Funny Songs (Used to be:Who's funnier? Frank or Al)

[ThomasDodd]

[quote="kegmcnabb"]So what do you find funny and why? Goober humor from Ray Steven’s or Zappa’s social commentary? Weird Al? Jonathon and Darlene Edwards? Spike Jones?

Are funny songs funny because they are jokes set to music or because of odd subject matter for “rockâ€

[kegmcnabb]

Of course You left out many greats.

Yeah, and that's kinda the point. Tell me who you like and why.

What's happening is that I am putting together a band to play classic comedy music from "Little Nash Rambler (Beep, Beep)," to "Guitarzan," to "When Yuba Plays the Rhumba" (gotta be some tuba), to "Polka Dot Undies," and to "Dancin' Fool" and all points in between. Spike Jones, Homer and Jethro, Weird Al, They Might be Giants...anyone who makes you laugh with music. So I guess I'm asking for help with my song list. Maybe I'll change the topic name so folks aren't really concerned with rating Al and Frank.

What about Roger Miller?

Ya, you betcha (as we say here in NE Wisconsin).

Odd subject matter is great. As is a lyric that is out of place. A recent hit like that, was "I'm Gonna Miss Her" recorded by Brad Paisley. One of the funniest, non-parody, songs I've heard in a while.

I agree. The lyric twist at the chorus is clever and funny.

[Joe Baker]

A couple more funny acts: Alan Sherman (well, someone did mention "Hello Muddah", but they didn't attribute it) and a really very funny bluegrass banjo-player named Mike Snider ("If My Nose Was Runnin' Money, Honey, I'd Blow It All On You", et al). And don't forget Stan Freeberg!

Funny songs are like any other kind of humor; once you start dissecting them to figure out why they're funny -- they're not any more. You CAN place them on triangular scale to some extent, with "witty and urbane" at one point, "silly-arsed knee-slapper" at the second, and "shockingly vulgar" at the third. I personally prefer those at the "knee-slapper" end of the scale -- to draw an analogy, as Tom T. Hall (another funny guy) sang:

• Whiskey's too rough,
  Champagne costs too much,
  And vodka puts my mouth in gear.
  This little refrain
  Should help me explain,
  As a matter of fact I like BEER!

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Joe Baker, who has little use for Weird Al or Zappa, but likes pretty much everyone else who's been mentioned.

[ThomasDodd]

Joe Baker, who has little use for Weird Al or Zappa, but likes pretty much everyone else who's been mentioned.

I tend to prefer Al's version to the original. "Fat", "Eat It", and "Addicted to Spuds" are particular favorites.

Oh, I love Mike. But alway found his stories better than the songs
Kinda like Grandpa Jones and Minnie Pearl.

On to other artists and songs. Jimmy Dickens? "Out Behind the Barn", "May the Bird of Paridise Fly up Your Nose", "A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed", and of course "Take and Old Cold Tator and Wait"

[tubatooter1940]

Have you heard "The Trailer Park Troubadors"? How about Tim Wilson or Robert Earl Keen?