The Playlist: Speak & Spell

Don't you love it when you actually learn something from listening to the radio?

This week's Playlist takes a closer look at the songs that have helped encourage literacy across the world. They have taught us how to spell such words as "fresh," "respect," and - of course - "bananas."

Welcome to the Speak & Spell edition of The Playlist. It's not 'School House Rock', but it will do...


Gwen Stefani
Hollaback Girl (2005)


Ever hear a song that crawled its way into your brain and - no matter how annoying it may be - had you humming it all day? To the point where you considered suicide? Or at least mass murder? Yep, me too. Two years later I still don't know what a Hollaback girl is. And who knew a marching band song could have so many explatives? Stefani reportedly wrote the song after Courtney Love referred to her as a "cheerleader" in an interview with Steventeen magazine. So now we know who's to blame ...

Aretha Franklin
Respect (1967)


It was the signature song from a R&B legend and became an anthem for women everywhere, but did you know the song was originally sung by a man? Specifically Otis "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" Redding. But it wasn't until Aretha ad-libbed the lyrics that the famous 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T / Find out what it means to me' was added. Aretha's version is ranked No. 5 by Rolling Stone magazine in their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.


Black Eyed Peas
Pump It (2006)


It sounded just like that song from 'Pulp Fiction,' but with lyrics. And spelling. The fourth single from 2005's super successful 'Monkey Business' was a Top 20 hit and - if we didn't know it already - taught us all how to spell the band's name. I guess that's at least a good idea from a marketing perspective. The band continues to tour, though most of the attention in recent years has been on the solo efforts of their female band member Fergie. But we'll get to her later.

Tammy Wynette
D-I-V-O-R-C-E (1968)


How about a little more old school? That's O-L-D S-C-H-O-O-L. The signature song by the country legend was one of the fastest-climbing country songs at that time, reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard country charts less than a month after its release. And, with five marriages to her credit, Wynette was a good fit for the song. According to country music historian Bill Malone, her rendition is "painfully sincere - there is no irony here - and if there is a soap opera quality of the dialogue, the content well mirrors both her own life and contemporary experience."

Fergie
Glamorous (2007)


Yep, Ms. Stacy Ann Ferguson is on the list twice. She must be a really good speller. You think she picked it up from her years on Kids Incorporated? Remember the intro, "K-I-D-S..."? Funny thing is, I remembered the spelling of the song's title from singing it in my head, sans dance routine. 'Glamorous' was Fergie's third hit single from an album that has already produced three Billboard No. 1 hits and could very well have more. And if I learned anything from this hit - it's that you're never too rich and famous to hit the Taco Bell drive-thru.

There’s my list - what’s yours? Shoot me an e-mail at grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com and it might end up featured in a future column.