posted
Most of my favorites have been mentioned -- Weird Al (the second most represented artist in my music collection, after the Beatles), Tom Lehrer, Flanders & Swann. Haven't heard much Heywood Banks, but what I have heard I like. Some old Frank Zappa & the Mothers fit the bill as well -- I'm fond of "We're Only In It For the Money" and "Just Another Band From LA" in particular. Oh, and the Dead Milkmen...
Some of my friends are big fans of Richard Cheese, but he only amuses me briefly.
And I mentioned on another thread the soundtrack to [i}A Mighty Wind[/i]. Add to that much of the Spinal Tap repetoire, and of course, the Rutles.
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The Rutles soundtrack is both hilarious and amazing in how well the songs sound like the Beatles. And they will get stuck in your head for days because they are that damn catchy.
The film ("All You Need Is Cash") just makes everything that much better.
Also, add another Weird Al fan to the pile. I loved "Hardware Store" and "eBay" off of his last album.
-------------------- "But about the reindeer...what kind of a nose shines? How did he get it? Maybe it's not a reindeer after all. It could be something else." Posts: 2216 | From: Winston-Salem, NC | Registered: Nov 2003
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Some of my faves here have been mentioned: Big Daddy, Rutles, Weird Al... No one's ever mentioned Dread Zeppelin yet. Elvis impersonator sings Led Zeppelin tunes, reggae style. Really liked how they tackled two songs originally from Zep's In Through the Out Door lp: Hot Dog, and All of My Love. I have to say, I think those songs alone is better than LZ's whole "In THrough... " lp as a whole. Sure, I'll get some frowns headed my way, but the way the lp sounds, I felt it wasn't one of their best pieces, Definately not up to par as Physical Grafitti.
Posts: 128 | From: Illinois | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I can only agree with those who suggested Tom Lehrer (he even made a song about my favourite mathematician, although I think he's a bit unfair against him) and Arrogant Worms (I love Me Like Hockey!).
I'd like to add these:
Three dead trolls in a baggie (are these in some way related to Arrogant worms?) Denis Leary, Life's gonna suck and Traditional Irish folk song
-------------------- /Troberg Posts: 4360 | From: Borlänge, Sweden | Registered: Nov 2005
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Anyone familiar with Lloyd Pfausch's "Songs Mine Grandpappa Taught Me" for SATB choir & piano? Musically, they are parodies of the Brahms 'Lovesong Waltzes', and the texts are 'fractured fairy tales'-style versions of various nursery rhymes in a sort of pidgen-German; for example:
"Fraulein Bo-peepein Ben loosen der sheepfen, Und puzzlen mit der gelooken! Later den sheepfen Ben homen gecreepen Mit tailers behinden geshooken!"
"Jack Sprat ben liken fat His wife beliken lean. And mit der upgerizen cost Den bankenroll ben flat!"
-------------------- "The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart."--Iris Murdoch Posts: 3307 | From: Charleston, WV | Registered: Oct 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Macheath: Ah yes, the Worms! How could I have forgotten them? I love the pirate song, and the carrot juice one as well.
Corky and the Juice Pigs have a song called "I'm the only Gay Eskimo" which makes me laugh even as I feel guilty about chuckling over some gay stereotypes.
Oh, and of course, there is Tenacious D. We have to pay tribute to the D.
Mack da "wooooonderboy" Knife
I love those songs! I also have to add the following:
Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie - The War of 1812 Song
Bowser and Blue - The Colorectal surgeon song
" We praise the colorectal surgeon Misunderstood and much maligned Toiling away in the heart of darkness Working wear the sun don't shine"
-------------------- You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons. -Blazing Saddles Posts: 1074 | From: High Level, Alberta, Canada | Registered: Mar 2006
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I love "Weird Al"'s stuff. And I have a cd of Tom Lehr's stuff somewhere. I think his "New Math" song always popped into my head whenever I had a math class.
-------------------- Come on, come on, we were once upon a time in love If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. - Meister Eckhart My Blog Posts: 7725 | From: Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2000
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I dated a guy my first year of art school that was working on his debut CD... nearly the ENTIRE thing was humorous-NFBSK songs, including one about a "pink sock" (please, someone get that reference and explain it, I really don't want to), a geriatric lover, animal sex, and some other disturbing stuff. I'll admit some of it was sorta funny...
