humour in progressive music

I like playful/humourous songwriting, but I don't care for humourous lyrics. In the rare case that they're actually funny, they get less and less funny the more you hear them anyway.

Edited by Sckxyss - January 23 2008 at 16:47

If the music is good- THATs what matters but I have to admit that from time to time subtle humour or little quirks in the lyrics/action is quite cool to hear.

Peter wrote:  See also this old thread (one of the first I ever started here) for some earlier thoughts on this subject:   http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=186&KW=humour

Thanks for the link. When I started this topic I ran a search but nothing came up.

Anyway, some interesting discussion in that one as well.

sean wrote: BaldFriede wrote: "Cat Food" (on "In the Wake of Poseidon") and "Happy Family" (on "Lizard") are definitely examples of humour in King Crimson. As for Hammill: You have one example of his humour in your signature line. "Fishes can't fly"? Now really! By the way, I noticed in another thread you mentioned interviews with Hammill where he talks about his lyrics. Any chance you have a link to one of those? I'd love to read it.

these are links to a lengthy interview with Hammill, where he talks about a lot of things. it is divided into several segments, but it is one long interview. I think you will enjoy it:

Peter Hammill about his urge to make music, finding different ways, his heart attack, the experience and being mortal!! (6.09)

Peter Hammill about Singularity and personal changes!! (5.51)

Peter Hammill about the death of his mother and mortality in general!! (4.01)

Peter Hammill about the process of songwriting, asking questions in his music and the Peter Hammill from the past!! (4.31)

Peter Hammill about what keeps him going, his most intense period, being self obsessed and the danger of going nuts!! (5.02)

Peter Hammill about the reunion of Van Der Graaf Generator, meeting his bandmates at funerals, the problems with David Jackson and going on as a trio!! (5.08)

Peter Hammill about creative ambitions, David Bowie and Peter Gabriel and not wanting big success!! (3.05)

Peter Hammill about his independence and the myth of breaking up Van Der Graaf Generator just when they became successful!! (3.02)

All of the best artists have a great sense of humour. In music, as BaldJean said, this goes for many of the best classical composers. In prog - do you think Rick Wakeman had KING ARTHUR performed on ice for SERIOUS reasons? Believe me, friends, it was all tongue-in-cheek! But with many jokes the problem is they only work once or twice. Take Zappa's YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE VOL. II (The Helsinki Concert). The musicianship is superb (Chester Thompson on drums alone makes the album worth buying!) but there are too many silly jokes about room service (or the lack thereof) in European (particularly German) hotels. When you play STAGE II for the first time, such jokes may sound amusing, but after that they start to grate...

heyitsthatguy wrote: Mousoleum wrote: heyitsthatguy wrote: this isn't me trying to defend the band, but I kind of took the lyrics of Systematic Chaos (at least choice songs like The Dark Eternal Night, the others may vary) as a route of not taking themselves too seriously. The animation they played for The Dark Eternal Night in concert was hilarious I don't have anything to follow on your post. Just wanted to say how much I hate "PATIENCE!!!" Back to humor. I think Spock's Beard can be musically/lyrically amusing. Pain of Salvation's Scarsick was darkly funny. patience payshun patience payshun x 30000

We don't take kindly to hating Showzen in these parts

darkshade wrote: the best humor in music are those funny sounding melodies that appear in many artists' music. the best example of this would probably be Zappa's "The Adventures of Greggory Peccary". not to mention it's also one mammoth of a song!! those horns man!!

I agree. just take for example the track "Tröller Tanz" from Magma's "Üdü Wüdü" album. It is supposed to be some kind of ghost dance, but the melody definitely is funny. or think of the infamous cha-cha part in VdGG's "Sleepwalkers", which Sean Trane does not like, but which I think is definitely humorous


Edited by BaldJean - January 28 2008 at 07:47

BaldJean wrote: darkshade wrote: the best humor in music are those funny sounding melodies that appear in many artists' music. the best example of this would probably be Zappa's "The Adventures of Greggory Peccary". not to mention it's also one mammoth of a song!! those horns man!! I agree. just take for example the track "Tr�ller Tanz" from Magma's "�d� W�d�" album. It is supposed to be some kind of ghost dance, but the melody definitely is funny. or think of the infamous cha-cha part in VdGG's "Sleepwalkers", which Sean Trane does not like, but which I think is definitely humorous

"Sleepwalkers" threw me off the first time I heard it. For the most part it seemed a rather solemn song, and then that section came on and it does sound quite funny.

HughesJB4 wrote: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask by Frank Zappa. Never fails to leave my in stitches

Just  the title alone can do that. I've never even heard the song but I'm laughing.

When it comes to humor, Bob Drake simply must be mentioned; he was in Thinking Plague, but his solo material is much funnier - think more 5uu's-style lyrics meets HP Lovecraft meets, I dunno, some really funny stuff. He just got added to the archives, check it out: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3476