# Best and worse novelty song **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 9, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663 "2000-02-09T19:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/21 "2000-02-09T21:06:00Z")
[ul][li]I am appalled no one has mentioned the modern master, Tom Lehrer. Give me “The Vatican Rag,” “Poisoning Pidgeons in the Park” or “National Brotherhood Week” any day. (I even did “Tomfoolery,” the musical revue of his music in '93.)[/li][li]Let us not forget those of us with a classical bent have long admired P.D.Q. Bach. His _Echo Sonata for Two Unfriendly Groups of Instruments_ still kicks me in the butt, and “Oedipus Tex” and the “Missa Hilarious” are keepers, if you get classical music jokes, that is…[/li][li]Spike Jones, of course, is the granddaddy of them all. “Cocktails for Two” I’ve always wanted to do correctly, myself.[/li][li]I think, though, one of my favs comes from an old Dr. Demento CD - “The Cockroach That Ate Cincinatti.” “I thought Ben looked a little bit ratty… sorry 'bout that…” (I will also admit a fondness for “Existential Blues” as well.)[/li][li]I, personally, like Weird Al.[/li][li]Not quite novelty, but Lynn Lavner for the dykes and Romanovsky & Philips for the gay boys certainly deserve mention - they are humor in music with camp and cabaret thrown in for good measure.[/ul][/li]Esprix * * * Next time I want your opinion I’ll beat it out of you. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/22 "2000-02-09T21:07:00Z")
Worst- The Rappin’ Duke. In fact, if we held an awards ceremony, it would take home several trophies- worst John Wayne impersonation, worst rap tune, worst eighties tune, song that you would most like to replace in your head with a bullet, etc… Rumble rumble rumble…mutiny mutiny mutiny. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/23 "2000-02-09T21:12:00Z")
And for best, I’m currently very fond of Chris Rock’s “There Is No Sex In The Champagne Room”. It stands on its own as well as parodying that awful “Sunscreen “song””. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/24 "2000-02-09T21:17:00Z")
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Kip Adotta. He has several fun songs, one of my favorites is called [Wet Dream](http://www.sonic.net/~paul/humour/msg00166.html) Enright3 ---
**Author:** ![frolix8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@frolix8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frolix8)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/25 "2000-02-09T21:20:00Z")
I don’t know if these are “novelty” or not: Ballad of the Uneasy Rider (Charlie Daniels) Well I was takin’ a trip out to LA tooling along in my Chevrolet Tokin’ on a number and diggin’ on the radio… “Up against the Wall Redneck Mother” Ray Wylie Hubbard (who’s got a great album out) “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polkadot Bikini” ??? ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/26 "2000-02-09T22:20:00Z")
Spike Jones was great, so was Danny Kaye. I liked that other one Spike did, entirely non-musical instruments? -One of my faves (even though I hear it a billion times every year) is The Hanukkah Song and The Hanukkah part two. -I like “I’m An Asshole” by Denis Leary too, still makes me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/27 "2000-02-09T22:25:00Z")
Like most of Ray Stevens’ stuff. My favorite is Ahab the Arab. ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Dirty\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Devil)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/28 "2000-02-09T22:32:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Mojo: > **Rumble rumble rumble…mutiny mutiny mutiny.** 🙂 🙂 🙂 You mean on top of everything else this ship is rigged? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/29 "2000-02-09T22:42:00Z")
“Boobs a Lot” was recorded by the Holy Modal Rounders. I’ve tried to find a few: \*A version of “Kids,” derived from the song in _Bye Bye Birdie,_ but _not_ the one on the album _More Teenage Triangle_ by Paul Petersen, Shelley Fabares, and James Darren. A version I heard in Spring 1961 was more detailed. \*A song with this verse: _I had a horse and his name was Tex… …Signed his name with an X, made his livin’ forgin’ checks._ Some favorites from the Dr. Demento show: \*\*“The Schnauzer (artist unknown), a parody of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer”: _I am just a canine so my tail is often pulled…_ \*\*New York, New York” by Bill Landfier, recorded in reverse so when it is played forward the backward-decaying is quite prominent. \*\*“What Is a Freen?” by Steve Allen. \*\*“O-Vlade, O-Divac,” artist unknown, a spoof of the Beatles’ song, honoring the Serbian center formerly with the Lakers. \*\*“Camouflage,” by Frank Ridgeway, giving a Marine-in-Vietnam flavor to the “Vanishing Hitchhiker” urban legend. \*\*“Alice’s Restaurant Masacree,” by Arlo Guthrie, a Thanksgiving classic. \*\*“Are You Lonesome Tonight,” by Elvis Presley, in which he breaks up laughing. * * * “If you drive an automobile, please drive carefully–because I walk in my sleep.”–Victor Borge ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/30 "2000-02-09T23:00:00Z")