But the relationship itself eventually really soured me on how I view his work
-------------------- "Oh, now we're going to start judging each other on things we've done?? Real fair!" Posts: 1114 | From: Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Oct 2005
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My favorite parody, because it's so true, is "Every Other Time" by Bob Ricci. It's about Dunkin Donuts getting your order wrong, every other time. "Internet Love Song (She Blocked Me)" to the tune of "She Hates Me" is pretty funny too.
Note: the site I linked to is fine, but the songs are NSFW/NFBSK.
I love just about everything by Weird Al, espeically The Saga Begins. It was that song that convinced me to see the movie.
-------------------- I love dairy! Does that mean I can't be a vegan? Posts: 1569 | From: Upstate NY | Registered: Dec 2003
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quote:Originally posted by paisley: (please, someone get that reference and explain it, I really don't want to)
If you're unwilling to explain the reference, why did you make it?
Seaboe
-------------------- Education is not the filling of a hard drive, but the lighting of a bulb. -- Yeats via Esprise Me Posts: 5562 | From: Seattle, WA | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by paisley: (please, someone get that reference and explain it, I really don't want to)
If you're unwilling to explain the reference, why did you make it?
Seaboe
*shrug* I'll explain it if anyone is that curious to know, but it's quite dirty and disturbing mental picture.
-------------------- "Oh, now we're going to start judging each other on things we've done?? Real fair!" Posts: 1114 | From: Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Oct 2005
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I loved the Spinal Tap album "Break Like the Wind".
Also Monty Pythons Sings! includes a song called "I'm So Worried" about someone who is so plagued by worry that they can't even make a decision about when to end the song, which really tickles me and I'm usually wiping tears by the end of it. It's been on my mind the last couple of days, since he's also "worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow." Plus the philosopher's song: "Rene Descartes was a drunken fart, I drink, therefore I am!"
Posts: 1157 | From: Westcountry UK "It's Bootiful" | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Originally posted by ericsmom: [QUOTE]Originally posted by Macheath: [QB] A lot of my favorite comedy songs are really just innovative covers of existing songs. For instance, The Gourds do a great bluegrass cover of "Gin 'n' Juice" (which is often mistakenly attributed to Phish). Hayseed Dixie is a bluegrass cover band that started off covering AC/DC songs but not have branched out to assault other music as well, an' I like most of their covers. Big Daddy is a band that takes modern songs and adapts them to sound like music from the 50's (their cover of "Super Freak" is fantastic).
There was a band a few years back called Luther Wright and the Wrongs that released an album called "Rebuild the Wall". They covered Pink Floyd's "The Wall" in a bluegrass/country style.
I almost included them as well, actually. However, I don't own that album. I have only heard their version of "Comfortably Numb", which is AWESOME. I love that instead of "Hello, is there anybody in there?" it begins with, "Well howdy! Is there anybody in there?" It just gets better from there.
Also, and I know this isn't a popular opinion, I like the Scissor Sisters' cover of "Comfortably Numb". One part Bee Gees, one part Pink Floyd. . . . awesome.
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I have a web page discussing my favorites, but mainly I'm partial to The Bonzo Dog Band, Tom Lehrer, Flanders and Swan, Spike Jones, Christine Nelson and Blotto.
Picking individual songs:
Bonzo Dog Band: "The Intro and the Outro," "My Pink Half of the Drainpipe," "Humanoid Boogie," "Ali Baba's Camel," and "Tent."
Flanders and Swann: "Madiera M'Dear," "The Hippopotamus Song," "The Gas Man Cometh."
Tom Lehrer: "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park," "We Will All Go Together," "When You are Old and Gray," "The Elements," "The Vatican Rag," "Pollution."
Spike Jones: "Cocktails for Two," "Clink Clink Another Drink."
Blotto: "I Wanna Be a Lifeguard," "We Are the Nowtones," "My Baby's the Star of a Driver's Ed Movie," "She's Got a Big Boyfriend," "Heavy Metal Head."
