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Anti-genre songs
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Subject: Anti-genre songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 23 Jun 07 - 10:53 AM Looking for songs such as "I'm an Old Cowhand" that spoof a specific genre of song. So far I have: "I'm an Old Cowhand" cowboy "Hose Me Down" shanty
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 23 Jun 07 - 02:36 PM Ewan MacColl's "The Space Girl's Song," as sung and recorded by Peggy Seeger: My mama told me I should never venture into space But I did, I did, I did She said no Terran girl could trust the Martian race But I did, I did, I did A rocket pilot asked me on a voyage to go And I was so romantic I just couldn't say no That he was just a servo-robot how was I to know? So I did, I did, I did... That counts twice, because Ewan was also sending up his own rather dour and serious image. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 23 Jun 07 - 03:09 PM How about the song Albert the Aligator used to sing every leap year in the POGO ("We have met the enemy, and they are us.") comic strip: "My Bunnie lice soda devotion, My Bunnie life saver DC, Let Bunnyface Rover commotion, Oh, brickbat Mahoney to me." Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 23 Jun 07 - 03:12 PM I spelled Bunnie/Bunny both ways . . . don't remember which way it was when Albert sang it. Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 23 Jun 07 - 05:15 PM I recall that someone spoofed the old pop/rock song "I Want My Baby Back" about a guy mourning the death of a girlfriend with a macbre knock-off version, "I Got My Baby Back" where the guy got into the casket with her. As a kid I had a spoof 45 record that parodied "I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)". Don't know who did it, but what I roughly remember is: "I want a beer, just like the beer, that schnockered dear old dad. It was so cold, with a tast so bold, best daddy ever had. A good old fashioned brew, With hops so true, One that skunks nobody else but you. etc." In his later years, Dad and I would sometimes sing it as we sat around having a few cold ones and (for about the 867th time) retelling old "remember when" stories. Many pop songs were parodied, even Rap, like when Christina Aguilara roasted the Marshall Mathers (Eminem) trash rap, "Will The Real Slim Shady Please Stand Up" with her version, "Will The Real Slim Shady Please Shut Up". "Life goes on. Lah Dee Dah Dee Dee . . ." Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Joe_F Date: 23 Jun 07 - 08:41 PM Do folk songs per se count as a genre? If so, then Tom Lehrer's two well-known spoofs are apposite. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 23 Jun 07 - 09:13 PM Tom Lehrer has a couple. His The Irish Ballad (rickety tickety tin) certainly qualifies. And folk songs would definitely be a genre. I am not looking for parodies per se. i.e. well-known songs with word changes. rather songs recognizable as a genre song but slightly (or not so slightly) off. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 23 Jun 07 - 09:13 PM Say drinking songs for teetotalers. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 24 Jun 07 - 12:13 AM Fred: If I understand this correctly, there was "Leader of the Pack" a rock genre song which was then spoofed by another rock song, "Leader of the Laundromat". Is that what you mean? Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 24 Jun 07 - 12:34 AM If leader of the Laundromat is a reworking of leader of the pack, it is a parody. I love a good parody, but I guess I am looking for Irony? Roger and Hart's "To Keep My Love Alive" an anti-love song. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Gwenzilla Date: 24 Jun 07 - 06:26 AM There was a fellow at Sharps this past week who sang a song a song about Irish music that was lovingly anti-genre: Is it diddly-dee, or is it diddly-di was one of the lines, but my delightful Irish husband and I can remember no more. It was really funny, though. I'll ask him next time I see him. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 24 Jun 07 - 03:32 PM Well let's see, would that little thing they would sing on "Hee Haw" that had the line somewhat to the effect of "I looked up and Phhhhht! you were gone" be considered an anti-love song? Also, how about one that is both an anti-love song and a parody of another song, such as: "You were my sunshine, 'till you drank my moonshine. You'll never know dear, How much I loathe you. . . . ? . . . So, please do drag my sunshine away." Those two little parts are all I can remember and I don't know who sang it. Then, a few years ago there was a C&W song entitled something like "How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye" that had a video (on country music's twin to MTV) where the girl kicked the cowboy out, threw a duffel bag of his stuff out on the ground, then ran over the duffle bag as she drove off in his pickup (with his horse and trailer hitched behind) leaving him standing beside the road. A really neat song with a "cut 'em no slack" video (was she a sister to Willie Nelson's "don't cross him, don't boss him" Red Headed Stranger) Definitely an anti-love song, just not quite as mean as "Goodbye, Earl". Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: GUEST,Gerry Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:04 AM White Collar Holler. Tom Lehrer has been mentioned. To be specific, Bright College Days spoofs nostalgic Alma Mater songs I Hold Your Hand in Mine spoofs love songs, so does She's My Gal, so does Wiener Schnitzel Waltz, so does When You Are Old and Gray Folk Song Army spoofs folk songs Clementine spoofs about half-a-dozen genres The Elements spoofs Gilbert & Sullivan patter songs The Wild West is Where I Want to Be spoofs romantic songs of the American West Fight Fiercely, Harvard spoofs college fight songs Etc., etc. Basically, if you want genre spoofs, Tom's your man. Somebody - Albert Brooks? Martin Mull? - did a good blues spoof, something like, Well I got up in the afternoon, I saw both cars were gone (x2) I felt so lowdown mean and dirty, I threw my drink across the lawn Springtime for Hitler - spoofs the big musical comedy production number Protest Song by the Rutles - spoofs, um, protest songs |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:16 AM Well, Moussorgsky's "Song of the Flea" is an anti-sentimental pet song (anti to "Old Blue, You Old Dog, You"). I have a wonderful recording of "Song of the Flea" by Feodor Chaliapin, arguably one of the best operatic baritones of all time. Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:41 AM Tonight at song circle I heard "Love's Been Linked to the Blues" Wonderful! |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: SharonA Date: 25 Jun 07 - 01:49 AM Stan Freberg produced many such songs in his heyday, including "That's My Boy" (spoofing sappy, sentimental drivel such as "Watching Scotty Grow"); and "Tele-Vee-Shun" (similar to Tom Lehrer's "Pollution" song). Many of his releases were songs-within-comedy sketches, such as "Wunnerful, Wunnerful!" (spoofing the Lawrence Welk champagne-music genre); "Elderly Man River" where a censor continually revises Freberg's rendition of "Old Man River" for political correctness; and "Incident at Los Voraces" (a take-off of Woody Guthrie's "Deportees: Plane Wreck at Los Gatos") simultaneously satirizing casinos, tourist attractions and the Cold War... and too many others to describe here. Do a Google search on Freberg and the first hit will be a comprehensive discography (check out the Wikipedia entry too). Here's a link to a section of one of Freberg's recordings wherein he presents "Folk Songs for Our Time", a send-up of Stephen Foster: Freberg Underground! Show #1 There's also his spoof of Broadway musicals, "Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America, Volume 1 (The Early Years) and Volume 2 (The Middle Years)", full of sometimes-gentle and sometimes-biting satire about the nation's history and current issues. - - - - - - - - Garrison Keillor sometimes presents the same sort of satirical send-up songs (pale imitations of Freberg's, IMO) on his Prairie Home Companion programs. - - - - - - - - Big-bandleader Spike Jones was legendary for sending up his own big band! Not only did he wear loud suits, engage in physical comedy with band members, and insert numerous sound effects (cap guns, bicycle horns, etc.) into the musical scores, but he also released many songs spoofing various genres and styles. There are easily more than 100 songs to his credit. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 25 Jun 07 - 08:47 AM Well I guess one could consider some of the Gilbert & Sullivan songs as anti-something or another, as many were anti- military and anti-politics in a spoofing sort of way, although they did not parody any existing songs. Two that come to mind are "Modern Major General" from "Pirates of Penzance" that took on the military's aggrandizement of its senior officers, and "When I Was a Lad" from "HMS Pinafore" that really jerked the chain of the powers that be for appointing a military novice to the highest naval office for purely political reasons. Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: GUEST,Ken Brock Date: 25 Jun 07 - 10:54 AM Anti- Love songs: Tom Lehrer's She's My Girl, Wiener Schnitzel Waltz, I Hold Your Hand In Mine, and Masochism Tango Anti- Sentimental farewell - Weird Al Yankovic's One More Minute Anti-Pastoral - Ian Campbell Folk Group's The Drover's Dream Anti-Country - Steve Goodman's You Never Even Called Me By My Name as recorded by David Allen Coe |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Midchuck Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:09 PM I suppose Lehrer's "The Folk Song Army" is too close to home to be considered funny. After all, some things have to be held sacred... Peter |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:44 PM I've heard the Chaliapin "Flea" song; as far as I know, the creature becomes an officer in the Russian army? Anyway, don't know if this counts as "anti-genre", but it's a fine parody rather like the "My Bunnie lice..." one quoted, and to the same air. I think it's by Hamish Imlach, but may be wrong: "He worked on the boats as a Steward, A Steward in one of the bars, And he was a proper Bar-Steward To all of the other jack-tars, They sang, 'Bar-Steward, Bar-Steward, A right proper Bar-Steward is he, is he, Bar-Steward, Bar-Steward, A right proper Bar-Steward is he'" |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: GUEST,highlandman Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:57 PM So if the working definition is a song that sends up a genre without being a parody of a specific song, I submit the great "Title of the Song" by Da Vinci's Notebook as an anti-boy-band-ballad. -Glenn |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 25 Jun 07 - 01:10 PM Hey, An Buachaill Caol Dubh! While on the subject of the flea becoming an officer, what was that thing from years back about the fake, non-existent, young lietenant for which some otherwise bored officers fabricated a complete dossier outlining his exalted military career, heroic exploits, awards, etc. I haven't heard that in a long time and don't remember what it was called, but it sure made the Army (of what country I don't recall) look funny. Certainly that would be an anti- to the genre of songs about military glory. Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: GUEST,Ken Brock Date: 25 Jun 07 - 01:50 PM Lt Kije by Zoltan Kodaly? |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 25 Jun 07 - 05:09 PM Thanks, Ken. That's the one I was searching for. I don't know why such a simple short name is so hard for me to remember! Could it be old-timers' disease? Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: oldhippie Date: 25 Jun 07 - 06:04 PM Another anti-country song is the John Hartford tune "You Done Stomped On My Heart". |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: GUEST,Young Hunting Date: 26 Jun 07 - 05:04 AM Agricultural songs - Buttercup Joe, The Fly Be on the Turmut, The Old Sow Song - in fact practically the entire repertoire of Albert Richardson and Cyril Phillips both of whom used to appear in smocks, practically, perhaps actually, with a straw in their mouths. Fred Jordan, who was the real thing, hated Cyril - but even he sang The Fly Be On The Turmut, and did so perfectly seriously. This parody business can be complicated! |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:49 AM Zeke Hoskin wrote "Yahoo! The Highway's Comin' (through the Farm)" |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Mrrzy Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:18 PM Sister Josephine? |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: MartinRyan Date: 27 Jun 07 - 04:37 AM Briain O'Rourke's "Drumsnot" - the ultimate "song of place". Regards |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Dave the Gnome Date: 27 Jun 07 - 05:53 AM Try searching 'PARODY' in the DT. If that is too many try various artists - My favourite being Eric Bogle - There are some of his own and some others if you search on that. Examples? "Do You Know Any Bob Dylan" "A Country Song" "Bogled" "Bloody Rotten Audience" All good stuff:-) Cheers Dave |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: sian, west wales Date: 27 Jun 07 - 07:54 AM I think H'Emmer Jane is intended as a send-up - of the whole star-crossed lover thing. At least, I hope it is! sian |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 27 Jun 07 - 11:48 PM How about "Stuck in the Middle" "Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, And here I am, Stuck in the middle with you." That guy really knows how to make a girl feel good, no? Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: GUEST Date: 30 Jun 07 - 05:48 PM I recall a review of The Beatles (the White album) soon after it came out that described "Yer Blues" as sending up the blues genre because of the lyric "If I ain't dead already". |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 30 Jun 07 - 07:18 PM come to think of it Rocky Raccoon is a perfect anti-Ballad Back in the USSR perfect anti-surfin song |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: oldhippie Date: 30 Jun 07 - 07:53 PM Another good anti-country song is "Country Western Song" by the Beat Farmers (on Manifold). |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: EuGene Date: 01 Jul 07 - 10:41 PM What about Nervous Norvus' "Transfusion" . . . an anti-hot-rod song? Another, along the same lines would be "Beep! Beep!" (". . . how do you get this thing [a Nash] out of second gear?") Eu |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Joybell Date: 02 Jul 07 - 08:28 PM We've got a list somewhere of songs that are sung in a different style form the one they claim to be about - Am I on the right track here? Anyway off the top of my head, for starters, we listed: "Birth of the Blues" "Rock and Roll Waltz" - (although that's intentional) "We Need a Lot More of Jesus (and a Lot Less Rock and Roll)" - which slips so easily from Country into Rock and Roll itself. "I Cannot Sing the Old Songs" which wasn't always an old song - but if you sing it now there's a paradox. Cheers, Joy |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: GUEST,guest Date: 02 Jul 07 - 10:00 PM How about Benny Hill's "What a World", a slag on Bob Dylan 2Well the folk Singer came fron America To sing in the Albert Hall He sang a song of freedom and a fairer share for all He said that the rich were far too rich and the poor too poor by far then he collected all his mony and drove off in his Rolls Royce Car What a world what a place and you glad your a member of the human race or words to that affect |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: coldjam Date: 03 Jul 07 - 09:44 PM I'd add "The Great Lakes Song" by Shel Silverstein. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Beckett Date: 03 Jul 07 - 11:28 PM I dunno if it would be considered "anti-genre", but Tim O'Brien's Running Out Of Memory For You is a good send-up at least -- mournful country twang meets teh Internets. |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 04 Jul 07 - 01:58 AM "running out of Memory for You" is a wonderful example! |
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Subject: RE: Anti-genre songs From: Charley Noble Date: 04 Jul 07 - 01:14 PM Odd that no one has come up with Eclectricity's fine ballad "(I'm) Goin' Back to Beethoven ('cos Country Music Sucks)." Eclectricity was a fine alternative string band based in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana in the late '70s when they imploded. As I recall Bob Lucas and Willy Schwarz were part of this critically acclaimed trio, along with a gypsy style fiddler that one would die for! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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