Barbara Ann

Infobox Single
Name =Barbara Ann


Cover size =
Caption =single sleeve
Artist =The Beach Boys
Album =Beach Boys' Party!
A-side =
B-side ="Girl Don't Tell Me"
Released =December 20, 1965
Format =Vinyl
Recorded =A: 23 September 1965 B: 30 April 1965
Genre =Pop music
Length =3:23 (LP) 2:05 (single)
Label =Capitol 5561
Writer =Fred Fassert
Producer =Brian Wilson
Certification =
Last single ="The Little Girl I Once Knew"/"There's No Other (Like My Baby)"
(1965)
This single ="Barbara Ann"
(1965)
Next single ="Sloop John B/You're So Good To Me"
(1966)
Misc =Extra track listing
Album = Beach Boys' Party!
Type = studio
Tracks = #"Hully Gully"
#"I Should Have Known Better"
#"Tell Me Why"
#"Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow"
#"Mountain of Love"
#"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
#"Devoted to You"
#"Alley Oop"
#"There's No Other (Like My Baby)"
#"Medley:I Get Around/Little Deuce Coupe"
#"The Times They Are a-Changin'"
#"Barbara Ann"Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Audio file = Barbara Ann by The Beach Boys.ogg

"Barbara Ann" is a song written by Fred Fassert and performed (as "Barbara Anne") by The Regents in 1961. The recording reached a peak position of #13 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 record chart.

The most famous cover version is by the American pop band The Beach Boys. The song was released as a single on December 20, 1965, with the B-side "Girl Don't Tell Me". The song peaked at #2 in the U.S. and at #3 in the U.K. The song was also released on the 1965 album "Beach Boys' Party!". Brian Wilson and Dean Torrence, who had previously recorded the song as one half of Jan and Dean, are featured on lead vocals. Dean is not credited on the album jacket but "Thanks, Dean" is said by Carl at the end of the track.

On "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001)" Brian Wilson sang this song with the ensemble.

The song has become a popular song for marching bands and pep bands to play in the bleachers at sporting events.

Cultural references

The song was also covered by The Who (released in November 1966 on the "Ready Steady Who" 7" e.p.), sung by Keith Moon, and was a highlight of the film "The Kids are Alright". Blind Guardian also covered the song on the album "Follow the Blind". A version recorded by the Beach Boys without the "Party" effects can be found on the "Hawthorne" album. The Beach Boys made a false start on the "Party" album by singing "Baa Baa Black Sheep" instead of "Baa Baa Baa Baa Barbara Ann". The Beach Boys sang this song as an encore on their "Live In London" album and Brian Wilson has a rendition on his live "Roxy" CD. The song was also featured during the 4th season episode, "My Ocardial Infarction", of the sitcom "Scrubs", being sung by the Janitor's fake band, "Hibbleton." The song was also featured in the 1993 film, "Surf Ninjas", in which it is performed twice by Ernie Reyes Jr. The first time is in the early beginning of the film and then (this time joined by Rob Schneider and Nicholas Cowan) he performs it again, this time in the closing segment and film credits. In 1975, the Martin Cicus group performs a French version named "Marylène". In the late 1970's series "Welcome Back Kotter", the character Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta) sings a version with the lyrics "Baa-baa-baa Baa-Barbarino". And in the "House Party" episode of the early 1990's television series "Saved by the Bell", Zach, Slater and Screech lip-sync to the song while "cutting loose" at Screech's house when his parents are away on vacation. The first line of the chorus to Barbara Ann was used in an advertising jingle for cheese snack Mini Babybel.

Parodies

The song was later parodied as "Bomb Iran" by Vince Vance and the Valiants, written during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. [Declain McCullagh (April 22, 2007). [http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9711370-7.html McCain's 'Bomb Iran' song was anti-Muslim?] "News.com". Accessed 2007-11-05.] A different parody version was a viral during 2006, courtesy of Adam Kontras, [Adam Kontras (March 7, 2006). [http://www.4tvs.com/Journey/yearseven/entries/J499-030706.html Lets Bomb Iran!] . "4tvs.com". Accessed 2007-11-05.] and the idea was sourced into a number of flash animations that same year. [4tvs Productions (Apr 10, 2006). [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3851426890212250833 Let's Bomb Iran!] . "Google Video". Accessed 2007-11-05.] [ [http://www.atomfilms.com/film/bomb_iran.jsp Let's Bomb Iran] . "AtomFilms.com". Accessed 2007-11-05.] John McCain referenced the song, and attempted a line or two of the refrain as "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" in an answer to a question at a campaign stop on April 19, 2007; there was considerable criticism. [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/20/politics/main2709937.shtml McCain's "Bomb Iran" Joke Draws Fire] . April 20, 2007. "CBSNews/AP". Accessed 2007-11-05.]

The Capitol Steps parodied it with the new title of "Taliban" on their 2002 album "When Bush Comes To Shove". Released during America's invasion of Afghanistan, it is told from the perspective of an American soldier describing his plans to drive out the Taliban.

Details for the first Beach Boys cover

* "Written by:" Fred Fassert
* "Album:" Beach Boys' Party!
* "Time:" 3 min 23 sec
* "Produced by:" Brian Wilson

Performers

* "Brian Wilson:" Lead Vocals,Bass
* "Dean Torrence:" Lead Vocals
* "Al Jardine:" Backing Vocals,Guitar
* "Bruce Johnston:" Backing Vocals
* "Mike Love:" Backing Vocals
* "Carl Wilson:" Backing Vocals,Guitar
* "Dennis Wilson:" Backing Vocals

Tributes

* Blind Guardian - "Follow the Blind" (1989)

See also

* The Beach Boys
* Beach Boys' Party!
* List of songs by The Beach Boys

References