A classic. The only bad thing is how it gets stuck in your head for days.

@l-bird

Жыл бұрын

An earworm for sure, haha

@kennethrussell1158

Жыл бұрын

Melanie, this is my favorite Harry Nilsson song. And in my opinion it's one of the best songs of 1972

@melaniesweeten5401

Жыл бұрын

@@kennethrussell1158 it's pretty great, but I'm partial to his songs from Popeye.

@edprzydatek8398

Жыл бұрын

I don't know, I kind of like it stuck in my head for several days.

@joyceharkin3641

2 ай бұрын

I said doctor..... 😂😂😂😂😂

Most people tend to dismiss it as a fun and silly novelty song. And in one sense, they're right. It IS fun! But there is so much more to it. The vocal storytelling devices he uses are clever. But especially, the arrangement is used to create a sense of spiraling toward the edge of chaos. It's genius, actually. So glad you reacted to this one, as I've been suggesting it to the reactors I follow, and you're the first one to react to it.

@stanzaloan3454

Жыл бұрын

Come on man, what are apologizing about? You being the reactor doesn't mean your obligated to like everything that's mentioned or requested by your audience Harri 😉👍

@jayash3539

Жыл бұрын

To me, this song demonstrates how Nilsson was so comfortable in a studio setting. He could come in with such a simple and silly idea and finish with a masterpiece

@toddparke8535

Жыл бұрын

Most reactors seem to listen only to a band's obvious choices, i.e. hits etc., and never search deeper. With Nilsson it's usually Without You or Everybody's Talking & the former he didn't even write. To know Nilsson you need to know his writing style.

@RicoCosta317

Жыл бұрын

Such a perfect description of the song. I always loved the incredible rhythmic progression descending, as you say, into chaos. One of my faves.

Harry was a musical genius.

Harry Nilsson was truly unique. Nobody quite like him. The variety in his songwriting is mind boggling. Listening to his "Nilsson schmilsson" album was (and still is) a masterclass. And yes, his sense of humor was a constant through his career, often detracting from his commercial success. He liked to amuse himself rather than cater to the record company or the public.

Harry did one of the great break up songs. “You’re Breaking My Heart”.

@foxandscout

Жыл бұрын

You’re tearing it apart so f you You stepped on my ass You're breakin' my glasses too😉

His vocals are amazing, with the rounds and different tempos, put all together. A nice memory. Harry died too young.

I have always loved this song.

I remember Harry Bellefonte preforming this. He preformed it in a skit on The Flip Wilson Show! This song is hilarious and gets stuck in your head!!!! Fun request Blue Eyes. Great reaction Harri!!!

@kennethrussell1158

Жыл бұрын

D Rice. I can see Harry Bellefonte recording this song.

@Fool3SufferingFools

Жыл бұрын

Yes, this sketch is on KZread under the name “Flip Wilson - Geraldine and Harry Belafonte.”

@Fool3SufferingFools

Жыл бұрын

Yes, this sketch is on KZread under the name “Flip Wilson - Geraldine and Harry Belafonte.”

@dsusan17

Жыл бұрын

I put the sketch in the comments

You should hear the Muppet's version. It's crazy. And Harry Belfonte sang a calypso called Coconut Woman. "Get your coconut water, it's good for your daughter..."

My goodness. Now that's a song I haven't heard in a long time. A long, long time.

@melaniesweeten5401

Жыл бұрын

Hello there

@robtaylor5550

Жыл бұрын

@@melaniesweeten5401 Hello to you!

I was a little kid when this was released and my friends and I had fun singing this song because Harry changes the tone of his voice in such funny ways, the way it's sung makes it fun as well as the lyrics. 1971 was a tense time with a lot of serious songs, and this song and songs from Three Dog Night like Joy To The World, etc were nice breaks from things like the Vietnam War, etc.

I effing love this song - this and Quinn the Eskimo make me happy without fail.

