I don’t like comedy songs.
To me, the fundamental problem with comedy songs is structural. Jokes are meant to be surprising, to constantly shift and develop into new areas. Great songs, however, are based on familiarity. The best pop songs all have that one great hook in the chorus that you just can’t wait to hear again. When that chorus contains a repeated joke, the humor turns to tedium and I check out.
This issue has been rattling around in my head for a while, and recently I got the perfect opportunity to expand on it. I performed in a contest for the Philly Improv Theater. Five comedians were given a constraint (puppet, impressions, topical) and given an hour to compose a 3 minute act. I got a guitar, so I wrote a song about how I hate funny songs. It’s called, naturally, The Second Chorus Problem.
Kent, how am I just seeing this for the first time. I love it! You look skinny.