Novelty song
A novelty song is a usually intentionally humorous song, usually in published or recorded form. These songs may take the form of a parody, or a comedic take on current events or fads and may defy the usual categorization of music, or may not even be music. Many use unusual lyrics, subjects, or instrumentation.
Novelty songs are frequently unexpected hits, and may bring their authors or singers unexpected, though often temporary, fame. The remix of Axel F by Crazy Frog started as a mobile phone ring-tone, but reached number one in at least ten countries, including the UK, Australia and France.
Some novelty songs are the work of 'one hit wonders', but some mainstream artists do occasional novelties, and a few artists have made successful careers out of novelty songs. Sometimes a novelty song may be made by a singer famous in another sphere, such as comedians, actors, or even sports stars. The genre of novelty songs is often called dementia, after DJ Dr. Demento.[citation needed] Dickie Goodman is recognized by Billboard Magazine as the #1 Novelty Artist of All Time.[citation needed]
Novelty records in the UK
In the UK novelty songs are often released before Christmas, and have on several occasions become Christmas Number One. The tradition of novelty records at Christmas in the UK dates back to at least 1968 when The Scaffold reached number one with Lily the Pink. More recent Number Ones include the eponymously titled Mr Blobby in 1993, and Can We Fix It? by the children's cartoon character Bob the Builder in 2000.
Novelty tracks are sometimes used to raise money for charity. The Stonk by comedy duo Hale and Pace reached number one, and raised over £100,000 for Comic Relief
Examples of novelty songs
- A-E
- "Ahab The Arab" by Ray Stevens
- "Almost Persuaded #2" by Ben Colder aka Sheb Wooley
- "Along Came Jones" by Ray Stevens
- "Alvin For President" by The Chipmunks
- "Another One Rides the Bus" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Axel F" by Crazy Frog
- "The Ballad Of Moon Dog Mayne" Ricky Ringside aka Gene Summers written by Deanna Summers
- "Batman" by Scotty McKay
- "Batman And His Grandmother" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton
- "The Battle At New Orleans" by Jim Weaver & The Levee Singers (Super Bowl 6)
- "Beautiful Girls Reply" by JoJo
- "Because I Got High" by Afroman
- "The Beerhunter" by Bob and Doug McKenzie
- "Ben Crazy" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "Big Bruce" by Steve Greenberg (Trip Records #3000) (gay parody of Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John")
- "The Bong Song" by Crisqo
- "Boppin' In A Sack" by The Lane Brothers (RCA-47-7220)
- "Boyz-n-the-Hood" by Dynamite Hack
- "Briget The Midget" by Ray Stevens
- "Can Your Monkey Do The Dog" by Rufus Thomas
- "Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)" by Daddy Dewdrop
- "Chicken Noodle Soup" DJ Webstar
- "The Chicken Song" by Spitting Image
- "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks
- "Convention '72" by The Delegates
- "Convoy" by C.W. McCall
- "Country Swings, Disco Sucks" by Chuck Wagon and the Wheels
- "The Curly Shuffle" by Jump 'N The Saddle
- "Da Da Da ich lieb dich nicht du liebst mich nicht aha aha aha" by Trio
- "Dead Puppies" by Ogden Edsl
- "Der Fuehrer's Face" by Spike Jones
- "Detachable Penis" by King Missile
- "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees
- "Do The Bartman" by Bart Simpson
- "Do The Dog" by Rufus Thomas
- "Do You Think I'm Disco?" by Steve Dahl
- "Earache My Eye" by Cheech and Chong
- "Eat It" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Energy Crisis '74" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)" by Benny Hill
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- F-M
- "The Fast Food Song" by the Fast Food Rockers
- "Fish Heads" by Barnes & Barnes
- "Flying Saucer" by Buchanan & Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)" by Eamon
- "F.U.R.B (Fuck You Right Back)" by Frankee
- "Gerry Ford-Special Report" by Dickie Goodman (novelty break-in" song)
- "Green Eyed Monster" by Gene Summers
- "Guitarzan" by Ray Stevens
- "Haunted House" by Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs; Jumpin' Gene Simmons
- "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" (The Camp Granada Song) by Allan Sherman
- "Hot Rod Baby" by Gene Summers, Dick Reinhart