I love Nilsson. I'd like to request a reaction to his song "You're Breaking My Heart"

Okay You’re Breaking My Heart Nillson Smilson

I love this song so much , this man is so talented putting this song together himself and his voice in it. Listen to all that background voices he is doing how beautiful it is.Just fun classic song.Yes it was such a hit and used on commercials and movies . it sticks in your head , he is just so talented for sure

Back in the day, this was one of my all-time favourites when I was baked....probably because the words were easy to remember. LOL...good times.

It's so funny how the majority of these songs take you right back to that era and for me, a specific memory. I'm really enjoying this journey you're on.

@kennethrussell1158

Жыл бұрын

Released in 1972, my second year in high school.

What you can do with simplicity; the guitar line in this is ONLY ONE CHORD. The whole thing. One chord, with an alternating bass (C7, I think...). Amazing!

I think Nilsson could sing any thing he wanted and knock it out of the park. He’s one of the most unappreciated artists of his day.

That song is so unique, there's nothing that sounds even remotely like it to me

Its an ear worm. 8 yr old Grandson was singing this and it has been stuck in my head all day.

Definitely a different song for Harry, with some John Lennon vocals throw in. Just a fun song. Couldn't believe it was him, when it hit the airwaves. Definitely a earworm. 🎶🎶 Doctor, Doctor, 🎶🎶 Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Blue Eyed Kansan. Fun. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦

Nilsson Schmilsson and Son Of Schmilsson are all you need to hear to understand how much humor this man had!

Superb song and unique i also like Randy Newman both very clever creators.

OK Hari... Now try his "Me and My Arrow" from his movie "The Point"... Its also a fun song but VERY deep... I think you might like it. ;)

As others have said it IS a classic, everyone remembers it and it's been used in films. If you listen carefully Harry goes into a round at one point, repeating in the background what's just been said.

Nilsson as in Nilsson Schnillsson. Rerised by Kermit in Fraggle-rocks i think

Another marvelous thing by Harry Nilsson is The Point. It's an album that tells a story. Even better it was made as an animated movie in 1971, voiced by Ringo Starr. Many wonderful songs (not only ones that got airplay.) And an excellent message.

It was a huge hit, back in the day. I was a Junior in high school at the time.

If that's not the perfect chillin' on the water summer vibe, I don't know what is.

Harry Bellefonte also did one called "There's a hole in the bucket" in which the line about the straw in the hole comes in. Preformed with Carol Burnette on her show for one.

This was in an era of the 70’s when the “novelty” song was popular, others were: Guitarzan by Ray Stevens My Dingaling by Chuck Berry The Streak by Ray Stevens Disco Duck by Rick Dees

@nellgwenn

Жыл бұрын

Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road. Short People, King Tut.

Harry had a huge comedic side to his music. And a risky side to it also. Check out "you're Breaking my Heart" or "Take '54" to sort of see both!

When you listen to Nilsson, the most important thing to remember is he did the layers of vocal tracks. With a 3+ vocal octave he can reach some special places.

The song did get lots of air play back then. Harry has a whole album like this called The Point, just fun silly songs. "Me and my Arrow" is a favorite.

Fun song. Kids love it.

You definitely need to do "You're Breaking My Heart." This one is a fun one and just amazing when you know he does ALL the vocals

@tinalinge2782

Жыл бұрын

A must!!!

@twentyfiveyears5010

Жыл бұрын

Harry's "You're Breaking My Heart" was Cee Lo Green's "F***k You" a generation before. Also check out Tonio K's "H-A-T-R-E-D."

It is quite different from Nilsson's discography. But it did well and reached # 8 on the U.S. Billboard Charts and # 5 in Canada. It also reached the U.K. Charts as well. Nilsson is so much more than his popular songs. If you go deeper into his work, it is amazing!

