Shake This

Songs about shaking things have been around a long time. Elvis had "Shake a Hand" and Pam Tillis sang "Shake the Sugar Tree". The Beatles, U2 and others have sung about it, but shaking things that shouldn't be shaken seems to be a recent phenomenon.

A couple of people have mentioned that Polaroids need no shaking, contrary to what the catchy (and now overplayed) Outkast song recommends.

On Tuesday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, William Hung sang "Shake Your Bon Bon". It might have been better if his bon bon had remained unshaken.

Then, on yesterday's installment of Ellen, J.C. Chasez, of *NSYNC, sang about shaking soda. It won't take long for Coke and Pepsi to issue statements reminding people not to do that to their carbonated drinks.

While it's exciting to sing about things everybody knows they shouldn't shake (like their fists, my nerves, rattlesnakes...), dumb people will be tempted to try it and hurt themselves as a result. To prevent injury and potential lawsuits, here is a handy list of safe, shakable items songwriters can use in their music:

1. snow globes
2. spray cans
3. a stick
4. tambourines
5. a salt shaker (it's even in the name)
6. Gatorade (product placement is key in today's songs)
7. an Etch-a-Sketch (retro products are even better)
8. Shakira's hips
9. a leg (unless it isn't yours)
10. a present (unless it contains a rattlesnake)