Music Playlist: Circus Songs

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• 1 - L. Cue

  Feb 05, 2005 at 11:38 pm

  Wish my son's experience at the circus was as good. We were in a press box (small room with streaked up, greasy pexiglass windows, miles away from the stage) and it still wasn't far enough from the animals to calm Jr. down.
  
  Then we tried to get him to ride the minature horses. Big mistake. He became the wild animal that need to be tamed in the center ring. I never heard so much high pitched screaming.(those little dwarf horses are creepy)
  
  The toddlers were looking at my big for his age 3 year as if to say "Whats the hell is the big kid's problem?"
  We left about an hour early. Good thing the tickets were gifts.
  
  I always hated the clowns personally, that what I get for watching Stephen King's "It" when I was like 10.
  
  anyway, loved the post, but you forgot a few good ones...
  
  "tears of a clown"-smokey
  
  "machine gun in the clown's hand"-jello biafra
  
  anything by insane clown posse
  
  the theme song to the children's show "Jojo's Circus"
  
  any metal song that was reviewed in Circus magazine
  
  The Rock and Roll Circus LP
  
  One Monkey Don't Stop No Show-Joe Tex
  
  Clown-Korn

• 2 - HW Saxton

  Feb 06, 2005 at 1:03 am

  I went to see the Ringling Bros. Barnum
  & Bailey Circus (and it really is still
  "The Greatest Show On Earth")recently.
  Last year to be exact,and they played
  "Baby Elephant Walk" by Henry Mancini
  during the elephants (duh!)portion of
  the show and it was so perfect.People
  were dancing in the aisles (couples,kids
  parents even the damned peanut vendors!)
  and having a just a great time.Big fun.
  
  
  
  

• 3 - SFC SKI

  Feb 06, 2005 at 1:15 am

  Great songlist, I love Los Lobos' album.

• 4 - Mat

  Feb 06, 2005 at 5:40 am

  What, no "faithfully" by Journey? I've always loved the line 'we all need the clowns to make us laugh' But maybe that's because a friend went through clown college and Ringling Bros. and liked the song.

• 5 - JR

  Feb 06, 2005 at 2:54 pm

  "The Clown" - Charles Mingus
  "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" - Beatles (I can't believe that one was left off this list!)
  "Sealion" - Jethro Tull
  "Cirkus" - King Crimson
  

• 6 - JR

  Feb 06, 2005 at 3:14 pm

  Carousel - Mr. Bungle

• 7 - Robert

  Feb 16, 2005 at 8:39 am

  You have to remember that not all songs are available on Rhapsody yet (ie: The Beatles) this is why some obvious songs are not on my lists. The links will actually play the list if you have Rhapsdy.

• 8 - gerrard

  Feb 17, 2005 at 12:33 am

  I thought "Stuck In The Middle" was about a meeting w/ record company execs...?

• 9 - Robert

  Feb 19, 2005 at 2:41 pm

  QUOTE:" thought "Stuck In The Middle" was about a meeting w/ record company execs...?"
  
  Yes, but after you've been to the circus the lyrics "Clows to the left of me, jokers to the right" takes on a whole new meaning.

• 10 - Eric Olsen

  Feb 19, 2005 at 3:47 pm

  "Tightrope" and "Carney," from the album Carney by Leon Russell
  "Ferris Wheel" Everly Brothers
  "Tightrope Ride" - The Doors

• 11 - Eric Berlin

  Feb 19, 2005 at 3:49 pm

  Eric - You stole my thunder on tightrope ride as I saw "tightrope" pop up under Hot Topics.
  
  Ray on vocals -- fun stuff.

• 12 - Eric Olsen

  Feb 19, 2005 at 4:30 pm

  it takes a thief

• 13 - godoggo

  Feb 19, 2005 at 8:05 pm

  How 'bout Like a Rolling Stone?

• 14 - Ciara

  Dec 13, 2005 at 6:36 am

  Kathy's Clown - The Everly Brothers!

• 15 - Eric

  Sep 02, 2007 at 7:48 pm

  Don't forget "Goodbye Cruel World" by James Darren.

• 16 - DrC

  Nov 15, 2008 at 2:54 pm

  Here are some left off the list, which I think is a great playlist already.
  
  Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite. (Beatles from LOVE. I read the comments above, but it's a key omission and the LOVE version is especially circus-y.)
  
  Dear Madam Barnum, XTC. (A fantastic circus related song with the references to painted smiles, freak shows, parades, clowns, high wire, safety nets & bands. No circus playlist is complete w/o "Dear Madam Barnum.")
  
  Here are a few others:
  Enter Circus, Christina Aguilera
  Send In The Clowns, Frank Sinatra (How can anyone choose Grace Slick over Frank is beyond me.)
  The Man On The Flying Trapeze, Larry Groce
  Clowntime Is Over, Elvis Costello & the Attractions
  Clown Strike, Elvis Costello
  The Comedians, Roy Orbison
  

• 17 - Jason

  Jan 12, 2009 at 3:27 am

  Grease Paint And Monkey Brains by White Zombie

• 18 - Larry

  Feb 16, 2009 at 1:52 am

  Here is a beautiful song,
  
  Loudon Wainwright III - Human Cannonball

• 19 - Larry

  Feb 16, 2009 at 1:55 am

  One more:
  
  Patty Griffin with Emmylou Harris- Trapeze

• 20 - Brian McGann

  Jul 10, 2009 at 5:32 am

  What about the Bruce Foxton composition "Circus", which appeared on The Jam's final studio album, The Gift, released in 1982?

• 21 - Tuck

  Aug 11, 2009 at 8:07 pm

  Circus - by STRING DRIVEN THING

• 22 - RADA

  Oct 06, 2009 at 6:37 am

  Psycho Circus - KISS
  Circus of Heaven - Yes