Christine Nelson: "Driver's Test."
Other songs: Allan Sherman: "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadda" Siegel-Schwall Band: "The Underqualified Blues" Cream: "Mother's Lament" Mothers: "Penis Dimension" Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross: "Twisted" Harvard Lampoon: "Seventeen Miles from Waukeegan My Cantelope Died" (one of the best Dylan parodies ever)
Some from Broadway: "Cell Block Tango" -- Chicago "Those Were the Good Old Days" -- Damn Yankees "Fugue for Tinhorns" -- Guys and Dolls "Master of the House" -- Les Miserables "Comedy Tonight" -- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum "Sing!" and "Dance 10 Looks 3" -- A Chorus Line "Always True to You (in my Fashion)" and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" -- Kiss Me Kate
As for those I hate, the #1 on my list is (not very) Weird Al Yankovic.
Posts: 675 | From: Schenectady, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Quite a few of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show's songs were really funny. Of course, many of them were written by Shel Silverstein, so there you have it.
Also, in the realm of funny but not parody were the Irish Rovers. Not everything was funny, but the funny stuff was great.
Posts: 1359 | From: Akron, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Radical Dory: The Rutles soundtrack is both hilarious and amazing in how well the songs sound like the Beatles. And they will get stuck in your head for days because they are that damn catchy.
The film ("All You Need Is Cash") just makes everything that much better.
Also, add another Weird Al fan to the pile. I loved "Hardware Store" and "eBay" off of his last album.
Ouch! is one of my favorites.
-------------------- It's like they took a bunch of movies, put them in a blender and turned it on really fast!-Mystery Science Theater 3000 Posts: 2603 | From: Magna, Utah | Registered: Aug 2004
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There's a song that was supposed to be in Disney's "Aladdin", but the film's story was extensively reworked and several songs were cut. The song is called "High Adventure". It's a song sung by Aladdin and his three friends (who together make up a band) as they head out to rescue a princess from an evil genie. The song is included in the special edition soundtrack for Aladdin (something I didn't know until I just looked it up). It was also available as part of a multi-disk set celebrating the work of Ashman and Menken (which is how I first heard it).
Another very funny song cut from Aladdin is "How Quick They Forget", where Aladdin's three friends bemoan the fact that Aladdin is ditching the band in order to pursue his princess. It's a Barbershop Quartet number with just three singers.
I wish a production could be created where these abandoned songs could be featured again. It's a shame that they are more or less forgotten (and only in demo format for those who managed to buy the cd set).
Mack da "it makes a guy sick how quick they forget" Knife
posted
Oh, I have to add There's Something About a War by Stephen Sondheim, which was cut from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
-------------------- A Lie can run around the world before the Truth can get its boots on. - Terry Pratchett
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions; but everyone is not entitled to their own facts. - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan Posts: 2495 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2000
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In addition to the aforementioned Tom Lehrer, Weird Al, and Monty Python:
"Deteriorata" - National Lampoon Radio Hour.
"I Like Beer" and "The Credit Card Song" - Tom T. Hall
"Moby Dick" - Dread Zeppelin
"After the Brewery on Gratiot is Gone", a marvelous parody of "The Boys of Summer" by a local radio staion bemoaning the tearing down of the Stroh Brewery.
Anything by Spike Jones
-------------------- "Chuck E. Cheese called. They want their band back."
quote:Originally posted by Auto-Mari: "They're Coming to Take Me Away" by Napoleon whatever.
He's actually Napoleon XIV (=fourteenth) I bought the single after hearing that the B side is exactly the same but played backwards, all the text on the label is also backwards
For parodies I think that the best has to be Stan Freberg especially the fact that his career has spanned nearly 50 years (I have only just learnt that he didn't name his son for 5 years - talk about a Rock & Roll lifestyle.
For pure silliness I would go for The Goons; the Ying Tong Song is difficult to beat, although some of Spike Milligan's individual products also top the weirdness scale
Posts: 135 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2006
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Last night, as I was in bed trying to sleep, I thought of a few more:
"Wet Dream," which was already mentioned. My oldest son absolutely loves that song.