I am very fond of Ernie Kovacs’ “Hot Cakes and Sausage.” * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/31 "2000-02-09T23:19:00Z")
I’ve always liked _Squirrels_, done to the tune of the Beastie Boys’ _Girls_. (I think; I actually don’t know which came first, or if the Beasties were covering someone else’s song.) And _Dead Puppies_ is one of those songs I’ve always hated to love. (“They don’t come when you call, they don’t chase squirrels at all, dead puppies aren’t much fun, no…”) Does anyone know who did that one? Kinda sounds to me like Bill Murray, but then again it kinda doesn’t. * * * “I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy [The Kat House](http://members.aol.com/gr8kat1/KatGen/home.htm) [Join the FSH Muscular Dystrophy Webring](http://members.aol.com/gr8kat1/KatGen/fshwebring.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/32 "2000-02-09T23:23:00Z")
Oops, one of these days I’ll learn to search before I ask. “Dead Puppies” was done by The Ogden Edsl Wahalia Blues Ensemble Mondo Bizzario Band and the lead singer was Bill Frenzer. I got the “Bill” part right 😉 * * * “I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy [The Kat House](http://members.aol.com/gr8kat1/KatGen/home.htm) [Join the FSH Muscular Dystrophy Webring](http://members.aol.com/gr8kat1/KatGen/fshwebring.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Jeannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/33 "2000-02-09T23:39:00Z")
My favorites have already been named, but the most annoying is “My Ding-a-Ling.” ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/34 "2000-02-10T01:17:00Z")
Well you guys left out that horrible Banana nanna fofanna, shirley shirley bo birley … Who was that??? Shirley Ellis I think but I can’t think of the name of the song. Anyone? * * * “I think it speaks to the duality of man sir.” (private Joker in Full Metal Jacket) ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/35 "2000-02-10T01:21:00Z")
It’s “The Name Game,” Aha. * * * “If you drive an automobile, please drive carefully–because I walk in my sleep.”–Victor Borge ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/36 "2000-02-10T01:45:00Z")
This may well be the most esoteric question asked on this board, but there’s already been mentions of the Bonzo Dog Band and Bill Murray on this thread so I’ll take a shot. On the BDB’s album _The Doughnut in Granny’s Greenhouse_ the first song is _We Are Normal_ which has a long intro with various people speaking. One of these people (the one who says “He comes some normals. They look like normal Hawaiians”)sounds exactly like Bill Murray. I realize it’s extremely unlikely that Murray was doing voice work for a 1968 British novelty album, but does anyone know for sure? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/37 "2000-02-10T03:13:00Z")
I can’t believe no one has mentioned Julie Brown yet. “I Like 'em Big and Stupid” is one favorite, but “'Cause I’m a Blonde (B-L-O-N-D)” is my theme song! * * * …in a state so nonintuitive it can only be called weird… ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/38 "2000-02-10T04:18:00Z")
Dickie Goodman’s Flying Saucer “songs” were a hoot. The kids and I used to make up our own, tape them (it’s a lot of work with the system we had) for special occasions. It was fun. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Normal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@Abner\_Normal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Normal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/39 "2000-02-10T04:33:00Z")
The best Let’s get into some mainstream artists… ILBTS by Joe walsh… The title means… I like big tits. ---
**Author:** ![Ursa\_Major](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@Ursa\_Major](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ursa_Major)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663/40 "2000-02-10T04:54:00Z")
The punk band, The Dickies, were also a great novelty song band. Some of their classics: **Stukas over Disneyland Stuck in a Pagoda with Tricia Toyota She’s a Hunchback If Stuart Could Talk** (about a talking penis) **Bowling with Bedrock Barney Doggie Doo You Drive Me Ape(you big gorilla) Manny Moe & Jack** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worse-novelty-song/13663.md?page=3)