Novelty song of the year.

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In a moment of weakness last night, I told Anthony that I was going to cease communication with all people for forty-eight hours. I am apparently incapable of that. So instead, I am going to ask the most weightless question I possibly can.

Front-runner, I suppose, for novelty song of the year? Afroman's "Because I Got High," Daphne and Celeste's "U.G.L.Y.?"

― Nitsuh not leaving., Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ahh -- let me pop into the new answers by noting that the Daphne and Celeste record is from last year, so nevermind that. Although an Afroman vs. Daphne and Celeste "taking sides" thread would be sufficiently weightless as well.

― Nitsuh, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Afroman is my personal hero right now. Anyone who can so effortlessly make parents look stupid is A-OK in my book.

― Dan Perry, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Where's that second Daphne and Celeste alb, that's what I want to know...

But to answer the question - why, "Mambo No 5' by Bob The Builder of course.

― Andrew L, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Related question: why are the British charts so much more novelty- filled than those in the U.S.? Geographical proximity and more centralized media? Or am I just more likely to consider a UK-only chart act a "novelty?" :)

― Nitsuh, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Help! I'm A Fish!

Not actually heard the song, but then nor have I heard the Afroman one.

And come on, Help! I'm A Fish! is just the best thing ever. As a film title it is second only to Dude, Where's My Car?

I could just say it all day: Help! I'm A Fish! Agh!

― emil.y, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'd just like to apologise for my sudden break out of my usually restrained composure into exclamation a-go-go.

I don't know what came over me.

― emil.y, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bring Bob the Builder to the US! Show these people what a novelty song / act REALLY is!

― David Raposa, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The new one by Ben Folds.

― jel, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bob the Builder rocked on Top Of The Pops tonight. He's my new hero.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

UK charts are extremely fluid. A record can be released, debut in the top 5 and fall out of the charts 4 weeks later. In US usually takes at least a few weeks before it goes top 10.
So records in UK will be bought in large quantities in first week, by the time people realise the novelty isn't so novel it's out of the charts. After a few weeks in the US people don't buy it I guess. Plus they have a decentralised/localised media less likely to indulge in such whimsies. Also US charts made up to a large extent by radio plays, UK charts sales only.

Shame they're missing out on Bob the builder though.

― Billy Dods, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bob the Builder is EEEEEEEEEVIL. With a capital "EEEEEEEEE".

― Dan Perry, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

dan is correct. bob is evil.

― katie, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Them's fighting words.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pretty soon, everybody will be kung-fu fighting. (Those cats were fast as lightning...)

― Dan Perry, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It was a little bit frightening.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

But they fought with expert timing, yo.

― Dan Perry, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well then. Nice arc to that thread. Next?

― Nitsuh, Friday, 14 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Don't diss bob the builder. that's one of the best songs ever. lou bega must be ecstatic.

― jel, Saturday, 15 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Except his follow up single "I Got a Girl" went straight in at number 48.

― Graham, Saturday, 15 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Anyone heard that DJ Otzi single that is apparently poised to be a *very* high UK Top 40 entry tomorrow?

― Robin Carmody, Saturday, 15 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bob The Builder = Cool but Help! I'm A Fish (or more correctly "I'm A Little Yellow Fish In A Deep Blue Sea") is easily novelty nonsense of the year. Giant starfish dancing of TOTP. Yowsa!

― Pete, Saturday, 15 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah yes, DJ Otzi - "Hey Baby." To my ears, based around a sample from "Life Is A Rollercoaster" by Ronan Keating. The chap looks like Judge Dread on the sleeve (as in "Big Six" not 2001 AD). The previous one was called "Do Wah Diddy." Do not ask.

Novelty song of the year, however? "The Modern Age" by Ver Strokes, of course!

― Marcello Carlin, Saturday, 15 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Novelty, Marcello? Surely you etc.

Help! I'm A Fish is a blinder. Bob looks too sleazy in his Mambo get- up for me to fully endorse him.

― Tom, Sunday, 16 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

what is this dj otzi thing? is it really so bad that ant & dec wouldn't show it on cd:uk yesterday, despite it being number 1? also UK chart based on SALES rather than AIRPLAY, so basically made up of records VER KIDS spend pocket money on (a good thing).

― carsmilesteve, Sunday, 16 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Cant really think of a 2001 novelty song at the moment, but seeing Whigfield on telly again last night... ARGH! I hated that song in 1994 and I still HATE IT. The only good thing it did was, was knock off Wet Wet Wet the top of the charts.

― nathalie, Sunday, 16 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Errr...thats a great song! I love Whiggy! Didn't she do a song with the Smurfs? The first thing I saw at Brussels airport was a window display of Smurfs!

― jel, Sunday, 16 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Jel, a display of Smurfs? Did you swallow all the drugs before jumping on the plane? ;) I can't recall seeing any blue animals present in Zaventem.

― nathalie, Monday, 17 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

How exactly is "U.G.L.Y." a novelty song?

― Ian, Monday, 17 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Smurfs were demolishing that posh Chocolate stand in international departures (just before the B-gates) last I looked.

To answer the question - Jason Spaceman cracking the top 20 with "Stop Your Crying" before plunging headlong downwards again strikes me as far more 'novel' than two-time winner Bob The Builder. More amusing too.

― Jeff, Monday, 17 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well fuck you guys (at least the Brits): I wrote the novelty song of the year. I was the one nailing Cliff Richard to a cross and setting fire to Kelly Jones, uncensored on Radio One, while you lot wanked off to Atomic Kitten. So kiss mine.

― chris, Monday, 17 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

'Drinking Kind Of Girl'.

Yet to hear any others.

― the pinefox, Monday, 17 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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