Some songs have a fast tempo, such as Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” Little Richard was said to be so annoyed by Pat Boone’s down-tempo cover of “Tutti Frutti” that he recorded “Long Tall Sally” so fast that “Pat Boone couldn’t sing it.” This post is about even faster songs, the ones so challenging that most vocalists won’t even try them, and that cannot be slowed down without losing the whole point.
NOTE: This post was originally scheduled for late December, but I’ve moved it up to commemorate Tom Lehrer’s passing. “The Elements” is the fifth clip at The Faculty Lounge.
Posted by Steve Lubet on August 2, 2025 at 05:34 AM