Songs That <I>Musically</I> Parody, Satirize and/or mock a musical genre

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I suppose this sort of a list thing, but comments on how the chosen songs parody a musical genre would be keen too. No just lyrics choices, either. It has to be the whole song from the music to the lyrics. My choice would be Six Finger Satellite's debut Weapon 4 song ep in which they supplied four mock "grunge" songs, getting them on to Sub Pop -- the ol' bait and switch -- and certainly they ape all of the conventions of the ol' Seattle sound from the guitar to the vocals -- pretty funny.

― jack cole (jackcole), Saturday, 5 October 2002 20:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Another parody of grunge: Song 2.

― lyra (lyra), Saturday, 5 October 2002 20:59 (twenty-three years ago)

The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band own this thread...

― michael (michael), Saturday, 5 October 2002 21:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The first that comes to mind is Anthrax's "Dallabnikufesin," an "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" acoustic ballad complete with powerballad guitar solo and overemotive vocals by Joey Belladonna. It is genius from beginning to end.

We fell in love at first sight
I can't explain the feeling
When I first saw you
We were so so happy
A lifetime of love sweet honey child
You'll always be mine

But though I played the fool
I never meant to hurt you
Or sleep with all your friends
We reconciled, we found ourselves
Our love was meant to be
Oh baby can't you seeeee, ohhh oh yeahhhh
(solo)

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Saturday, 5 October 2002 22:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Someone should mention Ween here I suppose.

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 5 October 2002 23:01 (twenty-three years ago)

"Let's Go Camping" by the New Duncan Imperials is a great parody of hardcore.

― Burr, Saturday, 5 October 2002 23:04 (twenty-three years ago)

the darkness - a steve vai tribute band from norwich - currently being called the next great thing by people who are'nt in the know.

― doom-e, Saturday, 5 October 2002 23:09 (twenty-three years ago)

those 69 love songs [genre name] + the word "love" tracks kinda fit in here, right? (nb i havent heard them)

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Saturday, 5 October 2002 23:24 (twenty-three years ago)

certains songs on 69 certainly fit, though the majority maybe are just an expression of Merritt's genuine love of Gershwin, Berlin, etc.

― jack cole (jackcole), Saturday, 5 October 2002 23:35 (twenty-three years ago)

jack, I believe mitch was referring to 'world love', 'love is like jazz', 'punk love', 'experimental music love', etc.

I don't agree that they're all satirical etc.

― Josh (Josh), Sunday, 6 October 2002 00:09 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah, those were the one's i was thinking mitch was talking about. it's been a while since i listened to it. its the fineline between the music and lyrics being both satirical and just the lyrics.

― jack cole (jackcole), Sunday, 6 October 2002 00:25 (twenty-three years ago)

"The Great Pub Rock Revival" by Denim

― felicity (felicity), Sunday, 6 October 2002 00:47 (twenty-three years ago)

"Ska Sucks" by Propagandhi

― Steph (Steph), Sunday, 6 October 2002 01:05 (twenty-three years ago)

It really needs no further explanation. Just listen--it takes the rhythms and beat stylings of the very genre the lyrics themselves mock.

― Steph (Steph), Sunday, 6 October 2002 01:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Zappa & The Mothers: "Cruising with Ruben and the Jets"

― Joe (Joe), Sunday, 6 October 2002 02:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Zappa & The Mothers "We're Only In It For The Money"

― Andrew (enneff), Sunday, 6 October 2002 03:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Tim Buckley, Greetings from LA

Crash Test Dummies, Give Yourself a Hand

― Prude, Sunday, 6 October 2002 04:07 (twenty-three years ago)

DVDA "Now You're A Man"

I *howled*.

Digably Yours,
Digable James Cobo

― Digable James Cobo, Sunday, 6 October 2002 09:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Are there no songs which do this which are actually any good?

― thom west (thom w), Sunday, 6 October 2002 10:45 (twenty-three years ago)

I liked 'The Bad Touch' or whatever it was called that had the faux-flock of seagulls music. You know, the you and me baby ain't nothing but mammals song.

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 6 October 2002 14:32 (twenty-three years ago)

The ultimate, as I recall, was on the National Lampoon album GOODBYE POP. It was called the "Art Rock Suite". Pretty much touched all the bases, as I recall.

― matt riedl (veal), Sunday, 6 October 2002 15:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Redd Kross spin-off Anarchy 6 had a bunch of songs parodying hard core punk. "Slam, Spit, Cut Your Hair, Kill Your Mom".

― Arthur (Arthur), Sunday, 6 October 2002 16:08 (twenty-three years ago)

The b-side to the Beastie Boys' "Cookie Puss" was a bit of pseudo-reggae called "Beastie Revolution". I haven't heard it in a while but I remember it as either funny or interminable. Or both.

― Nate Patrin, Sunday, 6 October 2002 16:39 (twenty-three years ago)

"Let Me Roll It" is a parody of Plastic Ono Band, as well as McCartney's best solo track.

