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:: The Little Angels - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep ::

:: The Little Angels - Dominique ::

Once in awhile, the International bin in a used record shop will yield something decent if you can flip your way past all the German drinking song collections. Such was the case when I found this album a few weeks ago at Record City in Las Vegas. The Little Angels, a South Korean art troupe made up of children performers of traditional Korean folk songs and dance, first formed in 1962 and continue to this day. Much of this album is of that traditional type, along with a slew of Broadway show tunes, though that's not what made me grab the album (and fear not, that's not what I'm posting for your listening pleasure today). I picked it up because they cover the song, "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep." I'm not sure where, when, why or how I ever heard this bubblegum classic, but it stuck in my head as one of the more silly and inane, yet catchy, songs I'd ever heard, and it all came rushing back into my mental radio when I saw it on the track-listing . The song concerns the trials and tribulations of an abandoned young bird. Dig these choice lyrics:


Where's your Momma gone

(Where's your Momma gone)

Little baby bird

(Little baby bird)

Where's your Momma gone

(Where's your Momma gone)

Far, far, away

Far, far, away-ay-ay


Last night I heard my Momma singing this song

Ooh, wee, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep

Woke up this morning and my Momma was gone

Ooh, wee, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep

Chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep, chirp


Originally written and recorded by a Brit named Lally Stott, it was covered by Scottish pop group, Middle of the Road, and their version became an international hit in the summer of 1971. Trinadadian brother and sister duo, Mac & Katie Kissoon, had a chart hit with it the same year. Those versions are all fine, but The Little Angels version of 1972 definitely has more Seoul.



Another song these Little Angels cover is The Singing Nun's, "Dominique." The Singing Nun was Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile), a Belgian nun who became an unlikely chart-topping folk star in 1963 after recording, "Dominique" to help raise money for her Dominican order. She later left the order to run a school for autistic children, and tragically committed suicide in a pact with her long-time companion when the Belgian government came after her for taxes on the record's royalties - all of which had been donated to the convent. For shame, Belgium!




Now, The Little Angels may not be as angelic as they appear on the surface. The troupe was actually formed by self-professed Messiah, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, and his right-hand man, Bo Hi Pak, with the purpose of enhancing South Korea’s image around the world. As the troupe travels to other countries, their purity and goodwill is exploited in helping Moon gain access to important world figures and thus aids his nefarious plot to take over the world. So be warned, you’re listening to Moonie music here today – try not to fall under the Little Angels’ spell, lest you find yourself forever pimping flowers on the street for Moon’s church, or even worse, becoming a Republican.



Phil

This entry was posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 at 7:33 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.