. It is due to be released in mid January with a self-titled LP to follow next month so as a taster the duo have released an EP of 4 non-album tracks. It’s a particularly lo-fi affair but you can’t keep a good song down and it looks like there is genuine magic sprouting from the new (old) union. The sub 2 minute ‘Beach Party’ is the pick of the bunch with the retro silliness of ‘Continental’ a close second and all four can be downloaded for free over here. KD

Jonny - Beach Party

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Jonny
Year: 2011

If this be Math (Maths?) Rock give me sum more please. Yes, a track from the new year and it only 5 days old (‘Good Luck’ originally surfaced last summer but in the spirit of presenting things as if they were just off the press and we were the first to mention it let's gloss over this truth shall we). Something tells me that this will be turning up in our best of 2011 in 11 months time and this despite sounding as bare as a supermodel’s dinner plate in the opening passages. There’s a time for stripped down sound clouds and London’s finest CYMBALS (caps off to them) have it down to perfection. The vocals by Jack the lad are suitably laconic in a sleepy half dozen red bulls downed kind of way, kinda sorry he doesn’t yelp at any stage such are the teeth that are so carefully gritted. These CYMBALS eat guitars and any other instrument they can lay their hands on. KD

CYMBALS - Good Luck

More Info: Official
More Songs: CYMBALS
Year: 2011

This could be the Wendys from Edinburgh were it not from this century and by a band of a different name from Sweden. I instantly thought of the baggy standards when this flew into earshot but then it has a production sheen that the floppy fringe sorts wouldn’t have reached for. ‘God’s Will’ is taken from Norma’s last album ‘Book of Norma’ and is an immaculate pulsating vehicle for their elaborate jaunts. Seems there are few others of the same name so just look up the ones that are prefaced by amazing. Confident buggers but then it’s hard to argue with their assessment. KD

Norma - God's Will

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Norma
Year: 2008

Pop noir eh? Didn’t quite exist until I heard this classy production from Dusty Brown, a Sacramento musician/producer with a bevy of complimentary musicians at his side. The highlight on this occasion is provided by his sister Jessica's sultry vocals, which round off what is already an exotic piece. I’m sure ‘Back To Back’ could swirl endlessly in the background of every café from here to Timbuktu and find an appreciative audience seeing as it is the equivalent of an glossy mag with exemplary staying power. You can download the ‘This City Is Killing Me’ EP it comes from for free from Dusty's website, tipping while not mandatory is encouraged. A band that sure leave their own distinctive trail. KD

Dusty Brown - Back To Back

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Dusty Brown
Year: 2009

I know we will be back to them so if Philadelphia’s Reading Rainbow (named after a children’s programme that ended on US TV a couple of years back) don’t grab you on this occasion they will down the line. It’s safe to say we’re fans, appealing as they do to our greying ears where snippets of old sounds that are given fresh paint somehow add a tad of lady grecian to the aforementioned appendages. In this case there is more than a dash of the Pains of Being Pure at Heart but with a satisfying enlarged aorta. The noise while strictly white has that dreamy edge that gives it a soft edge, I mean it could be 1992 were it not for the fact that it hasn’t taken a good deal of >> or << or pencil spooling to get to this gem on a friends mix tape. Lots of colours and it’s not even springtime yet. KD

Reading Rainbow - Euphoria

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Reading Rainbow
Year: 2010

A good soundtrack isn’t everything in a movie but it certainly helps (in so much that it kept my interest in the otherwise quite dull live action ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’). Without James Murphy’s (yes, he of LCD Soundsystem) interventions ‘Greenberg’ would still have been memorable (Ben Stiller as vulnerable yet near objectionable world weary 40-something, fresh out of the madhouse and still haunted by that decision to turn down a major record label’s advances 15 years previous while all the while dousing the emotions of a naive 25 year old with heated petroleum – somehow, inconceivably, I identified with his character) but the levity supplied in the background was a classy touch. None more so that this precious one-minuter which appeared as the credits rolled. KD

