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Nonsense and Gibberish!

Paul selects songs which have nonsense lyrics or song titles - from the likes of The Beatles, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Manfred Mann and Julie Andrews.

Did you know The Muppets' most famous song started life as music to a documentary on Swedes in saunas? Or that the FBI investigated the lyrics to Louis Louis by The Kingsmen? This week Paul selects songs which have nonsense lyrics or song titles - from the likes of The Beatles, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Manfred Mann and Julie Andrews.

Produced by Ora et Labora for BBC Radio 2.

20 days left to listen

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sun 6 Sep 2026 20:00
BBC Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Gilbert O’Sullivan

    Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day

    • The Essential Collection.
    • BMG.
    • 007.

  • Piero Umiliani

    Mah-Na Mah-Na

    • The Best One Hit Wonders In The World.
    • Virgin.

  • Manfred Mann

    Do Wah Diddy Diddy

    • Ages Of Mann.
    • Polygram Tv.
    • 3.

  • Manfred Mann

    Sha La La

    • Ages Of Mann.
    • Polygram Tv.

  • Al Green

    Sha La La (Make Me Happy)

    • Al Green - L-O-V-E: The Essential.
    • Demon Music Group.

  • Small Faces

    Sha-La-La-La-Lee

    • The Greatest Hits Of 1966.
    • Premier.

  • Kool & the Gang

    Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)

    • Kool & The Gang - The Singles Collect.
    • Phonogram.

  • The Crystals

    Da Doo Ron Ron

    • The Best Of The Crystals.
    • Phil Spector Int.

  • The Police

    De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.

  • Trio

    Da Da Da

    • Young at Heart (Various Artists).
    • Reader's Digest.

  • The Rolling Stones

    Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)

    • Virgin.

  • The Beatles

    Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

    • The White Album.
    • Parlophone.
    • 4.

  • Little Richard

    Tutti Frutti

    • That's Rock'n'Roll (Various Artists).
    • EMI.

  • Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs

    Wooly Bully

    • The Greatest Hits Of 1965.
    • Premier.

  • The Kingsmen

    Louie Louie

    • The Sound Of The 60's, Part 7 (Var).
    • Old Gold.

  • Des O’Connor

    Dick A Dum Dum

    • The Hits Of 1969 (Various Artists).
    • MFP.

  • Donovan & Jeff Beck Group

    Goo Goo Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)

    • EMI.

  • Phil Collins

    Sussudio

    • Singles.
    • Rhino.

  • The Edsels

    Rama Lama Ding Dong

    • The Ultimate Doo Wop Collection - 101 Classic Doo Wop Tracks.
    • AP Music Ltd.

  • John Travolta & Olivia Newton‐John

    We Go Together

    • Grease (Original Movie Soundtrack).
    • Polydor.

  • Hanson

    MMMBop

    • Now 37 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Las Ketchup

    Aserejé (The Ketchup Song)

    • Now 53 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Steam

    Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

    • 25 Years Of Rock'n'Roll 1970.
    • Connoisseur Collection.

  • Stevie Wonder

    Shoo Be Doo Be Doo Da Day

    • Tamla Motown.

  • Manu Dibango

    Soul Makossa

    • Manu Dibango.
    • Nascente.
    • 15.

  • Lady Gaga

    Bad Romance

    • Now That's What I Call Music 75 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
    • 1.

  • Crystal Waters

    Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee)

    • Smash Hits 1991 (Various Artists).
    • Dover Records.

  • Otis Redding

    Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)

    • ATCO Records.

  • Iron Butterfly

    In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

    • ATCO Records.

  • Crash Test Dummies

    Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

    • Driving Rock (Various Artists).
    • Global Records & Tapes.

  • Dick Van Dyke & Julie Andrews

    Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

    • Disney's Greatest Hits.
    • BMG.

  • James Baskett

    Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

    • Disney's Greatest Hits.
    • BMG.

Broadcast

  • Sun 6 Sep 2026 20:00
    BBC Radio 2