To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=113627
12 messages

Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?

19 Aug 08 - 01:47 AM (#2417497)
Subject: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: Genie

've been listening to some hilarious satirical songs by Roy Zimmerman and found a website where you can listen to very long (about 2 minutes) excerpts from the songs on his latest album, as well as buy it.

Thanks For The Support (Roy Zimmerman)

Track List (with links to YouTubes of some):
*1 To Be a Liberal
2 I'll Pull Out
3 Don't Make Fun of the Crippled Boy
4 Thanks for the Support
5 Ted Haggard Is Completely Heterosexual
6 Dear Number 1036924053887
7 Is America Ready?
*8 Eine Kleine Barockmusik (Roy Zimmerman
9 Burn Goody Clinton!
10 Superdelegate
*11 The Man, the Myth, the McCain
12 I Approve This Message

* I've heard these three in their entirety, and they're wonderful!

Roy also has a hilarious song called Defenders Of Marriage on another album.

Eine Kleine Barockmusik (Roy Zimmerman

I noticed we have a thread here about one of Roy's earlier (Christmas) songs. Anyone else a Roy Zimmerman fan?


19 Aug 08 - 05:12 AM (#2417553)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: Simon G

You'll find him on youtube here

31 songs there.

I like - What if the Beatles were Irish


19 Aug 08 - 08:43 AM (#2417639)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: topical tom

I too am a Roy Zimmerman fan.His songs are delightfully hilarious.


19 Aug 08 - 11:41 AM (#2417786)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: GUEST

Roy has just recently toured the NY NJ area and plans to visit all 50 states before election day as he "....does not run for political office". That was a comment he made while my guest on TRADITIONS WFDU) a few weeks back.

He was, at that time, looking forward to meeting his great influence--Tom Lehrer the week after that. He did and was thouroughly delighted in having made personal contact after all this time.

Another great bit of work he has done was his involvement with the musical group "the Foremen". You can find that on You Tube as well---what can you not find on You Tube

Bill Hahn


19 Aug 08 - 12:15 PM (#2417810)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: PoppaGator

Any relation to Bobby/Zimmy?


19 Aug 08 - 12:32 PM (#2417818)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: GUEST,JR

There's a very humorous reference to him not being related to another Zimmerman on one of the "how to play" videos Roy has on his YouTube channel. Can't remember which one but go listen to them all because it is worth it.

100% brilliant is all I can say, and delighted that he intends to tour in Europe.


19 Aug 08 - 01:12 PM (#2417847)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: alanabit

I would like to see him close up too. I think it is putting a bit of a weight on his shoulders to call him "Tom Lehrer's successor". Think of what happened to all of those "new Bob Dylans" and "new Beatles".
I like to think of him as the unique Roy Zimmerman and I will go along with those, who rate him as a heavyweight talent. I don't think all of his songs hit the mark. When he does though, I think he has few rivals. The Cheney song is a hoot as is the one, in which he has a go at anti gay bigotry. That is not so easy to do. At his best he is spontaneously crazed and has a keen eye for absurdity. When he is misfiring, he can seem a little laboured and contrived.
I like him though. I like him a lot. He seems well to the left of what is acceptable in America, which does not make him particlarly radical by European standards. It may be for that reason that the biggest stages in the US will remain closed to him and that he will go on to become much more successful in other countries. That would be a shame. I would like more Americans to hear him too.


19 Aug 08 - 02:59 PM (#2417939)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: Genie

I jut put that "Tom Lehrer's successor" in the title mainly as a concise way to let people know a little more about who Roy is, besides just his name and maybe "satire."   Also, according to something I heard on Thom Hartmann's radio show yesterday, Tom Lehrer himself was effusive in his praise of Roy's satirical style and genius in crafting lyrics. (Maybe I can find the quote.)
That said, I realize that there are, indeed, other equally brilliant songwriting satirists, and I don't mean to imply that Roy is THE "new Tom Lehrer."   Tom probably spawned quite a few artistic 'sons' and 'daughters' over the years. : D

As for Roy, " .. At his best he is spontaneously crazed and has a keen eye for absurdity. When he is misfiring, he can seem a little laboured and contrived. ... "   Maybe. But that latter part could probably be said of just about any prolific lyricist -- if we actually got to hear the bulk of their work.   : )

Anyway, I've been delighted with everything I've heard from Roy so far.


26 Sep 08 - 03:21 PM (#2451086)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: harpmolly

I just saw him three weeks or so ago (2nd time) and he was BRILLIANT. OK, yes, I'm a bit of a fan (have been becoming progressively more obsessed since I discovered him). But his lyrical brilliance (and preciseness!) are matched only by his sharp wit and yes, his passion...with all the funny songs he writes, "Thanks for the Support" goes straight to the gut, as does the last song on his new CD ("I Approve This Message".

He also has great comic timing and stage presence. Even though I'd heard most of the songs several times already, I howled throughout the performance because he kept adding nuances and making it very individual. Great stuff.

He's got a challenge to everyone on YouTube to post covers of his song "Defenders of Marriage". I think it would be fun to dress in drag and do a cover...unfortunately my guitar skills are nonexistent and his chords are WAY too out there to play on the harp. ;)

Molly


26 Sep 08 - 03:22 PM (#2451087)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: harpmolly

P.S. Duh...the whole reason I posted was that in his last newsletter, he tells a great story about a meeting with Tom Lehrer, and how he got to tell him how much he's learned from him. :D


12 May 16 - 08:40 PM (#3789950)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman - Tom Lehrer's successor?
From: Joe Offer

Dani posted this on Facebook, so don't (completely) blame me. Here's "The Sing-Along Second Amendment" by Roy Zimmerman.

And then on my own, I found: There are lots of other tempting videos on Zimmerman's YouTube channel. Have fun.


19 Jan 19 - 10:29 AM (#3972211)
Subject: RE: Roy Zimmerman
From: Felipa

I only just came across this singer songwriter today in a websearch for current topical songs. He has continued to post videos on youtube; the latest I see were posted in autumn 2018. Some gigs in California late Jan are listed on the Roy Zimmerman facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Roy-Zimmerman-39171898761/