― Burr, Sunday, 6 October 2002 17:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Ironically, "Cruisin With Rueben and The Jets" is the only cool Zappa album.

-Colin

― Colin Beckett, Sunday, 6 October 2002 17:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Ben Folds, "Rockin' the Suburbs"

― Underclocked, Sunday, 6 October 2002 17:54 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm a big fan of the beginning of the first Black Sheep record when they do that gangsta rap parody - "yo who the fuck used my toothbrush?!?"

― Dave M. (rotten03), Sunday, 6 October 2002 18:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Dukes of Stratosphear

― dleone (dleone), Sunday, 6 October 2002 18:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Dead Milkmen's "You'll Dance to Anything" ridicules mid 80's British music, calling out the Smiths, "Depeche Comode," and Public Image Limited by name, among others...

― Rahul Kamath (Rahul Kamath), Sunday, 6 October 2002 21:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Weird Al Yankovich's "Smells Like Nirvana" is a spot-on parody of Nirvana and grunge.

― j.lu (j.lu), Sunday, 6 October 2002 21:58 (twenty-three years ago)

aww, joe and andrew beat me to the punch ...

though they forgot "I'm So Cute" and Tinseltown Rebellion, which satirize punk. (and, arguably, One Size Fits All satirizes prog).

― Tad (llamasfur), Monday, 7 October 2002 07:31 (twenty-three years ago)

i always think the first song off 'Liquid Swords' (actually i think it might be called 'Liquid Swords') is parodying Cypress Hill. And, being the Wu of course, it also happens to casually be miles better then anything Cypress Hill ever did.

― adam b (adam b), Monday, 7 October 2002 10:20 (twenty-three years ago)

(Also it has the best intro vocal sample ever!)

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 7 October 2002 10:34 (twenty-three years ago)

it's particulary good as the intro to what's quite a perky song - i think it'd be a bit too much if it went into 'i can't get no sleep' or something. can't say i don't skip it pretty often though.

'hells wind staff' on the other hand...
"good to see you, good to see you, good to see you"

― adam b (adam b), Monday, 7 October 2002 11:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Eminem 'Without Me'

"nobody listens to techno..."

Armand Van Helden "Armando"

"trance sucks in case you need an update..."

― blueski, Monday, 7 October 2002 11:35 (twenty-three years ago)

"Dukes of Stratosphear"

"Zappa & The Mothers: "Cruising with Ruben and the Jets""

I believe those were meant as a sincere tributes rather than as parodies....

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 7 October 2002 11:38 (twenty-three years ago)

"The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band own this thread... "

True, but Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias squatted in it for a while in the late '70's before Weird Al Yankovic moved in

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 7 October 2002 11:42 (twenty-three years ago)

APhex Twin 'Come To Daddy' is a parody of itself!

― blueski, Monday, 7 October 2002 11:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Richard D. James = Liam Howlett?

― Nate Patrin, Monday, 7 October 2002 12:11 (twenty-three years ago)

i think APhex was taking the piss out of heavy/thrash/industrial metal with it really...not in a spiteful way, its very tongue-in-cheek i'd say, which sounds ridiculous given the power of the track (nothing is HARDER than this, is it?) but still

― blueski, Monday, 7 October 2002 12:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Kenny, you forgot the punchline of the Anthrax song ("She got hit by a truck..." various crying sounds, "Yo, Joey, pass me a tissue," etc., etc.").

Also the preview of the next album at the end of Built to Spill's "There's Nothing Wrong with Love," some of their best work.

― Nick A., Monday, 7 October 2002 15:18 (twenty-three years ago)

hi jack cole,

mudhoney did this no less than 3 times:

"the money will roll right in" cover
"overblown"
the first song on Piece Of Cake

― gygax!, Monday, 7 October 2002 17:19 (twenty-three years ago)

How about pretty much every song performed on South Park? Chef's numbers are always classic, and the movie soundtrack is a brilliant Broadway pastiche.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 October 2002 17:32 (twenty-three years ago)

The Residents - The Third Reich & Roll

― christoff (christoff), Monday, 7 October 2002 18:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoia's "Snuff Rock EP" was the perfect parody of punk and punk/dub. Now sadly OOP.

TMFTML
http://intonation.blogspot.com/

― TMFTML (TMFTML), Monday, 7 October 2002 19:21 (twenty-three years ago)

There's actually a Ben Folds trinity. The aforementioned "Rockin' The Suburbs" (nu-metal), "Underground" (Goth/industrial) and "Battle of Who Could Care Less" (grunge).

Also, nobody's mentioned that "Loser" was a grunge parody.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 7 October 2002 19:49 (twenty-three years ago)

radio free vestibule - grunge song.

― dk, Monday, 7 October 2002 19:52 (twenty-three years ago)

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Songs That Musically Parody, Satirize and/or mock a musical genre