Back in 1981 I was having a dental checkup when I heard the funniest song on the radio, “Giddy Up Oom Poppa Omm Poppa Mow Mow!” I almost fell out of my chair laughing. It is one of those flashbulb memories permanently etched in my brain. The song was by the Oak Ridge Boys called Elvira, an obviously catchy tune that became a number one hit for the former gospel singing group now superstars of Country music. Actually the Oaks version was itself a cover of Kenny Rogers and the First Edition who had recorded the gem as well to lesser success. In fact, the song had been around since the mid-1960’s having been recorded by numerous artists. The 1981 version being the one best remembered. There were even a couple of Southern Gospel imitations, rather adaptations, as well: Go Jonah! by the Cathedrals and the version I remember playing by the Kingsboys. It was a case of taking a hit Country song, reworking the lyrics and adapting it for the Christian market.
“Giddy Up A-Go Down Jonah/God Will Tell You What to Say”
You will have to imagine the tune of Elvira in your head because my copy of the gospel version has not survived.
Probably a even bigger cross-over hit was Billy Ray Cyrus doing Achy Breaky Heart in 1992. Yep, it too was covered as a gospel song by a forgettable singer lost to history. I occasionally played these silly imitations as a gospel DJ many years. It was often a way to give our audiences a substitute for the secular music requests we would often get when these monster hits were played all up and down the dial. Most of the time Gospel gets it right by sticking to what it does best, but sometimes a few stinkers get thrown in the mix. On the other hand, one artist who had consistently impressed me with adapting secular music is Kirk Franklin. Check out his version of the Kenny Loggins classic This is It and September originally cut by Earth, Wind and Fire.
Stay tuned
©2010 Neal Rhoden. Gospel Aircheck. All rights reserved.
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