I'm a gal and I have always loved to whistle. Bing Crosby whistles in a short part of White Christmas that is very charming. There's a version of Heartaches by Ted Weems in which he whistles a few bars that I think really makes the song stand out. My other favorite is the whistled portions of Billy Joel's Strangers. I've gotten so good at whistling along with all of these, that people have told me I sound just like the originals. I can't tell because I'm hearing it from inside my own head, but I can always tell when I make a mistake!

listen to pumped up kicks by foster the people the whistling is used perfectly

do you people get that "be happy don't worry", is ironic,it's not happy,silly people. remember the landlord and litigation lyric in the tune. i'm surprized no one picked up on this. remember the bush one campaign song[this was it,folks] and bobby mcferrin,did not agree with the bush one platform,nor the notion that this is a song of jollity.

You asked for a pop song whistler? How about der Bingle, Bing Crosby (I assume he did his own whistling).

Also, then talking about the quality of whistling in Sweet Georgia Brown, no one said anything about the glisades and trills! Clearly quality whistling!

As annoying as guns and roses can be. There is some good whistling in both " patience" and "civil war".

Four words - Dock of the Bay - whistling got soul

Remember "the whistle song", Frankie Knuckles? Was all over when I started going to clubs. Catchy.

I thought of some other examples"

The opening of the Genesis song "The Battle of Epping Forest" has haunting whistling.

The Jethro Tull song "The Whistler" has an Irish flaire even it's done on a woodwind.

"John Schafer is a VERY smart guy. But this, as are many subjects covered on this show is arcane and unnecessarily pedantic.

Whistling?

Really???"

I'm curious, can you whistle?

I love Andrew Bird and his whistling. He's gonna marry me someday...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY-1-sMKjV4

Al Jolson began as a whistler

Al Jolson began as a whistler

I love whistling ... what about Muzzy Marcellino, you have yet to mention him?

The Whister was a popular radio show on the West Coast. A woman who worked near by was the only person who could do the required whistling, so she would come in at the beginning of each show and whistle.

Best soundtrack music with whistling:

The Bridge on the River Kwai!!!!

Amazing Whistling!!!!

My father, an ex-marine, used his melodic, piercing whistle to summon us home from the bluffs of the Texas Gulf coast for dinner. It was a tune that had traveled with the family for generations from Central Europe. Simple, warm and touched with melancholy, it might die with me since I can't whistle a tune....

I love to hear people whistle. One of my favorite whistling songs is a Meat Puppets whistling song on Up On the Sun.

John John John.....

It's FOR THE BIRDS!

Martin Denny

Best Popular Singer AND Best Pop whistler...

...Al Jolson.

*P.S. A 2nd comment as I didn't see my initial one listed

Orson Wells played the Shadow on radio. But a woman who worked near by was the only person who could do the required whistling, so she would come in at the beginning of each show and whistle.

My opinion on whistling highly depends on who's doing it- a guy from my work who always whistles walking to his car- highly annoying! My high school crush Axl whistling in GNR's Patience - highly enjoyable!

One tune that always gets me whistling is the theme music from Mayberry. It was played earlier this morning on WNYC.

another vote for the Whistling Song byTwisted Nerve from Kill Bill! Starts out innocently enough, but becomes progressively more threatening as it continues. Please play a sample!

LOVE THE TOPIC; I WHISTLE EVERYWHERE; IT'S A FORM OF MUSICAL PRACTICE FOR ME.
ANYWAY, THE THEME FROM GOOD BAD UGLY -- THAT'S NOT WHISTLING -- IT'S A SLIDE WHISTLE !! I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ONE HEARS THAT !!\SEE YA - -MS

Otis, Sittin on the Dock of the Bay, nuff said.

Do you know Jason Victor Serinus, the 'voice' of Woodstock? http://www.jasonserinus.com/
For me, it really depends on the tune that I am hearing whether or not the whistling irritates me.

As the unfortunate offspring of a CONSTANT whistler, I'm interested to know what if anything is known about the psychology of whistling? Why are some folks whistlers and others not?

Otherwise I don't have a problem with whistling in music- especially when it's highly musical.

Do you know Jason Victor Serinus, the 'voice' of Woodstock? http://www.jasonserinus.com/
For me, it really depends on the tune that I am hearing whether or not the whistling irritates me.

just reminded of Toots Thielemann as well, on Bluesette.

Another fine whistler, more jazz/folk than pop, is the French guitarist Pierre Bensusan. Always interesting.

What's up with you all saying "everyone can whistle"? I can't whistle, and I always figured there were plenty of non-whistlers out there to keep me company.

