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August 31, 2007

It Blows: Debunking the Boston Whistling Myth

Swedish indie act Peter Bjorn and John's song "Young Folks" sure is catchy, light, and charming. Since the song includes Victoria Bergsman, formerly of the equally catchy The Concretes, the tune is sure to stick in one's head. In fact, when a DJ played "Young Folks" at River Gods the other night, the eyes of everyone in the bar lit up. People swayed. People smiled. The song set a perfect tone for the end of summer.

But absolutely no one whistled. No one whistled unless someone was whistling in their heads or the bar was full of the whistling-impaired.

However, the Globe has stated that Peter Bjorn and & John has touched off a whistling frenzy in Greater Boston. The article states that people just can't stop whistling "Young Folks." Whistling is swell and all, unless you're a construction worker ogling someone on the sidewalk, but has PB&J generated "whistlemania"? Have you heard anyone whistling to this song? Is Bostonist missing something?

If a whistling frenzy exists in Boston, it is most definitely not of the Peter Bjorn and John variety. The last person Bostonist saw whistling was in an elevator, and he was going with Sinatra.

But who is Bostonist to rain on the Globe's parade? Here's "Young Folks" in all its light, fluffy, Swedish, hipster glory. Enjoy!

Does it make you want to whistle? Whether it does or not, PB&J will be at the Avalon on September 7.

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Comments (5) [rss]

My coworker whistles randomly all the time - yesterday she was whistling the Elijah Wood Puppetmaster song (after I forced her to watch the video on YouTube).

 

Wow that didn't sound like the Caesars at all!

 

I used to whistle all the time until I became friends with a number of people who worked on the tall ships and as sailors; they informed me that whistling was incredibly bad luck. I wonder if this superstition has something to do with the lack of whistling in Boston?

 

Yes. It's getting whistled a lot.

 

Destined to be part of a Nissan or Procter & Gamble commercial...

 
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