# Short But Sweet - The best songs clocking in at less than 1 minute **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943 "2009-05-01T05:51:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/1 "2009-05-01T05:51:09Z")
Naturally punk rock has a distinct advantage, but it is not my #1 song. Here are my top 5 songs, none of which run longer than 59 seconds: 1. **Stiff Little Fingers** - [Here We Are Nowhere](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQmvioi1glg) A lot of worthy candidates vying for my #5 slot, the hardest omission was the Robbin the Hood version of Pool Shark by **Sublime**. This one edged it out by being slightly more fun to hear at a dive bar with dudes singing along with bad teeth and lots of tattoos. 2. **NoFX** - [Hobophobic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qcB6rpp1Fw) A solid classic all the way around. Do you realize we are on year 26 of the NoFX experience? They were old when I was young! 3. **F.Y.P.** - Hey Gorby (no link sorry) The Jekyll and Hyde of punk rock - sometimes amazing, sometimes unlistenable - and you know within seconds of the song starting which one you are getting. They do some of their best work in small doses and this is one of their masterpieces. 4. **Screeching Weasel** - The American Dream (ditto) Actually had a number of tracks I was considering for this list. Like F.Y.P., they do most of their best work when they don’t elaborate. This one wins because it feels the most like a full length song of any on this list. 5. **The Beatles** - [Her Majesty](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cDppDM_BbY&NR=1) The Hemingway-6-Word-Story of music. Never has anyone in pop music done so much with so little. What are your favorite short-song masterpieces? ---
**Author:** ![mshar253](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@mshar253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mshar253)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/2 "2009-05-01T06:04:42Z")
Wikipedia has it at 1:22, but on my version it comes in at only 33 seconds: Bow Tie Daddy, by Frank Zappa. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/3 "2009-05-01T06:50:03Z")
Black Flag has some winners, including “Fix Me,” “Wasted” and “Revenge.” All happy songs. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2009, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/4 "2009-05-01T07:52:38Z")
Damn, I just discovered that I have 390 iTune tracks shorter than a minute. “Sodomy” from \*Hair. \*is 0:52. Zappa’s “Hot Poop” is 0:29. The shortest classical piece is Satie’s “Le Piège de Méduse #7” at 0:21. And the shortest track is “Kangaroo-SFX” from _The Carl Stalling Project,_ at 0:03. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/5 "2009-05-01T10:44:55Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And the shortest track is “Kangaroo-SFX” from _The Carl Stalling Project,_ at 0:03. Nice one. My nomination is “Speedfreaks” by Naked City/John Zorn. 0:51 and almoast as many genres covered. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/6 "2009-05-01T12:41:53Z")
Several tracks on **Tommy** : “Miracle Cure,” “There’s a Doctor,” “Do You Think It’s All Right?” “Tommy’s Holiday Camp,” and “It’s a Boy.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/7 "2009-05-01T12:46:36Z")
– I don’t remember if this technically breaks the one minute mark but I’ve always been a fan of “Let’s Go Pop” by the Figgs. Sounds like a 2 1/2 minute power pop song but is short and sweet. (And less than 1:10) – Old Mother Reagan by the Violent Femmes. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/8 "2009-05-01T12:47:00Z")
The Art of Noise - Snapshot (ETA: I do believe this clocks in at just under a minute, but it might be just over.) Daft Punk - Funk Ad They Might Be Giants - Minimum Wage ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/9 "2009-05-01T12:51:19Z")
Frank Zappa: This Town Is a Sealed Tuna Sandwich (and lots of other tracks from _200 Motels_) Traffic: We’re a Fade, you Missed This National Health : Phlakaton Mothers of Invention: Sleeping In a Jar Mothers of Invention: Igor’s Boogie (either phase) Mahavishnu Orchestra: Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love King Crimson: Peace: A Beginning Jethro Tull: Grace Gong: Percolations Bonzo Dog Band: Kama Sutra Adrian Belew: Sexy Rhino ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/10 "2009-05-01T13:06:06Z")
“Short Blues”, by Neil Innis, on one of Monty Python’s live albums. Full lyrics: “I woke up this morning …” Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/11 "2009-05-01T15:04:45Z")
Napalm Death’s “You Suffer”. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/12 "2009-05-01T15:07:11Z")
Damn you guys have some eclectic taste in music. And I honestly mean that in the most complimentary way. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/13 "2009-05-01T15:11:37Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Traffic: We’re a Fade, you Missed This Technically, not a separate song, but the tail end of “Paper Sun”; most Traffic compilations these days join it back to the original. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/14 "2009-05-01T15:12:33Z")
As TV shows are getting shorter, so are their theme songs- but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still catchy. Just one listen to the short-but-sweet themes of, say, _Two and a Half Men_ or _SpongeBob SquarePants_ and they’ll be stuck in your head all day. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/15 "2009-05-01T15:15:20Z")
Yeah, I was going to mention tv theme songs - _ **Peter Gunn, Spiderman, Underdog** _… ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/16 "2009-05-01T15:25:11Z")
Not sure about the others, but the Spider-Man theme (if you’re referring to the '60s cartoon “does whatever a spider can” one) is longer than a minute. Just barely, but still over a minute. I think the king of less-than-a-minute theme songs is the Newshour with Jim Lehrer. Only nine notes long, but unique and instantly recognizable. (Either that or John Williams’ theme for the NBC Nightly News, which is eight notes long.) And thinking of John Williams reminded me of his logo themes for Dreamworks and Universal, as well as the king of them all, Alfred Newman’s Fox fanfare. Short, but instantly recognizable as belonging to their specific studios. Does “by Mennen” count? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/17 "2009-05-01T15:46:51Z")
Weird Al’s “Harvey the Wonder Hamster” is easily under a minute, and his [theme song for The Weird Al Show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cngq1jgAs2E) almost but not quite makes the cut. A couple of tracks on Trip Shakespeare’s masterpiece Lulu are well under 60 seconds in length. But the winner is They Might Be Giants’ “Fingertips”: a collection of about 20 songs, each only a few seconds long. ([Here’s a live version.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q77LYpw6I0&feature=related)) ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/18 "2009-05-01T16:27:54Z")
This might be a bit esoteric even for die-hard bluegrass fans, but on Allen Shelton’s _Shelton Special_, there is a 0:35 second banjo tune called “Sourwood Mountain.” A deceptively simple song even for a poor banjo player like me to get through, but Shelton turns it into an explosive little masterpiece of economic and hard-driving picking. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/19 "2009-05-01T16:31:07Z")
The Ataris- _The Radio Still Sucks_. 33 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943/20 "2009-05-01T17:09:11Z")
The Carpenters [_Intermission._](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q41xZF3EOIQ) Twenty-six seconds of beauty. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-but-sweet-the-best-songs-clocking-in-at-less-than-1-minute/494943.md?page=2)