Dino Surfin’
I recently posted the songs from my feature film Over-the-Rhine, mentioning that creating music for my movies is a way of pursuing “my other love.” Over-the-Rhine is a heavy drama, so those songs are serious, emotional accompaniments to the story.
OK, shift gears, because…
The songs from my new feature film Notzilla, an absurdly silly spoof of old monster movies, are patently ridiculous.
And proud of it!
The three songs featured in Notzilla were actually written for the end credits. Because the movie is set in 1962, I decided to accompany the credits with a typical day of AM radio in the early 60s, just as the giant monster Notzilla is becoming a national craze. The first of these, introduced by an obnoxiously loud DJ named Charlie “the Big Cheese” Cheeseman, is from Bobby Bleach (a character in the film) and his group Bobby and The Bleachboys, “Kentucky’s number one surf band!”
VERSE 1
Well, I didn’t own no records
and I never seen a movie.
My Grandpa said, I love you, son,
but, dude, you sure ain’t groovy,
uh-uh.
Stop drivin’ that ol’ tractor, boy,
and parkin’ it at school.
It definitely factors
into why you’re so uncool,
uh-huh.
CHORUS
Ya gotta
catch a fin and go dino surfin’ with me!
(Groovy, groovy, groovy, groovy—Wow! Notzilla!)
Your groove begins when you’re dino surfin’, you’ll see!
(Groovy, groovy, groovy, groovy—Pow! Notzilla!)
VERSE 2
Once you ride a dino tail
you’ll soon be hangin’ ten.
Every move’s so fine, oh, boy,
you’ll wonder where you’ve been
all your life!
Once a dino moves
he’s a combustible machine,
especially if he’s had
a lotta beer and ate some beans,
uh-oh!
Repeat CHORUS
∴
This recording was produced and sung by Steve Goers, the composer of Notzilla’s brilliantly over-the-top score!
Mitch Teemley 
I love it…impossible to listen to it without absorbing its verve.
It’s better than a vitamin B shot.
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Rad! You’re one bitchin’ betty, Sarah!
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boss!!
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😂😂😂
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Let’s hear it for silly!
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This is very interesting topic! 🙂
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Whoa! Feelin’ the Watusi, man!
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Let’s “Catch A Wave” Moondog!!
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;>)
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Fit the times perfect Mitch.
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Thanks!
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Oh memories! That’s the year I got married…great year. Love the music.
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Okay, Ill be humming this for the next two weeks.
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👍👍
Bring me back to the past.
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Great, fun music for a great, fun movie! Notzilla rules!
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Thanks, Kathleen!
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Hello Mr. Teemley,
I am a young Christian filmmaker, and I (along with a lot of friends, family, and local volunteers) am going into the pre-production process for our first feature film. I am going to be directing it. And I was just wondering if I you would have any advice for me? Like, what is the most common problem that happens on set that I should be aware of, and prepared for?
Thanks!
Elijah Holston
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Hi Elijah. Shoot me an email: teemley@fuse.net
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Alright, I will.
Thanks!
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Wow, those chord progressions are really different! I don’t remember many bands in the ’60s that had more than just the 3 chords and a capo. IV, V, I, IV, V, I followed by V, VI, II (which would be minor if it stayed in the key but is major here!) and then moves back to V and then I. So this song has more than 6 chords and changes modes during the verse! The singers are really adept at intonation and balance. I am really impressed that the soloist can improvise over that progression. Very surprising. I salute you, sir!
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Thanks, Rebecca! The vocal surf music pioneered by Brian Wilson and others was pretty inventive with chord progressions, so I felt free to do likewise.
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Ya, Bleach Boys. Ow. I used to love hearing them singing background for Chicago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsuv4HPGNHM This is the live version rather than the studio so it’s more authentic.
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