The organic use of communication called the whistle has been around for a while. The original tweet probably was expressed by a caveman. He may have accidentally whistled while dashing home for supper. Later, it alerted his clan to imminent danger, meaning, “Dude! Look out for those crazed and hungry mastodons behind you!” Dinosaurs are extinct and the whistle is increasing in rarity.
When I was a kid, I heard a whistle nearly every day.
My dad loved to imitate birds, even warblers. After hearing one summon a mate from a faraway tree, he would whistle to it for kicks and giggles. It would fly closer and closer. This nasty trick worked best on cardinals. Imagine their disappointment when the poor bird discovered it was only stupid human producing the intoxicating siren call and not a voluptuous feathered friend.
What?
We relied on the whistle’s unique intonations for communication long before the invention of cell phones or the telephone for that matter. It could mean, “Hey! I’m over here!” or the dreaded, “Honey, you are one hot smokin’ babe!” or “EVERYBODY, SHUT UP!”
Many whistle to the melody of a song stuck in their head. It used to be the only mobile way to reproduce the latest hit tune. When my children lived at home, I found myself whistling to just about anything including commercial ditties. Soon, they wore noise-cancelling headphones.
You still hear whistles at sporting events, concerts, and at graduation ceremonies. It means, “Woohoo! I am really enjoying myself!” and “You rock!”
Its imminent demise is obvious when looking up the meaning of whistleblowing. The Free Dictionary states:
Whistleblower n. One who reveals wrongdoing within an organization to the public or to those in positions of authority.
Soon no one will know the difference between a “Hey! I’m right behind you!” and a cat call. Although, the latter extinction may not come soon enough.
Learning to whistle was a rite of passage along with tying shoe laces and riding a bike. It has been replaced by learning to text and tweet on a smart phone.
When children want to get their friend’s attention, they dig their cellular out from under the juice box in their Mutant Ninja Turtle backpack and text the kid in front of them. “Dude, slow down! : P”
Summoning a teenager from their slovenly bedroom for dinner has been replaced by a text from mom or dad. No one whistles for kids out their back door since they are usually indoors playing video games.
The family dog may be the only stronghold. They seem unphased by recent technological advancements. By using any of the above techniques, not only will one find the results quite favorable, but you may also obtain a positive response from the neighbor’s dog.
Who knew a person could look badass while whistling?
The whistle is becoming a lost art. If we don’t practice, it could become an ancient artifact including the VCR, cassette tapes, and the rotary telephone.
Don’t know how to whistle? It’s never too late to learn.
- The most common whistle technique is to purse your lips making a little “o”, suck in your cheeks, and blow.
- Pressing your thumb and forefinger together and putting them in your mouth has been known to produce a piercing whistle that could leave an unsuspecting listener with hearing damage. See warnings below.
- There is also the two-fisted approach where the whistler takes their index fingers and hooks them into the corners of their mouth creating a wind tunnel, but operator error has been known to misfire a saliva ball.
Whistle warnings:
- Refrain from whistling loudly in someone’s ear. It is generally not appreciated.
- You may find yourself short of breath after whistling for a long time.
- Whistling is not recommended when your lips are chapped or dry because, ouch!
I beg of you, please consider this request. Set your phone down, put your lips together, and blow!
Sexiest whistleblower ever:
Wow, that was a sexy blow! Never too good at whistling I can do it!! Sometimes it irks the wife though…
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I love that clip of Bacall and Bogart!
My whistling prowess is no where near my dad’s. I still find myself whistling to favorite songs even though my daughter nearly broke my habit, so I know what you mean about your wife!
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I always wished I could do the finger int he mouth, loud-assed whistle, but I never learned. Ironically, a YouTube instruction video may be my best chance at ever getting that skill.
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I just whistled using “my fingers in a circle” technique and it worked! There’s still hope for you 1point!
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Once I have dentures, I’ll have to learn all over again.
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Now there’s something to look forward to……
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I figure I’ve got another ten years left on my original set of choppers, but maybe I’ll luck out and make it the rest of the way through life without the need to buy any Super Polygrip. Wait! Weren’t we talking about whistling? How did I turn this into another discussion of my impending old age?!
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You know, whistling might become easier for you once they’re gone!
