October 20, 2020

OCT 20, singable satire: Tom Lehrer sings "RHYMING BINOMIALS, M to Z"

 PARODY SONG-LYRICS


ORIGINAL SONG: 
"The Elements", Tom Lehrer, 1959.  


PARODY COMPOSED: Dr. G.H. and Giorgio Coniglio,  2015. This song is the fifth of nine in the series on Word-Pairs. You can find the links to the lyrics of the previous songs at the bottom of the post. Also, our prior exploration of this theme resulted in a lexicon of rhyming binomials on this site as displayed here.

EXPLANATION: For discussion of binomials specifically and word-pairs in general, check an earlier post on this blog-site by clicking here

Most binomial pairs are not rhyming







The inherent music of language is an important element in the toolkit of parodists. When all of this began, I used Tom Lehrer’s format to sing a nonsense-song about irreversible binomials. The current offering highlights pairs in which the 2 elements rhyme, e.g. ‘make or break'. Specific cases may border on cliché, but delight us with their musical quality. Sneak a peek!


UKULELE and GUITAR-FRIENDLY LINK: Our whole series of songs can be found in a friendly format for ukulele (and guitar)-players on our sister blog "SILLY SONGS and SATIRE", with chord-charts and helpful performing suggestions. Click HERE to proceed to this site.

There’s make or break, and move and groove, neither or either, mash- and mish-
And meet and greet, and meter-feed, and moans and groans, and meat or fish.
It’s my way or the highway, metes and limits, also leer and peer
Obama and Osama, and the news and views, both near and dear.

An ocean of devotion, moon in June -it’s grouped with-  odds and sods 
An Okie from Muskogee, onward upward, also nod and prod
And pedal to the metal, a man with a plan, no pain - no gain 
And slump or hump, and scrimp or primp, there’s pump and dump, and planes and trains.

There’s red or dead, and rough and tough, and rude and crude, and rain in Spain
And Seven and Eleven, stash and dash, and stain you can’t explain
And slice and dice, and shake and bake, and surf and turf, and scowl and frown
And shop ‘til drop, and slim and trim, saggy and baggy, town and gown.

Son of a gun, and thrills and chills, and sine and cosine, twine and line   
And twirl and swirl, and use or lose it, weed and feed, and wine and dine.
Whale of a tale, wham bam and thank you, wary chary, wheel and deal
And wear and tear, and yeas and nays, and zoot suit, and religious zeal.

There’s likely umpteen others, but so far I can’t imagine them
They’d spread across the alphabet from a-ardvark to zymogen!


Funny (rhyming) money
Loonie and Toonie



And, for those interested, here's how you find the lyrics-only-version
of the nine songs that make up this cycle. If you would like to  accompany yourself on ukulele or guitar, find relevant chord charts by following the links that will take you to the versions in our blog "Silly Songs and Satire". 
1. PAIRSto the tune of "Words" in the style of the Beegees
...  the following songs in the style of "The Elements" by Tom Lehrer
9. LEGALISTIC DOUBLETS, in the style of "Supercalifragilistic..." from  the musical "Mary Poppins"

October 19, 2020

OCT 19, Toronto ravines: Taylor Creek




 

If you are interested in wending your way through an encyclopedic collection of four blogposts stuffed with photo-collages on Toronto ravines, click HERE.

October 18, 2020

OCT 18, waterfowl: Caribbean brown pelicans










You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Immersible Verse: Limericks about Waterfowl' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. (Or, if you prefer, you can view them on Facebook in Giorgio's photo-albums).



October 17, 2020

OCT 17, palinku (poetic novelty): fruits #1






 You can view all our "palinku" verses if you proceed with a single click to our more encyclopedic blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE. (Or if you prefer, you can stay on this particular blogsite and look for the offerings for the 17th day of each month -- there are now more than 60 of these.)







October 16, 2020

OCT 16, wordplay maps: American Scramble-towns 11,12



(Same old introductory message ...)
Who would ever have guessed? It turns out that an unparalleled word in generating anagrams (letter scrambles) is P-A-L-I-N-D-R-O-M-E-S. We have taken advantage of that property to create this unique series of wordplay maps of imaginary American (and Canadian) locales, each one completed by its official two-letter state (or provincial) abbreviation. 


 

LINKS: 
Forward to U.S.A. map #13
Back to U.S.A. map #9
Let's skip all this stuff and get on to the Canadian version, eh?


October 15, 2020

OCT 15, pandemic poetry: preventive cocktails

Keep more to yourself for a while, wash your hands frequently, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!


  

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Pandemic Poetry' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense".



October 14, 2020

OCT 14, Toronto ravines: Humber River Valley (photocollages #1 and #2)








 

If you are interested in wending your way through an encyclopedic collection of four blogposts stuffed with photo-collages on Toronto ravines, click HERE.



October 13, 2020

OCT 13, mammalian wildlife: beavers (Rod the sculptor)






You can review the whole collection of illustrated verses about mammals (both domestic and exotic) by checking out the more extensive post on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE !




 

October 12, 2020

OCT 12, Toronto ravines: salmon run on the Humber





If you are interested in wending your way through an encyclopedic collection of four blogposts stuffed with photo-collages on Toronto ravines, click HERE.

October 11, 2020

OCT 11, Canadiana: Canadian Thanksgiving

 Get ready for tomorrow's festivities (by Zoom and other online modalities).






