I used to just be interested in the 1950s. But now I’m pretty much obsessed, at least with the music. In one of the first projects I’m genuinely excited about this year, my history group and I decided to make our own 20-minute sitcom to show the culture of the “Fabulous 50’s”. In my ‘grueling’ research, I uncovered a bunch of songs that make me itch to get out my fourth-grade Halloween poodle skirt and start embarrassing myself by trying to swing.

1. Yakety Yak- by The Coasters. If you’ve ever heard this song before, you’ll for sure recognize it from the distinctive title (or from October Sky perhaps).

2. Hound Dog- by Elvis (Presley, for those who have never heard of rock ‘n’ roll, fried squirrels, or Vegas). It seems pretty obvious to choose an Elvis song, but he’s a legend for a reason, and this song proves it.

3. Catch a Falling Star- by Perry Como. I’ve found the tune catchy since I first saw The Princess Diaries, but luckily now that I’ve tracked down the original version, I don’t have to deal with squeaky, high-pitched adolescent voices singing it.

4. That’s Amore- by Dean Martin. Who doesn’t want to be musically transported to a summer in Italy?

5. Que Sera, Sera- by Doris Day. Another one of those songs that could have outlived the 50s based on starpower alone.

6. Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)- The Penguins. One of the first noteworthy crooner songs, a staple of the 50s, as cheesy as it is.
Click this link to hear this song on-line.