Comments on: Suggestions for comedy songs to sing at the piano

Question: Suggestions for comedy songs to sing at the piano

chrismear — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:20:33 -0800

I'd like to learn some more comedy songs to sing at the piano along the lines of Hugh Laurie's Mystery. Suggestions?

I have a book of Tom Lehrer songs, but that's where my knowledge ends. Can you suggest any classics, gems, or just personal favourites that I should seek out?

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:03:06 -0800

You could try some of Tim Minchin's excellent works, like If you open your mind too much your brain will fall out (take my wife) or Inflatable You. I have no idea if they're published though...

By: pracowity

pracowity — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:09:37 -0800

Learn some Flanders & Swann. The Hippopotomas Song. The Gnu Song. Have Some Madeira M'Dear. (By the way, the wheelchair in that last link is not part of the act. Flanders had had polio.)

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:32:18 -0800

I love David O'Doherty's Text Song.

By: rongorongo

rongorongo — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:37:26 -0800

You might be interested in some of Victoria Wood's songs. Also those of Bill Bailley.

A lot of the music mentioned above (probably with the exception of Tom Lehrer) could be quite hard to find as sheet music. But here are about 400 comedy songs which are available that way (or at least with chords and lyrics)

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:42:01 -0800

Looks like someone's had a bash at the Minchin stuff.

By: gwenlister

gwenlister — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:26:38 -0800

What about Tom Leherer stuff, like "Poisioning Pidgeons in the Park"?

By: chrismear

chrismear — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:34:24 -0800

Fantastic suggestions so far, thanks! Just to clarify, I can usually figure things out by ear, so no need to restrict yourselves to stuff that's published.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:26:57 -0800

You could learn the theme songs to Slings and Arrows, if you hang around with a theatrical crowd.

By: slimepuppy

slimepuppy — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:46:52 -0800

Monty Python's Penis Song

By: slimepuppy

slimepuppy — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:57:58 -0800

Oh, see also everything Richard Cheese has ever done. He makes lounge covers of famous songs. My personal favorite (and piano-heavy) is his version of Somebody Told Me.

By: bonobothegreat

bonobothegreat — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:45:11 -0800

I enjoy this tune by Doug Skinner called "Little Roaches"

By: General Malaise

General Malaise — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:46:02 -0800

You could have some rag-time fun with Phil Ochs's Outside of a Small Circle of Friends.

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:54:44 -0800

John Forster is the funniest.

The next funniest is, of course, Dave Frishberg.

If you don't mind working up a piano part from a guitar original, let me recommend Roy Zimmerman, Carla Ulbrich, Dan Hart, and, er, my husband.

By: nenequesadilla

nenequesadilla — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:19:03 -0800

I've been working on Rory Stitt's Simple Jim.

By: EmpressCallipygos

EmpressCallipygos — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:19:57 -0800

Seconding Dave Frishberg. I saw him about ten years ago -- he was part of a quadruple-bill at the Bottom Line and managed to win over the twenty-something crowd quite handily. (Well, okay, his slam-dunk was the fact that he wrote "I'm Just A Bill" and he lead us all in a sing-along, but still.)

By: hip_plumber

hip_plumber — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:52:58 -0800

Neil Innes - How Sweet To Be An Idiot. He's frequently referred to as The Seventh Python on account of his numerous collaborations with the group.

By: Oriole Adams

Oriole Adams — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:25:50 -0800

Grandma's Lye Soap. Even fFunnier if you do the tent-revival-preacher-style sermon preceding it.

By: Mael Oui

Mael Oui — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:16:28 -0800

Tom Lehrer - I Got It From Agnes, Poisoning Pigeons In The Park, Pollution, National Brotherhood Week. Most of his songs are good, and, I imagine, would be easy to play on the piano. This user pretty much has the motherlode of Lehrer YouTube videos.