2022: Time To Get Weird Again

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 BouffantRadio Free Vestibule
#24 I RideWilliam Shatner
#23 Dead SkunkLoudon Wainwright III
#22 Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television (edited) – George Carlin
#21 The ScotsmanBryan Bowers
#20 Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the HeadThe Frantics
#19 I’ve Got No More F’S To GiveThomas Benjamin Wild, Esq.

#18 Gay!Randy Rainbow
#17 The Masochism TangoTom 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 DeteriorataNational Lampoon
#12 Amish Paradise“Weird Al” Yankovic
#11 Baby Talk At The SleepoverNapoleon XIV & Artie Barnes

#10 Springtime For HitlerMel Brooks
#9 Existential BluesTom “T-Bone” Stankus
#8 Mississippi Squirrel RevivalRay Stevens
#7 BrandonWorm Quartet
#6 Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp)Allan Sherman
#5 Wet DreamKip Addotta
#4 Poisoning Pigeons In The ParkTom Lehrer
#3 The ElementsDaniel Radcliffe
#2 Plastic JesusAllison Young & Josh Turner

#1 Born WeirdNerf Herder f/ “Weird Al” Yankovic

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2021: Return to Normalcy?

2021 was supposed to be the opposite of 2020. It didn’t quite turn out that way, as six days into the new year, we were treated to the culmination of four years of lunacy (and not the good kind), and that mutated virus we’d been dealing with decided to hang around as long as possible (and so did Covid-19). But, to misquote the nameless hero who survived being turned into a newt, we got better.

This year’s Funny 25 features a lot of classics and familiar faces to comfort us and to bring back a sense of the kind of insanity that we actually appreciate around here. A couple of notes…

“The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati” first appeared in 1974 under the name Possum, because the band (Rose & The Arrangements) wanted to hide their identity. It shows up this year for the first time since 1978.

Sadly this year, we lost the purveyor of gadgets nobody knew they needed (and really didn’t), Ron Popeil. Fun fact: Ron’s sister, Lisa Popeil, has been a backup singer for Weird Al, including on his homage to the father of the infomercial, “Mr. Popeil”.

I don’t believe I have ever heard the B-side to one of my least favorite songs ever: “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks. They say that “Put The Bone In” was intentionally bad, so the DJ’s would know which side of the record to play, but if it were up to me, I’d be paralyzed with indecision…about whether to burn the record or simply smash it with a hammer.

My favorite springtime anthem, “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” by Tom Lehrer, makes just its third appearance in the Funny 25 since its debut in 1978. I really thought that one would be in the Top 100 by now, but this is its first showing in almost 20 years.

Here are the changes to Dr. Demento’s TOP 100 (or so) DEMENTED HITS (from Funny 25’s) – 1974 to 2021

  • The “Smoke-Off” by Shel Silverstein moves up from #12 to #11, passing “The Scotsman” by Bryan Bowers.
  • Doctor Demento’s version of “Shaving Cream” goes up a spot to #29, returning for the first time in 30 years. If it were combined with Benny Bell’s version, this song would be #7 on the Top 100.
  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s “The Time Warp” makes a jump from a tie at #66 all the way up to #36.
  • Jonathan Coulton’s “RE: Your Brains” moves way up from a tie at #54 to #37 all on its own.
  • By virtue of its return to the countdown after 40+ years, “The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati” moves up from a tie at #42 to a tie at #40 with Travesty, Ltd.’s “Rock and Roll Doctor” and “Last Will And Temperament” by The Frantics.
  • “The Vatican Rag” by Tom Lehrer was dropped off the Top 100.

#25 The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati – Rose & The Arrangement
#24 Mr. Popeil – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#23 Put The Bone In – Terry Jacks
#22 Shaving Cream – Dr. Demento
#21 Mr. Biden (Bring My Vaccine) – Randy Rainbow & The Robinettes
#20 Titties And Beer – Frank Zappa
#19 Poisoning Pigeons In The Park – Tom Lehrer
#18 Eleanor Rigby – Doodles Weaver

#17 Existential Blues – Tom “T-Bone” Stankus
#16 Fish Heads – Barnes & Barnes
#15 I Like – Heathen Dan
#14 Re: Your Brains (live in Santa Monica) – Jonathan Coulton
#13 The Smoke-Off – Shel Silverstein
#12 Fart Patrol – Steam Powered Giraffe
#11 Racist Sexist Boy – The Linda Lindas