James Murphy - If You Need A Friend

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: James Murphy
Year: 2010

It took about 3 reads before I saw Parson Red Heads instead of Parsnip Red Heads, not that I’ve anything resembling a passion for vegetables, just a minor glitch in ye auld hugger's speed reading faculties. The miscalculations were all on my side though because this Oregon group (relatives and others) are keen on delivering perfect pop documents. This one comes from their last EP (proper), 2008’s ‘Owl & Timber’, which like all their output wears retrobility right down to its psychedelic drenched artwork. At nearly 5 minutes you might have thought ‘Got It All’ was a bit of a stretch but the spacey doodling is quite the distraction as the second half wears on. KD

The Parson Red Heads - Got It All

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Parson Red Heads
Year: 2008

One of the things I am looking forward to most in 2011 is spending more time with LP’s rather than just jumping into hammock with any loose mp3 I can get my grubby little hands on. Goes with the territory of having more time to do such things I guess but then I won’t be depending on adverts from the makers of the black stuff to inform my ears to bands as special as Beach House. I’d twigged their gift as far back as ‘Master of None’ but our contact since then has been fleeting especially since the lead track from last year’s ‘Teen Dream’ (‘Norway’) was such a stilted affair. The aforementioned ’10 Mile Stereo’ is of course a better indication of the album’s worth, even better though is album opener ‘Zebra’ – a song that earns its stripes through elegantly turned out jangle and queen Vic’s sumptuous presence. KD

Beach House - Zebra

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Beach House
Year: 2010

It may be tempting, without knowing for sure, to announce that Antimagic are the first Irish band (or band from any other nation for that matter) to appear on this blog in 2011. You see with names like Ted McGrath and Marcia Cahill it could be a fair enough assumption but then they are based in Brooklyn so it may just be a beyond first generational thing. Matters not anyway because as soon as ‘Inner Most Secret Shogun Heart’ obliquely rolls into town your brain will be fried at its compelling non-adherence to conventional song structure. The song is the b-side (strictly true on this occasion as it is a vinyl single) to flipside ‘Shake Shake Shake’ and reminds one of Liars on a trip to the fairground. New York pulls another rabbit from the hat. KD

Antimagic - Inner Most Secret Shogun Heart

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Antimagic
Year: 2011

Elizabeth Morris is one of foursome Allo’, Darlin, an antipodean/anglo group who made waves earlier this year on foot of their gentle self-titled debut. We knew them (well, Liz at least) as her beautiful rendition of ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ made it onto our 2009 Christmas compilation. Seems the lass has an affiliation for this particular holiday as ‘Will You Please Spend New Years With Me?’ ably proves (it was those scorching Queensland Decembers that did it). This is as sparse as Allo, Darlin’ get yet for all the lack of ornamental detail it is as warm and inviting as a yuletide log. It also gives a good case for not following the herd and instead spending the change of the year with your love and a suite of Disney favourites. Fireworks will surely ensue whichever you choose. KD

Allo, Darlin' - Will You Please Spend New Years With Me?

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Allo Darlin'
Year: 2009

Hope you like our shapely (and I’m not referring to our ‘all the appearances of a fattened turkey without the feathers’ body) new design. Not a whole lot of difference from the way it looked before but it had been a couple of years since the last overhaul so it felt almost mandatory. Anyway, the bulk of what was for all intents and purposes a mad scramble around Ireland with tinsel and baby in tow has come to a halt and normality is returning. 2011 is going to bring fresh challenges as this blog is due to turn into a full time pursuit (along with other inventive meal winning endeavours). It is frightening the pants off me (were it not for my bloated hips they’d be flat on the floor) but in other ways this could potentially be a great experience. Anyroad, to kick start the new campaign here are our old friends (well aren’t everyone on Slumberland?) Black Tambourine with their 100% genuine retro classic ‘Dream Baby Dream’ (a Suicide cover). KD

