humour in progressive music

heyitsthatguy wrote: also Devin Townsend uses his fair share of humor throughout his music, with songs like Bad Devil (and a lot of Infinity actually) and albums like Ziltoid the Omniscient....what's even better is that oftentimes there's a relevant connection to the humor and the point he's trying to get across

Have you ever seen the video for Vampira?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyVuheZx4BQ

I laughed pretty hard. JAZZ HANDS.

As has been mentioned in passing. Cardicas have a great sense of humour but it is played absolutely deadpan. Strangley enough, they employ another tactic which is to appear to be acting really stupid until suddenly you realise there is a much more sinister undercurrent at work. It's brilliant but unsettling.

For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNdnOTvGbJQ - This is an early song called RES from the 1980's

For me, humour really only works in music if it is a part of a greater dynamic within the band. I've seen many a frontman use humour to put an audience at ease but it takes something special to place something funny in a song without screwing up the music.

Like most things, you have to have a talent for it.








Edited by sigod - February 01 2008 at 11:29

Caravan have always struck me as having a great sense of humor, from their album titles (If I Could Do It All Over Again I'd Do It All Over You, Cunning Stunts, etc.), their song titles (The Dog, The Dog He's At It Again, etc.) to their lyrics ("I'd like to get deep down inside your pants", etc.).  A great band with a great sense of humor.  

If like Mr. Bungle humor, you have to check out Sleepytime Gorilla Museum's precurssor: Idiot Flesh.