Top 10 Nonsense Song Titles

Top 10 Nonsense Song Titles

Music often transcends language barriers, but sometimes song titles just don’t translate in any language. Welcome to Watchmojo, and today we are counting down our picks for the top 10 nonsense song titles.

For this list we are looking at songs whose title leave us scratching our heads trying to figure out just what they mean. As usual the one entry per artist rule applies.

#10: “Da Da Da” (1982)
Trio

This German group believed in keeping music simple and upbeat, and their most well-known song is no exception. Taking a minimalist approach, this song’s lyrics are mostly comprised of “da da da”, which repeats itself over twenty times during the song. A hit in its native country of Germany, the song became just as popular around the world, charting in over 20 other countries. While the song has been translated into several languages, the title remains the same, nonsensical fun every time.

#9: “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” (1966)
Otis Redding

One of Redding’s biggest billboard pop and R&B hits, this song kicks right off with the peppy words from the title. The song’s lyrics share the woes of a man who must continues to sing sad, sad songs, but with the spirited delivery and instrumental backing, this tune seems anything but melancholy. The title may not make much sense, but it gets us singing along with a beat that is fa-fa-fabulous.

#8: “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” (1993)
Crash Test Dummies

The opening of this song, which is also the title, is almost instantly recognizable the world over. The lead singer’s deep voice, humming out the title to the song sets the mood for this thought-provoking and morose tune that became a charting hit in multiple countries. The title of this hit single would seem to make more sense for a Campbell’s soup commercial than a pop hit, but this Canadian band proved that sometimes a title without words can be Mmm good.

#7: “MMMBop” (1997)
Hanson

Our number seven pick is a song from a group of siblings that you just won’t be able to get out of your head. The Hanson brothers burst onto the music scene and mmmbopped their way to the top of the charts with this debut single. The title of this song, along with the chorus is pure, poppy gibberish that is also one of the catchiest tunes of the 90’s. This tune, filled with nonsense phrases charted in dozens of countries, and landed the group two Grammy nominations. Lazy writing? More like pop music gold!

#6: “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” (1964)
Manfred Mann

This song paints a picture of a woman catching a man’s eye, and his ear, with her good looks and singing ability. Although not originally a Manfred Mann tune, the group created an instant classic when they brought their signature pop rock sound to the slightly less popular original. Mann found both commercial and critical success with this diddy, finding itself at the top spot on charts in both the U.S and the U.K.

#5: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (1964)
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke

This song title is the most complex on the list, and for those haven’t heard the song, the most unpronounceable. It’s also the only song on our list that declares the sound of the title itself is something quite atrocious. The rest of the song however promotes the title word as magical, precocious, clever, and able to make amazing things happen. While Disney is known for its fun and sometimes nonsensical song titles, this is one title that really needs to be sung to be understood.

#4: “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” (1999)
Eiffel 65

We apologize in advance for getting this stuck in your heads. Our next entry comes from Eiffel 65, a Eurodance trio out of Italy who sing about living in a blue world on this 1999 smash hit. “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” proved to be their most successful hit, breaking into the top ten on the charts in several countries and earning the band a Grammy nomination. A defining hit of the late 90s, we can’t help but think the nonsensical nature of the song’s chorus played a factor in the track’s mainstream popularity.

#3: “Rama Lama Ding Dong” (1958)
The Edsels

Doo-wop songs are notorious for lyrics that are a jumble of silly words that are a blast to listen, dance, or sing to, and this late fifties tune is no exception. The quintet from Ohio had moderate success with their tunes, but this single and its off the wall title made a big splash after being paired with another doo wop single “Blue Moon”. The song went on to be featured on The Muppet Show, being performed by a flock of sheep.

#2: “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” (1980)
The Police

When a song’s opening lines state that the words are hard to find, it makes perfect sense when the title of the song would not make sense. Although it may be unclear why some of the artists on our list chose nonsense lyrics and titles for their songs, Sting indicated in an interview that this was exactly the point he was trying to make. He set out to create a song that delivers a message, as long as people don’t just listen to the chorus or rely only on the title.

Before we let our top pick thrill and confuse you, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Tubthumping” (1997)
Chumbawumba

“Ne-Ne Na-Na Na-Na Nu-Nu” (1980)
Bad Manners

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (1968)
Iron Butterfly

“Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” (1946)
James Basket

“Ooby Dooby” (1956)
Roy Orbison

“Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)” (2010)
My Chemical Romance

#1: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” (1968)
The Beatles

It should come as little surprise that the lovable lads from Liverpool snag the top spot on our list with this song that has been covered by multiple artists, featured in several movies and TV shows, and charted in multiple countries. Written by Paul McCartney, the song not only took the music world by storm, but the title itself has become synonymous with nonsensical song lyrics. Although not one of the group’s more critically acclaimed singles, and John Lennon allegedly hated the song, it proves that even a legendary rock band like The Beatles knew how to write a fun tune.

Do you agree with our list? Which song do you think has the most nonsense title? For more top 10’s about your favorite music, subscribe to watchmojo.com