Everyone has probably heard a comedy song at some point. There are some artists that focus their songwriting efforts on keeping songs funny. Many of those songs are just aimed at getting the audience to laugh out loud, but some of them have a deeper meaning and try to spread a message. I would like to present to you a list that consists of my favorite (and some that I just find interesting) musical comedy acts.
Flight of
the Conchords
This Grammy
Award winning comedy-duo from Wellington, New Zealand consists of Bret McKenzie
and Jemaine Clement. In addition to having a BBC radio series and recording
albums, they also had a TV-show on HBO which lasted 2 seasons. I personally
prefer their live performances, but there are a few exceptions. Both gentlemen
have also been successful on their own, most notably Bret McKenzie won an
Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song “Man or Muppet”.
Their hits
include: “Issues”, “Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenoceros”, “The Bus Driver Song”,
“You Don’t Have to Be a Prostitute” and “If You’re Into It”.
Tim Minchin
An
Australian musical
comedy genius, Tim Minchin has also had a fruitful career. He has released six studio albums, appeared on many
comedy festivals and even sold-out shows during which he performed with an
orchestra. His standard act consists of him playing the piano/singing and
performing short stand-up routines in between the songs.
His lyrics
often carry a message representing his opinion on mostly philosophical issues
and are considered controversial by some. His main hits include: “Rock And Roll
Nerd”, “Prejudice”, “If I Didn’t Have You”, “Inflatable You” and “Good Book”.
Lonely
Island
I suspect
most of you heard about them before. This musical comedy trio consists of:
Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone. They were hired for Saturday
Night Live in 2005 as writers. At SNL they created many successful sketches and
produced viral music videos. Their discography consists of 3 albums and their
songs often feature well known artists like Justin Timberlake or Akon.
Their hits
include: “Motherlover”, “I’m On a Boat”, “Spring Break Anthem”.
Jon Lajoie
A
Canadian comedian Jon
Lajoie is currently releasing some more serious songs. But his previous
material was mostly comedic.
His hits
include: “Too Fast”, “High as F#%k”, “Radio Friendly Song”, “Chatroulette song”.
Ylvis
Ylvis is a
comedy duo from Norway, which consists of Vegard and Bård Ylvisåker. Mostly
known from their worldwide hit “The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)” they host a
talk-show on TVNorge (Norwegian TV channel). They haven’t replicated the
success of “The Fox” yet, but still managed to release a couple more popular
songs.
Their hits
include: “Massachusetts”, “Jan Egeland”, “Stonehenge”, “a capella”.
I haven’t
included any songs with explicit lyrics here (I mentioned some of them in the
“hits” sections), but many of them are actually amazing. Feel free to check
more if you’re not too sensitive about that kind of stuff.
What do you
think about the above-mentioned artists? Do you
have your favorite musical comedy act? Do you know any other good comedy songs
I missed?
Comments
As for Jimmy Fallon, some bits of his show are funny, but I don't really like how he always laughs out loud at anything anyone says in his interviews. Speaking for myself, when it comes to late night shows there's nothing better than the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson(it unfortunately finished in 2014, now James Corden hosts it). Craig was an amazing host in that he didn't need any guests really to make the show funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhGuXCuDb1U
I really like those types of songs, although it's not something I'd listen to on daily basis because of the lyrics which are really important it that kind of music.
Tim Minchin is sure one of my favourites in that field, although I've also listened to Garfunkel & Oates mentioned by Cezary or Lonely Island and Ylvis mentioned in your presentation ('Stonehenge' is great!)
I remember when my colleagues are still singing it :)
I don't know the songs you mentioned in presentation but I think it's great type of music and good way to make a parody. Polish cabarets are doing a lot of cool gags based on the songs, for example Łowcy.B :)
There're also the completely abstract, unexplainable songs, like Let's Do The Fork In The Garbage Disposal, which... I don't even know. It kinda reminds me of the fox song. Though it's stuck in my head ever since I heard it xD...
I absolutely love music written for Bad Lip Reading's Star Wars parodies. It's so wonderfully hilarious and catchy! So far they have produced two songs Bushes of Love and Not The Future and they are awesome.
For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUhOM7wyQpY Do you know it? Good old polish cabaret. Other good example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQNVB1ghR9c
It is two of my favorite. From your examples I know only one- Ylwis and their “What does the fox say” xD It was probably a hit last holiday. When I saw it first time I was really amused. Clip which they created to this song is also really comedy. Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=rvBhFMgcZL0
And: Saturday Night Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfPdYYsEfAE
And much more..
I like the idea that the song lyrics say something more - it's something different, because most of the lyrics nowadays are just super shallow and stupid. I only need it to be as good from musical point of view as the rest :P But it's my personal opinion, I understand if it might be cool songs for other people to listen to it many many times and have fun :D
Hmmm it was ok for me, but some oth these were to cheesy for me :D haha
Do you have your favorite musical comedy act? Do you know any other good comedy songs I missed?
Oh yeah! Tenacious D baby! They are the MASTERS of comedy music and they do it really well!! Weird Al Yankovic was great in the 90's. I also like Bart Baker with his pop songs parodies and my favourite Shrimp Coat song :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhuMLpdnOjY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frAEmhqdLFs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvhYqeGp_Do
After quitting singing he returned to teaching match. Right now he's 88 years old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJWIJs27gyU
I encourage You to read the lyrics :)