Where's the Humor?

JRH · Jun 16, 2007

Where have the "silly" songs gone, the ones "just for fun"?

Where are the Novelty songs like "Ahab, The Arab", "Gitarzan" or "Mr. Businessman" by Ray Stevens; "Witch Doctor" "Birdie On My Head" or "The Chipmunk Song" by David Saville; "Yakety Yak" or "Charlie Brown" by The Coasters; "Please Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne: "Alley Oop" by the Hollywood Argyles,"; "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley, or dozens of others; or "Fun" songs like "Hello Muddah...Hello Fathah" by Allen Sherman; "Hard To Be Humble" by Mac Davis or "My Ding-a-ling" by Chuck Berry"?

Such songs were all over the place in the 50s thru the early 70s and now they've virtually disappeared. Has the Public lost it's sense of humor or do we simply have no performers now-a-days that have the talent and the moxie to make such songs work?

Just wondering.

JRH

BallinLegend · Jun 16, 2007

wat r u talking about. swizz beats just made 1 he aint make a video 2 it yet. but the song is already funny without the video. i heard it on radio.

benbradley · Jun 16, 2007

JRH said:
Where have the "silly" songs gone, the ones "just for fun"?

Where are the Novelty songs like "Ahab, The Arab", "Gitarzan" or "Mr. Businessman" by Ray Stevens; "Witch Doctor" "Birdie On My Head" or "The Chipmunk Song" by David Saville; "Yakety Yak" or "Charlie Brown" by The Coasters; "Please Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne: "Alley Oop" by the Hollywood Argyles,"; "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley, or dozens of others; or "Fun" songs like "Hello Muddah...Hello Fathah" by Allen Sherman; "Hard To Be Humble" by Mac Davis or "My Ding-a-ling" by Chuck Berry"?

Such songs were all over the place in the 50s thru the early 70s and now they've virtually disappeared. Has the Public lost it's sense of humor or do we simply have no performers now-a-days that have the talent and the moxie to make such songs work?

Just wondering.

JRH

Perhaps you've missed Weird Al, his most recent release of send-ups is his most popular yet:
http://www.weirdal.com/latenews.htm

ETA: and speaking of "Straight outta..." covers/sendups, have you hear Nina Gordon's cover of NWA's original version? There's an mp3 on her website ("adult" languange warning).

Though other than Al, it seems that humor has indeed waned in current pop music. Surely there's been a few since, but the most recent "novelty" song I can think of is Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

Another classic novelty that I think bears mention is Harry Nilsson's "Coconut", which not only has zany lyrics, but is musically "interesting" in that the whole song is sung over a single chord. Was there any other top 40 song that only had one chord?

Hmm, I wonder if I could expand this post and pitch an article somewhere...

Nolita · Jun 16, 2007

Check out http://mcchris.com. My fave song of his is, Fett's Vette(sp?), I just listen what do u want from me?

But then, maybe we don't need novelty songs as much now as before. Songs like Chicken Noodle Soup, are considerred to be "real" songs. Somehow, when there's so much "non-novelty" music that's freakin' hillarious, well, it's tough to parody self-parody, even when the self-parody is unintentional.

JRH · Jun 16, 2007

Ben, You're quite right about McFerrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy: and Harry Nilsson's "Coconut".

Weild Al has been around for years and can be very funny but I've always considered him more underground than mainstream, and see that he just had his first top 10 ranked Single and Album, so maybe that means he's on the rise and we'll hear more of him.

I could have mentioned many more examples including almost anything by Roger Miller or Jimmy Buffet: "Tie Me Kangaroo own" by Rolf Harris; "Snoopy vs The Red Baron" by The Royal Guardsmen'; "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees: and "Squeeze Box' by The Who, but all but the last two are 20 years old or more.

The main point I'm making is that the presence of Humor seems "rare" now compared to what it once was.

Thanks for responding.

Jim Hoye, (JRH)

Mud Dauber · Jun 16, 2007

Notice under my username... Icky Thump is the new White Stripes single. Silly enough?

How about anything from The Presidents of the USA?

Peaches
Lump
Kitty
Boll Weevil

Oh wait, those songs were all off their debut album in 1994, so I can sort of see your point.

Mud Dauber · Jun 16, 2007

Even if the lyrics aren't silly, tell me you don't get a smile when watching this video.

Nolita · Jun 16, 2007

Hate to break it to ya, but Disco Duck and Squeeze Box are both more than 20 years old. In fact Squeezebox is over 30 years old, because it came out the year I was born.

Do you listen to rap at all though? Some folks can't stand it. I haven't a problem with that, because I swear Celine Dion hits this one note that makes me have to pee. So I don't listen to her. I do however admit she's got some amazing pipes.

Cuz there was Baby Got Back awhile ago. A lot of songs by Outkast are funny. My Humps by BEP is so funny, don't know if it was supposed to be, but it is a really funny song even now.

JRH · Jun 16, 2007

Hi Nolita,

Didn't realize that "Disco Duck" and "Squeeze Box" were that old, (guess I was just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt as memories tend to run together when you get to be 65.

Consider that age and look at some of the songs I've posted and form your own conclusion about how much "Rap" or "Hip Hop" I listen to.

I do listen to Pop/Rock/Country stations enough to get a feel for what's out there, but I freely admit that most of my listening is limited to "Oldies".

I am pleased, however, at the responce this post has drawn, as my purpose was to make people think about it, regardess of what their conclusions might be.

JRH

P.S. In fairness, I'll try to post one of my songs, "Paranoid's Lament" which was intended to be sung as Hip Hop, (although my rendition isn't done in that fashion). - it might even be taken by some as being "humorous".

Where's the Humor?

JRH

practical experience, FTW

BallinLegend

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

Nolita

JRH

practical experience, FTW

Mud Dauber

writing on the wall

Mud Dauber

writing on the wall

Nolita

JRH

practical experience, FTW