# Music that sounds like a parody, but is the real thing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341 "2013-02-14T23:09:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/21 "2013-02-15T06:19:19Z")
[Dirty Back Roads.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBnGhoCX6Zw) ---
**Author:** ![midnight-dreary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@midnight-dreary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/midnight-dreary)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/22 "2013-02-15T06:43:48Z")
People seem to be divided over if Die Antwoord is a parody band. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vhmO6NuFMRo/maxresdefault.jpg "DIE ANTWOORD - BABY'S ON FIRE (no intro)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhmO6NuFMRo) ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/23 "2013-02-15T07:47:53Z")
“Blut muss fließen” was a Nazi marching song that has one of the most disturbing song lyrics I’ve ever read (I haven’t listend to it, although I’ve listened to the rather unpleasent original tune) and at the same time manages to incredibly over-the-top in its advocacy of violence (although sadly the song ended up being turned to reality): > [@](#): > > ``` > Wetzt die langen Messer auf dem Bürgersteig, > laßt die Messer flutschen in den Judenleib. > > Blut muss fließen knüppelhageldick > und wir scheißen auf die Freiheit dieser Judenrepublik. > > Zerrt die Konkubine aus dem Fürstenbett, > schmiert die Guillotine mit dem Judenfett. > > Blut muss fließen knüppelhageldick > und wir scheißen auf die Freiheit dieser Judenrepublik. > > In die Synagoge hängt ein schwarzes Schwein, > in die Parlamente schmeißt die Handgranaten rein. > > Blut muss fließen knüppelhageldick > und wir scheißen auf die Freiheit dieser Judenrepublik. > Sharpen the long knives on the pavement, > let the knives slip into the Jew's body. > > Blood must flow, a whole lot of it, > and we shit on the freedom of this Jew Republic. > > Tug the concubine out of the ruler's bed, > grease the guillotine with the Jews' fat. > > Blood must flow, a whole lot of it, > and we shit on the freedom of this Jew Republic. > > Hang a black pig in the synagogue, > throw grenades into the parliaments. > > Blood must flow, a whole lot of it, > and we shit on the freedom of this Jew Republic. > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/24 "2013-02-15T07:52:14Z")
Also the “Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley”, (yes _that_ Lt. William Calley, perpetrator of the My Lai massacre) even the intro sounds like some parody: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXNsXIxBkqs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXNsXIxBkqs). ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/25 "2013-02-15T12:33:35Z")
I think the most meta example has to be The Turtles" song “Eleanor.” The Turtles put out an album called “The Turtles Present The Battle of the Bands” which was a whole album of them doing songs in parodies of a variety of different styles. “Eleanor” was the group parodying\* themselves\*, but it became one of their biggest hits. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/26 "2013-02-15T13:03:41Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > “I’ve Never Been To Me”, recorded by Charlene. > > Maybe it just sounds that way from way over here in PostModernVille, though. The spoken bridge is pure Zoolander-style ironic sincerity, no matter which end of the timestream you listen to it from. How about _Lovin’ You_ (is easy 'cause you’re beautiful) by Minnie Riperton. Complete with tweeting birds in the background. > **[Loving You lyrics by Minnie Ripperton from Cold Feet soundtrack.](https://stlyrics.org/lyrics/coldfeet/lovingyou.htm)** > > Loving You lyrics: Loving you Is easy because you're beautiful.... Making love with you Is all I want to do.... Loving you Is more than just a dr ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/27 "2013-02-15T13:32:58Z")
“Thrift Shop” by Macklemore, the #1 song on the Billboard charts right now. It’s about how the rapper loves buying stuff from the thrift shop, including your granddad’s clothes. “This is fucking awesome.” ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/28 "2013-02-15T13:41:33Z")
> [@midnight-dreary](#): > > People seem to be divided over if Die Antwoord is a parody band. > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhmO6NuFMRo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhmO6NuFMRo) LoL, they are the best carwreck ever. That girls voice is like nails on a chalk board, but I can’t help but like it. The guy is pretty hard to look at though. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/29 "2013-02-15T14:02:15Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > How about _Lovin’ You_ (is easy 'cause you’re beautiful) by Minnie Riperton. Complete with tweeting birds in the background. > > [Lyrics to Loving You – Minnie Ripperton | Cold Feet](http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/coldfeet/lovingyou.htm) I’ve never really gotten that feeling from listening to “Loving You”. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/30 "2013-02-15T15:23:09Z")
This can happen in classical music too. Like the beginning of [Beethoven’s Fifth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IRMYuE1hI) or [“Vesti la giubba”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0PMq4XGtZ4) from _I Pagliacci_ (beginning at 0:58). ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/31 "2013-02-15T15:41:58Z")
I submit “24 Hours” by Billie Daye. [You decide.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVG5P88xQoM) ---
**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:** [February 15, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/32 "2013-02-15T15:53:01Z")
“Macarthur Park” is obviously a parody. Wait – it isn’t? ---
**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:** [February 15, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/33 "2013-02-15T16:03:30Z")
“[Rosecrans Boulevard](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9euxTl8unC8)” sounds like an over-the-top parody of “MacArthur Park,” complete with unrhymed poetic lyrics. It’s serious and was written by the same songwriter (and is even worse). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/34 "2013-02-15T16:12:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’ve never really gotten that feeling from listening to “Loving You”. Really? You never felt the lyrics and especially the background noise wasn’t over-the-top? How many bird tweets do you normally hear in the background of a song? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/35 "2013-02-15T16:21:55Z")
That “Somebody I Used to Know” song from last summer that got a ton of airplay. I couldn’t believe it was for real. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/36 "2013-02-15T16:32:36Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Really? You never felt the lyrics and especially the background noise wasn’t over-the-top? > How many bird tweets do you normally hear in the background of a song? Hey, man! It was the 70s! Really, though, I think Minnie’s delivery more or less washes out the elements that are a bit risible. I could listen to Minnie Riperton seven days a week and twice on Sundays. ---
**Author:** ![steviep24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@steviep24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steviep24)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/37 "2013-02-15T16:50:29Z")
David Lee Roth was a parody of himself I think. Songs and music videos like “Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody” and “Goin’ Crazy”. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/38 "2013-02-15T17:29:14Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > This can happen in classical music too. Like the beginning of [Beethoven’s Fifth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IRMYuE1hI) or [“Vesti la giubba”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0PMq4XGtZ4) from _I Pagliacci_ (beginning at 0:58). or _[Duetto buffo di due gatti](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sluzi-QGtyA)_ ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/39 "2013-02-15T17:33:25Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Lady Gaga. I’m still convinced she is winkingly parodying dance pop by doing REALLY good dance pop. I’ve always felt the same way, that her entire persona and act is a satire of pop stars - and it just happened to make her a huge star. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341/40 "2013-02-15T17:41:44Z")
[Jennifer Juniper](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1cESSh-SqU) by Donovan. Listen to it, and it sounds like a parody of twee 60s flower power. Except it’s real twee 60s flower power. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-that-sounds-like-a-parody-but-is-the-real-thing/650341.md?page=3)