@izzonj

Жыл бұрын

It seems like everything Harry did was different from everything else

@alanmusicman3385

Жыл бұрын

Harry's early albums when he had the backing of music maestro George Tipton were just excellent. In the UK at least his early singles (such as "Sister Marie" and "It's Been so Long" etc) got some airplay, but never sold well. His early albums all sold pretty well here I think, but the standout songs from them were often covered by multiple other artists ("Cuddly Toy", "WIthout Her/Him", "Together" - a long list) The 1970 album "Harry" is probably my favourite of his. Among others It contains "Everybody's Talking", "The Puppy Song" and (IMO) the best ever version of Jerry Joe Walker's "Mr Bojangles" and when I hear the supper-club versions by Sammy Davis and others I am so glad that Harry's version exists! I thought his later stuff was more patchy - but still some gems like "Mucho Mungo" (prod John Lennon), "Kojak Columbo" and others.

@alanmusicman3385

Жыл бұрын

It never made the UK top 40. It was issued as the follow up to "Without You" which was pretty ill-advised I think - it being so different. In fact Harry only had two top 40 singles in the UK "Everybody's Talkin" and "Without You" - though many of his albums did very well.

Each of his songs is so very different. Nilsson Schmilsson is a great album. You might want to check out "Jump Into The Fire", "The Moonbeam Song", and you might especially like "Early In The Morning"

Lime In the coconut, My best friend( tv show Courtship of Eddie's Father), Me and my arrow. All funny. Then you got Everybody's talking, Without you, Jump into the fire. Yeah love Nielson. ✌️

Harry Nillson was one of those geniuses that lived on the edge of madness. John Lennon, Pete Townsend, Brian Wilson, well... there have been quite a few.

This song was used in a 7UP commercial in the 70s when the lyrics were changed to "put the lime in the cola nut and drink them both up."

A great novelty song!

Off his same album as Without You and Jump Into The Fire. Such diversity !

@foxandscout

Жыл бұрын

Love Jump Into the Fire!!!

A week from now, this will still be going through your head and you will wish you had never heard it.

When this song was popular on the radio, it drove my mother CRAZY!! I was 13, and the more it drove her crazy, the funnier I thought it was. Can't think about this song without thinking about how much she hated it, and I'm still laughing as I type.

Love this song. Came from the same album as Without You

Harry I heard this on very popular FM radio stations played several times throughout the day. It was very popular in the Cleveland Ohio area. Fun and uplifting! Part of the times. Love that vibe.

The more you listen the more you like.

This was always a fun song 😀

If you want to hear Nilsson in full comedic form, you should listen to his country/western parody called " Joy".

Oh great one Blue Eyes. Harry Nilsson has such a variety of different songs and I love them all. ❤

I'd rather be dead than wet my bed off on his Son of Nilsson.. Or Joy to the World. Off the same album ...beautiful

Oh...one of my faves...I listened to this song so much I still can sing the whole song verbatim.....Sounds like thats easy but there are twists and turns and an escalation to the lyrical delivery that make it so much more then just merely repetitive...Its actually a great fun song.

Another great reaction Harri. Thanks for doing this. As I like to request reactions which are not always mainstream today yet take us back to the fabulous songs of my youth, next month I think I will switch to old time country music and hope you like them.. Be well my friend and hope you're feeling better. blueyedkansan

Those were the days!

Listen to, 'Gotta get up', 'spaceman' and '1941' 3 very catchy addicting Harry Nillson masterpiece songs.

One thing about Harry Nilsson, a critic tried to criticize him for not acknowledging the backup vocalists on one of his albums (I think it was Nilsson Schmilsson). They all were him.

Yes, this was a hit. It was also used in a movie. Harry also made some other silly songs "Jesus Christ You're Tall" and "Kojak Columbo"

BTW, sometimes I'll wander around the warehouse at work singing this song and my younger co-workers will look at me like...WHAT!!!

It IS groovy!

This song was /is my childhood....for some reason the only 'modern' album my mum had in the 70's was Nilssen Schmillsen (sic)...my mum played it constantly...

i do not know if this is what HN was singing about, but in the poorer sections of many cities in India, there is a drink usually made locally from fermented coconut milk with lime juice. it's about 0.5% alcohol, like a very mild beer, typically costing a few rupees per bottle.