#10 Jesus Horse Camp – The Other Favorites
#9 Little Bobert Sunshine – Barnes & Barnes
#8 The Time Warp – The Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast
#7 I Wanna Be A Teen Titan – Knuckleheadz w/ Stimulator Jones
#6 Locked In The Closet With You (2021 version) – SuLu
#5 Dead Puppies – Ogden Edsl Wahalia Blues Ensemble Mondo Bizzario Band

#4 Lazy Day – Knuckleheadz
#3 They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! – Napoleon XIV
#2 Talking Media Fear Makers Blues – Izzy Zimmerman & The Sal Nation Army Band

#1 Peed In My Pants – Knuckleheadz

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2020 and the (Mostly) Topical Funny 25

While this year’s Funny 25 had its usual share of good ole offbeat wackiness (“Monster Rap,” “Wet Dream,” “Shatnered”), the traditional “Weird Al” song, and the first appearance of a George Carlin classic, it seemed like 2020’s list had far more topical entries than usual.  All the hits from the crapfest that was this past year were there. From Covid-19 to the census to WAP to Trump to BLM, 2020 pushed us until we all had no more fucks to give.

Yet, somehow, we made it. We’ve been through some crappy times before, but we still have our Star Wars and our Spam. In the words of a great American space pirate, “Draw a smile on a paper plate and slap it right onto your face.”

Hang in there, baby. It’ll soon be over. (I hope, I hope, I hope.)

Here’s this year’s Funny 25 and the associated update to Dr. Demento’s TOP 100 (or so) DEMENTED HITS (from Funny 25’s). Changes to the Top 100 include:

  • With 93 points since its first appearance in 1975, Monty Python’s “Spam” moved past Jef Jaisun’s “Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent” to the #23 spot.
  • After its #2 showing in 2019 and its #1 placement in 2020, the ditty by Thomas Benjamin Wild, Esq., “I’ve Got No More F’s To Give” enters the list tied for 43rd place with “Gilligan’s Island (Stairway)” by Little Roger & the Goosebumps.
  • “I Like” by Colleen Green enters the list at #81.
  • Both of these new entries knocked off a whole bunch of songs from the chart, including “Get A Load Of This” (R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders), “My Name Is Larry” (Larry “Wild Man” Fischer), “99 Dead Baboons” (Tim Cavanagh), “We Love Barney Fife” (Guns ‘N Moses), “Tweetin’ On A Jet Plane” (Steve Goodie), and “Snoopy The Dogg” (the great Luke Ski).
  • “Vatican Rag” (Tom Lehrer) stays on the list as the “or so” because I don’t like a tie for 98th place being the last thing on a Top 100 list (and because it’s my list).

Here are the entries for the 2020 Funny 25 from Doctor Demento’s December 26th show. As usual, I have linked to YouTube videos where possible.

#25 Monster Rap (edit) – Bobby (Boris) Pickett f/ Bobby Paine
#24 Baby Stay The Fuck Away From Me – Richard Cheese
#23 Stay The Fuck At Home – Bob E. Kelley
#22 Census 2020 – Max DeGroot
#21 I Can’t Breathe – Tom Smith
#20 I Wonder What’s Inside Your Butthole (Jonathan Mann remix) – Lisa Schmeesa’s kid
#19 Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television (edited) – George Carlin
#18 Classical Gas – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#17 Spam – Monty Python

#16 Wet Dream – Kip Addotta
#15 C3PO – The Sithfits
#14 Hey, Dr. Demento – Larry Tritel
#13 I Like – Colleen Green
#12 Draw A Smile On A Paper Plate – Andy “Live From Brakingham Palace” Merrill
#11 We’ve Been Through Some Crappy Times Before – Austin Lounge Lizards

#10 Pajamazon! – The Aquabats!
#9 Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head – The Frantics
#8 Put On A Mask – Carla Ulbrich
#7 I Can Sufficiently Rock You Now – Power Salad
#6 Shatnered – Mark Jonathan Davis
#5 Existential Blues – Tom “T-Bone” Stankus
#4 WAPC (Wet-Ass Pussy Cat) – Devo Spice
#3 Doctor Demento Funny Five – Boomer & Zoomer
#2 The Bunker Boy – Randy Rainbow

#1 I’ve Got No More F’S To Give – Thomas Benjamin Wild, Esq.

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The Old Town Road Effect

It’s time for the annual update to Dr. Demento’s TOP 100 (or so) DEMENTED HITS (from Funny 25’s)!

