Welcome to Old School, coming at you today from somewhere between the Animal Zoo and the wildlife preserve that is rock and roar radio.
There are over 8.7 million species of creatures on this planet, and every one of them has a song to sing. Whether you're a night owl, a party-loving parrot, or king of beasts, the animal planet has its own chart-toppers and divas.
The animal kingdom has woven itself into our music. David Attenborough said it well : “The whole of life is coming to terms with yourself and the natural world.”
Couple of rules. There are so many great dog, cat, and bird songs, I’ll save them for future episodes. Here we are going to keep it wild and untamed. From creatures of the land to those beneath the sea, Old School has it covered.
I can hear this podcast being played in traffic for people escaping the rat race. Or many it’s getting played in the waiting room at the vet. Or while they are cleaning the cages at the zoo.
From the jungles, from the woods, from the zoos locked up neighborhoods. Welcome to Episode 55 of Professor Mikey’s Old School, Animal Planet Rock. Someone told me its all happening at the zoo. I do believe it, and so does Spirit from their 1970 album The Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus.
ANIMAL PLANET ROCK PLAYLIST
Animal Zoo SPIRIT 1970
Mickey’s Monkey SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES 1963
I’m an Animal THE ANIMALS 1968
Shock the Monkey PETER GABRIEL 1982
The Lion Sleeps Tonight THE TOKENS 1962
Ride the Tiger JEFFERSON STARSHIP 1974
Tigerman RUFUS THOMAS 1953
Eating the Bear JOAN ARMATRADING 1981
Hungry Like the Wolf DURAN DURAN 1982
Animals TALKING HEADS 1979
Elephant Talk KING CRIMSON 1981
Octopus SYD BARRETT 1970
Animals TALKING HEADS 1979
Man Gave Names to All The Animals BOB DYLAN 1979
They All Ask’d For You THE METERS 1975
Do Animals Like Music?
Birds: Some studies have suggested that birds, particularly songbirds, can be influenced by music. For example, certain bird species may sing more when exposed to specific types of music. However, individual preferences can vary among birds.
Cats: Cats are known for their sensitivity to sounds. While there's no conclusive evidence that cats prefer one genre of music over another, some pet owners have reported that their cats seem to respond positively to calming or classical music.
Dogs: Dogs' reactions to music can vary widely. Some studies have shown that dogs may be more relaxed when exposed to classical music, while others may prefer silence or sounds of nature. Dogs are also known to respond positively to music specially composed for their hearing range.
Cows: There have been anecdotal reports of cows showing increased milk production when exposed to certain types of music. However, this is a subject of ongoing research, and results can vary.
Fish: There is limited research on the musical preferences of fish, but some studies have suggested that fish may react to certain types of music with changes in behavior.
Elephants: Elephants have shown an ability to distinguish between different musical genres, and some captive elephants have exhibited positive responses to classical music.
We will return to Animal Planet Rock sometime in the near future here on Old School. Right now I need to get out and listen to some of nature’s music. If you’d like to do something for our furry feathered friends, there are lots of ways to accomplish that. On my free newsletter, the article attached to this podcast has some tips as well as a link top a list of 50 ways you can help the animals in your community.
If you’d prefer to Venmo the lions tigers bears and more, you can reach out to any of the following:
Animal Welfare Institute
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
Alley Cat Allies
Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
Marine Mammal Centre
American Humane Society
The Humane Society of the United States
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
The Jane Goodall Institute
The African Wildlife Foundation
EXTRA
NOT MISSING LINKS!
50 WAYS YOU CAN HELP ANIMALS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
(Courtesy of The Humane Society of the United States)
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NINE ANIMALS NAMED FOR ROCK BANDS
For Real 🛸 pinkfloydi
This lopsided crustacean has a massive pink claw that is able to stun or kill small fish with just the sound of its snap. Unsurprisingly, it is named after one of the loudest bands in rock, Pink Floyd, with a suitably sonorous song from their 2014 album The Endless Riverto accompany it.
(Courtesy BBC Science Focus)
Professor Mikey’s Old School is produced for educational purposes, and expects this episode to be available in public libraries for years to come.
Any music you may have heard in this session resides within the public domain or is used within the guidelines of fair use provided for in Section 107 of the copyright act of 1976. Podcast carriers compensate artists directly, but if you the artist feel your work has been improperly used or misrepresented, please contact our producers at professormikey.substack.com.
One more before we leave the orbit of Animal Planet Rock. Here’s The Meters from New Orleans, and They All Asked For You. Remember we are born free and meant to stay wild. Thanks for tuning in to Old School!
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