With his new album "Mandatory Fun," "Weird Al" Yankovic is up to his usual hijinks -- selecting some of the most defining pop songs of the past few years and spoofing them with some devastatingly funny one-liners. He's been doing this for 30 years with an impossibly consistent amount of success, honoring some of pop's biggest stars and typically outlasting them as relevant music-makers. How does Yankovic do it? With razor-sharp wit that never cuts too deep, and an inherent silliness that can make the stone-faced adults giggle like little kids. Although it's darn near impossible to narrow down "Weird Al" Yankovic's 10 funniest songs, these are the tracks that are the most reliably, universally hysterical, from hit singles to deep album cuts, from some of his earliest hits to his lone Top 10 entry. The highlight of "Weird Al's" self-titled debut album is a rabidly wacky account of riding a public bus, set to Queen's unforgettable melody. Who knew that Al would still be humming along on that loony ride 30 years later? Pure irreverence from Al.
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
9.”A Mighty Wind is Blowin’,” A Mighty Wind
And what song propelled him to these middling heights of fading fame in the first place? This song is both funny and could easily have been a hit in Chris Rock got to play rap star in the cult hit CB4 , sending up the gangster rap that had taken over the genre at the time. Put back a watered down wine cooler, light a schwaggy doobie, and give this one a super mellow listen. Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer have made a career out of creating hilarious songs and music videos that poke fun at hip hop tropes. One of their earliest SNL successes was this tribute to rappers and their obsession with hanging out on boats.
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Musical comedy is a hard trick to pull off. It's an ugly business, yes indeed. But like any business, there are amateurs and there are pros. These, ladies and gentlemen, are the pros.
Pop music certainly has its place in the world, offering simple pleasures from catchy tunes that burrow their way into your head where they remain until another, more powerful, ditty comes along. It doesn't matter whether it's your preferred genre or not, certain pop songs will still enter into your subconscious and lay dormant until you catch yourself singing the chorus in the shower one morning. Thankfully there is a simple way of alleviating some of the guilt you may feel for liking these mostly terrible songs from the likes of Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Beyonce all of whom are immensely popular musicians on Facebook. I am, of course, talking about song parodies, which have existed for centuries in one form or another. People use Facebook in lots of different ways. Connecting with friends, sharing photos online, and discovering news are just a few examples. Also popular are Facebook Pages, which are profiles for celebrities, bands, brands, and websites.