This year saw a few shifts in the rankings, as three songs from previous years re-appeared and earned enough points to make the top 100.

“Weird Al” Yankovic added his 15th tune to the Top 100, as “One More Minute” (which first appeared in the 1985 countdown at #15) was #12 this year. Along with appearances in 1992, 1993 and 2018, the song finally earned enough points to enter the Top 100 at #65. It is tied at that position with “The Time Warp” from the Rocky Horror soundtrack and “Harry’s Jockstrap” by Dickie Goodman.

The other “Weird Al” songs in the Top 100 are: “Yoda” (#10), “Another One Rides the Bus” (#21), “White & Nerdy” (#28), “The Night Santa Went Crazy” (#29), “The Saga Begins” (#33), “Amish Paradise” (#35), “It’s All About the Pentiums” (#50-tied), “Eat It” (#52), “My Bologna” (#68), “I Love Rocky Road” (#71), “Bedrock Anthem” and “Whatever You Like” (#86), “Craigslist” (#89) and “Fat” (#96).

“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” by Monty Python first appeared in the Funny 25 at #6 in 1979. After a 40 year gap, it made it onto this year’s list at #8, earning it enough points to give the Python’s their 3rd entry on the Top 100, joining “Spam” (#24) and “The Lumberjack Song” (#44). “Bright Side” enters the 100 at #68, tied with “My Bologna” and “Street Meat (You Keep Tauntin’ Me)” by Mike Phirman. “The Lumberjack Song” also made this year’s Funny 25, which moved them up to #44 in the list.

Finally, last year’s #2 on the Funny 25 was this year’s #4, giving “Institutionalized” by Brak a tie at #47 on the Top 100 with “99 Words for Boobs” by Robert Lund.

Like the aforementioned “Lumberjack Song” there were several others that added to their point totals, including “Let’s Blow Up the Tow Truck” by Krypton (#76), “Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head” by The Frantics (#4), “The Smoke-Off” by Shel Silverstein (#12), “Shaving Cream” by Benny Bell (#16), “Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent” by Jef Jaisun (#23) and “Wet Dream” by Kip Adotta (#5).

Here are this year’s Funny 25 entries:

The Dr. Demento Show #19-52 – December 28, 2019
Special Topic: Funny 25
#25 Christmas in Lumania – Barnes & Barnes
#24 Lumberjack Song (Live at Drury Lane) – Monty Python
#23 Let’s Blow Up The Tow Truck – Krypton
#22 A Very Stable Genius – Randy Rainbow
#21 Rocket Man – William Shatner
#20 Let’s Talk Dirty To The Animals – Gilda Radner
#19 Impeachment 2019 – Rocky Mountain Mike
#18 Opinion Rhapsody – Dustin & Genevieve
#17 The Elements (live in Copenhagen, including Aristotelean version) – Tom Lehrer

#16 I Don’t Like Babies – Charles & Janet Cox
#15 Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head – The Frantics
#14 The Smoke-Off – Shel Silverstein

#13 Shaving Cream – Benny Bell (Vocal: Paul Wynn)
#12 One More Minute – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#11 Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent – Jef Jaisun
#10 Wet Dream – Kip Addotta
#9 Hey, Spidey – Again – Chris Wolvie
#8 Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life – Monty Python
#7 Everyone’s Here– Il Neige
#6 There Is Nothin’ Like A Wall – Randy Rainbow

#5 Comic Fan – The Library Bards
#4 Institutionalized – Brak
#3 Old Town Road (remix) – Lil Nas X f/ Billy Ray Cyrus
#2 I’ve Got No More F’S To Give – Thomas Benjamin Wild, Esq.

#1 Spider Verses – Devo Spice f/ Creative Mind Frame (aka 1-UP), Insane Ian, Bonnie Gordon, TV’s Kyle, LEX the Lexicon Artist, & the great Luke Ski

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One Al To Rule Them All

It’s time for the annual Doctor Demento Funny 25 and my update to the Dr. Demento’s TOP 100 (or so) DEMENTED HITS (from Funny 25′) – 1974 to 2018.

This year saw the return of the most frequent visitor to the Funny 25 over the years–the one-and-only “Weird Al” Yankovic. He not only placed 4 songs in the chart (including #1), but also had two songs by other artists that referenced him.

