# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/41 "2020-09-04T05:26:41Z")
I’ll probably think of more, but the first two that spring to mind are… **Uncle Bonsai** They were a trio from Seattle in the 1980s; disbanded for a while, and then started doing a few reunion gigs per year. They released more material since reforming than they did in their heyday. I don’t know that I’d quite call them novelty. I’ve heard them compared to Flight of the Conchords; folksy, but with a wry cynicism instead of folk’s usual earnestness. And every now and then they can do something wonderfully sincere and touching. Not every song of theirs is online, but here’s a good start: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qdXxeQtX9Uc/maxresdefault.jpg "Lois Lane") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdXxeQtX9Uc) **Here Come the Mummies** Rumor is that they’re a bunch of session musicians under contract to different labels, and can only perform together incognito, so they wear mummy costumes. And they have a lot of sexual entendres in their lyrics. But you forget the gimmicks after about 30 seconds and then they’re just an awesome funk band. Their lineup has changed a bit since this video, so I don’t know if they’re still the powerhouse that they were. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ETHvSTT6PA8/hqdefault.jpg "Here Come The Mummies "Ra Ra Ra"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETHvSTT6PA8) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/42 "2020-09-04T05:44:54Z")
**Kitten on the Keys**! [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Zez\_Confrey\_-\_Kitten\_on\_the\_Keys.ogg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Zez_Confrey_-_Kitten_on_the_Keys.ogg) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TBxRRUj1bcA/hqdefault.jpg "Zez Confrey piano solo: Kitten On The Keys (1921)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBxRRUj1bcA) ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/43 "2020-09-04T10:51:20Z")
Brian May of Queen used to watch a Japanese SciFi show for kids with his son. Then he had the idea of recording a version of the theme tune with Eddie Van Halen. StarFleet [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7GFU5ncKhU) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/44 "2020-09-04T14:30:21Z")
Judy in Disguise by John Fred and His Playboy Band: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wvQkzQart08/hqdefault.jpg "John Fred and His Playboy Band Judy in Disguise (HQ Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvQkzQart08) Rag Mop, recorded by many. Here’s my favorite version, by Lionel Hampton: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/96VOnOtf8SM/hqdefault.jpg "Lionel Hampton Rag Mop 1950") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96VOnOtf8SM) Any Ice To-day, Lady? by Waring’s Pennsylvanians: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BXzll7jqaeI/hqdefault.jpg "Waring's Pennsylvanians - Any Ice Today, Lady - 1926") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXzll7jqaeI) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/45 "2020-09-04T15:23:26Z")
Robert Mitchum once recorded an album of calypso songs. If you’re interested, the album was titled _Calypso—Is Like So . . ._ My favorite song was “[From a Logical Point of View](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N2OYpEAnCQ)”, which was a cover of “[Ugly Woman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZnNwZyaGf8)”, by Roaring Lion. You might be familiar with Jimmy Soul’s version, titled “[If You Wanna be Happy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxUY-99TPRY).” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/46 "2020-09-04T15:34:02Z")
I’ll always have a soft spot for Snoopy vs. The Red Baron. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wtJ1Gnh9wPU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC6AKKAgwIABABGH8gEygZMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCv9q71E9tgxOwbAC4aMfXx4vrNhQ "Snoopy V.S. The Red Baron -- The Royal Guardsman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtJ1Gnh9wPU) But, I’m not sure it’s a “good” song. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/47 "2020-09-04T15:46:51Z")
I thought Dynamite Hack’s cover of “Boys N The Hood” was pretty spectacular. Some great harmonies and finger-picking happening there. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/48 "2020-09-04T16:08:36Z")
I found an _entire CD_ of The Royal Guardsman’s music in a junk yard once. Perfect condition. Still have it. ---
**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 4, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/49 "2020-09-04T16:15:06Z")
One I’ve posted before, Viv Fisher’s Blaze away (in which he mimics all of the instruments himself), is clearly a novelty: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vWFdsK0rQ00/maxresdefault.jpg "Vivian Fisher - Blaze Away") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWFdsK0rQ00) However, I remain undecided about Rednex and Cotton Eye Joe [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mOYZaiDZ7BM/maxresdefault.jpg "Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe (Official Music Video) [HD] - RednexMusic com") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOYZaiDZ7BM) A hundred and seventeen million views can’t be wrong. j ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/50 "2020-09-04T16:19:52Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > But, I’m not sure it’s a “good” song. You’re right, it’s not good. It’s fucking great. Reminded me of another that is just too good to be considered a novelty in my mind, but this is a good excuse to post it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WS3Lkc6Gzlk/maxresdefault.jpg "Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog from The Muppet Movie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS3Lkc6Gzlk) > [@Skunkdog](#): > > I thought Dynamite Hack’s cover of “Boys N The Hood” was pretty spectacular. Some great harmonies and finger-picking happening there. For the lazy… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aeL9gagV_VA/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgXihQMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDDLcuFy0W1ppi4OfpXyRu0duoiuA "Dynamite Hack-"Boyz In The Hood"\_ SEMI-OFFICIAL VIDEO") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeL9gagV_VA) And this one was recommended by YouTube for Dynamite Hack and it’s comedy, so maybe not novelty, and maybe not “good” musically, but I’ll be damned if it ain’t an earworm. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UrgpZ0fUixs/maxresdefault.jpg "Denis Leary - Asshole (Official Uncensored Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgpZ0fUixs) ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/51 "2020-09-04T16:21:09Z")