- "Hot Rod Man" by Tex Robinowitz
- "Hot Rod Race" by Arkie Shibley, Red Foley, Jimmy Dolan, Tiny Hill
- "Hot Rod Race Number 2" by Arkie Shibley & The Mountain Dew Boys
- "Hot Rod Lincoln" by Charlie Ryan; Jimmy Dolan; Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
- "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" by Patti Page
- "I Be an Retarded" by Hemorrhoy Rogers and the Rhoid Boyz
- "I Hate You" by Kirk Thatcher and Edge of Etiquette (from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
- "In Heaven there is No Beer (That's Why We Drink It Here)" by Clean Living on Vanguard Records
- "Jumbo Breakfast Roll" by Pat Shortt
- "Junk Food Junkie" by Larry Groce
- "The Ketchup Song" by Las Ketchup
- "King Tut" by Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons
- "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas
- "Long Tall Texan" by Murray Kellum
- "Luna Trip" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "Martian Hop" by The Ran-Dells
- "Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voodoo
- "Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett
- "Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne
- "Mr. Jaws" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "Mr. President" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "My Name Is Larry" by Wild Man Fischer
- "My Yearbook" by Gene Summers written by Deanna Summers
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- O-Z
- "Oh Yeah" by Yello
- "On Campus" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "Pink Shoelaces" by Dodie Stevens
- "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley
- "Push th' Little Daisies" by Ween
- "Rat Fink" by Gene Summers with the Sid King Combo written by Deanna Summers
- "The Real Dick Cheney" by Tom Perri
- "The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem
- "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry
- "Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)" Scatman John
- "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce
- "Short People" by Randy Newman
- "The Smoke Off" by Shel Silverstein
- "Space Soap (La Soupe aux choux)" by Mister Cosmic vs Fat Dog
- "Spam" by Monty Python's Flying Circus
- "Star Trekkin'" by The Firm
- "STD" by Necro
- "Straight Skirt" by Gene Summers and His Rebels
- "The Streak" by Ray Stevens
- "Super Bowl Shuffle" by members of the Chicago Bears
- "Super Fly Meets Shaft" by John & Ernest (Novelty "break-in" song)
- "Take Off" by Bob and Doug McKenzie
- "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" by Napoleon XIV
- "Tired Old Black Man (The Leotis Song!)" by The Flying Johansons
- "Touchables" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "Touchables In Brooklyn" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "The Troglodyte" by the Jimmy Castor Bunch
- "The Twist" by Hank Ballard, Chubby Checker
- "Valley Girl" by Frank Zappa and Moon Zappa
- "Watergrate" by Dickie Goodman (novelty "break-In" song)
- "We Will All Go Together When We Go" by Tom Lehrer
- "White and Nerdy" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Who Put The Turtle In Myrtle's Girdle" by Sid King And The Five Strings
- "Who Stole The Marker (From The Grave Of Bonnie Parker)" by Gene Summers written by Deanna Summers,1968
- "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex" by Ray Stevens
Performers notable for novelty songs
- A-E
- Afroman
- Anal Cunt
- The Arrogant Worms
- Barnes and Barnes
- The Big Bopper
- Bowser & Blue
- Brobdingnagian Bards
- Bus Station Loonies
- The Cartoons
- Cheech and Chong
- The Chipmunks
- Cledus T. Judd
- Corn Mo
- The Dead Milkmen
- The Dickies
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- F-N
- Flanders and Swann
- Flight of the Conchords
- Stan Freberg
- The Goodies (UK)
- Dickie Goodman
- Homer and Jethro
- Spike Jones
- Legendary Stardust Cowboy
- Tom Lehrer
- Roger Miller
- Mojo Nixon
- Mr. Flotsam and Mr. Jetsam
- The Mothers of Invention
- Nervous Norvus
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- P-Z
Disc jockeys who feature novelty songs
- Dr. Demento
- Bob Rivers
- Howard Stern
- Bob & Tom
- Geo. at Crazy College
External links
- Novelty Songs - They Will Never Wear Off! Podcast feature by Xan Phillips (30 minutes)
- Dr. Demento
- Novelty Songs - by Dr. Frank Hoffmann
- 100 Greatest Novelty Songs