Norman My Love
Who is this girl, that spurns Joey, Jimmy, and Bill for a guy named Norman. Why did John write about it, and Sue sing about it in her little girl voice, and why did my mother name me Norman? Why was I just turning 16 when this campy little song got stuck in everybody’s head, and why was I the only Norman in a school of over 2,000?
Why did everybody know my name, and why did I just want to get away? Why did all the hotties who had ignored me before suddenly want to serenade me on the way to class? And who changed the lyrics from Norman oooo, to Norman ew-ee-ew-ee-ew? The fact that it reached number three on Billboard was a plus for Sue who made it popular, but not for me. Why, please tell me why did the song stay popular in my school when it was no longer being played on the radio?
I graduated from high school in 1963 and spent six months in the army as part of my National Guard service. I trained at Fort Ord California where nobody knew my name, and where the singing was limited to marching songs about pussy and not looking at the ground. I escaped Vietnam by joining the Guard and thought I’d finally escaped the last mention of darlin’ Norman, but it was not to be. All it takes now is a family gathering and talk of music and the past, and my sweet sister is likely to break into song.
Norman is my only love
Norman's all I'm thinking of
Norman gives me all his lovin', kissin', huggin', lovey dovin'
Norman, Oooo, Norman, Oooo
Norman, Norman my love
What, you’ve never heard the song before? I invite you to listen:
May 21st, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Norm, I love this blog of yours. It shows a different part of your personality that I would have never imagined, and it’s fun to see a side of you away from politics and all.
I had never heard this song before, and I was laughing big time at the thought of the hotties singing this to you as a young guy and of your sister teasing you with this.
ooooo sounds more like the sound “oh”… And in the song, it does sound like Sue Thompson is singing “ew”… not sure about the “ee” though. But then I didn’t hear the song from the link you have because I have no idea what an mp3 is and mp3 downloads never work for me, so I dug it up on u-tube. And let me tell you, Sue Thompson had one weird hairstyle!
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Ah yes underneath all the ranting and raving I’m a sweet sensitive guy
June 21st, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Cheer up, Norm. I’m an Eleanor. There are only two songs, one quite depressing and the other one hopelessly catchy and pop repugnant.
“Eleanor gee I think you’re swell, and you really do me well, you’re my heart and soul, etc.”
Yes, the “etc.” is actually in the lyrics. Nice touch, that.
I suppose we can both take heart in the fact that you have to be working pretty hard at the craft of songwriting by the time you are stuck penning paens to Norman and Eleanor.
June 23rd, 2007 at 11:17 am
Eleanor, I am feeling better now, thanks, and you really are swell.