I'm getting the distinct impression that writing a parody of this particular song is something of a rite of passage around here

Callmelennie, during Thanksgiving weekend of 2005, when I was fairly new to the site, I cranked out 50 versions of "Spell." Over the years I added to the count until I hit 300. Submitted this dubious achievement to the Guinness book, under the category "Most parodies of a single song." In spite of more idiotic categories in the book, Guinness didn't go for it. Subsequently, Rob Arndt got into the act and has done numerous parodies of the OS. I'm close to 400 and think I might shoot for 500. Some site denizen, I believe, find this annoying, but for me its endlessly entertaining. My personal rule of thumb: the fourth syllable of the six-syllable title must contain an "el" sound, or the single-syllable word in that spot start with S and end with L.

I am nearing 300 and I think you have over 400! You do legitimate funny parodies of "IPASOY" while mine deal with factual things and are used as info-parodies mainly with the Third Reich, weapons systems, aviation, little-known facts, and current events. The same thing applies for the Beatles song "Wild Honey Pie". That song is lame bu the are endless combinations for the 3-syllable repeated lyrics. I have already done 15 of them this week and will do more- but only as far as good topics I can think of. JAB, I think you should shoot for 500 b/c if you don't I'll eventually get there ;-)

Have to admire the double entendre...how's the wood holding up?

I did a count of my songs and here is how they break down: 875 total, 286 SJH + 589 other. Of those 589, there are 63 GaGa parodies, 38 Zombie series, and 15 WHP, leaving another 473 of all types including the shipwreck series (WOEFG) and Xmas parodies!!! I lead in GaGa parodies and dominate 7 artist pages here as well as being the #19 Top Contributor with 1040 submissions! I am at #11 spot for parodies and will break into the Top 10 either this month or next month :)