I love the riff and instrumentation of Warren Zevon’s _Werewolves of London_. And also _Godzilla_ by Blue Öyster Cult. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/52 "2020-09-04T16:24:18Z")
This thread could ruin my entire work day…an all timer, It’s a Tribute. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_lK4cX5xGiQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Tenacious D - Tribute (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lK4cX5xGiQ) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/53 "2020-09-04T16:49:19Z")
You could throw pretty much the entire Frank Zappa discography in here. The closest thing he ever had to a “hit” was Valley Girl, and I find that one of his weaker, musically. Everyone knows “Don’t eat the yellow snow”, but many don’t know [Montana](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smZA9Jv3qH0) Here’s a list of some of my favorites… [Muffin Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWQb_T9_nwA) [Willy the Pimp](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHiclrHm-ig) [The Illinois Enima Bandit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCTzgATx09o) [RDNZL](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlwLNcBD68k) [Watermelon in Easter Hay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cu8sDa90Y) - this is my absolute favorite guitar solo of all times. ---
**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 4, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/54 "2020-09-04T17:06:15Z")
AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” isn’t _per se_ a novelty song. But when it’s played by a mohawked Australian piper, with flamethrowers on the drones of his bagpipes, it is. And it fucking rocks. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oO1bGlyHDNU/maxresdefault.jpg "The BadPiper - ThunderStruck") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO1bGlyHDNU) ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/55 "2020-09-04T17:15:10Z")
I have that same CD! Or at least, a similar one. Mine is a greatest hits album. Or maybe “compilation album” would be a better term–they didn’t really have enough hits to fill a whole album. 😀 In addition to the Snoopy songs (I think “Snoopy’s Christmas” may be a bit more familiar than “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron,” just because it gets played during the holidays a fair amount), The Royal Guardsmen did a lot of covers, and a lot of songs about airplanes. They seemed to be _obsessed_ with World War I aviation. ---
**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 4, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/56 "2020-09-04T17:23:06Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I found an _entire CD_ of The Royal Guardsman’s music in a junk yard once. Perfect condition. Still have it. I found an LP in a used record store back in the Eighties. Nobody seems to know this particular album exists; I can’t find it anywhere among their online discographies. The ‘A’ side is 13 tracks of Guardsmen but the ‘B’ side is six Vince Guaraldi pieces from the specials plus “The Smallest Astronaut” by Barry Winslow. I wore out that LP so now I have two double-album CDs. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2020, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/57 "2020-09-04T17:36:48Z")
As soon as I said I still have it, it seems to have vanished. Can’t find it now. > [@MrAtoz](#): > > The Royal Guardsmen did a lot of covers, and a lot of songs about airplanes. They seemed to be _obsessed_ with World War I aviation. I found a CD of Naval music and marches from the WW1 Kriegsmarine in a thrift store. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/58 "2020-09-04T17:57:52Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > (I think “Snoopy’s Christmas” may be a bit more familiar than “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron,” just because it gets played during the holidays a fair amount), It depends on where you are. _Snoopy’s Christmas_ was a hit, and is still a perennial Christmas song in Australia and New Zealand, but almost completely unknown in the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/59 "2020-09-04T18:08:20Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > It depends on where you are. _Snoopy’s Christmas_ was a hit, and is still a perennial Christmas song in Australia and New Zealand, but almost completely unknown in the rest of the world. I’ve never been to Australia or New Zealand, and I’ve heard it lots of times. ---
**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 4, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/60 "2020-09-04T18:23:35Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/terpnecyjA8/hqdefault.jpg "guess who live Clap for the wolfman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=terpnecyjA8) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gUjcjUF-urU/hqdefault.jpg "Dr Hook - "Cover Of The Rolling Stone" (Live from BBC show 1980)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUjcjUF-urU) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737.md?page=4)