It just happens, and I can barely control it: I’m guilty of being a chronic whistler. While cooking, doing laundry and walking down the street, I can barely help myself from tweeting out my favorite tunes, no matter who is around to hear, (and be completely annoyed by it). Here’s a unique playlist that features some of the very best tootles, trills and rocking whistle-solos.
“Patience” by Guns N’ Roses
Guitarist Slash busts out all sorts of complex and labyrinthine emotions through his slightly wailing acoustic, creating perfect accompaniment to front man Axel Rose’s whistling intro. Seriously, these guys nailed the necessary chemistry to make a good whistle-session worthwhile.
“Daydream” by the Lovin’ Spoonful
With campy, old Western’-style piano and a slightly circus-sounding beat, this song is going to put a smile on your face. It’s just so…quaint.
“Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John
This hipster-anthem from 2006 was constantly stuck in my head for approximately a year and 3 months after it came out. It still haunts me sometimes.
“Centerfold” by the J. Geils Band
This song has to be considered one of the original whistle-rock tunes – absolutely a classic. This was the tune my classmates and I would all whistle together, constantly, during high school field trips, (much to our teacher’s annoyance).
“A Kiss Is Not A Contract” by Flight of the Conchords
This tune may not be the winner of musical mastery, but it does score high in sideburn-style points and in most ridiculous lyrics, with a tasteful whistle-solo in the middle. But seriously, go check out those sideburns. It makes the video totally worth it.
“Bad Sun” by The Bravery
I especially love the acoustic cut of this song, and watching the band rock out to a simultaneous mandolin and whistle solo. While this song rocks, it does come with a warning – as music blog Pop Goes the Culture said, “should this tune get lodged in your head, nothing short of a lobotomy can get it out.” True that.
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin
This a cappella song is a pretty powerful smile-maker, and even makes getting evicted sound pretty enjoyable.
“Roter Sand” by Rammstein
The English translation of this German rock song reads like a bleeding love poem of the most canorous kind. Get ready to be a bit creeped out by this haunting whistling intro, but in the very best way.
“Whistle” by Flo Rida
This song isn’t quite as catchy or fun to dance to as “boots with the fur,” but the interesting whistle-based theme of the song carries it just enough to get stuck in your head. And as Flo said, “there’s only one flo, and only one rida,” so it’s about as good as it gets.
“Wind of Change” by the Scorpions
Yes it’s true, this is the Scorpions. The same band that our generation mostly remembers only for their hit, “Rock You Like A Hurricane” that fills space within our workout playlists. This, unlike “Hurricane,” is one of those beautiful classics that make you want to put a lighter in the sky.