Does humor belong in music?

What makes Weird Al songs so indelible? Why is Bo Burnham more than just a comic? How do the biggest pop hits make us crack up in the middle of a somber ballad? Humor is always present in music, but we rarely confront it head on. Until now. With the help of Comedian Chris Duffy, author of the book Humor Me: How Laughing Can Make You More Connected, Present, and Happy, and a series of lyrical submission from our listeners, we try to answer the question once posed by Frank Zappa, once and for all: Does humor belong in music?

Songs discussed:

Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Marcia Belsky – 100 Tampons
Bo Burnham – From God’s Perspective
Snoop Dogg – Gin and Juice
The Gourds – Gin and Juice
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
“Weird Al” Yankovic – Amish Paradise
“Weird Al” Yankovic – My Bologna
Stevie Wonder – Pastime Paradise
Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise
Bo Burnham – That Funny Feeling
Bo Burnham – FaceTime With My Mom
Elaine Stritch – Are You Having Any Fun?
Barenaked Ladies – If I Had $1,000,000
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Eminem – The Real Slim Shady
2 Chainz – Birthday Song
Lil Jon – Snap Yo Fingers
Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back
Chappell Roan – Casual
Audrey Hobert – I like to touch people
Audrey Hobert – Bowling alley
Jensen McRae – Immune

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