# It may be a Novelty Song, but it’s also a \*good\* song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 3, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737 "2020-09-03T18:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/1 "2020-09-03T18:06:23Z")
The hallmark of most novelty songs (think “The Streak” or “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”) is that you only need to hear them a time or two before they get old. The novelty wears off quickly, you might say. But there are exceptions. Some novelty songs actually work as music you don’t mind hearing multiple times. I happened to hear “[Eugene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZlXJtLhMQ)” by Crazy Joe and the Variable Speed Band the other day. It’s a silly song about the titular “cool dude in a loose mood” ineptly trying to pick up women. The (mostly spoken) lyrics are definitely written for laughs, but it’s also, IMO, a legitimately good song. Written and produced by KISS’s Ace Frehley, it’s got a smooth, funky groove that just makes you want to tap your feet and then some. Then there’s the Christmas Jug Band’s “[Santa Lost A Ho](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zstIIfa1qMA),” a bawdy little ditty that’s built around a single, rather weak, pun. But the Jug Band is full of guys with undeniable musical bona fides, with ties to acts like Country Joe and the Fish, Commander Cody, and even Van Morrison. And they can _play_. So what other “novelty songs” can actually pass for good music? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/2 "2020-09-03T19:06:58Z")
I still listen to Allan Sherman (“Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”) and Tom Lehrer music all the time. I would say most of their work are good in that they are clever, funny, and enjoyable to listen to repeatedly. There are plenty of Weird Al Yankovic parodies that can be listened to repeatedly as well. Not sure if you put parody and novelty in the same category. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/3 "2020-09-03T19:08:22Z")
I’d say it’s a toss-up between these two: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gPpHxNtVBko/hqdefault.jpg "Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting - Live dans Les Années Bonheur") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPpHxNtVBko) and [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/16y1AkoZkmQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Boney M. - Rasputin (Sopot Festival 1979)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16y1AkoZkmQ) This one is pretty good too: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9c5yPIQ3LQI/maxresdefault.jpg "Boney M. - Ma Baker (Sopot Festival 1979)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c5yPIQ3LQI) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/4 "2020-09-03T19:14:12Z")
For the holidays: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MgIwLeASnkw/maxresdefault.jpg "Elmo & Patsy - Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIwLeASnkw) and [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t039p6xqutU/maxresdefault.jpg ""Weird Al" Yankovic - Christmas At Ground Zero") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t039p6xqutU) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/5 "2020-09-03T19:21:07Z")
Before Granada, there was Kookamunga: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/o0mGFjAySTw/hqdefault.jpg "Homer & Jethro - The Battle of Kookamonga") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0mGFjAySTw) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/6 "2020-09-03T19:25:25Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Weird Al Yankovic Speaking of whom… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TmG0DqhfDbY/maxresdefault.jpg "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmG0DqhfDbY) That’s him with the tambourine. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/7 "2020-09-03T19:29:17Z")
Another vote for Kung Fu Fighting. It was done with Expert Timing. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/8 "2020-09-03T19:38:55Z")
I would respectfully disagree with “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.” You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/9 "2020-09-03T19:42:34Z")
😃 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6jJIVK-daGk/maxresdefault.jpg "Diff'rent Strokes - theme song (longer version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jJIVK-daGk) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/10 "2020-09-03T19:50:31Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/koBiXquzmr8/maxresdefault.jpg "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koBiXquzmr8) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IHmRxpumtB4/hqdefault.jpg "Hondells "Little Honda"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHmRxpumtB4) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/11 "2020-09-03T19:58:07Z")
Karl Denver - Wimoweh. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/09SXTH699xE/hqdefault.jpg "Wimoweh - Karl Denver") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09SXTH699xE) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/12 "2020-09-03T20:03:35Z")
Look no further than…Whistling Jack Smith with **I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/39dJptQV_Jc/hqdefault.jpg "Whistling Jack Smith - I was Kaiser Bill's Batman (1967)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39dJptQV_Jc) Added bonuses: it captures the era to perfection; and, it’s a fraud - [that ain’t the person whistling on the record](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Was_Kaiser_Bill%27s_Batman). j ---
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/13 "2020-09-03T20:06:11Z")
Easily qualifying is the entire oeuvre of a band named “Ultra Vomit”. They do French comedy pastiches of many (heavy) metal and (hardcore) punk bands, some of whom you may know if you’re into those genres. They are, however, also quite musically talented and are a pleasure to listen to in their own right. I found them when I accidentally found their Live COVID concert back in March. Here is a pastiche of Rammstein. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NLPyySN9Czw/maxresdefault.jpg "Ultra Vomit - KAMMTHAAR - [Clip Officiel - Official Video - Offiziell Videoclip]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLPyySN9Czw) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/14 "2020-09-03T20:30:05Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [https://youtu.be/koBiXquzmr8](https://youtu.be/koBiXquzmr8) Things go better with Coke. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/15 "2020-09-03T20:30:18Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Another vote for Kung Fu Fighting. It was done with Expert Timing. Carl Douglas’s other song Witchfinder General is pretty catchy, too. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IBFWqNwkf98/hqdefault.jpg "Carl Douglas - 'Witchfinder General'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBFWqNwkf98) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/16 "2020-09-03T20:46:33Z")
These guys are good … [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zlWqNl4Yips/hqdefault.jpg "Hee Bee Gee Bees - Meaningless Songs In Very High Voices (Live in Swedish TV)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlWqNl4Yips) ---
**Author:** ![urbanredneck2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/5f8ce5/32.png) [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/17 "2020-09-03T21:21:53Z")
Tim Hawkins, the [Chik-fil-a song:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5EztTZYbyU) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/18 "2020-09-03T21:33:00Z")
If songs for commercials can be included in the category “novelty songs”, then I suppose TV theme songs can, too. John Sebastian’s [“Welcome Back, Kotter”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI) is a catchy, enjoyable song. So is Bob James’ jazz instrumental " [Angela](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DL8SGEyhZE)", instantly familiar to any middle-ager as the theme from _Taxi._ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/19 "2020-09-03T21:48:18Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_IrpdGE7qnQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Blob by the Five Blobs 1958") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IrpdGE7qnQ) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/20 "2020-09-03T21:50:56Z")
Most of the output of the Bonzo Dog Band. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PK88UMq-hvM/hqdefault.jpg "The Bonzo Dog Band - Humanoid Boogie (1968)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK88UMq-hvM) Here’s an instrumental that’s hilarious [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ABcNAwytrOY/hqdefault.jpg "Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band -Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABcNAwytrOY) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737.md?page=2)