Thursday, April 11, 2013

RIP Annette Funicello, Rude Girl

As you may know, original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello passed away earlier this week at age 70, due to complications from multiple sclerosis (read The New York Times obituary here).

What many people are unaware of is that she had a hand in introducing ska music to mainstream, whitebread America in the 1960s.

Back in September of 2011, I reviewed the "Doin' the Popcorn Ska" 7" EP, which included Funicello's take on Byron Lee and the Dragonaires' "Jamaica Ska," and ended up writing about how Disney's star came to record a genuine ska tune of all things (and then how she revisited the song in the late 80s with Fishbone). To read this Duff Guide to Ska entry, go here.

(You also might want to check out Large Up's take on this bit of bizarre ska history, which focuses on Funicello's collaboration with Fishbone.)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ska against Live Nation! Calling all ska supporters.. Boycott all Live Nations shows in NYC.. Including the Apple stomp show coming up in nyc, Live Nation is the enemy who supports the Right wing GOP Tea party.

BOYCOTT LIVE NATION!!!

Anonymous said...

I Agree $55 is a Total Rip Off of the ska scene by those crooks at Live Nation. Who are only in it for the Greed and not for the scene.

Yeah Don't Patronize Live nation is Correct...We join in, in this Boycott Too.

Anonymous said...

idk $55 dollars for 2 days, 17 bands, atleast 6 of which are reunions isn't too bad, and there's no fees at the Irving Plaza or Gramercy Theatre box offices.