# Novelty or joke songs that are actually pretty good **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 22, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850 "2009-07-22T12:32:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/21 "2009-07-22T16:02:26Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > There’s no musical rule that bars the deployment of an extra two bass guitars in a love song. At the risk of continuing to be whooshed, the preponderance of bass _is_ the musical joke of the song. It gives the song (acoustically speaking) a “big bottom.” ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/22 "2009-07-22T16:08:41Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Lou Reed, “My Name Is Mok”: “I’m the biggest thing since World War Three” > . I remember that from the animated film [“Rock & Rule”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_&_Rule) Personal Favs Patricia the Stripper - Chris de Burgh My Ding a Ling - Chuck Berry Shaddapa yo Face - Joe Doice Chocolate Salty Balls - Isaac Hayes If I had a Million Dollars - Bare Naked Ladies ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/23 "2009-07-22T16:22:10Z")
[Frog Kissing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGWWqQvimyA). This was a minor chart hit for Chet Atkins. While Ray may have recorded it, it was actually written by Buddy Kalb, who also wrote… [Mississippi Squirrel Revival](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgFjLB4VYSU). ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/24 "2009-07-22T16:33:34Z")
Lots of **Uncle Bonsai** songs would fit in this thread. They were a hyper-literate, satiric/folk trio with occasional Lehreresque lyrical touches. They pretty much covered the spectrum from very silly (_Cheerleaders on Drugs_) to very serious (_Silent Night_); somewhere in the middle were songs that could be funny and touching at the same time. There are some samples [here](http://www.unclebonsai.com/audio.htm). ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/25 "2009-07-22T16:34:24Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > I rather like _Rubber Biscuit_ by The Chips (and later the Blues Brothers). > > Also like _Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini_ by Bryan Hyland. > > And at Christmas, two of my favorites by far are **_Snoopy vs. The Red Baron_ by The Royal Guardsmen** and _I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas_ by Gayla Peevey. > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > \*\*The Snoopy songs by The Royal Guardsmen. > \*\* > **Knead** , you should check out Hayseed Dixie’s “Big Bottom” cover. I’m 49 and this is the first time I’ve run into anyone else who had heard of the Royal Guardsmen. 🆒 ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/26 "2009-07-22T16:56:13Z")
Just about everything by the **[Bonzo Dog Band](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonzo_Dog_Doo-Dah_Band).** Highlights include “The Intro and the Outro,” “The Equestrian Statue,” “Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold,” “Urban Spaceman,” “Beautiful Zelda,” “My Pink Half of the Drainpipe,” “Trouser Press,” “Look Out There’s a Monster Coming,” “Humanoid Boogie,” “Hunting Tigers Out in Indiah,” “Mr. Apollo,” “Tent” and many more. They were terrific musicians and songwriters. ---
**Author:** ![Starbreaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@Starbreaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbreaker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/27 "2009-07-22T16:58:43Z")
I listened to My Ding-A-Ling with my mom. Talk about embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/28 "2009-07-22T17:05:23Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > I was always fond of _The Battle of New Orleans_ by Jimmie Driftwood/Johnny Horton. Catchy and educational too! If you like that one you will _love_ [The War of 1812](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7jlFZhprU4). I like the Arrogant Worms, but think (musically speaking) that TDTiaB are better. DaVinci’s Notebook is another group that’s musically tight but lyrically hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/29 "2009-07-22T17:14:08Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > What are some novelty, joke or unusual songs that you don’t mind including in your playlist regardless of comedy or whatever? > > Consider: > > [Baby Got Back - Gilbert and Sullivan Style](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJdEFf_Qg4). “She’s little in the middle but she got much back” As a devoted Savoyard, I have long viewed this as a freakin’ _masterpiece_. It took me three or four tries to get through the whole thing, because I was laughing so hard. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/30 "2009-07-22T18:05:13Z")
I find most of [Jonathan Coulton’s](http://www.jonathancoulton.com/store/downloads/) work fits fairly well into this category. The songs are smart, charming, and catchy – even if he never really does anything incredibly risky musically (they’re pretty derivative of their respective styles, but well-done nonetheless). You can stream all his music from his website. A couple of my favorites: [I’m Your Moon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3cDdGKqp8E), a love song sung to Pluto by its moon Charon, as consolation for losing planetary status [I Feel Fantastic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zidiWe9yq88&feature=related), about a culture of rampant self-medication gone awry [Space Doggity](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsV-qozMz9A), this one’s actually pretty depressing – started out as a tribute to Space Oddity by David Bowie (for a songwriting competition – he won) and ended up being about the sad story of Laika, first dog in space (warning: if you’re a dog lover, you might just end up with dust in your eye, like me :p) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/31 "2009-07-22T18:15:58Z")