I think you may be thinking of Day-O (Banana Boat Song) by Harry Belafonte. "Work all night on a drink of rum. (Daylight come and me want to go home). Stack banana 'til the morning come. (Daylight come and me want to go home). Day-o day-ay ay O. Daylight come and me want to go home. Same calypso/Jamaican flavor type of song.

This song is Harry's greatest in my opinion. I chord, music has not to got to be complex and it does not have to be a silly novelty song because it's fun. Harry's super hits are so iconic in their own right and have been covered or used in films to such an extent that you probably expect something in those lines and then this starts and you all your expectations are subverted and your brain tells you it has to be a goof. I heard this song on the radio in my car one day and it instantly caught me, I was hooked, didn't know who the artist was but googled lime in the coconut and was like, WHAT!?!?! This guy did it? I need to listen to him more, this guy has more than pretty love ballads and pop songs... For context, I'm mainly into progressive stuff from the 70's, stuff like Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Camel and some prog metal like Tool (they do it right, prog is not about having as many different parts and time signature changes, it's about evolving a song or concept through different movements). Queen is maybe my no 1 band, even though I don't listen to them as much now but there will never be another band that will come close to what their music means to me. Listened to them so much that almost every song has great memories and experiences melded so hearing Queen instantly takes me back to stuff. So I think a one chord song with constants repeats of "so you put the lime in the coconut..." is excellent, has and amazing groove, even manages to get progressive since the intensity is on a constant slow boil and most people don't even notice that ramp up they also seldom seem to get that there's a great story in it too. The Story Some poor lady only has a couple of dimes and a belly ache so she buys the stuff with the help of her brother to make some kind of home remedy cure. It doesn't work, I mean it's some kind of charlatan non-cure that someone has fooled her to think is gonna work, so she finally calls the doctor to get some relief for her aching tummy and this doctor then asks if she's taken the what he last prescribed (the lime in the coconut). After she assures him that this is what she's done he tells her to do it again and call him in the morning. Then there's this little part with Harry doing some "woo-o-oo's" that are sung nice, like a bit of freestyled fun but dang if it isn't the poor woman still having such a horrible ache that she's making those noises. So now the song starts repeating and telling the same set of events but all repetitions are faster, with embellishments and wohoohoo's until it there's a little scream before any line. So this poor woman keeps calling this charlatan and he just keeps telling her to do the remedy. Finally the doctor snaps and song ends with him telling her to call him next morning oever and over again because this witch doctor needs to get back to sleep

Yeah, this was a novelty hit on the radio for a while. Everyone from a certain age still gets a smile from this when it comes out of the blue (you're such a silly woman - always gets me).Probably my favorite from Harry is REMEMBER(christmas) from the album Son of Schmilsson - such a bittersweet vibe, and his vocal range is hauntingly beautiful.

❤❤❤so many great memories

Just putting this out there. Lime, coconut and spiced rum is an interesting way to start a day.

There was nothing musically that Harry Nilson could not perform. I strongly doubt there was anything musically at which Harry failed. Words like "Visionary", "Genius", and "Prodigy" are often used to describe his talents. This song appears in the movies "Reservoir Dogs" and "Practical Magic".

A huge hit in the early 70s.

- This was different !!!

Best part, cause of and solution to her stomachache.

Nilsson.

Harry's a fuckin' nut...love him

So many versions of this but liking this one

You might enjoy practical magic version video with all the witches dancing around the kitchen singing this song.

You do realize he wrote "the point". He was incredibly talented and creative . If you haven't listed to "The Point" you really need to.

@littleaeros4063

Жыл бұрын

Great album! It would be great to have Harri react to the whole album. I love the story!

6:20 - It might be this song - 'Coconut Woman' (1957)

I just think of Vedic Astrology when I hear this song again. Venus is acidic in taste so signifies lime. Coconut is signified by Rahu. Venus the demon guru (demon as in being the materialistic teacher, does not mean Venus is bad, it is just pleasure seeking) and is usually make stronger when i conjuncts Rahu. So coconut taken with lime can relieve fatigue BUT as both planets are enemies to the Sun which signifies the stomach, you get a belly ache and therefore call the doctor which is also signified by the Sun.

