In my last two blogs I’ve written about song lyrics that inspire you: to exercise—or take a bite out of the world—or denounce business as usual in America.
Today’s valuable songs lyrics:those that inspire you to laugh.
Humor songs are tricky—because many aren’t funny. Like Weird Al Yankovich’s songs. (Clever is different than funny.) OR they may be funny the first time but after that, not so much. Like Allan Sherman’s “Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda” and Steve Martin’s “King Tut.” Steve Martin is more funny when you watch him. The arm movements—LOL. And, OK, the “condo made-a stone-a” is a very funny line. Take it away, Mr. Martin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgTPH5y1-ZI
Some humor songs stand the test of multiple years and multiple listenings, like the songs of Stan Freberg and Tom Lehrer. Songs that spoof the French (Freberg’s “C’est Si Bon” [‘Say See Bone’]) and the Catholic religion (Lehrer’s “The Vatican Rag”) are always funny.
My parents listened to Spike Jones. Wasn’t he the original Dr. Demento? I think his band was called The Wacky Wackateers. (Great name. I’d like to be in that band!)
Spike Jones' humorous songs stand the test of time.
As a kid I thought Spike Jones was weird looking (like a skinny, bug-eyed Mr. Magoo)—but hilarious. I loved “Cocktails for Two”—with the horns, whistles, and hiccupping. Always made me laugh. So did “Der Fuehrer’s Face”—a spoof about Hitler. My favorite was a tune called “Chloe” with a spoken (yelled) line: “Chloe, where are you, you OLD BAT!” Still kills me.
The talented and funny singer Carla Ulbrich wears a dress with a fuchsia print!
Currently on the grueling singer-songwriter circuit (when you’re not Taylor Swift) is a humorous songstress, Carla Ulbrich, who also kills me. She calls herself a “Professional Smart Aleck.” I call her funny.
I first heard a Carla tune in my car while driving on Hwy. 1 (I was tuned to 107 “oink” 5: KPIG, a very cool independent radio station in Northern California.) The song was “What If Your Butt Was Gone?” I almost ran off the freeway I was laughing so hard.
I was just wonderin’, hypothetically,
What would you do, theoretically,
If something should happen
Accidentally or medically,
What if your butt was gone?
As soon as I got home I bought two copies of the CD titled Sick Humor: The Lighter Side of Illness (based on a bunch of illnesses Carla had). I passed them around my mentally unwell circle, thinking I would get at least one returned. No such luck.
There are more great tunes that will inspire you to laugh, like “Prednisone,” “On the Commode Again,” and “Little Brown Jug.” Sick humor is funny in general and Carla’s “Sick Humor” is funny specifically.
Here’s a snippet:
http://s0.ilike.com/play#Carla+Ulbrich:What+If+Your+Butt+Was+Gone:10701026:m2211677
Carla also parodied her own “Butt” song with “What if Your Girlfriend Was Gone?” More funny stuff.
Here’s to laughing specifically (like at your troubles) and laughing in general!
Carla Ulbrich's new CD. Again, notice the fuchsia dress.
