# Is “Yakety Sax” inherently funny, or are we just conditioned into considering it funny by Benny Hill? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 7, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942 "2020-11-07T00:37:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/21 "2020-11-07T19:05:51Z")
Inherently Funny ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/22 "2020-11-07T19:56:33Z")
It’s not P.D.Q. Bach… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/23 "2020-11-07T20:44:30Z")
Maybe the US Space Force can use it? ---
**Author:** ![eburacum\_45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum_45/32/3385_2.png) [@eburacum\_45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum_45)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/24 "2020-11-07T21:02:21Z")
UK poster here. Benny Hill was deeply unfunny, and his so-called ‘comedy’ chases weren’t. We had Monty Python, Spike Milligan and The Comic Strip for alternative entertainment while Hill’s show was in production, and Hill was not in that league at all. Nevertheless Yakkity Sax itself is _definitely_ intrinsically funny. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/25 "2020-11-08T02:27:57Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > It’s not P.D.Q. Bach… Until, of course, a manuscript is uncovered deep in the archives at Dudeldorf, showing that, in fact, P.D.Q. Bach _was_ the composer. It could happen… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/26 "2020-11-08T11:32:24Z")
The _Coaster_’s original _Yakety Yak_ was inherently high energy and inherently satirical; it sure wasn’t a love ballad unlike the standard rock n roll of the day. Yakety Sax is the same, but they cranked up the energy to the point of inherently zany. Whether “zany” = “funny” is in the eye of the beholder. The Queen might not be amused, but folks who enjoy slapstick would be. It’s musical slapstick. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/27 "2020-11-08T13:39:25Z")
You make a key point. Unlike _Entrance of the Gladiators_ which is funny because of its association with the circus, _Yakety Sax_ was intended to be light hearted and humorous. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/28 "2020-11-08T14:24:12Z")
It’s funny in large part by association, and even people who haven’t seen Benny Hill have likely seen some of the many other works that use the song in the same way (most of which are probably themselves references to Benny Hill). But the song itself is inherently well-suited to being used in the way that Hill (and others) used it, just like (for instance) “Powerhouse” is well-suited as a soundtrack to caricatured industrial machinery. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/29 "2020-11-08T16:49:46Z")
Never heard it before Hill used it . ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/30 "2020-11-08T17:17:38Z")
My Dad had Boots Randolph’s “Yakety Sax” on vinyl, released in 1963. By the time I (and my brothers) were oh, 5 years old in 1969, we played it all the time. Thus I was very familiar with the tune when I saw it used on Benny Hill’s show year later, and my original impression of it prevented me then, as now, of thinking of it as funny, but rather, just an amazingly catchy tune. Btw, thanks for this thread, because I hadn’t thought of that album in years, and I am literally thrilled to have just picked up a copy on eBay. Just played it. Oh, the memories! Boots co-wrote it, btw. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lAJB6HsYiNA/maxresdefault.jpg "Boots Randolph - Yakety Sax (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAJB6HsYiNA) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/31 "2020-11-08T18:09:56Z")
I occasionally listen to this song working out. I like its fast pace but in that setting it is not remotely funny. In other settings it could be. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/32 "2020-11-08T20:44:19Z")
It seems to only be allegro moderato? Not as fast as “Flight of the Bumblebee” or even some types of dance music. Maybe it’s only Hill’s time-lapse cinematography that feels fast. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/33 "2020-11-09T04:46:06Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rek1qRs6tU8/hqdefault.jpg "this song DOES make everything funny.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rek1qRs6tU8) I’m not getting tired of this. Is something wrong with me? ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/34 "2020-11-09T12:27:17Z")
Winner winner chicken dinner! Keep them coming 😆 ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/35 "2020-11-09T17:16:25Z")
Hey G-Man…be careful what you wish for. I already had one on deck. 😁 This one happened in my state. Nutshell-The town folks, the police, everybody joined together to apprehend a couple of elusive desperados. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WUBcxq2vqGk/maxresdefault.jpg "Llamas on the Loose in Phoenix (Benny Hill music)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUBcxq2vqGk) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/36 "2020-11-09T17:33:36Z")
To answer the OP seriously, in my opinion(or my mind, whatever), yes the song is inherently funny. Look at the 2012 clip. Look what’s happening in the video. The city of Los Angeles is being reduced to rubble very realistically…not funny. I have relatives there. Add the music…funny! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/37 "2020-11-09T17:34:57Z")
What’s doubly funny about that llama vid is there’s a bunch of spots where the pace of the llamas’ movements seems to match the pace of the music. As if they’re running / dancing in time to the music. I don’t know if that’s because some clever editor adjusted the audio & video speeds slightly to achieve that match, or people (or maybe just me) are prone to seeing timing where it isn’t really. Go llamas! Go! ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/38 "2020-11-09T17:40:35Z")
You actually watched it. Cool. I noticed that too. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/39 "2020-11-09T17:43:22Z")
Anything with llamas is worth watching. Llamas on the loose in suburbia would be funny set to a funeral dirge. Also, given the history of yakity sax being associated with slapstick, and Keystone Kops being ultimate slapstick, almost anything showing the police in a disorganized ineffectual light plays perfectly into that song. I did think that yakity sax was in poor taste in the earthquake movie snip. It took a dramatic (if over wrought) moment and made it slapstick. IMO they wrecked the mood they were going for. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942/40 "2020-11-09T17:51:29Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Anything with llamas is worth watching. Llamas on the loose in suburbia would be funny set to a funeral dirge. True! > [@LSLGuy](#): > > I did think that yakity sax was in poor taste in the earthquake movie snip. It took a dramatic (if over wrought) moment and made it slapstick. IMO they wrecked the mood they were going for. I don’t quite get this part. Who is “they?” This music wasn’t in the movie was it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-yakety-sax-inherently-funny-or-are-we-just-conditioned-into-considering-it-funny-by-benny-hill/924942.md?page=3)