Earworm: Misirlou

borrowed from this blog 

If you've seen Pulp Fiction, you probably know this song. Or perhaps, if you're a fan of surfing, you've seen someone riding the waves to this tune. This is a song that often pops into my head (especially while riding bicycle) and I was delighted to find it on the just released 2Cellos album (check it out, it's amazing!!). Curious about the origins of this tune, I did a bit of research and was amazed to find that this tune is very vintage!

Wikipedia credits the Michalis Patrinos rebetiko band for the origin of this song and sites the year of its creation as 1927. The song is a greek tune and the title, Misirlou, refers to a Muslim Egyptian girl. Since '27, the song has changed hands numerous times eventually gaining words, renaming a dance, and providing the soundtrack for American surf culture.


Here are a few videos claiming to be the original Misirlou.
The sound is much more exotic than the tune we are familiar with today.

Xavier Cugat's 1944 recording.


Dick Dale is most often associated with this tune. His '62 version of this song has been covered and recovered, more recently by the Black Eyed Peas, who sampled a bit for Pump It, and, as I mentioned before, the Croatian duo- 2Cellos.

Check out this clip from the 1963 film "A Swingin' Affair" that features Dick Dale & The Deltones playing Misirlou- it's a real hoot!!

Another version you may be familiar with is the one performed by The Beach Boys in 1963.
I don't know about you but I much prefer Dale's take on this tune!!