Authors' Note: 

Acadia (uh-KAY-dee-yuh, as here, or uh-KAY-dyuh) or  l'Acadie: (French), name given in colonial times to the region corresponding to today's Atlantic Canada (the Maritime provinces)

tofurkey: a vegetarian substitute for turkey made from tofu

Action de grâce (ak-syon-duh-GRAS): literally action of grace; name derived from continental France for a harvest festival

habitants: French colonial settlers, a term honored in the title of Montreal's professional hockey team

   Thanksgiving Day, or Action de grâce, is a statutory holiday in the majority of Canadian provinces and territories, observed on the second Monday of October.



You can review poems, pictures and diverse nonsense related to Canada on the post "Canadiana" on our full-service blog  "Edifying Nonsense".



October 10, 2020

OCT 10, a brief saga (hellenophilia): Cyclades islands














Other verses discussing our appreciation of Greece and things Greek can be found on our blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE.


For the purpose of this blog, a 'brief saga' is defined as a poem, usually narrative, but occasionally expository, that tell its story in at least 15 lines. Most commonly, the format involves three stanzas in limerick form. Your blogging team has been presenting these concoctions at the rate of one per month, mixed in with the shorter poems, wordplay and other stuff that we offer.   
 
To access the next 'brief saga' on this blog (November 2020), proceed to 'the Acropolis'.
To access the most recent previous 'brief saga' (September 2020), back up to 'Food Intolerance'. 
To access all of our 'brief sagas' by the year of their creation, click on your selection below.




October 9, 2020

OCT 9, poets' corner: authorly skill






You can find lots of other verses on this blog under the listing "Poets' Corner".  Click HERE.

October 8, 2020

OCT 8, Ontario nostalgia: stormy Ashbridges Bay (DTl)











 










You can review the entire series of illustrated poems about  the good old days in Ontario by checking the post 'Ontario Nostalgia' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE


b) Decorative Touches L








October 7, 2020

OCT 7, Toronto oases, Leslie Street Spit, photocollages 1 and 2









You can review the entire series of illustrated poems about  the good old days in Ontario by checking the post 'Ontario Nostalgia' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE

October 6, 2020

OCT 6, political palindromes, OOO





From this point, you can proceed either forwards or backwards.

For FORWARD, proceed to the next and final set of 'POLITICAL PALINDROMES' on Nov 23.
For BACKWARD, return to the previous set on Sep 12.

OR, return to the ORIGINAL POST on this topic on May 17.

OR (if you have befriended us), check out this whole series of 40 presidential palindromes in our photo-album on Giorgio's Facebook profile.



October 5, 2020

October 4, 2020

OCT 4, classic palindrome: 'contrived' (saw- and see- lines)

Keep more to yourself for a while, wear your mask when in crowds, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!








You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Reversing Verse: Limericks About Classic Palindromes' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. 

October 3, 2020

OCT 3, magical palindromes: 'A man à Paris'









You can become an expert fan of our wordplay concoction 'magical palindromes' by reviewing the explanatory material found  on our full-service blog "Edifying NonsenseHERE.

October 2, 2020

OCT 2, sleek Greek prefixes: CHRONO-





Clicking HERE will introduce you to our entire collection of verses about the Greek prefixes!
 







October 1, 2020

OCT 1, wordplay maps: new world palindromes (#39,#40)

 







You can view the entire collection of these 50 wordplay maps, by accessing the collection 'Tourists Palindromic Guides: The Americas'. Start by clicking HERE

September 30, 2020

SEP 30, insects: yellow jackets



Authors' Note: A million Emergency Room (ER) visits per year in the United States are caused by concern over stings from insects of the order Hymenoptera; stings can result in significant local reactions and even anaphylaxis. Many people attribute these incidents, without differentiation, to 'bees'. In fact, the common honeybees and bumblebees are considerably less aggressive than yellow jackets, such as Vespula maculifrons; these pesty wasps make us miserable in the summer and early fall, particularly at fairs and other outdoor events, by their relentless search for sugar-containing foods. Vespine is the adjective relating to wasps.
       

You can review Giorgio's other verses about pesty and occasionally beneficial insects, as  collected in 'Buzzwords: Verses about Insects' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE.

September 29, 2020

SEP 29, savoir-faire: French enologists








 You can review verses on this topic in a wider context on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Check the post 'Vers Francais: Savoir-Faire' by clicking HERE


September 28, 2020

SEP 28, pandemic poetry: D.Y.O.D.





Authors' Verse: 

BYOB: bring your own booze

DYODdyour own dishes, an analogous motto proposed for software-enhanced 'remote get-togethers' via internet

Zoom: software for interactive on-line meetings

Other verses by the author relating to the viral pneumonia pandemic of 2020 (COVID-19) include attributecalamaricetaceanconfinement, and dine in.




You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Pandemic Poetry' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense".


September 27, 2020

SEP 27, Toronto ravines: Sherwood





If you are interested in wending your way through an encyclopedic collection of four blogposts stuffed with photo-collages on Toronto ravines, click HERE.



 

September 26, 2020

SEP 26, Toronto oases: Humber Bay







You can review the entire series of illustrated poems about  the good old days in Ontario by checking the post 'Ontario Nostalgia' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE




A reminder: Giorgio Coniglio can now be found on Facebook.

September 25, 2020

SEP 25, Toronto ravines: Park Drive Reservation





If you are interested in wending your way through an encyclopedic collection of four blogposts stuffed with photo-collages on Toronto ravines, click HERE.