Yes, this was the year of Weird. We went to see “Weird” Al live in April. Somehow, I had never seen Mr. Yankovic perform in the flesh before, but that was rectified in 2022. It was a magical night that started off with me having excruciating pain in my abdomen. But my friend Science! had the answer (it was gas). Thanks, calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide! You’re my bestest friends.
The opener for Al was one of my favorite’s – Emo Philips – and he was in great form. Then, the man himself sat down with his bandmates and gave us a rockin’ good set sprinkled with classics, new stuff, and straight covers.
Then comes Daniel Radcliffe taking on what I thought would be the most un-Daniel Radcliffe role, starring as Weird Al in Roku’s Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, based on 2010’s Weird: The Al Yankovic Story from Funny Or Die. This year’s list includes a couple from Al, but also a bit of weirdness by Mr. Radcliffe on the Graham Norton show, and a tribute to Al and Dr. Demento by Nerf Herder…the band that brought us the theme for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
It was also the year of Tom Lehrer. Not only is the aforementioned bit by Daniel Radcliffe a recitation of Lehrer’s “The Elements” song, but Tom himself made a couple of appearances. In 2020, he donated all of his lyrics to the public domain. In November he included all recording and performing rights of any kind, making all of his music that he has originally composed or performed free for anyone to use and available directly from his site for free download. If you go to tomlehrersongs.com, you will see the notice and can access the music until it is taken down.
“Dead Skunk” by Loudon Wainright III is on this year’s list, and it’s amazing to me that this is the first time it has ever appeared.
National Lampoon’s “Deteriorata” makes its first appearance since 1978. It’s still kinda funny, but how many people have heard the spoken word recording of the poem Desiderata by Les Crane that it’s sending up?
Here are the changes from last year to the list of Dr. Demento’s TOP 100 (or so) DEMENTED HITS (from Funny 25’s) – 1974 to 2022:
- “Springtime For Hitler” from The Producers enters the list, making its first appearance since 1975. It first appeared in the Funny 25 in 1974. It is now tied at #73 with Weird Al’s “I Love Rocky Road” and the next new entry to the list…
- “Poisoning Pigeons In The Park” by Tom Lehrer. As I wrote last year, I was surprised that this song (which I sing every Spring) was not already in the Top 100. It first appeared in the Funny 25 in 1978.
- Weird Al’s version of the Ramones song “Beat On The Brat” comes into the list tied at #80 with a bunch of songs, including “Hamster Love,” “Ode To My Car,” “Fake Adult” and “Let’s Blow Up The Tow Truck.” This version was #3 in 2018.
- The addition of these three knocks three greats off the list, as they are now tied for 101st place: King Tut by Steve Martin, Bras On 45 by Ivor Biggun and Fat by Weird Al.
- “The Masochism Tango” by Tom Lehrer moves up from #60 to a tie at #48 with “Gilligan’s Island Stairway.”
- “Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh” by Allan Sherman goes from a tie at #84 to being tied at #41 with “My Dead Dog Rover.”
- “Deteriorata” goes up from being tied at #60 with “The Masochism Tango” to the #40 spot.
- “I’ve Got No More F’s To Give” by Thomas Benjamin Wild, Esq. moves up to #37 after its third appearance in the Funny 25.
- “Amish Paradise” by Weird Al goes from #35 to #27.
Here’s this year’s Funny 25. Stay safe. Stay weird. Have a great 2023.
The Dr. Demento Show #22-53 – December 31, 2022
Special Topic: Funny 25
This show is available for online listening at drdemento.com
playlist courtesy of The Dr. Demento Show
#25 Bulbous Bouffant – Radio Free Vestibule
#24 I Ride – William Shatner
#23 Dead Skunk – Loudon Wainwright III
#22 Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television (edited) – George Carlin
#21 The Scotsman – Bryan Bowers
#20 Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head – The Frantics
#19 I’ve Got No More F’S To Give – Thomas Benjamin Wild, Esq.
#18 Gay! – Randy Rainbow
#17 The Masochism Tango – Tom Lehrer
#16 They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! – Napoleon XIV
#15 Beat On The Brat – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#14 The Kittyman (Sea Shanty) – Trailer Park Boys
#13 Deteriorata – National Lampoon
#12 Amish Paradise – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#11 Baby Talk At The Sleepover – Napoleon XIV & Artie Barnes
#10 Springtime For Hitler – Mel Brooks
#9 Existential Blues – Tom “T-Bone” Stankus
#8 Mississippi Squirrel Revival – Ray Stevens
#7 Brandon – Worm Quartet
#6 Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp) – Allan Sherman
#5 Wet Dream – Kip Addotta
#4 Poisoning Pigeons In The Park – Tom Lehrer
#3 The Elements – Daniel Radcliffe
#2 Plastic Jesus – Allison Young & Josh Turner
#1 Born Weird – Nerf Herder f/ “Weird Al” Yankovic