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The problem isn't the definition of "novelty song" (which I can look up on Wiki anytime) but the inherent opinionatedness of it (which makes "Is X an example?" unsuited for SE - for example I'd file "Dislocated" by Gillian/Glover under this term).

But my question is: who has the definition authority?

  • Does the band say, "Here, have a novelty song?"
  • Does the record company say, "Hey, make some novelty song for teh luz!"
  • Does the critics say, "Silly. We file it as novelty song."
  • Or will it collectively be decided by the public, say, by playing it as a party evergreen?
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  • I know two bands personally who each decided to do a novelty song purely to make money in order to continue an otherwise serious career. One did it under a pseudonym, the other bare-facedly under their own regular band name. Both were major world-wide hits, so achieved their goal. Neither was ever followed up by another attempt at a novelty song. (Names redacted to protect the guilty;) [Not posting as an answer because it it a sample set of two & therefore not any kind of 'proof']
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Jan 25, 2023 at 9:36

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A "novelty song" is definitely "in the ear of the beholder" — an "I know it when I hear it" kind of music. However, there are a few general properties that many draw from:

  • Unusual instrumentation
  • Unusual topic for lyrics
  • Often funny or unserious
  • Overall uniqueness
  • Sometimes the only song that artist is known for
  • Sometimes achieve a meme-like spot in popular culture

Aside from popular opinion, there are a few "authorities" who might declare a song a "novelty":

  1. Dr. Demento: https://www.drdemento.com/
  2. Record labels: Novelty Records (1950s-era label) and Rhino Records
  3. Did I mention Dr. Demento?

For example, I would not include "Dislocated" in my list of novelty tunes. It might be a little weird or experimental compared to other music of the time, but not at a level I would call "novelty".

Here are a few that come to mind when I think of novelty tunes:

  • "Choo'n Gum" by Teresa Brewer: YouTube
  • "They're Coming to Take Me Away" and "I Live in a Split Level Head" by Napolean XIV: YouTube; YouTube
  • "Ready to Rock" by Pianosaurus: YouTube
  • "Enormous Penis" by Da Vinci's Notebook: YouTube
  • "Dead Puppies" by Ogden Edsel: YouTube
  • "The Chipmunk Song" by Alvin and the Chipmunks: YouTube
  • "King Tut" by Steve Martin: YouTube
  • "Fish Heads" by Barnes & Barnes: YouTube (songs starts at about 2:15)
  • "Cement Mixer" by Slim Galliard: YouTube
  • "Hawaian War Chant" arr. Spike Jones: YouTube
  • "Rubber Biscuit" by The Blues Brothers: YouTube
  • "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by Elmo and Patsy: YouTube
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  • Frame challenge - Underworld, Born Slippy. Fits all those definitions except being considered as a 'novelty song'. It's really, really hard to tie this down. I do agree with your definitions broadly, just that there must be some esoteric quality of 'I know this isn't meant to be taken seriously' that is hard to write down in a ruleset.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Jan 25, 2023 at 17:45
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    Dunno if "The Most Unwanted Song" can be considered a "novelty" or just a straight-up "parody"...
    – Andrew T.
    Commented Jan 26, 2023 at 20:56
  • @AndrewT. Now there's a blast from the past. I would definitely call it a novelty. Unless I've confused it with another piece, it was composed based on a survey of what people hated most in music. There was a companion piece based on what people liked most. The irony was that the "bad" piece was by far more enjoyable than the bland and boring "good" piece.
    – Aaron
    Commented Jan 26, 2023 at 22:03
  • @Tetsujin Yeah, agreed. "Born Slippy" doesn't have the silliness or irreverence that tends to be associated with "novelty", but it certainly has parts that qualify as "weird", at least.
    – Aaron
    Commented Jan 26, 2023 at 22:06

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