Songs That Featured Unexpected Instruments: Celery, a Bucket of Water, and More

Sometimes a song calls for an instrument so out there that it has no choice but to work. Here are just a few songs that were elevated by their use of unexpected instruments, such as a bottle of soda or a comb-and-paper kazoo.

Paul McCartney Plays the Celery on The Beach Boys’ “Vegetables”

While The Beach Boys were working on their 1967 album Smiley Smile, Paul McCartney went to visit during a recording session. While there have been some attempts at debunking the question of McCartney’s unexpected instrument, Mark Linett, co-producer of the SMiLE Sessions special edition that came out in 2011, once stated that “Paul would be the only one who could really answer that or Brian [Wilson].” It just so happens that Paul McCartney has answered that. In a 2016 fan-question feature on his website, McCartney addressed his inclusion on the song “Vegetables,” which finds him picking up the celery and having a go.

“I just went round to the studio because they invited me. I just thought it would be fun to sit there and watch them record, ’cause I’m a big fan,” he wrote in answer. Brian Wilson asked McCartney to record something with them, and while McCartney was a bit intimidated, his fears were assuaged when he learned what they wanted him to do.

“I got a bit kind of intimidated and thought, ‘Okay, here goes nothing,’” he wrote. “And they said, ‘Well, what we want you to do is go in there and just munch!’ … Well, I can do that! So, if you hear somebody munching celery, that’s me!”

Jimi Hendrix Fashioned His Own Kazoo for “Crosstown Traffic”

“Crosstown Traffic” was released as a single from the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s 1968 album Electric Ladyland, and it subtly features an unexpected instrument—a kazoo. But not just any kazoo. Jimi Hendrix created a completely new instrument for this song to represent the sound of congested traffic. According to a report from Far Out, Hendrix fashioned the kazoo out of a comb and a piece of cling film or cellophane. Additional reports state that he used a piece of paper instead, as comb-and-paper is considered a rudimentary instrument already.

The comb-and-paper kazoo works by humming or singing against the paper pressed to the comb, allowing the vibrations to change the voice quality and pitch. Hendrix utilized this technique to create a unique sound on “Crosstown Traffic,” subtly elevating the atmosphere of the song.

Sierra Ferrell Brings an Unexpected Instrument to Wanda Jackson Cover

In February, Sierra Ferrell performed a series of covers for a Mirror Mirror Network recording session, and she took on Wanda Jackson’s “Funnel of Love.” This song was released as a B-side to Jackson’s 1961 hit “Right or Wrong,” which is more well-known but ultimately pales in comparison to her unique vocal delivery on “Funnel of Love.” Ferrell’s voice is perfect for this track, and she leaned into her gravelly vocal fray and crackly breaks to give the song a similar texture to the original.

However, the crowning moment is when she picks up a saw and a bow and plays the eerie, warbling opening notes. Yes, you read that right—Sierra Ferrell plays the rusty saw, and she does it exceptionally well, as she does all her instrumental endeavors. The saw sounds almost like a theremin, which gives the song a spooky quality even as it’s about falling in love. Still, the sentiment is of almost hypnotic love, so perhaps the warbling weirdness is warranted.

Watch Superorganism Play a Bucket of Water, a Phone Alarm, and a Hotel Service Bell During Their Tiny Desk Concert

Superorganism performed at the NPR Tiny Desk in 2018, and they brought a variety of unexpected instruments. Among them were a bucket of water, a phone alarm, a hotel service bell, a beaker of water and a straw, a pair of shoes, a toy car, a toy cash register, a pair of shoes, a bottle of soda, a clown horn, and a wind chime, among a plethora of other odds and ends. The performance was bolstered by lead vocalist Orono Noguchi’s monotone vocal delivery—her straight-faced intonation balances the musical chaos occurring around her, creating a performance that transcends music and steps into theatrics.

Featured Image by Johnny Nunez/WireImage