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It really is a dying art. I remember trying to teach my son …. hours of laughter trying to get a 3 year old to whistle. But, I must tell you we have a patient that comes into our office whistling in the most effortless manner. No doubt he was a song bird in another life. It’s beautiful!
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Your patient is just like my dad! I would love to learn how to “warble.” I asked my daughter if she still whistled and was pleasantly surprised. It was like riding a bike!
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In the old-fashioned days when women were repressed about most things, it was frowned on for women to whistle. It was rude, they said. And yet, women were supposed to endure being whistled at by men, sometimes rudely. Then there are all the beautiful ways of whistling that have become a dying art. Good post, Susie. I haven’t thought about whistling for a long time and your post emphasizes that point exactly.
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Now you should whistle through your Sunday! I didn’t remember the double standard with women. Madison was and is a pretty liberal city! I do remember cat calls. Courtney said that three different men (strangers) made derogatory comments about the dress she wore last Friday while walking home, but none of them whistled. I don’t know which is worse??? They both make women feel self-conscious.
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The old rule about women being taught that it was rude for them to whistle, comes from Germany. It has probably changed there now. I don’t know.
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Aha!!
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David Tennant… thank you for that, it made my Sunday. Oh and I do know how to whistle!
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I love that Gif! And now, I know who it is. 🙂
Happy Sunday Emily!
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As I read this all I was thinking about was Lauren Bacall’s famous line. I was very happy to get to the end and find it there.
Sadly, I have never been able to master the art of whistling. I have longed to whistle all my life. Listening to someone who is a terrific whistler is one of my favourite things. Perhaps because it remains elusive to me.
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I LOVE that scene. There is so much sexual innuendo and tension.
Keep trying! There are many techniques. The trick to lip whistling is contracting your tongue into a U-shape to blow the air through. If your tongue is flaccid, it won’t work. :),
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Entertaining post. Thank you. I can’t whistle for beans, but my wife can stop a cab a block away.
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That is a talent! I can never whistle loud enough.
Thanks John!
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I’ve never had any problem with whistling! Never could do a finger whistle, but otherwise… (Nor do I have the prettiest whistle…a “songbird” I am not!)
I knew that was Tennant just as easily as I knew the song Elle Driver was whistling. I am THAT GOOD! 😀
Now my primary use of whistling is to get my cat’s attention…the higher the notes, the better! I usually use it to get her out of a room, but I’ve also been known to give a short whistle as a locator. Just a couple of notes will get her to meow and I can generally find her after that. 😀
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I am the high note queen! Kills the ears of anyone in the room. Sounds like you have a great technique!
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Courtesy of The Fast Show:
I never mastered whistling either. Or bike riding come to think of it. I do know how to tie my shows, however!
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“Shows”? Shoes, you berk!
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I love this video take off! It did occur to me that the were probably several out takes of Boggart!
Great to “see” you Jake!
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Thanks Susie! I’m still around, I’m just really lazy!
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Wonderful post this morning!!
We need a little lightness in the world today.
How are ya?
The paragraph about kids and texts and inside, yup, fits the bill. It’s a new addiction they’ll have to overcome, if and when they get a job. But I’m thinking they will look forward to getting away from that hand held little prison! Haha!
I’m so glad I met you Suzy, even if only virtually.
Hell, Harmony.com is like way busy these days. 🙂
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I’m all about lightness of being and am better than new!
I agree about the cell phone and internet addiction. I’ve caught myself in the vortex of the nasty habit going from my cell to my iPad to my computer. Sheesh! That’s when I go outside and whistle!
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Bacall and Bogart…. what can I say.. cannot whistle either.. would lve to be able too though
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Don’t forget that your tongue plays an important part. It becomes part of the flute!
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I love to whistle Susie. Hum as well
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I would imagine the Fightback Family is a musical lot!
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A veritable feast of imbecility Susie! By the way – hum in the musical and not the personal hygiene sense
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Haha! I love this post, Susie! No, I can’t whistle. I’ve been getting some video clips of family members whistling to make a video about whistling. Who knows when I’ll ever get to it! This is such a fun post. Nice going!
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Thanks Lynn! That sounds like a fun video!
Try engaging your tongue. I bet you can do it!