Well, if you think about it, back in the Fifties, there was a VERY fine line between novelty songs and rock songs. I forget which critic I’m stealing this observation from, but… Chuck Berry may very well have throught of himself as a blues singer, and of “Maybelline” as a novelty song. Was Gene Vincent’s “Be Bop a Lula” a serious rock song, or a novelty song? What about the Coasters’ “Charlie Brown”- early rock classic, or novelty song? Even things like Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” and Little Richard’s "Tutti Frutti"come close to being novelty songs, really. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/32 "2009-07-22T18:16:17Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I’m 49 and this is the first time I’ve run into anyone else who had heard of the > Royal Guardsmen. 🆒 About the same age, and I actually have one of their 1960s albums buried somewhere with the rest of my LPs. As I recall, it has their Snoopy songs, as well as some of their originals. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/33 "2009-07-22T18:30:52Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I’m 49 and this is the first time I’ve run into anyone else who had heard of the > Royal Guardsmen. 🆒 That song was awesome. Do you know it got banned in South Africa for use of the term “bloody?” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/34 "2009-07-22T18:34:18Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > I was always fond of _The Battle of New Orleans_ by Jimmie Driftwood/Johnny Horton. Catchy and educational too! If that counts as a novelty song, I’ll trump it with the Homer and Jethro version, _The Battle of Camp Cucamonga._ The Battle of New Orleans was the first 45 I ever bought, so it makes me nostalgic. He also did _Sink the Bismarck_. At 10 I was also quite fond of _Monster Mash_ and _Ahab the Arab_. Pre-Beatles a lot of novelty songs charted. However I’d be remiss not to add nearly anything by Tom Lehrer. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/35 "2009-07-22T18:41:12Z")
Pretty much everything by Richard Cheese (I like his version of “I Like Big Butts” better than the G&S version) Alanis Morrissette’s cover of “My Humps” (which I actually quite like, despite an active hatred of the original version) Dana Carvey’s “Chopping Broccoli” Jonathan Coulton’s “Re: Your Brains” Not sure they count as novelty songs, but several by C. W. McCall, including “Convoy,” “Round the World with the Rubber Duck,” and “Comin’ Back for More” (the latter certainly does–it’s about cannibal Alferd Packer) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/36 "2009-07-22T18:45:50Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Was Gene Vincent’s “Be Bop a Lula” a serious rock song, or a novelty song? Rockabilly. Oh, and ETA: > [@](#): > > What about the Coasters’ “Charlie Brown”- early rock classic, or novelty song? I just read Leiber & Stoller’s autobiography, and they describe writing it for the Coasters: They considered it more of a novelty, looking for something that would go well with the comedy style of the Coasters. But they considered them talented musicians who did funny songs, not comedians. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/37 "2009-07-22T19:12:46Z")
“Joy to the World”, the one with Jeremiah the bullfrog. Three Dog Night thought it too much of a novelty but needed one last track for _Naturally_ so they recorded it anyway, then went on an overseas tour. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/38 "2009-07-22T19:29:15Z")
**Unchained Melody** by the Goons ( Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan) I particularly like the middle part when each instrument seems to be playing in a different time signature. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqqNsyHajb0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqqNsyHajb0) ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/39 "2009-07-22T19:48:19Z")
> [@Headrush042](#): > > I find most of [Jonathan Coulton’s](http://www.jonathancoulton.com/store/downloads/) work fits fairly well into this category. The songs are smart, charming, and catchy – even if he never really does anything incredibly risky musically (they’re pretty derivative of their respective styles, but well-done nonetheless). You can stream all his music from his website. A couple of my favorites: > > [I’m Your Moon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3cDdGKqp8E), a love song sung to Pluto by its moon Charon, as consolation for losing planetary status > [I Feel Fantastic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zidiWe9yq88&feature=related), about a culture of rampant self-medication gone awry > [Space Doggity](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsV-qozMz9A), this one’s actually pretty depressing – started out as a tribute to Space Oddity by David Bowie (for a songwriting competition – he won) and ended up being about the sad story of Laika, first dog in space (warning: if you’re a dog lover, you might just end up with dust in your eye, like me :p) Agreed. Shopvac and Re: your brains are also some good ones, though Shopvac is also pretty depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850/40 "2009-07-22T19:50:52Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > Agreed. Shopvac and Re: your brains are also some good ones, though Shopvac is also pretty depressing. Coulton’s stuff tends to be simultaneously upbeat, goofy, and depressing. Shop Vac, Skullcrusher Mountain, Betty & Me, The Big Boom… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/novelty-or-joke-songs-that-are-actually-pretty-good/503850.md?page=3)