# "Joke Bands" that are actually musically talented. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310 "2012-09-30T13:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/101 "2014-05-08T04:42:14Z")
The Mike Flowers Pops have a lot of fun parodying Sixties lounge music, but they probably could have been a top lounge band on their own, if they didn’t have that tasty sense of humor. Here, [they take the piss out of Wonderwall.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy1ueZf1WMQ) Senor Coconut [has some fun with Kraftwerk’s "Showroom Dummies."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buh8YnTwppM)I think their version has a darker, eerier edge than the original, for all it’s parody elements. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/102 "2014-05-08T04:58:24Z")
I think it takes some pretty decent musical chops to play a _Crazy Train_/_YMCA_ mashup on bass and cello. [The Bottom Line Duo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yasVLmSKzPs) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/103 "2014-05-08T05:01:53Z")
[Rednex](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyvkiZV0Ous). Who, believe it or not, are Swedish. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/104 "2014-05-08T05:10:44Z")
Digital Underground. They were a rap group that Tupac was a part of before going solo. His best work was with the damn joke group. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/105 "2014-05-08T05:21:19Z")
If you’re going to include the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, how can you NOT link [Shaft](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlMT-oEIQuo)? I’m sure if they’re a “joke” band or not, but I like the Californa Guitar Trio. [Ghost Riders on the Storm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUnBreY1Sys) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/106 "2014-05-08T06:55:31Z")
Ylvis is a joke band, and yet their songs have a certain snappiness. What does the fox say about that? [I think we know.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE) ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/107 "2014-05-08T12:38:17Z")
> [@SirGalahad](#): > > I think _Cake_ is a joke band, but in a Steven Wright kind of way. I think the OP is using “Joke Band” to mean a group whose music is secondary to the comedy act. Tenacious D and Spinal Tap are excellent examples. Bands that try to be somewhat funny are not. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/108 "2014-05-08T14:47:04Z")
Not a band, but P.D.Q. Bach. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/109 "2014-05-08T15:29:27Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I think the OP is using “Joke Band” to mean a group whose music is secondary to the comedy act. Tenacious D and Spinal Tap are excellent examples. Bands that try to be somewhat funny are not. You don’t say! Mmm. I’ll have to carefully consider your interpretation. Nah. _Cake_ is funny, but subtle … very subtle. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/110 "2014-05-08T17:22:32Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I’m with you. Ween, Barenaked Ladies, Cake, and They Might Be Giants are most certainly not joke bands. I didn’t mean to give the impression that TMBG is a joke band, back in 2012. Just that you might get that impression if you’re not paying enough attention. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/111 "2014-05-08T17:51:58Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > I didn’t mean to give the impression that TMBG is a joke band, back in 2012. Just that you might get that impression if you’re not paying enough attention. Definitely agree with that. I didn’t know what to make of them when I first heard them in the late 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/112 "2014-05-08T17:52:18Z")
The Presidents of the United States of America? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/113 "2014-05-08T20:05:02Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > The Presidents of the United States of America? Their solo careers had mixed reviews. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/114 "2014-05-08T20:11:33Z")
[**Puddles the Clown**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmCJEehYtU). And that backing band does a lot of humorous genre fusion in other youtube videos. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/115 "2014-05-08T22:44:17Z")
Metalachi. Go to youtube and check out their version of Ozzy’s _Crazy Train_. They can to mariachi, and covers of rock songs with a mariachi twist. Great party band. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/116 "2014-05-09T01:15:34Z")
Former local a capella group [Da Vinci’s Notebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Vinci%27s_Notebook). [Here’s a live performance of Sgt. Pepper/With A Little Help from My Friends from 2003.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2uDrFVcTLM) ---
**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:** [May 9, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/117 "2014-05-09T03:12:00Z")
I really like the work of Andy Rehfeldt. He takes popular songs and rearranges the music into a _completely_ different style, the synchronizes his arrangement to a video of the original artist, isolating the original vocals and mixing them with his new arrangement. The best part of his arrangements is that he writes each part so that, when synched with the video, it looks like that’s exactly what the original artist is playing. And he plays all of the instruments himself. My favorite: [Metallica, “Enter Sandman”, Smooth Jazz Version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBmM79YadYM). Some other good ones: [Iron Maiden-The Trooper(Bossa Nova Version)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJkYGNiBkso) [Adele-Rolling In The Deep(Jazz Metal Version)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfZ5Ik4z0X0) [Carly Rae Jepsen-Call Me Maybe(Metal Version)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWJ9YaTmoyg) And honestly … I think the results are an improvement on the originals in many cases. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/118 "2014-05-09T04:49:30Z")
[Moosebutter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGYAPr6UKhs) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/119 "2014-05-09T05:05:41Z")
If you read the liner notes of _The Essential “Weird Al” Yankovic_, you’ll find an essay written by [editor’s note - get name of author before hitting “submit.”], who makes the case - and a convincing one, at that - that Yankovic deserves a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Among the reasons why is that he and his band are the “greatest cover band of all time.” ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/120 "2014-05-11T00:56:41Z")
I think that [The Red Hot Chili Pipers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbY8eNkaW4k) deserve a nod. While the name and demeanor show that they take themselves not to seriously, they’re quite good. Of course, the main question is “What is a joke band?” I’m almost ashamed to admit I own (or owned) cassettes by Big Daddy, Rednex, The Blues Brothers, and most by Ray Stevens [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310.md?page=7)