Funny ha-ha
Odd how certain subjects never come to light for ages; then, all of a sudden, you can't move for hearing about them.
This time around, I've been talking about comedy in music. More precisely, trying to convince people about the difference between comedy and novelty records.
Billy Connolly's D.I.V.O.R.C.E.? Comedy
Neil's version of 'Hole In My Shoe'? Novelty.
My original point was that there really doesn't seem to be much in the way of comedy stuff hitting the charts these days - The last one I can recall for sure was 'Stutter Rap' by Morris Minor And The Majors (AKA Tony Hawks and friends). It's possible, however, that The Offspring's 'Pretty Fly (for a white guy)' could qualify.
The mid-70's was a good time; Billy Connolly, Jasper Carrott and Mike Harding all made the charts. The 80's had a couple of promising starts when Comic Relief kicked off. Unfortunately, that seems to have dribbled off into celeb cover territory now.
Weird Al, to my knowledge, is the only one who seems to be consistently releasing comedy music in album and single form these days.
Or am I wrong? Please tell me!
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Never know why Tony Ferrino...
... wasn't a hit.
Just wanna do something special...
...for all the Ladies of the World. Did you not get your CD with this month's Word featuring the fantastic Flight of the Conchords?! Surely they qualify
And Mighty Boosh
are threatening to make records.
Pete Doherty's a clown, does that count?
And actually Noel Gallagher has provided significantly more entertainment as a comedian than as a rock star in recent years - perhaps there should be some movement in the other direction too?
The Word demands:
RT does a lot of very very clever and witty songs in his live accoustic persona: Alexander Graham Bell, Dear Janet Jackson, I agree about Pat Metheny, Don't Step on my Jimmy Shands and my favourite, The Hots for the Smarts.
Sort of reponds to those who feel he can do nowt other than End of the Rainbow doomathons, which is nonetheless, world leader number one in that particular genre.
There are comedy songs about
Particularly in TV shows like Flight of the Conchords - who do what they do really well I think, but, as spikeyboy says, you don't see comedy songs in the charts these days. Mind you I never really found Billy Connolly, Jasper, or Mike Harding, or Ray Stevens 'The Streak' (well I liked that one when I was little I suppose) records all that funny in the first place so can't say I miss their ilk. I preferred Billy Connolly's spoken humour.
Was there ever a really funny, good comedy record in the charts?
Yeah, this one
(Thought you'd successfully erased that one from your memory for ever, eh? Sorry. Try again.)
Stephen Lynch
Is a very funny man
And don't forget.....
.....Loudon Wainwright 111, tho' he has been a wee bit more serious of late, perhaps as his children thereaten (succeed?) to become more celebrated than he. Funnist song, sadly, and ironically only thru' the retrospectoscope, as probably felt to be only wryly and affectionately amusing at the time, is "Rufus is a tit man".......
There must be a warning there somewhere!
I agree
All very funny (or cringeworthy, Mr Ferrino).
However, I was hoping someone could tell me why we don't seem to have much in the way of comedy singles any more (NOT novelty)
Life ain't no laughing matter....
;-(
(sotto voce: "there's nothing at the end of the rainbow, there's nothing to grow up for anymore......")