Ever hear Martha Plimpton sing her ballad version of "Thunder Road" with a whistle solo/outro (actually recorded on "Studio 360")?

friend of mine has a whistling phone ring, called the Whistling Wizard. Here it is. I like it a lot, and it takes many listens to hear the cool background vocals too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duH79X-E31s

I think it was "I was Kaiser Bill's Batman"!!

What about Andrew Bird?!
He's great!!

Good whistling topic; I'm a whistler, and during my Navy tenure a literal whistle was sounded before an any announcement over the ship's intercom.

Twisted Nerve from Kill Bill! Really eerie, and yet really compelling.

Best Popular Singer AND Best Pop whistler...

...Al Jolson.

*P.S. A 2nd comment as I didn't see my initial one listed

The Black Keys - Tighten Up

Good example of a recent song that uses whistling in a way that fits the song.

that's a pitchy whistle dog. -randys' lament

Speaking of superstitions, an old fisherman's superstition is "Don't whistle - you'll whistle up a storm..."

If you want to hear amazing whistling, listen to Al Jolsen on "To-to-tootside."

John Lennon used it effectively in Jealous Guy and the Beatles Seemed to use it in Rocky Raccoon.

John Schafer is a VERY smart guy. But this, as are many subjects covered on this show is arcane and unnecessarily pedantic.

Whistling?

Really???

Peter Gabriel's "Intruder" off of his third solo album. Great example of whistling used to great effect.
Thank you.

The Black Keys - Tighten Up

Good example of a recent song that uses whistling in a way that fits the song.

to Mark in Westchester:
"I was a kaiser bill's Batman" by Whistling Jack Smith was a stupidly big hit around 1967.

Dont' forget another good whistler, Roger Miller, especially on "England Swings," where Miller and producer Buddy Killen whistled a duet. Also Miller's "Whistle Stop" from Disney's 70s cartoon "Robin Hood."

Guns N' Roses "Patience"

Greatest pop whistler of ALL TIME. Also greatest pop singer of ALL TIME...

...Al Jolson.

I can't whistle, and that's annoying! Good or bad, how can I "sing" along?

John Lennon was a great whistler. Jealous Guy. Not at all effected.

I gotta jump in for WFMU manager Ken, who has TONS of whistling segments in his AWESOME shows. Here's a bit with Robert Wyatt:
http://wfmu.org/flashplayer.php?version=2&show=38803&archive=66276&starttime=2:38:25

from this playlist: with more whistlers!!
http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/38803

I love it!

annoying--"winds of change", the scorpions
good--"patience", gnr

whistle while you work!!

Out in the world I find whistling annoying at best and extremely creepy at worst. (Walking alone down an empty street at night hearing that one guy walking behind you and whistling just doesn't help you feel safe.)

But in music it can be great. My favorite example is "Jealous Guy" by John Lennon. The live cover by Elliott Smith is just wonderful. He even says in his shy tone before he starts the song, "Any whistlers in the crowd? Here's your chance." It gets me every time I listen to it.

Top 3 whistle songs:

1. Otis Redding - Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
2. Two Of Us - Beatles
3. Guns N' Roses - Patience

Leonard Cohen's deranged whistling at the end of One of Us Cannot Be Wrong... Brilliant.

I've been an incessant whistler since I was 6 (I'm a out 50 hrs older than that now). It's my only musical talent. Also, I don't need an iPod..... I've got my playlist with me all the time. Love whistling in pop music. I can whistle Flight of the Bumble Bee.......love to put Simon & Garfunkle to the whistle.

Whistling was big in the 1920s through 1940s. I assume it was used in popular music by artists who could not play a musical instrument.

What about Guns N' Roses' "Patience"? In my opinion the best use of the whistle.

I dont mind whistling in my personal life, my father whistled all my life. Growing up I tried to emulate his full toned, rich whistle.

He would whistle Italian tunes and carry the melodies to create his own music.He mostly whistled in the morning.

There was a hit single during the 60's that featured no vocals apart from a repeated melody line that was whistled. Cannot for the life of me remember the name.....key kept rising, verse by verse.

I pulled up this page to sound off about Andrew Bird... I see I am one of many.

The end of Pat Benatar's Love is a Battlefield has a nice bit of whistling.

BING CROSBY. Other than Bing, who made it music, it should be banned from recordings.

Andrew Bird

Let me toss out the name of a great jazz whistler, Bob Haggart (composer of "What's New"), who wrote and whistled the Bob Crosby Band hit "Big Noise from Winnetka."

for a g from n j- this is just another banal discussion on sound check.

Whistling is ALWAYS annoying. The only thing that might be more annoying than whistling in a pop tune would be if the whistling were backed up by a banjo....