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Oh, if I had a nickel for every “Honey, you are one hot, smokin’ babe!” whistle….
Lol!
Great essay, Susie! Love the anthropology of the whistle!
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I haven’t heard the smokin babe whistle since the 70’s!!!! Good for you to inspire so many nickels!
Thanks Veronica! I was just thinking about you and the journal I won a while back. Great to see you!
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Awww…. that is so sweet of you, Susie! Good to see you too, sweetie!
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One of my all-time favorite scenes in a great movie! So sorry to say goodbye to Lauren Bacall this week.
(Oh, and you forgot the cheaters whistle–across a blade of grass. It was always one of the signs of spring for my sisters and me.)
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Excellent! I did forget the blade of grass whistle!
I love that scene with Bacall and Bogey. It is so SEXY!
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I’ve always thought whistling was cool. I can whistle, but only a very short one note. 🙂 I’d love to be able to whistle a tune!
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Use your tongue! It does all the note work!!
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Love Lauren Bacall and the scene in her asking, “Do you know how to whistle?”. I know how to whistle by using my lips – not the loud whistle, but I can get the job done – ha! Happy Week 🙂
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I love it! She and Bogey were HOT!!!
Have a great week, Renee! 🙂
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Love the ‘Kill Bill’ gif! … I’m rather fond of whistling the melody lines of classical music.
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You are GOOD! I can see that, since I tend to whistle to songs when I don’t know the words.
Loved that Gif too!
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I never really thought about it much, but I guess you’re right; whistling is a dying art. I can whistle most of the time but I don’t have a very broad range. My best, most piercing whistle, is when I stick my two pinky fingers in my mouth, but it doesn’t always work and usually when I most want it to. Figures.
Thanks for the fun post and the lesson.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Thanks Patricia!
I know what you mean about it failing you. It always seems like I eat crackers and then have to whistle to the dog!!!!
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I’m a pretty poor whistler, Susie. My mum, on the other hand, still whistles tunes to this day…a matter that caused much embarrassment for us kids growing up! But you make a convincing case and it boils down to this – we need to chuck out our phones! 🙂
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I’ve embarrassed my own kids many times!!!! I’m not a great whistler, but can carry a tune and still haven’t downloaded any music on my phone!
Keep trying and don’t forget to engage your tongue. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Veronica The Pajama Thief.
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Thanks so much Veronica!!!
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You’re welcome, Susie.
Weird thing… when WordPress shared my reblog of your essay on my Facebook wall, it listed the article as “The Lost Art Of Whistling by Veronica The Pajama Thief.” Makes me look like the author. Strange, huh?
Anyway, I deleted that autopost and sashayed my little old self over here and copied the link from your page and posted that on my FB wall.
Gotta love technology, huh?
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Thanks for going to the trouble! That is weird!
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There were, when I was a child (and perhaps still are) whistling competitions. My cousin competed as a child and was featured on the Rosie O’Donnell show. Seriously – google “whistling competitions” – people whistle with *bands* behind them. It’s super cool, and totally the niche where whistling ran for refuge when it started losing steam in the mainstream world.
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How cool is that??? I would imagine them at county fairs. I remember the bands and tried to find them. I’ll look up the competitions! Thank you!
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there is nothing like whistling while you work especially while working in the yard…. the family has a ‘family whistle’ to find each other when we are at home or in public… my youngest can whistle and my oldest can’t she teases him mercilessly about it. I couldn’t wink until I was a junior in high school – and she kept winking at me, so I had to learn.
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I love it! A family whistle is a superb idea. When I heli-skied with Danny, we had a certain call. I wouldn’t have trusted my lips in the cold!
Winking is another lost form of communication. Now people assume you’re having a contact attack… 🙂
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You’re right whistling has faded. As kids all our moms had distinctive whistle calls – and we knew exactly who was being called to come home for dinner.
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I remember that! My dad was all about warbling and I don’t remember him whistling for us, but others did! My mom left the whistling to my dad.
🙂
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I would love to whistle. It’s such a happy sound. Sadly, because of jaw surgery and a torn nerve that runs along the right side of my jaw, I can muster only the faintest of sounds. In my next life, though . . .
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Well that is a very good excuse! Hum away instead! Sorry about your jaw. Great to “see” you, Mary!
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