It was also a big year for Hamilton with at least two parodies directed at the Broadway hit, and a bunch of songs from the album Dr. Demento Covered in Punk (a compilation of various artists covering punk songs such as the Ramones’ Beat on the Brat or Demento classics like Fish Heads and Shaving Cream).

Here’s the list. I’ve added video links where I could find them and audio links where I couldn’t.

The Dr. Demento Show #18-52 – December 29, 2018
Special Topic: Funny 25

#25 Rappin’ Duke – Rappin’ Duke (Shawn Brown)
#24 Binary Love – Phil Johnson & Roadside Attraction
#23 Horny At The Holidays – Barnes & Barnes
#22 Vote ’em Out – Willie Nelson
#21 Don’t Talk About Size (edit) – Carrie Dahlby

#20 One More Minute – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#19 They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! – Napoleon XIV
#18 White & Nerdy – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#17 My Dear Alexa – Power Salad
#16 Creature With The Atom Brain – Quintron & Miss Pussycat

#15 Garbageman – William Shatner
#14 Below Me – Greg & Brian
#13 Tickets For “Weird Al” In Sarasota – Jeff Whitmire
#12 The Eagle And The Bear – BS de Resistance
#11 Fluffy – Fred Schneider

#10 Fish Heads – Osaka Popstar
#9 MRI – Derek Smalls
#8 A Scary Time – Lynzy Lab
#7 Father And Son (live on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert) – Flight Of The Conchords
#6 I Like – Colleen Green
#5 It’s Hot As Balls Outside – Cirque du So What?
#4 Alfred Matthew Yankovic – Michael Hunter
#3 Beat On The Brat – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#2 Institutionalized – Brak

#1 The Hamilton Polka – “Weird Al” Yankovic

This show is available for online listening at drdemento.com

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What do you mean you’ve never seen Firefly???

After Red Dwarf and pizza and a game of Arkham Horror, we spent the evening introducing my niece and her husband to the joys of Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place, The IT Crowd and Firefly (with a pitstop for them to show me The Mighty Boosh). #nerdosterone

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Hello, Old Friend

So, I finally went and done it. I deactivated my Facebook account. After it killed the blogging community and piled up a multitude of sins, I still felt a little queasy pushing the button.

Fortunately, they insisted on getting an explanation out of me before they would comply with my order, which gave me the opportunity to (virtually) shout, “I don’t owe you an explanation. Bite me!”

I guess I ought to clean up this place a little bit before I continue. It’s looking a little 2007 around here.

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One Last Polka 2017

Whether or not your 2017 was the greatest year ever or the coming together of all your worst nightmares, there is one thing we can say for it…it’s over! But before we kick it to the curb for our shiny, new 2018 upgrade, let’s take a look at this year’s Doctor Demento Funny 25 and the Top 100 (or so) Demented Hits (from Funny 25’s) – 1974 to 2017.

It’s always sad when our pop culture icons pass to the great TV Land in the sky, and more than a few of them this year really dug into the feels. A couple of them made the Funny 25 as a tribute, including Adam West and Chuck Berry.

“Weird Al” made his presence known with oldies (“Another One Rides the Bus”) and newies (“The North Korea Polka”). The latter was performed as part of a segment on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

Fish Heads padded its lead atop the 100, coming in a #21 this year. Meanwhile, other repeating songs included “Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to th Head” by the Frantics and “Entire Dog” by Worm Quartet.

The Top 10 included a Doctor Who-based parody of The Who’s “My Generation,” a rambling rap about amphibians, an indictment of a certain President’s love of Twitter, a lounge lizard version of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” (from the Lego Batman Movie soundtrack), an old-school fake interview/sound clip thing, one of the great songs from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, an instrumental version of a Nirvana song in the style of 60’s brass pop, a second Library Bards parody (this one of “Barbie Girl”), more “Weird Al” and the great Luke Ski.

As usual, I’ve tried to link to YouTube videos of each song. Otherwise, they’re usually found on The FuMP.

