# Your Favorite Novelty Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305 "2012-03-30T18:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/1 "2012-03-30T18:06:26Z")
Those quirky little tunes that catch your ear and make you smile, like Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band’s [_The Intro And The Outro_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DUEAG5eO6c), and Tom “T-Bone” Stankis’ [_Existential Blues_.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwXJh-apewY) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/2 "2012-03-30T18:10:58Z")
I love the Intro and the Outro. When I was a bit younger I liked [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4) a lot 😉 ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/3 "2012-03-30T18:14:39Z")
[Transfusion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbhvZ2y1V80), by Nervous Norvus “Put a gallon in me, Allen!” ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/4 "2012-03-30T18:17:51Z")
Anything by the Bonzo Dog Band, Spike Jones, Martin Mull, Flanders and Swan, and Tom Lehrer. If I had to pick one today, I’d go with[Madiera M’Dear](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW_zi8n4HDQ) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/5 "2012-03-30T20:03:59Z")
There are so many. Also it’s hard sometimes to say whether something is a novelty song or just a whacked-out funny song. Like, is Lou Reed’s [“Make Up”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyTaFXw19mw) or the Who’s [“Tattoo”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa2LOMajSwM) or Captain Beefheart’s [“Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gME17FsrG4A) or Kevin Ayers’ [“Guru Banana”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7a8mYe-k4Q) a novelty song? Here’s an obscure one: [“Molly Bake Bean”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYF5yt-cw9I) by Help Yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/6 "2012-03-30T20:15:38Z")
“[Ontario Sucks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMkV7VyPns)” by The Arrogant Worms. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/7 "2012-03-30T20:17:48Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Anything by the Bonzo Dog Band, Spike Jones, Martin Mull, Flanders and Swan, and Tom Lehrer. > > If I had to pick one today, I’d go with[Madiera M’Dear](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW_zi8n4HDQ) Ah yes, Tom Lehrer. “Vatican Rag” seems to be pretty popular…but I bet you haven’t seen it done by [Marty Feldman!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ0bqZw6B0A) edited to add: Marty doing [“National Brotherhood Week”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=9DAX_WqTUP0) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/8 "2012-03-30T20:19:26Z")
_Eugene_-Crazy Joe and The Variable Speed Band I remember this song from when I was around twelve. Apparently it was actually Ace Frehley of KISS. I never knew there was a video until now. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FeZlXJtLhMQ/hqdefault.jpg "Crazy Joe and the Variable Speed Band - Eugene (Ace Frehley) THE original and RARE video!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZlXJtLhMQ) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/9 "2012-03-30T20:25:07Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Anything by the Bonzo Dog Band, Spike Jones, Martin Mull, Flanders and Swan, and Tom Lehrer. I’d have a hard time calling Tom Lehrer’s songs “novelty”. They’re humor, certainly, satire and social criticism as well, but were is the line between humor and novelty? I’ll nominate Wet Dream by Kip Adotta. What were those clip songs based on a guy interviewing people at a political convention and all their answers were in the form of song samples? ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/10 "2012-03-30T20:26:48Z")
[altogether now - There’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZS2-4-iUJ4&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/11 "2012-03-30T20:34:33Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I’d have a hard time calling Tom Lehrer’s songs “novelty”. They’re humor, certainly, satire and social criticism as well, but were is the line between humor and novelty? > > I’ll nominate Wet Dream by Kip Adotta. What were those clip songs based on a guy interviewing people at a political convention and all their answers were in the form of song samples? [Mr. President, by Dickie Goodman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGGbnfQXJQ4)? ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/12 "2012-03-30T20:46:24Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I’d have a hard time calling Tom Lehrer’s songs “novelty”. They’re humor, certainly, satire and social criticism as well, but were is the line between humor and novelty? I’ve always thought that Uncle Bonsai were the spiritual successors to Tom Lehrer. They run a pretty wide gamut from serious (somber, even) to extremely silly. (Andrew Ratchin, the front man, also recorded solo as Electric Bonsai Band, and with a sextet called Mel Cooleys.) For those not familiar, try this for a start: [Penis Envy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psxBdHY8n68) I’ve also been rediscovering the works of Big Daddy. They did modern songs (well, modern at the time) in the style of various 50’s artists. Some were better than others. _Dancing in the Dark_ is excellent. They even did a complete cover of _Sgt. Pepper’s_; their version of [A Day in the Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsPJq0Xomxw), as it might have been sung by Buddy Holly, is uncanny. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/13 "2012-03-30T20:46:53Z")
Some of my favourites: “The Irish Rover” (various) “Ringo” (Lorne Greene) “Kung Fu Fighting” (Carl Douglas) “Boy Named Sue” (Johnny Cash) various songs by Spike Jones, Weird Al, Roger Miller, Ray Stevens, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/14 "2012-03-30T20:53:21Z")
If Tribute by Tenacious D is a novelty song, then it is my favorite novelty song. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/15 "2012-03-30T21:09:11Z")
[How Come My Dog Don’t Bark (When You Come Around)?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0U_UxoFPOQ) [Let’s Do Something Cheap and Superficial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNKwX8DpDiw) [The Rodeo Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utRtwIY0YaM&skipcontrinter=1) And my all-time favorite: [Everyday Normal Guy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PsnxDQvQpw), muthafucka! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/16 "2012-03-30T21:18:20Z")
[Title of the Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=734wnHnnNR4) by DaVinci’s Notebook. Great satire of boy band pop music. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/17 "2012-03-30T21:43:55Z")
“Dueling Rappers,” Alan Gary and Scott Free “Uncle Jack Sez Relax,” Charles Webb and Tom Bolton “Existential Blues,” T-Bone Burnett “Mrs. Fletcher’s Fallen and She Can’t Get Up,” Slant Six and the Jumpstarts I used to love listening to Dr. Demento every week when I was in college. I’m still bummed that his website seems to be thoroughly mired in the internet dinosaur days (seriously–who charges $3.00 a show to _stream_ these days? I’d happily pay that to _buy_ an MP3 of a full show, but to stream it once? No way.) I would love very much to find downloadable MP3s of the first two songs on my list, if anyone knows of any legal way to get hold of them. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/18 "2012-03-30T21:50:25Z")
Boots Walker: [They’re Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CREZPNzFs2g) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/19 "2012-03-30T21:56:08Z")
“Shaddap Yer Face”. “Pac Man Fever”. “White And Nerdy”. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305/20 "2012-03-30T21:59:41Z")
Does [Big Balls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W-fIn2QZgg) count as a novelty song? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-novelty-songs/617305.md?page=2)