Black Tambourine - Dream Baby Dream

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Black Tambourine
Year: 1991

There must be a thousand takes on ‘Little Drummer Boy’, the majority of which are pants but then you have exceptions like the Dandy Warhols ecstatic take. Nova Scotia band the Heavy Blinkers took a pithy view from a new perspective, that of the little boy through the eyes of Mary & Joseph. If that’s not interesting enough for you then Jenn Grant’s voice should be enough to swing it. This is the type of song I search all year for to sign off on before the Christmas break. It's perfect. Hope the next few days go well for you, we’re heading west through the snowfields to the land of midnight mass and midday drinking. Nollaig Shona! KD

The Heavy Blinkers - Silence Your Drum

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Heavy Blinkers
Year: 2009

37 hours of snow and already people here in Dublin are saying that Bing’s ‘White Christmas’ is giving them the chills. We are truly a funny sort, spend the whole year dreaming of a white one and then when it happens we’re complaining about leaky boots and slippy pedestrian thoroughfares. That gorgeous Guinness ad that used to send shivers down our spine is now doing exactly the same thing. No mind, here is a new entry in the classic crimbo collection from L.A. rockers Darker My Love. They wrote the song for a free Christmas album being pushed by of all things a big shop called Target. It ends up being totally wonderful, intensely happy and richly melodic, just perfect for a nation hung up on frozen fingertips and horses that should really be inside on subzero nights like this. Love you this time of the year. KD

Darker My Love - Snow Is Falling

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Darker My Love
Year: 2010

Besides Low’s ‘Just Like Christmas’ no contemporary festive number has hit me quite like Venice Is Sinking’s ‘The Grey Line’. Now while I like my December party numbers to be weighed down with sleigh bells as much as the next person there are times when the alternative can be just as satisfying. And what a heart filling distraction this song is, it’s completely perfect even before the trumpet kicks in at fade out and when it does I consistently fail to hold back on emotions not normally the preserve of a grown adult. It has so infected my pre Christmas psyche that I have resolved to feature the song henceforth on this blog for every year that it roams the web. So until we meet again in 12 months time thank you Daniel, Karolyn, Lucas, Jeremy, James and Aaron. By the way we're snowed in here again so looks like work is kaput early this year. Yippee. KD

Venice Is Sinking - The Grey Line

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Venice Is Sinking
Year: 2007

The now departed De Rosa from Glasgow were signed to Chemical Underground and like true nationalists never softened their brogue to bailout international ears. So it took a few go’s before lyrics could be deciphered and while it’s not exactly family friendly ‘Under the Stairs (Xmas Reverie)’ turned out not as stark as I’d originally imagined. Words aside this is a really nice tune, in keeping with the season it is all softly lit and open to mistimed handclaps if you're party to such admissions of jollity over the next few days. KD

De Rosa - Under the Stairs (Xmas Reverie)

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: De Rosa
Year: 2006

It’d be hard to score Sofia Talvik anything less than ten for her efforts to promote her own music. The Swedish singer has certainly got the internet down and uses each one of its promoing tools to the max. Now in somebody else’s boots this could turn as many away as it attracts but the ace up Talvik’s sleeve is her talent. From what I can gather she appears labelless which given her looks and undoubted gift for a pretty ditty is a bit odd. Not that I’m always completely enamoured with her output but periodically she hits the nail on the head. Like on last years Christmas single ‘Snowy White River’ which is a fragile and heartrending piece that’ll calm your head after 5 hours at the shops. Keep at it Sofia, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll be wrapped around your finger. KD

Sofia Talvik - Snowy White River

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Sofia Talvik
Year: 2009

By my reckoning Candy Claws are up to half a dozen in their campaign to write the most songs by any band containing snow in the title. Given that they are nestled at the foot of the snowy Colorado hills it probably isn’t all that surprising though. We ourselves spent a winter’s month in New Zealand and drew so much inspiration from that white topped landscape. ‘Snow Girl’ is something Ryan and Kay recorded last Christmas and is indicative of Candy Claws Mark I as opposed to the direction that they took on their forest treks this year. As ever the childlike innocence is effortlessly genuine and the softly frosted harmonies dispatched with the skill and finesse of one of the best acts in the world today. We love them so much and not just at Christmas. KD

Candy Claws - Snow Girl

More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Candy Claws
Year: 2009