#25 Miranda – Adam West
#24 My Ding-A-Ling – Chuck Berry
#23 Ode To Playboy – Bob Ricci
#22 Another One Rides the Bus – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#21 Fish Heads – Barnes & Barnes
#20 Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head – The Frantics

#19 Pac-Man – “Weird Al” Yankovic
#18 Beaten On A Jet Plane – Steve Goodie
#17 Hey, Guardians! – Anthony “A-Log” LoGatto
#16 Hufflepuffs – Insane Ian
#15 Princess Leia’s Stolen Death Star Plans/With Illicit Help From Your Friend – Palette-Swap Ninja
#14 Nights In The Lab – Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers
#13 Words That Sound Dirty, But They Ain’t – Steve Goodie
#12 Entire Dog – Worm Quartet
#11 Gas Station Disc Jockey – Power Salad

#10 Regeneration – Library Bards
#9 It’s Frog Noticing Time – Scooter Picnic
#8 Let’s All Tweet – Red Peters
#7 Man In The Mirror – Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
#6 Hey Wonder Woman – Chris Wolvie
#5 Heavy Boobs – Rachel Bloom
#4 Smells Like Herb Alpert – Power Salad f/ Chuck Rickard
#3 Geeky Girl – Library Bards
#2 The North Korea Polka – “Weird Al” Yankovic

#1 Candybars – the great Luke Ski

This show is available for online listening at drdemento.com
playlist courtesy of The Dr. Demento Show and dmdb.org
The Dr. Demento Show #17-52 – December 30, 2017
Special Topic: funny 25

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Time Flies When You’re Having Funny 25’s

I just realized that this is the 15th time I have cataloged points for the Top 100 (or so) Demented Hits from Doctor Demento’s annual Funny 25. Fifteen years is just a small slice of the 40+ countdowns the good Doctor has given us, but it’s a good chunk of time. So, in honor of this 15th anniversary, I am presenting two extra lists.

First, I have compiled the top 15 whacky songs from the last 15 years.

  1. Fish Heads by Barnes & Barnes
  2. Dead Puppies by Ogden Edsl
  3. White & Nerdy by “Weird Al” Yankovic
  4. The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny by Lemon Demon
  5. They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! by Napoleon XIV
  6. Viagra in the Waters by Camille West
  7. Cows with Guns by Dana Lyons
  8. 99 Words for Boobs by Robert Lund
  9. Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head by The Frantics
  10. Bulbous Bouffant by Radio Free Vestibule
  11. Re: Your Brains by Jonathan Coulton
  12. Stealing Like a Hobbit by the great Luke Ski
  13. Street Meat (You Keep Tauntin’ Me) by Mike Phirman
  14. My Cat is Afraid of the Vacuum Cleaner by Power Salad
  15. Fake Adult by the great Luke Ski

And, second, here are the #1 songs from each year since the countdown started in 1974.

1974 – Shaving Cream by Benny Bell (with Paul Wynn)
1975 – Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent by Jef Jaisun
1976 – Stardrek by Bobby Pickett & Peter Ferrara
1977 – Pencil Neck Geek by “Classy” Freddie Blassie
1978 – The Ballad of Irving by Frank Gallop
1979 – Fish Heads by Barnes & Barnes
1980 – Another One Rides the Bus by “Weird Al” Yankovic
1981 – Yoda by “Weird Al” Yankovic
1982 – Dead Puppies by Ogden Edsl
1983 – Dead Puppies by Ogden Edsl
1984 – Eat It by “Weird Al” Yankovic
1985 – Wet Dream by Kip Addotta
1986 – Rock Me Jerry Lewis by Mike Elliot & Bud LaTour
1987 – Ti Kwan Leep/Boot to the Head by The Frantics
1988 – Fat by “Weird Al” Yankovic
1989 – Wappin’ by Darrell Hammond & Christopher Snell
1990 – We Love Barney Fife by Guns N’ Moses
1991 – Kick Ass USA by Milo Tremley
1992 – The Happy Happy Joy Joy Song by Ren & Stimpy
1993 – A Trip to Jurassic Park by Whimsical Will
1994 – Down with V.E.G. by The Amazing Onionheads
1995 – Carrot Juice is Murder by The Arrogant Worms
1996 – Bulbous Bouffant by The Vestibules
1997 – Cows with Guns by Dana Lyons
1998 – The Devil Went to Jamaica by Travis Meyer
1999 – The Chainsaw Juggler by The Four Postmen
2000 – Viagra in the Waters by Camille West
2001 – Let Me Make You Smile in Bed by The Four Postmen
2002 – Peter Parker by the great Luke Ski
2003 – Stealing Like a Hobbit by the great Luke Ski
2004 – Great Idea for a Song by Worm Quartet
2005 – Inner Voice by Sudden Death
2006 – The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny by Lemon Demon
2007 – Cellular Degeneration by Sudden Death
2008 – Hold On, I’ve Got to Take This by Power Salad
2009 – Save Me, Obama by Robert Lund
2010 – Raichu a Song by Nuclear Bubble Wrap
2011 – Snoopy the Dogg by the great Luke Ski
2012 – Tantric Yoda by Ookla the Mok
2013 – Mwahaha by Ookla the Mok
2014 – Fake Adult by the great Luke Ski
2015 – Benedict Cumberbatch by Insane Ian
2016 – Dick Heads by Steve Goodie

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Bad Hombres, Nasty Women and other SOB’s

It’s time once again for the annual update to the list of Dr. Demento’s TOP 100 (or so) DEMENTED HITS (from Funny 25’s).