"Choppin' Broccoli" - Dana Carvey. I saw him do this on a tv show first. His expressions totally make the song
"Happy Boy" - not sure who does it. The local rock station play it every Friday at 3:00.
"Ozzy Fudd" - Mark McCollum
"The Scotsman Song" - not sure who does it. Really shocked me when I first heard it.
And who remembers Classy Freddie Blassie with "Pencil Necked Geeks?"
-------------------- "Maybe getting in the last word doesn't really mean you win." - The Clarks Posts: 486 | From: Pittsburgh, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Griffin 2020: Barenaked Ladies If I Had $1000000 always gets a chuckle out of me.
Also, most anything by Trout Fishing in America especially 18 Wheels on the Big Rig
Griffin"And they're rollin',rollin' rollin'"2020
My mom and Dad were familar with Trout Fishing In America when they lived in Huston. Have you heard some of their non humorous songs? stuff's not bad. I like King Tut Blues and Handsome Sam the Boogie man
-------------------- "High-Five!" - Borat Posts: 1056 | From: Racine, WI | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote:"The Scotsman Song" - not sure who does it. Really shocked me when I first heard it.
Bryan Bowers
quote:And who remembers Classy Freddie Blassie with "Pencil Necked Geeks?"
I do! I do! Actually, 'The Scotsman', 'Pencil Neck Geek', as well as some of the ones I mentioned in my earlier post are all on the same Dr. Demento 20th Anniversay CD Collection.
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Weird Al, definately for me. I can not hear the song Lola on the radio without starting to sing Al's lyrics.
The deer hunting song, Da Turdy Point Buck, by Bananas At Large always gets to me. Singing about the 20 point buck itself:
He was so beautful! So wonderful! He strutted right out of my dreams! He was created by God just for Outdoor Magazines!
I have a ton of Christmas tunes I taped off a Dr. Demento radio show in the early 90's, so I love them. One was It's Christmas and I Wonder Where I Am by Dudley Moron (it was a parody of Winter Wonderland sung by a Dudley Moore impersonator. Made by a radio station, not on a record).
At the office Christmas party I started off with a Bacardi. I didn't get sauced, but right now I'm lost! It's Christmas and I wonder where I am!
I had a beer with at my brother's. Had eggnog at my mother's. Then two bottle of wine. Which automobile is mine? It's Christmas and I wonder where I am!
Someone caught me dancing with a snowman! The policeman came and put me in his car. He said, "Are you drunk?" and I said, "No, man. But could you drop me off at the next bar?"
I guess my wife must be missing. Who's this dog that I'm kissing? They say his name's Spot And he likes me - a lot! It's Christmas and I wonder where I am!
I was looking for a lady I could dance with So I stood beneath the mistletoes Someone said "You'll have a better chance if You take the lampshade off and put back on your clothes."!
A lampshade! Isn't that the best!!
Time to be going. I'm naked. Is it still snowing? It's time I should leave. I'll be back New Year's Eve! It's Christmas and I wonder where I am! It's Christmas and I wonder where I am!
Have you seen my hat? I wouldn't want to freeze. What a party! Don't you wish you were me?! (Does a drunken Dudley Moore laugh)
-------------------- I would prefer not to. My blog Posts: 4789 | From: Rhode Island | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by smackmac: "Happy Boy" - not sure who does it. The local rock station play it every Friday at 3:00.
That would be the Beat Farmers, featuring the voice of the (alas) late Country Dick Montana. I'm also fond of their song "Lakeside Trailer Park."
Perhaps I could stick in a mention of Mojo Nixon, particularly "Elvis is Everywhere." ("You know what's happenin' down in the Bermuda Triangle...? Elvis needs boats!")
quote:Originally posted by Four Kitties: Anyone know where I can find the lyrics to "I Made A Fool of Myself Over John Foster Dulles" by Carol Burnett?
