# "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:** 9\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/121 "2014-05-11T01:51:42Z")
John Valby aka Doctor Dirty plays piano and sings filthy ditties. He is also a classically trained pianist who does studio work on the side. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/122 "2014-05-11T06:46:47Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > John Valby aka Doctor Dirty plays piano and sings filthy ditties. He is also a classically trained pianist who does studio work on the side. If we’re including solo pianists, then Tom Lehrer. ---
**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 11, 2014, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/123 "2014-05-11T07:31:05Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > 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) I saw them once, opening for The Bobs.[sup]\*[/sup] _Title of the Song_ is a brilliant riff on typical boy-band songs. - Who could almost qualify for this thread; certainly talented enough, but not entirely jokey IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/124 "2014-05-11T11:08:23Z")
The Topp Twins. ([untouchable girls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULLnrJsA6CY), [C’mon Dolly Parton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzC9LnDVZ2s)). Radical left wing lesbian country and western, and they carried it off with talent and good humour. The joke was really weak, and got weaker as they tried harder, but the talent was real, and as they said “we’re not really comedians — we’re singers who are funny”. I loved their live gigs, where they were only trying to be friendly, not trying to impress a TV audience ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/125 "2014-05-11T11:25:37Z")
Jimmy Fallon and his crew are surprisingly brilliant musical parodists. Whether he’s channeling [Jim Morrison](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBRYsAfchkY), [Neil Young](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9adAljIaKYc), or singing [barbershop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hHhELPERm4), it’s not only going to be extremely entertaining, but rather musically good as well ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/126 "2014-05-11T11:54:39Z")
> [@Headrush042](#): > > Jimmy Fallon and his crew are surprisingly brilliant musical parodists. Whether he’s channeling [Jim Morrison](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBRYsAfchkY), [Neil Young](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9adAljIaKYc), or singing [barbershop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hHhELPERm4), it’s not only going to be extremely entertaining, but rather musically good as well The Roots are hardly a joke band. They’ve been putting out albums since the 90s and are Grammy award winning. Their original music is not my usual cup of tea but there is no doubt they are extremely talented. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/127 "2014-05-11T11:56:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > [Me First and the Gimme Gimmes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_First_and_the_Gimme_Gimmes) - Not surprising they’re musically talented. The members of the band are also members of other genuine bands. > > Some of their covers: > [Nothing Compares 2 You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpTM8DMGajM&feature=related) > [Over the Rainbow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBGGYrFePCk&feature=related) > [Rocket Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqprhVmv3BI) > [Uptown Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=6n18tZjzOJI&NR=1) > [Wild World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu0HTIuihy8&feature=related) I was coming in here to mention these guys. Love them. ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/128 "2014-05-11T11:57:14Z")
The Arrogant Worms. Their birthday song is a favourite, but I really love [Kill the Dog Next Door](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Im1bCKoQs8). ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310/129 "2014-05-11T12:02:45Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The Roots are hardly a joke band. They’ve been putting out albums since the 90s and are Grammy award winning. Their original music is not my usual cup of tea but there is no doubt they are extremely talented. I agree, but it’s not the Roots doing those parodies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joke-bands-that-are-actually-musically-talented/636310.md?page=6)