Stereoboard Look At The Most Popular Musical Comics (Tim Minchin, Bill Bailey Feature)
Friday, 24 February 2012
Written by Heather McDaid
To many, music is a wonderful form of expression; one that can translate countless feelings and thought processes that we just couldn’t put into words. It can connect or capture a listener in many ways and ease them through bad times, be present in prominent memories of the good times and much more. Then again, not everyone takes music wholly seriously as an artform. While it’s a fantastic thing, we all like a little sarcasm or quirk or just a good reason to laugh.
And – as we should all know - according to the new Muppets movie, the third most important gift you can give is laughter. So it’s a good time to have a look at some musical comics who use their music for this particular gift.
One of the prominent faces right now is Mr. Tim Minchin. While being hailed a wonderful comedian for his quirk, his awkwardness and his sensational music talent. He describes himself more as a songwriter and musician and says his songs "just happen to be funny", also commenting "I'm a good musician for a comedian and I'm a good comedian for a musician but if I had to do any of them in isolation, I don't know..."
With acts including comparing the Qur’an to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, he deals lightly with some relatively controversial issues in a jovial manner. His track ‘Prejudice’ sings, “In our modern free-spoken society, there is a word that we still hold taboo [...] Just six seemingly harmless letters arranged in a way that will form a word [...] A couple of Gs, an R and an E, an I and an N [...] Don't want to have to spell it out again... Only a ginger can call another ginger, ginger.”
His romantic number ‘If I Didn’t Have You’ starts well in the direction of romance with “If I didn't have you to hold me tight, if I didn't have you to lie with at night, if I didn't have you to share my sights, and to kiss me and dry my tears when I cry...” He then continues with “If I didn't have you, someone else would do. Your love is one in a million, you couldn't buy it at any price but of the 9.999 hundred thousand other loves statistically, some of them would be equally nice or maybe not as nice but, say, smarter than you or dumber but better at sport or tracing...”
Tim has a real knack for quirky humour but doesn’t focus entirely on that. He is a very talented musician, something that’s relatively astounding when you see him life. He has countless original tracks that could be recommended or used as prime examples as to why he’s a quality musician and comedian. Having said that, if you need any further evidence Tim will be headlining the second stage on the Saturday of Sonisphere this year; technically, he will be the direct support act to Queen. Yes – Queen.
But a comedian playing sub-headliner to a mammoth act isn’t a new sensation for 2012. Last year, the UK’s very own Bill Bailey – courtesy of the same time slot – acted as a direct support act to Slipknot. While we think it’s fair Tim will fit in prior to Queen because of his musical stylings, Bill and his love of metal definitely fit bill, especially with the Big Four playing two nights previous.
Bill’s music isn’t entirely original, but more manipulating music already in existence for comic effect alongside original tracks. In 2010, Rammstein annihilated Sonisphere, so come 2011 the pits opened far and wide for Bill’s rendition of the classic track ‘Scarborough Fair’ done in the style of said German rockers. Assumedly, he was the first person to ever garner looming circle pits to the child’s party track ‘Hokey Kokey’ that evening too.
Not caring to keep it strictly metal, he turned on his strong Yorkshire accent – something which rears its head on many TV appearances on the likes of QI – to perform Lady Gaga’s ‘Pokerface’. Ending that performance, he paid tribute to the Friday night headliners Metallica with an odd horn rendition of ‘Master of Puppets’. He plays on British humour, offering songs about Asda, disses on David Cameron and Nick Clegg and even remixes the BBC News opening sequence into a rave number of sorts.
Original tracks of his include ‘Love Ballad’, the track that deals with the bitterness of love, the soppiness of being in love and returns to the bitterness following love. Gushing “But then you came... You showed me the beauty of the things that I had never seen like the snowflake that melts on the eyelash of a startled deer”, the song changes its vibe and snarls “The snowflake on the eye of the dear has turned to pus that oozes from an open wound. The deer, now blinded, stumbles into a ravine...”
Another soloist with a rather large online following is Brian Haner. Going by the name of Papa Gates to some, he’s also known widely as Guitar Guy, famed for his appearances and extensive touring with ventriloquist Jeff Dunham. Aside from his various pseudonyms, all it takes is one glance at Youtube to realise he’s brilliant. Not content with his stand up routines that mix general comedy with his tracks, he makes some pretty funny videos to accompany.
His number ‘Blow-up Doll’ is a bluesy number with neat rock flaunts that explains, “I’d give her a ten if I had to rate her. When I saw her downtown I wanted to date her. When I finally got her home I couldn’t wait to inflate her.” ‘Fistfight at a Wafflehouse’ pretty much does what it says on the tin, offering a couple having a – wait for it – fistfight in a waffle house.
Following the sensation (if that’s what you choose to call it) that was Rebecca Black’s ‘Friday’, Brian offered his parody aptly named ‘Saturday’. After a quick mention of a recent party, he soon talks of how the evening lead to a hooker in Hollywood. Offering a more sinister twist on what appeared to be an innocent enough song about choosing a seat in a car, you can’t really disagree with 7730 likes.
Aside from the solo artists who occasionally bring musical backing with them, there’s a duo who should also feature. Unlike those who tour under the primary lure of comedy, Tenacious D tour as musicians. At their Reading and Leeds performances, the comedy was evident from the start as Jack Black stood dressed in wizard’s robes and Kyle Gass took to the stage as a dinosaur. He says, “Oh, I thought you said lizard...” We’re kind of hoping for similar costumes and stunts like this at Download this summer, please.
Musically, their album ‘The Pick of Destiny’ was initially works as the accompaniment to their movie of the same title, but stands alone with some comedic tracks. ‘The Government Totally Sucks’ details how “Ben Franklin was a rebel indeed” and “he liked to get naked while he smoked on the weed.” While tracks on this record are good, they are best within the context of the film. Their real best work lies in their self-titled debut.
‘Tribute’ speaks for itself, being one of the most recognisable D songs in circulation. “And we played the first thing that came to our heads, just so happened to be, the Best Song in the World.” Detailing their fleeting battle with the devil in which the duo improvised what was coincidentally the best song in the world, they go on to caution listeners against confusion, adding, “This is not the greatest song in the world, no, this is just a tribute.”
What is assumed to be the most anticipated track for singalongs at their Download slot is ‘Fuck Her Gently’. An educational track of how to treat your lady, Jack Black questions, “What's your favourite posish? That's cool with me, it's not my favourite but I'll do it for you. What's your favourite dish? I'm not gonna cook it but I'll order it from Zanzibar!” It’s not exactly the kind of educational track you’d play in a high school’s sex-ed class, but we’ll pretend it works.
Tenacious D are somewhat a novelty, but they’re good. Both spending time as actors and musicians, it seems a rarity that you get the chance to catch the duo live. Built for singalongs and nonsensical ramblings, The D are, well, awesome.
It’s a fair statement: people like to laugh. Another fair statement: people love music. So why not smash the two together? There are countless other examples from more innocent beginnings to more controversial offerings from the likes of Stephen Lynch, but regardless of your sense of humour it’s likely that there’s someone out there mixing it up with some music.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