I made a fool of myself over John Foster Dulles Oh I made a chump of myself over John Foster Dulles The first time I saw him t'was at the UN Oh I never have been one to swoon over men But I swooned and the drums started poundin and then I made a fool of myself over John Foster Dulles
I knew it was futile to dream for we never could marry still my heart ripped apart at the seams for our state secretary The next time I saw him he was flying to Spain He waved to someone as he boarded the plane Was it me cried my heart and then I went insane I made a fool of myself over John Foster Dulles
Get a hold of yourself, I told myself To my heart I said "oh behave" "Who are you to John Foster Dulles?", I asked my heart and it replied "his slave"
Then in somebody's newspaper column, I think, Robert Rewark I read that John Foster was due at the airport in Newark To Jersey by taxi I made a mad race I pushed through the crowd till we stood face to face I grabbed for his sleeve ... but I got his briefcase at least it was something belonging John Foster Dulles
It's so nice of you all to come visit me here in prison with good behaviour I should be out oh in about seven years but I'm not unamerican and I'm not a spy but how can I convince the FBI that I'm simply on fire with desire for John Foster Dulles
-------------------- "You hold the Prince so I can duct tape his bottom to keep the bugs out." - My Mom Posts: 193 | From: The Fabulous Finger Lakes, New York | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
There's an ol' island musician named Pat Dailey (Toledo peeps may recognize his voice from the jingle of a local Ford dealership). He's had a few good ones: There's the Oyster song Aphrodisiac, wherein he makes double entendres out of other stars' names, to demonstrate what oysters might do for you in the bedroom (they made Clint Black, they turned Barry White, they made Tom Cruise...that sorta thing...) Heck, that might even make the cover thread, since Shel Silverstein wrote it...
And of course, anything by Da Vinci's Notebook, They Might Be Giants, and the Asylum Street Spankers...
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quote:Originally posted by NancyFancyPants: And I cannot go without mentioning Al's "Which Backstreet Boy is Gay?" Not his best, but it was good for a chuckle when it came out.
Except he didn't do that (whatever that is). Are you confusing that with his song Ebay?
A lot of people do parodies and attribute it to him. (It gets even more confusing when he does parodies for just his concerts only.) If you don't see it listed on his catalogue, then you've been mislead.
-------------------- I would prefer not to. My blog Posts: 4789 | From: Rhode Island | Registered: Feb 2004
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Definitely not Al -- it can be found in various places on the web (like here, for one), but no mention of its origin. Based on its brand of humor (too nasty in tone for Al), I'd guess it was done for a morning radio show if not directly for the web.
-------------------- [God said] "I'll just sit back in the shade while everyone gets laid; that's what I call intelligent design." - Chris Smither, "Origin of the Species" Posts: 411 | From: Fairfield, CT | Registered: Aug 2005
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Another funny song, "My So Called Life" by The Ataris. The singer expresses his obsession over Claire Danes. Heck, I gotta share the lyrics.
Ever since I saw you On My So Called Life, I've been writing you these letters Asking you to be my wife. But it's been almost a year And still I've gotten no reply, I'm assuming you have met some other guy. So I sit in my room, Watch Romeo & Juliet A thousand times. I wish I was as cool As Leonardo is But I'm not.
I went on Jerry Springer To confess my love to you You said I didn't have a chance And there was nothing I could do You told me I was crazy And wished that I was dead. You threw a chair right upside my head
Today I highjacked a plane I wrote your name across the sky, Miss Clare Danes. But they were waiting on the ground To take me straight to jail
I'm staring at your pictures From my lonely little cell I'm writing you this letter To let you know I'm doing well Until we meet again You know I'll cry a thousand tears And I'll see you in another twenty years.
posted
Boy it is hard to find good funny songs that haven't been mentioned yet, but here goes:
Existential Blues by Tom T-Bone Stankus The Second Week of Deer Camp by Da Yoopers Moose Turd Pie (not really a song, but close enough) by Utah Phillips Bulbous Bouffant by the Vestibules Boot to the Head by The Frantics I'm My Own Grandpa by Ray Stevens
And of course I must 73rd Tom Lehrer, the best satirical songwriter ever, especially The Irish Ballad, A Christmas Carol and Smut.
MacLloyd
-------------------- "May you make the Yuletide pay!" Posts: 811 | From: Arcadia, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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