Once in a while when you have a few friends over it's fun to put on, that and the song "Tequila"

You can hear this song when the ending credits are rolling in Reservoir Dogs

It’s one of those that displays Harry’s vocal range. In various places, like India and Mexico, street vendors sell coconut that they cut with machetes and give it to you with a straw or they’ll sell you the coconut meat with capsicum, salt and lime wedges.

One of the funniest songs of Nilsson is She sits on me

Harri thanks for reacting to Harry Nilsson & this wonderful groovy song! Once you hear this you never forget it & makes you want to go to dancing 🥰. Harry Nilsson was great friends with John Lennon, can’t you see those two dancing to this catchy groove 🥥 lovely to see Harry doing an upbeat dancing song ! Love you both ☮️🇨🇦

reminds me of the tv series Bones, they mused it as the funeral song for 2 characters ...

@87ventus

Жыл бұрын

Hi. Yes that song is imbedded forever from Bones.

30 seconds to smile? Love Harry.🤔😉😊

I can't imagine what the inspiration for this song would have been, or the motivation to produce it, but it's been rolling around the caves of my memoires since I first herd it and plinked it out on our old upright piano. Mom would get pissed I wasn't playing some classical stuff I was supposed to be practicing for some recital and beat me with whatever she had in her hand at the time for doing it. "you put the lime.. " stop. "in the cocoanut.." I said stop it. your supposed to be practicing. you put the lime... I SAID STOP IT. in the cocoanut.. if you don't stop it I'm going to smack you. you put the lime in the... smack smack smack STOP IT smack smack smack STOP IT smack stop it! PRACTICE YOUR PIANO! smack LULZ mom im running around the house, she's chasing me with a hot wheels track lololol...

HARRY NILSON "One"

As I understand it the record company wanted him to continue spitting out those wonderful "hit records" for AM radio because of that wonderful voice of his, but he tired of that and wanted to go in a different direction and just do what he felt like at that particular time. He could have been HUGE but he stuck to his conviction. Lyndsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac felt the same way after Rumours. Been there...done that. Then came Tusk! Harry was also known as a complete party animal! You went out with him on Friday night, you didn't didn't know what day you were coming back. Or where you went...or what you done! It was all a blur!

I recall growing up with this memorable song from the 60s or early 70s. Love it still, song it today and can never think of coconut without lime!

I loved Nilson's LP "The Point !" Happy memories of college days! Thank you Blue Eyed Kansan!!🙂🙃😉👍✌

@Cynthia...

Жыл бұрын

That was great Ginny. Me and my Arrow was a great song.

@User_vjp_92753

Жыл бұрын

@@Cynthia... Glad you remember it too!💟

you should try "your breaking my heart" by harry nilsson on

DOCTOR!!

When you can hold a listener to one chord,, that's genius. Call it novelty, or comedy, but we keep coming back to him.

What memories this song brings. 💞

I was ten when this came out. I’m betting harry was surprised at how well the song did. I lived in Anaheim California at the time and sort of remember it. It must have slipped through the cracks of all the other songs coming out. Funny how you don’t appreciate what is happening in real time until after the fact. The guitar is good the chemistry is good. A lot of repetition tho. But brilliant nonetheless

He's gotta be the most eclectic musician ever!

Try Spill the Wine by Eric Burden and War - a great musical collaboration - and a novelty song too. More musical IMO.

Nilsson is probably best known for his love songs and ballads. However he had a fantastic sense of humor which made its way to many of his songs.

A silly one-chord comedy song that became immortal when Tarantino used it to close out Reservoir Dogs- one of the best soundtrack choices ever! A song about a stomach ache to end a movie where a guy spends 2 hours writhing on the floor from a gunshot wound to the stomach. 😱🤣