Novelty song
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A novelty song is a usually intentionally humorous song, usually in published or recorded form. These songs may take the form of a parody, or a comedic take on current events or fads and may defy the usual categorization of music, or may not even be music. Many use unusual lyrics, subjects, or instrumentation. Novelty songs are frequently unexpected hits, and may bring their authors or singers unexpected, though often temporary, fame.
Some novelty songs are the work of 'one hit wonders', but some mainstream artists do occasional novelties, and a few artists have made successful careers out of novelty songs. Sometimes a novelty song may be made by a singer famous in another sphere, such as comedians, actors, or even sports stars.
Contents
Examples of novelty songs
- "Agadoo" by Black Lace
- "Alley Oop" by The Hollywood Argyles (Gary Paxton)
- "Aliens Really Stink" by UFO Phil
- "Along Came Jones" by The Coasters
- "Another One Rides the Bus" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Ape Call" by Nervous Norvus
- "Axel F" by Crazy Frog
- "The Ballad of Ben-Gay" by Ben-Gay and the Silly Savages
- "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton
- "Beep Beep (Little Nash Rambler)" by The Playmates
- "Cameltoe" by The Bob & Tom Show
- "C.B. Savage" by Rod Hart
- "Convoy" by C.W. McCall
- "The Curly Shuffle" by Jump 'n the Saddle
- "Dancin' Fool" by Frank Zappa
- "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road" by Loudon Wainwright III
- "Der Fuehrer's Face" by Spike Jones and His City Slickers
- "Deteriorata" by National Lampoon
- "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees
- "Do the Bartman" by Bart Simpson
- "Do You Think I'm Disco?" by Steve Dahl with Teenage Radiation
- "Du the Dudek" by The Trophy Boyz
- "Earache My Eye" by Cheech and Chong
- "Eat It" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Elvis Was a Narc" by Pinkard & Bowden
- "Existential Blues" by Tom 'T-Bone' Stankus
- "Fish Heads" by Barnes and Barnes
- "Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent" by Jef Jaisun
- "Funky Moped" by Jasper Carrott, which reached the top of the charts entirely because of the obscene parody of The Magic Roundabout on the B-side.
- "The Gnu Song" (and many others) by Flanders and Swan
- "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" by Allan Sherman
- "Is He An Aussie?" by Bentley Collingwood (B. C.) Hilliam (of Mr. Flotsam and Mr. Jetsam)
- "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" by Brian Hyland
- "Junk Food Junkie" by Larry Groce
- "King Tut" by Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons
- "Lunch Lady Land" by Adam Sandler
- "Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voodoo
- "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett
- "My Name Is Larry" by Wildman Fisher
- "Pencil Neck Geek" by Fred Blassie
- "Please Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne
- "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley
- "Reaganomics" by Rich Little
- "Rock and Roll Doctor" by Travesty Ltd.
- "The Rubber Room" by Porter Wagoner
- "St. George and the Dragonette" by Stan Freberg
- "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce
- "Shaving Cream" by Benny Bell
- "Short People" by Randy Newman
- "Sister Mary Elephant" by Cheech and Chong
- "Smells Like Nirvana" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" by The Royal Guardsmen
- "Sounds of Love" by Catman Cohen
- "Spam" by Monty Python's Flying Circus
- "Star Trekkin'" by The Firm
- "Stardrek" by Bobby Pickett
- "Spiders and Snakes" by Jim Stafford
- "The Streak" by Ray Stevens
- "Super Bowl Shuffle" by members of the Chicago Bears
- "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen
- "Take Off" by Bob and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas)
- "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" by Tiny Tim
- "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" by Napoleon XIV
- "Ti Kwan Leep (Boot to the Head)" by The Frantics
- "Transfusion" by Nervous Norvus
- "The Troglodyte" by The Jimmy Castor Bunch
- "Valley Girl" by Frank Zappa (with Moon Zappa)
- "Van Lingle Mungo" by Dave Frishberg
- "We Will All Go Together When We Go" by Tom Lehrer
- "Wet Dreams" by Kip Adotta
- "Who Are The Brain Police?" by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
- "Witch Doctor" by Ross Bagdasarian
- "The Ying-Tong Song" by The Goons
Disc jockeys who feature novelty songs
Performers well known for novelty songs
- The Arrogant Worms
- Barnes and Barnes
- Brobdingnagian Bards
- Cheech and Chong
- The Goodies (UK)
- Spike Jones
- Cledus T. Judd
- Flanders and Swann
- Legendary Stardust Cowboy
- Tom Lehrer
- Luke Ski
- Roger Miller
- Mr. Flotsam and Mr. Jetsam
- The Mothers of Invention
- Perrynoid
- Pinkard & Bowden
- Ray Stevens
- Tiny Tim
- UFO Phil
- Sheb Wooley
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
- Frank Zappa
External links
- [Novelty Songs - They Will Never Wear Off!] Podcast feature by Xan Phillips (30 minutes)
- [Dr. Demento]
- [Novelty Songs - by Dr. Frank Hoffmann]
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