11 Bizarrely Unnecessary Sequels To Classic Songs

The Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace" is nothing if not playful, so it makes a certain kind of sense that its B-side would be Bopper's attempt at a novelty song. Aside from that, there's not much to justify the existence of "The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor."

If nothing else, the song does achieve a sort of novelty. This may be one of the few times that two songs by different artists received a crossover performed by yet a third artist. It also puts unique strain on the ears. The plunky, high-pitched noise pollution accompanying the People Eater's mimicry of the Witch Doctor's familiar refrain becomes increasingly difficult to bear with each repetition. When Sheb Wooley said the People Eater's voice was "gruff," this can't be what he had in mind.

Lyrically speaking, "The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor" is especially odd, even for a novelty song. Of all the music Bopper might have heard these familiar characters performing, he describes a rock-and-roll cover of "Home On The Range." The likes of Kansas and Neil Young can perhaps achieve their own skillfully tame versions of such a thing, but the characters portrayed here? Unlikely.

Curiously, this crossover song actually expands the mythos of the originals upon which it's based. We now know that Purple came to Earth not only for the music, but also for the women. We also learn that David Seville's Witch Doctor is from outer space, providing a far less culturally insensitive explanation for his nonsensical speech patterns. It may be odd and unnecessary, but at least those who feel the ineffable need to sort out the canon in their novelty songs will learn a few things from this B-side sequel.