HANDS DOWN
ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD

Emily said "everyone can do it," but everyone can't do it! Due in part to an overly tight frenulum I can't whistle. This is very upsetting to me and it makes songs like Dock of the Bay off limits for singing along in my car. It's very troubling and turned me off of whistling in all songs.

John Lennon was a great whistler. Jealous Guy. Not at all effected.

i was once whistling down the street in Richmond, VA and a homeless guy freaked out on me...because it is typically cheerful and too self-confident.

Martin Sexton!!!

best use of whistling
XTC - Generals and Majors

or are those flutes?

Andrew Bird incorporates whistling in the majority of his songs and I don't mind it one bit. The guy has whistling skills.

Andrew Bird is a talented singer, songwriter, and violinist, but he's also an incredible whistler. His whistling has nothing to do with jollity and can even sound melancholy at times. Bird uses his whistling evocatively, and it sometimes rivals his violin playing!

Andrew Bird! He takes whistling to another level, beyond simple melodies.

Great pop artist whistler: Al Jolson

I would happily let m ward whistle me to sleep any night.

HANDS DOWN ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD ANDREW BIRD

An occasional whistle is okay in pop music as long as it's not used to excess!

Lighten up, people!

What about John Lennon's "Jealous Guy"?
Can't imagine that song without it!

Roger Whittaker

Ron McCroby, unfortunately, is dead. But here he is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n3QJ3k7OZg

What about the end of "Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding? Since it was the last song he recorded, and released soon after his death, the whistle gives it a certain sadness. I cannot imagine the song without the whistle.

What about John Lennon?

"You've got to Hide Your Love Away", and songs from solo career too.

This is an easy one. If I'm doing it, angelic. if anyone else is doing it, excruciating! The guy that did the whistling for "The Andy Griffith Show" came to our gym for a school presentation when I was in 5th grade... I thought it might be a fun career. Thankfully, other opportunities presented themselves. (no offense to Emily)

Whistling. Hmm. On the one hand you have the immortal work of Bing Crosby and the lump-in-your-throat solo by Bryan Ferry on his cover of Jealous Guy.

On the other you have people whistling tunelessly to the music you can't hear in their headphones and dreadful songs like that Peter, Bjorn & John number from a few years ago.

On balance, I guess I will suffer the latter to live in a world where the former also exists.

Andrew Bird is a great pop music whistler.

Whistling?! Yet another incredibly inane discussion topic. Why not have performances instead of all this pointless conversation?

Al Jolson was the all-time great pop music whistler...

Best whistling: XTC's Generals and Majors
or is that sound flutes??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCW6Kte2o1A

Whistling in moderation is kind of cool on recordings and in performance as long as it's reasonably on pitch.

The problem is when people who can't whistle try to express themselves outside the recording studio and music hall upon the innocent ears of the public around them.

I hate those people. They should be put away in bad whistlers' prison.

Having grown up with a mediocre whistler, bad whistling makes my skin crawl. But I did grow up with a Ron McCroby (from Cincinnati) album so I haven't given up completely. He's a great whistler. Check him out, if he's still around.

To Ben Greenman, whistling in songs is fairly banl but harmless. Do I want an all whistling radio station? No. But it's not annoying. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is, however. "Here's a little song I wrote, it might want to make you slit your throat."

On an unrelated note - Pre-Internet, my friends and I would periodically try to remember all the songs with whistling in them. You'd be surprised at how many there are.

If you can whistle in tune, I say go for it. I don't care what you are whistling. If, on the other hand, you can not whistle in tune please keep it to yourself in public. I can't stand bad whistlers they give me a headache, and its just rude.

Very moving whistling at the open and close of "Chuvas de Vaerao" (spring rain), a lovely ballad by the great Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso. From his early tropicalista album Personalidade.

I love to whistle, and it can add a lot to a song. My favorite whistle in song is the beginning of the Billy Joel song "The Stranger". It sounds best in a Subway tunnel.
I find that whistling is also infective, and that if I whistle somewhere, be it out on the street, in the subway, invariably, someone else will begin whistling. Try it, I'm telling you, it works.

The whistling nun! Look it up. Late 60s nun whistling over " the sound of music." Possibly the worst/best piece of whistling ever.

Whistling is great, but should only be recorded by mel brooks, and the whistling nun.

Frank, bed-stuy.

a well placed understated whistle like "the stranger" intro, can be wonderfully evocative. i don't want to hear or see people doing a faux-flute thing, with their hands in mime-pose. corny, corny, corny.

The most recognizable whistle sound I can think of is in the beginning and end of "The Stranger" by Billy Joel.

Don't the New Pornographers have a hit song with whistling??

Ever hear the annoying whistling intro to Guns and Roses' "Patience". Geez, you need patience just to hear the song.

to those who want to call this just another banal discussion on soudcheck-

shut up........