Or, Mari proves she has awful taste in music.

Ah, the novelty song. A distinctly American song form, the novelty song has been around since the 1920s and the golden age of Tin Pan Alley. Wikipedia has an excellent short history of the novelty song (it really doesn’t need to be long) and also a huge list of novelty songs and comedic musicians. Flip through it; I’m sure you’ll recognize at least 20 if you have ears and a radio. Remember the song “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window”? Yup, that was a novelty song, and it became so popular there was actually a backlash against it in the early 50s! Maybe that’s why it’s a children’s song now…

Within my lifetime, the novelty songs to hit the charts have either been by “Weird Al” Yankovic or were dance songs. In fact, most songs that have dances that go with them (”The Macarena”) are novelty songs, although some (”The Twist”) have gone on to become just-plain-hits. Prior to “Weird Al”, comedic musicians like Ray Stevens and Dave Seville & the Chipmunks topped the charts. One of my dad’s favorite albums is Ray Stevens’ The Streak, so I know that pretty well! But for my money, the best novelty song ever (and Wikipedia agrees) is “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” In fact, the only thing better than that song is the B-side to the single — the same song, played backward. (If you don’t believe me, c’mon over to my parents’ basement. They own it. In fact, I think my parents own a lot of novelty songs. Hmm.)

So what makes a hit novelty song? Cuddle up with your “Ding-A-Ling” (Chuck Berry) and get ready to learn! Read the rest of this entry �