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Since the dawn of punk, humor has been an important part of the genre. There are amusing punk songs, sarcastic punk songs, satiric punk songs, and willfully dimwitted punk songs.
So what pushes some songs into the "novelty" category? Novelty music combines kitschiness, catchiness, and silliness. (As an example, consider the ultimate novelty song, Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" [preview on iTunes].) It may poke fun at someone or something, but it's usually too inane to convey much of a social or political message.
With this in mind, here are ten notable punk novelty songs from 1978 to 1988.
Jilted John, "Jilted John"
This song was a huge hit in the UK; it's a pity that many Americans missed out. Jilted John's witty, self-deprecating lament lampoons both punk rock and the heartache of young love. The reverb-drenched "Gordon is a moron" refrain is one of the finest moments of musical idiocy on record.
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original single 1978; reissued on True Love Stories, 2005, Castle
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Buy True Love Stories
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Spizzenergi, "Where's Captain Kirk?"
Well, what would you do if you were unexpectedly beamed aboard the Starship Enterprise? Complete with Star Trek soprano on the, um, bridge.
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(original release 1979; reissued on Where's Captain Kirk: Very Best of Spizz, 2002, Cherry Red)
Listen (preview via Amazon | Spizzenergi website) |
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Buy Where's Captain Kirk: Very Best of Spizz
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Undertones, "My Perfect Cousin"
This clever, good-humored revenge song about an annoyingly flawless peer is even better with the vintage video. Best line: "His mother bought him a synthesizer, brought the Human League in to advise her."
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from Hypnotised (original release 1980; reissued 2005, Castle)
Listen (preview song and video via YouTube | The Undertones website) |
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Buy Hypnotised
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Flipper, "Ha Ha Ha"
San Francisco band Flipper seemed to pride themselves on appearing dumber than your average punk. These guys made slow-tempo punk cool back when Seattle's claim to fame was still smoked salmon. The kitschy, stick-in-your-head "Ha Ha Ha" was one of their first recordings, and the years haven't rendered it any less idiotic.
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(original release 1981; reissued on the soundtrack album for American Hardcore (The History of American Punk Rock 1980-1986), 2006, Rhino)
Listen (preview via iTunes) |
Buy the song
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Buy American Hardcore (The History of American Punk Rock 1908-1986)
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Black Flag, "TV Party"
Perhaps Greg Ginn and co. intended to satirize American leisure habits, but the deadpan gang vocals and laundry list of bad early-'80s TV shows send this song straight to the novelty bin. It's a pity new singer Henry Rollins got all serious on subsequent releases.
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from Damaged (original release 1981; reissued 1990, SST)
Listen (preview via iTunes | YouTube | Wikipedia) |
Buy the song
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Buy Damaged
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Fear, "New York's Alright if You Like Saxophones"
This song would be a lot more mean-spirited if the sax playing weren't so hilarious.
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from The Record (original release 1981, reissued 2005, Slash)
Listen (preview via iTunes) |
Buy the song
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Buy The Record
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The Nails, "88 Lines About 44 Women"
Insult or flattery? I could never decide how I'd feel about being included on this list.
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from Hotel for Women 12" (original release 1981; reissued on multiple compilations, including Living In Oblivion: The 80's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2)
Listen (download track from the Nails website | MySpace) |
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Buy Living In Oblivion: The 80's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
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Circle Jerks, "When the Shit Hits the Fan"
This super-mellow tune presaged the 1990s lounge revival (and the many first-generation punks who immersed themselves in it) by almost a decade.
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from the Repo Man soundtrack (original release 1984; reissued 1993, MCA)
Check out (Circle Jerks website | MySpace) |
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Buy the Repo Man soundtrack
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Dead Milkmen, "Bitchin' Camaro"
Once you get past the moronic two-minute intro, in which two cretins discuss video games, Doors cover bands, and other weighty topics, you're rewarded with a thrashing paean to the ultimate sports car. Duuude!
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from Big Lizard in My Backyard (original release 1985; reissued 2006, Rhino)
Listen (preview via iTunes | MySpace | the Dead Milkmen website) |
Buy the song
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Buy Big Lizard in My Backyard
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The Dickies, "Killer Klowns"
The Dickies' novelty-punk pedigree stretches back to their 1979 cover of the Banana Splits theme song. "Killer Klowns," written for the 1988 horror/sci-fi/comedy movie, is just as campy — though it barely qualifies as punk, given the slick late-'80s production.
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from Killer Klowns from Outer Space EP (original release 1988, reissued 2006, Rykodisc/Rhino)
Listen (preview via iTunes | the Dickies website | MySpace) |
Buy the song
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Buy Killer Klowns from Outer Space
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– Compiled by Elise Malmberg
Posted December 2006
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