I have good news, bad news, and good news. The good news is there is no shortage of Groundhog Day themed music. The bad news is that the lore of the groundhog is long and varied, especially now that the themes of the Bill Murray film have become so intertwined with the holiday, so much of the music may have little or nothing to do with the holiday itself. But the good news is who cares? If you're putting together a mix of music for Groundhog Day, who says you can't have it all? Heck, throw in a few "end of winter tunes", too. Use the music from the Sonic the Hedgehog game. Who, really, is going to stop you?
There are many ancient tales and traditions regarding the passing of winter into spring. There is one belief that, when the Julian and Gregorian calendars collided in 1582, the date marking the beginning of spring shifted by some six weeks and the folklore was invented to cope with the resulting confusion. More directly, Groundhog Day can be traced to an old Scottish rhyme: "If Candlemas Day be bright and clear, they'll be two winters in the year." Both Scottish and German settlers in Pennsylvania reference Candlemas, which, in the Catholic church, is known as The Feast of The Presentation, marking the Biblical date when Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to complete "the redemption of the firstborn" according to the laws of the Torah. Like so many religious celebrations, the date for Candlemas was superimposed over the pre-existing pagan ritual of Imbolc, marking winter's halfway point. Today, the tradition of using a groundhog to predict the weather is largely done for show and fun, although I'm sure there are still some pagans out there somewhere taking the whole thing quite seriously.
There are many ancient tales and traditions regarding the passing of winter into spring. There is one belief that, when the Julian and Gregorian calendars collided in 1582, the date marking the beginning of spring shifted by some six weeks and the folklore was invented to cope with the resulting confusion. More directly, Groundhog Day can be traced to an old Scottish rhyme: "If Candlemas Day be bright and clear, they'll be two winters in the year." Both Scottish and German settlers in Pennsylvania reference Candlemas, which, in the Catholic church, is known as The Feast of The Presentation, marking the Biblical date when Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to complete "the redemption of the firstborn" according to the laws of the Torah. Like so many religious celebrations, the date for Candlemas was superimposed over the pre-existing pagan ritual of Imbolc, marking winter's halfway point. Today, the tradition of using a groundhog to predict the weather is largely done for show and fun, although I'm sure there are still some pagans out there somewhere taking the whole thing quite seriously.
In early America, the groundhog was also a pest, digging up and eating whatever was planted, and thus a source of sport (hunting) and food, as well. There exist many Old Timey tunes devoted to just that. And Blues artists, in the first half of the 20th Century, frequently used the groundhog as a metaphor--personifying it's traits to represent someone who would sneak and "dig around" to get to another man's wife. And, of course, the movie starring Bill Murray has become so iconic that the term "groundhog day" has become synonymous with deja vu.
While I haven't made any point of collecting or identifying Groundhog Day music, a quick word search at Amazon turns up some 750 matches (though, granted, many of those are songs from the band The Groundhogs). So, just to start the enterprising few off on their own voyage of discovery, here are a few titles to investigate if you're interested.
If there's any such thing as an "essential" for Groundhog Day collectors, it would likely have to be Frankie Yancovic's "Pennsylvania Polka", for both its connection to the celebration in Punxsutawney and to the film "Groundhog Day". You can easily score that one through Amazon or most other digital retailers and, in hard copy, on Frankie's Greatest Hits CD.
While I haven't made any point of collecting or identifying Groundhog Day music, a quick word search at Amazon turns up some 750 matches (though, granted, many of those are songs from the band The Groundhogs). So, just to start the enterprising few off on their own voyage of discovery, here are a few titles to investigate if you're interested.
If there's any such thing as an "essential" for Groundhog Day collectors, it would likely have to be Frankie Yancovic's "Pennsylvania Polka", for both its connection to the celebration in Punxsutawney and to the film "Groundhog Day". You can easily score that one through Amazon or most other digital retailers and, in hard copy, on Frankie's Greatest Hits CD.
From there, you'll likely want a few rock tunes in the mix. And, again, without delving too deep, there are a few you can hang your hat on. An annual favorite on the blogs is "Groundhog's Day" by Primus, a nice eclectic progressive track from 2002. For something a little more mainstream, try The Gelheads' "Groundhog Day" from their 2004 EP "Stars Motel". Classic Rock fans may want to check out "Ground Hog" from Spirit's "Clear". And, whether or not you call it rock, "Groundhog, Groundhog" from Brave Combo's "Holidays!" is one of the best tributes to the little rodent anywhere (I told you before, that Brave Combo album is handy to have around). Up top, we shared a track from "The Tarquin Records All Star Holiday Extravaganza", a 1997 holiday set. The Happiest Guys In The World at least provide one of the better February 2nd titles--"I Am The Ground Hog (And It's My Day)". Of quite recent vintage, The Jingle Brothers' 2010 single "Groundhog Day", ostensibly a childrens record, is a party-friendly meeting of Chuck Berry rock and Chipmunks fun.
