BY MIKEY MIGO
There is a time and place for everything. While some bands try to make you think, some make you rock out, and some make you want to change the world there is always those musicians who will entertain us with music. Then again, some of these funny songs can easily make you think, easily make you rock out, and very easily change the world. The main difference is that these musicians just help you retain your smile while doing so.
Here are some of the funny musicians out there. There's plenty more than what I'm listing.
"Weird Al" Yankovic
What He Does: The master of parody songs.
What really needs to be said about "Weird Al" Yankovic? He's the mad genius that brought us the likes of "Eat It", "Amish Paradise", "White and Nerdy" and many more classics that you should have all heard at least a dozen times already. He's got multiple platinum and gold records to prove that comedy and music can go hand in hand when done right. Surely you can ask anyone that is a fan of this genre who's the leader of the "movement" and they'll tell you that it is indeed Mr. Yankovic.
Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine
What They Do: Covers of hit songs… Lounge Music style!
I was first exposed to Richard Cheese via a CD a friend left over my house. It turned out this CD full of cover songs was actually Richard Cheese's "Lounge Against The Machine". This CD had covers of NIN's "Closer", Radiohead's "Creep", and Nirvana's "Rape Me" to name just a few. Imagine hearing those songs sung in vein of Frank Sinatra and you sorta understand what I heard that first time. It was funny as hell, but also very listenable and enjoyable. It turned out Richard Cheese had more than just that one CD to offer. Richard Cheese had FIVE albums full of these covered gems as well as a "Best of". It's not so much a parody, but homage done in a unconventional way.
Tenacious D
What They Do: Rock the funny.
Unless you live under a rock or just avoid anything remotely funny, you know who Jack Black is. Black has a perfect counterpart in the acoustic guitarist Kyle Gass . Together as "Tenacious D" they are the greatest rock group of all time. They started off with an HBO late night show, moved on to full length albums, and then to movies. If you've only heard "Tribute" or the radio singles I pity your soul because the uncensored madness of their albums is where the magic is. Their latest movie didn't get the reaction it should of, but their cult following continues to grow.
Spinal Tap
What They Do: Parody of a rock group
Spinal Tap is a mostly fictional heavy metal band best known from the 1984 mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap". The band members are portrayed by Michael McKean, Christopher and Harry Shearer. The songs are so obscure, but so entertaining with "Big Bottom","Hell Hole" and "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight". The drummer situation was classic. They went through many drummers, all of whom have died under odd circumstances: one died in a "bizarre gardening accident", "choking on someone elses vomit," and one seems to have fallen prey to spontaneous human combustion. By the time I was old enough to fully take in the jokes and story of the movie and music it was dated. This doesn't take away from it being one of the greatest comedies of all time.
The Rutles
What They Do: Parody of The Beatles.
I was never a big fan of The Beatles. I can't deny their talents and influences on music, but I just could never get into them. But I can say, I love The Rutles. The Rutles was a parody of The Beatles, jointly created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes. The 1978 mockumentary film about them, entitled "All You Need Is Cash" mocks the Beatles the same way that Spinal Tap mocks that generation of rock bands. This is one of the very first pop culture music spoofs that was made in such a broad and mainstream manner and still holds up today.
Voltaire
What He Does: Gothic, Acoustic, and more.
I've read the name "Voltaire" a lot in my internet reading, but didn't have a clue to who it was until I had the pleasure of seeing him perform at a recent Fangoria's Weekend of Horror show in Chicago. Basically, while being entertaining and intelligent Voltaire satires the entire gothic community while fully embracing it. Songs like "When You're Evil", "Vampire Club", and "Zombie Prostitute" are just a taste of what his catalog has to offer. There are also parody tracks of Star Trek and Star Wars to go along with more insightfully humorous pieces like "God Thinks" and "Goodnight Demon slayer". Just recently he did some work with Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls and it only gets better for this gothic guru as his next album "Ooky Spooky" comes out soon.
Check Out His Myspace
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