This year featured plenty of Donald Trump parodies from Bad Hombres, Nasty Women to The Donald Trump Club March to Donald Trump’s Hair (which was written long before the recent election unpleasantness). As usual, the topics of the day (Trump, Bernie, the Cubs) raised their ugly heads–only to have them shot at in hilarious ways. I’ll wager we haven’t seen the last of these.

Fortunately, there were plenty of nonsensical tracks in the vein of Fish Heads and My Name is Larry, as well. The Worm Quartet brought us their observation of an Entire Dog (a WHOLE DOG!). The Chardon Polka Band created a spiritual successor to Frank Yankovic’s classic In Heaven There Is No Beer called You Can’t Drink Beer In Outer Space. Max DeGroot sings to us as one of those guys who brags about his love of hot foods in Spicey to the tune Billy Joel’s Always A Woman. And Steve Goodie undertook a medley of “Weird Al” songs in a Weird Al Country Medley.

Following in the footsteps of acts like AC/DC, CeeLo Green, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Frank Zappa, and The Monkees “legitimate” artists Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats placed a song in this year’s top 25 with S.O.B..

Power Salad released a tribute to Carrie Fisher to the tune of Layla called Leia (and Other Assorted Star Wars Parodies) shortly after “The Force Awakens” to respond to those body shamers out there who didn’t understand the concept of a woman somehow not looking 19 when she reached her late 50’s.

Only two songs revisited the Funny 25 from the past. Fish Heads–the number one demented song of all time–showed up for the first time since 2013, adding a point to its total, and Steve Goodman’s A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Wish made an appropriate reappearance thanks to the 2016 World Series champs.

Cub Fan’s spot wasn’t high enough to put it into the Top 100, but I did find an error in the totals. Street Meat (You Keep Tauntin’ Me) by Mike Phirman, which appeared at #4 in 2010 and #10 in 2011, has enough points to put it in the Top 100 at #66, alongside “Weird Al” Yankovic’s very first appearance in 1979–My Bologna.

Finally, the number one song this year was Dick Heads by Steve Goodie–a re-working of Fish Heads into a rant against a litany of things he doesn’t like.

This show is available for online listening at drdemento.com.
playlist courtesy of The Dr. Demento Show via the Demented Music Database

The Dr. Demento Show #16-53 – December 31, 2016
Special Topic: Funny 25

#25 Fish Heads – Barnes & Barnes
#24 Entire Dog – Worm Quartet
#23 Nothin’ But Truth – Devo Spice f/ Bonecage
#22 You Can’t Drink Beer In Outer Space – Chardon Polka Band (video)
#21 The Top 10 Things To Never Say On A First Date – MC Lars
#20 Bad Hombres, Nasty Women – The Gregory Brothers f/ “Weird Al” Yankovic (video)
#19 A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request – Steve Goodman (video)
#18 Asshole Parade – Tom Perri (video)
#17 Feel The Bern (In Your Bong) – Holy Bongwater

#16 The Donald Trump Club March – Robert Lund & Spaff (video)
#15 S. O. B. – Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (video)
#14 Trump Acres – Capitol Steps
#13 Spicy – Max de Groot
#12 Endoscope – Steve Goodie
#11 The Voices In Your Head (Have Started A Podcast) – Power Salad

#10 Ghostbusted – Anthony “A-Log” LoGatto
#9 If I Was President – Frank Zappa
#8 Donald Trump’s Hair – Kacey Jones (video)
#7 Weird Al Country Medley – Steve Goodie
#6 I’m Vambre Warrior – the great Luke Ski f/ Carrie Dahlby (video)
#5 Leia (and other assorted Star Wars parodies) – Power Salad (video)
#4 1,000 FuMPs – The FuMP (video)
#3 When Trump Was A Lad – Michael Stein (video)
#2 I’m Gonna Be Offended – Timm McCoy

#1 Dick Heads – Steve Goodie

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