You might think you'd be hard-pressed to come up with a Jazz track for February 2nd, and you might even be right about that--it's likely such tracks are few and far between. While I can't speak to volume, there are a couple of quality Jazz pieces for Groundhog Day. Among his many projects, Jazz pianist Mark Massey has been working on a series of "Jazz Thoughts For The Day" albums, with a piano song to mark every day of the year (up through July, so far). So it is you can find (and download or purchase on CD) a Jazz piano piece dedicated to February 2nd entitled "Groundhog Day (What's He Say?)". Can't wait 'til he gets to December. Better yet, for lovers of Jazz, legendary bassist Ray Brown composed a track called "Blues For Groundhog", though it seems far more likely a tribute to Thelonious Monk than to Punxsutawney Phil. Ray's tune is included on the 2009 collection "More Blues Rarities (The Whiskey Collection)".
And speaking of Blues, there's no shortage of songs called "Groundhog Blues". On the theme of sneaking wife poachers we mentioned earlier, Lil' Son Jackson promises that "I'm gonna cut his head about 4 ways" if he catches a "hog" sneaking around his back door. The more frequently covered "Ground Hog Blues", written by the original Sonny Boy Williamson, has the singer playing the part of the groundhog. "Now if I come out and see my shadow," he sings, "my woman don't love me and I believe I'll go back in." You'll find Sonny Boy's take on the Document collection "Sonny Boy Williamson, Volume 4 (1941-1945)". And there are plenty more variations on the theme from any number of Blues greats.
And speaking of Blues, there's no shortage of songs called "Groundhog Blues". On the theme of sneaking wife poachers we mentioned earlier, Lil' Son Jackson promises that "I'm gonna cut his head about 4 ways" if he catches a "hog" sneaking around his back door. The more frequently covered "Ground Hog Blues", written by the original Sonny Boy Williamson, has the singer playing the part of the groundhog. "Now if I come out and see my shadow," he sings, "my woman don't love me and I believe I'll go back in." You'll find Sonny Boy's take on the Document collection "Sonny Boy Williamson, Volume 4 (1941-1945)". And there are plenty more variations on the theme from any number of Blues greats.
Since Groundhog Day is a celebration of folklore, Folk music is certainly rife with rodent tributes. One song, in particular, has made it's way through the generations in multiple incarnations. "Ground Hog" can be heard as a traditional rural Americana Folk song, performed by Pete Seeger or Mike Seeger, as a Bluegrass tune, as a comedic Country number from Homer & Jethro, and as a modern Indie Folk number like this take from Lisa Loeb & Elizabeth Mitchell from the album "Catch The Moon".
I've rambled way too long. Heck, Groundhog Day is almost over. So let me close with a couple of freebies (there are always freebies).
The Hip-Hop group Mayday has, not long ago, released the second version of their song "Groundhog Day" as part of the mixtape "The Lords Of The Fly". This one owes everything to the movie's deja vu all over again theme, but is noteworthy for two things--1) EXPLICIT LYRICS (parental advisory suggested) and 2) the presence of Cee Lo Green, who happens to be very hot these days. Also joining in on the fun is Mack Maine. "The Lords Of The Fly" is widely available for free download, but if you just want "Groundhog Day", you'll find it here.
Also picking up on the movie's "same day" theme is Pop-Punk band Money In The Banana Stand. Their "Groundhog Day" is free at Bandcamp.
For something completely different, Once In A Moon (Robert Wells) has written a nice original "Groundhog Day" round. That, too, is free at Bandcamp.
Last but not least, if you'd like an mp3 version of the video we posted earlier today, "Bing" by Skye, you can download it here. You know the video. This one. (Well, it is Groundhog Day after all).
The Hip-Hop group Mayday has, not long ago, released the second version of their song "Groundhog Day" as part of the mixtape "The Lords Of The Fly". This one owes everything to the movie's deja vu all over again theme, but is noteworthy for two things--1) EXPLICIT LYRICS (parental advisory suggested) and 2) the presence of Cee Lo Green, who happens to be very hot these days. Also joining in on the fun is Mack Maine. "The Lords Of The Fly" is widely available for free download, but if you just want "Groundhog Day", you'll find it here.
Also picking up on the movie's "same day" theme is Pop-Punk band Money In The Banana Stand. Their "Groundhog Day" is free at Bandcamp.
For something completely different, Once In A Moon (Robert Wells) has written a nice original "Groundhog Day" round. That, too, is free at Bandcamp.
Last but not least, if you'd like an mp3 version of the video we posted earlier today, "Bing" by Skye, you can download it here. You know the video. This one. (Well, it is Groundhog Day after all).
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