10 Essential Whistlecore Classics
Whistling isn’t a frequently used trick in most musicians’ arsenals (unless you’re Andrew Bird or the Ying Yang Twins), but it’s a great way to make an otherwise pedestrian song pop in the mind of the listener. Here are 10 modern examples of whistling being employeed successfully. (Keyword: modern. Sorry, Axl.)
This article originally ran in AP 308.
ANDREW JACKSON JIHAD – “Sense, Sensibility”
Arizona folk-punk duo Andrew Jackson Jihad don’t shy away from unconventional instrumentation on Can’t Maintain. (“Kazoo Sonata In Cmaj,” anyone?) But “Sense, Sensibility” was the first time in their career they resorted to whistling on a recording, delivering a ripping solo that’s the length of a full verse and chorus. (Can’t Maintain; Asian Man, 2009)
BAD BOOKS – “Forest Whitaker”
The lead single from the second album by the side project of Kevin Devine and the bulk of Manchester Orchestra layers a memorable whistle lick over a distorted guitar lead. It was so memorable, the song was recently used on an episode of How I Met Your Mother. Now, if we can just get Kevin and Andy to cover “Let’s Go To The Mall,” we’ll have come full circle. (II; Triple Crown/Favorite Gentlemen, 2012)
BOMB THE MUSIC INDUSTRY! – “All Alone In My Big Lonely Apartment”
Before Jeff Rosenstock became a household name in the DIY punk community, he was a miserable 20-something trying to motivate himself to do something. This song perfectly encapsulates his apathy, as he strums a ukulele while plaintively whistling and singing, “Who cares about life when it’s big and lonely?” (Goodbye Cool World; Quote Unquote, 2006)
FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS – “The Walker”
One of a small handful of songs on Fitz And The Tantrums’ sophomore album that weren’t vacuously empty Hall And Oates ripoffs, “The Walker” is a blast of neo-funk with a hyper-infectious whistle hook. It’s so tightly regimented, it might just make you march through the streets (like in the music video). (More Than Just A Dream; Elektra, 2013)
LEMURIA – “Mechanical”
One of the best songs off their debut full-length, the Jimmy Eat World-esque “Mechanical” finds Lemuria vocalist Sheena Ozzella repeatedly singing, “I’m not like you/I get comfortable/Shut up,” before the rhythm section falls out, leaving just Ozzella’s distorted guitar and a melancholy whistle solo that turns surprisingly motivational as the rest of the band kick back in for the closing crescendo. (Get Better; Asian Man, 2008) >>>
MIXTAPES – “Bad Parts”
This slab of peppy, ’90s-esque pop-punk features a simplistic, memorable guitar lead that’s mimicked by a whistle, but only briefly in the song’s second verse. It’s the kind of accoutrement that you take notice of just after it ends, then you wait for the rest of the song to hopefully hear it again, only to be disappointed because that part never comes back. Plus side: It gives you a reason to play the track again! (Ordinary Silence; No Sleep, 2013)
NK – “Vacation Days”
NK’s debut album, Nothing To Be Gained Here, is a wild ride of stylistic fusion, from grunge to funk to smooth, jazzy pop—the latter of which is found in spades on “Vacation Days.” Frontman Ryan Hunter’s vocals bounce around high in his register as a rubber-band bassline moves the track forward. And of course, we can’t forget about the chorus, which is vocal-free, save for the crucial whistling part. (Nothing To Be Gained Here; Triple Crown, 2013)
PETER BJORN AND JOHN – “Young Folks”
This is probably the first song that came to mind when reading the subject of this list, and with good reason: The whistle lead in “Young Folks” is as ubiquitous as they come, a descending melody that’s instantly wedged in your brain from the first time you hear it. Of course, you likely heard it many, many other times, as the song has been featured in dozens of TV shows, movies, video games and commercials—plus it’s seemingly the in-store soundtrack to every Urban Outfitters in existence. (Writer’s Block; Almost Gold, 2007)
TWIN FORKS – “Cross My Mind”
There’s no doubt Chris Carrabba is a professional songwriter: His new band, Twin Forks, come primed with a dozen cutesy folk-pop songs that are the definition of polished. The best of the bunch is “Cross My Mind,” with its memorable whistle-and-mandolin hook. Odds are this song will soundtrack a car commercial within three months. And we’re entirely okay with that. (Twin Forks; Dine Alone, 2014)
THE VANDALS – “My Girlfriend’s Dead”
SoCal punk jokers the Vandals have made a career out of being pleasantly offensive. (Their 1996 Christmas album Oi! To The World is a staple in this writer’s household during the holiday season.) So how do you make a song about getting dumped by your girlfriend—then lying and telling your friends she died when they ask about her—even more memorable? Simple: Whistling! (Hitler Bad, Vandals Good; Nitro, 1998)
