# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 7
**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 22, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/122 "2020-09-22T14:46:29Z")
Couple of years ago, Sten Nilsen borrowed the melody from “Wabash Cannonball” to sing about a famous Norwegian railroad builder. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OtXtnXXg4Zs/maxresdefault.jpg "Ole Tobias Olsen") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtXtnXXg4Zs) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/123 "2020-09-22T14:47:04Z")
David Frizzell-I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FE9BfdQg0zs/maxresdefault.jpg "I'm Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE9BfdQg0zs) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/124 "2020-09-22T20:58:20Z")
Pretty much anything by Italian parody power metal band, Nanowar of Steel. Some backstory: They started out as just “Nanowar”, parodying power metal bands like Manowar. Then, when fellow Italian band, Rhapsody, had to change their name to “Rhapsody of Fire” for legal reasons, Nanowar became “Nanowar of Steel”. But they’re hilarious, and brilliant musicians, definitely worth listening to on repeat. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/S9WWz95ripA/maxresdefault.jpg "NANOWAR OF STEEL - Valhalleluja (ft. Angus McFife from Gloryhammer) | Napalm Records") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9WWz95ripA) And yes, that’s “Trading Places” on the TV. Apparently, it’s considered a traditional Christmas movie in Italy. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3WQKhtBQKGQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Nanowar Of Steel - Ironmonger (The Copier of the Seven Keys) [Lyrics Video]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WQKhtBQKGQ) ---
**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 22, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/125 "2020-09-22T21:27:22Z")
Now, this isn’t a good song, it’s a **great** song - but is it also a novelty song? **Arguably NSFW** : Jane Birkin et Serge Gainsbourg - _Je T’aime,…Moi Non Plus_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k3Fa4lOQfbA/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLD00Ss_4OJ0JCG9IXmFz_oIxNcLVg "Jane Birkin et Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime,...Moi Non Plus") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Fa4lOQfbA) j ---
**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 22, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/126 "2020-09-22T22:29:03Z")
Blotto had a way of creating great novelty tunes. Here’s “I Want to be a Lifeguard” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CBRJ6jQfap0/hqdefault.jpg "I Wanna Be A Lifeguard by Blotto") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBRJ6jQfap0) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/127 "2020-09-23T01:46:55Z")
A couple more. This one actually charted (#9 in Billboard weekly and 70th for the year 1972) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/868DSi85odQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Hot Rod Lincoln") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=868DSi85odQ) And the Jerry Reed songs above reminded me of another: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0rdF7o08KXw/hqdefault.jpg "Jerry Reed - When You're Hot, You're Hot") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rdF7o08KXw) And this Jim Stafford song was on the charts and still gives me the shivers… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7tHSyD4VHzA/hqdefault.jpg "Swamp Witch - Jim Stafford") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tHSyD4VHzA) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/128 "2020-09-23T02:49:58Z")
I enjoyed this song back in the 70s. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jQnIL-XPerQ/hqdefault.jpg "Larry Groce - Junk Food Junkie (1976)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQnIL-XPerQ) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/129 "2020-09-23T06:48:05Z")
Weird Al, “[Dare to Be Stupid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dare_to_Be_Stupid_(song))”: > In an interview on VH1’s _[Behind the Music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behind_the_Music)_ , Devo’s [Mark Mothersbaugh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Mothersbaugh) stated in reaction to the song that: “I was in shock. _It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard._ He sort of re-sculpted that song into something else and… I hate him for it, basically.”[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dare_to_Be_Stupid_(song)#cite_note-2)[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dare_to_Be_Stupid_(song)#cite_note-3) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SMhwddNQSWQ/maxresdefault.jpg ""Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare To Be Stupid (Official HD Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMhwddNQSWQ) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/130 "2020-09-23T13:33:30Z")
Thank you for those, and in return - The Darkness [The Darkness - Rock and Roll Deserves to Die (Official Video) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL0dkGG_p7U) ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2020, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/131 "2020-09-24T03:18:53Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (Original) HQ 1953 I like this particular novelty Christmas song sung by a woman of color slightly more: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/b4g23QfV4OY/maxresdefault.jpg "Pearl Bailey - A Five Pound Box Of Money") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4g23QfV4OY) And as long we are celebrating the holiday season, how about this one: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c3c5SR7MP7o/hqdefault.jpg "Michael Franks - I Bought You A Plastic Star.wmv") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3c5SR7MP7o) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2020, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/132 "2020-09-24T15:14:48Z")
My dad used to sing this one to me when I was a kid. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/X9H_cI_WCnE/hqdefault.jpg "Sheb Wooley - Purple People Eater (1958)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9H_cI_WCnE) ---
**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 24, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/133 "2020-09-24T15:20:05Z")
Three Dog Night really didn’t want to record this but they needed one last track for their _Natrually_ album, then they went on tour. They got back home to find that they had their second #1 hit. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/16PUWjdxivc/hqdefault.jpg "Three Dog Night - Joy To The World - Live") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16PUWjdxivc) ---
**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:** [September 24, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/134 "2020-09-24T15:49:59Z")
You know, there was a song on a Nescafé commercial years ago that was amazing and that I’ve never been able to find. The lyrics went something like: _I’ve been living for today And now it’s time to go away I’m outta here. Hit the road and travel light See the world and do it right I’m outta here. All those years of living in These hallowed halls There must be life Outside these walls And I know that I am never I’m never going home again._ Great song. Wish I knew who did it. But as for novelty, maybe something by Esquivel. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iRwvd-Cp0qo/maxresdefault.jpg "Mini Skirt by Esquivel!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRwvd-Cp0qo) ---
**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:** [September 24, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/135 "2020-09-24T19:15:03Z")
Monty Python’s Every sperm is sacred [Every Sperm is Sacred - Monty Python's The Meaning of Life - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk) ---
**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 25, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/136 "2020-09-25T12:34:01Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WwYpWld66Vk/hqdefault.jpg "CURLY SHUFFLE - LIVE !! 1984") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwYpWld66Vk) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737/137 "2020-10-01T15:02:33Z")
I think technically **Walk Like an Egyptian** by the Bangles would count as a novelty song. It was a huge hit and I really enjoy it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Cv6tuzHUuuk/maxresdefault.jpg "The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6tuzHUuuk) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-may-be-a-novelty-song-but-it-s-also-a-good-song/919737.md?page=6)