Lorenzo:  Caparezza “Fuori dal tunnel”  This one has a comical sound from the start, sort of a vaudeville or circus orchestra feel.  I get a feel, a lot, of a sort of Italian Frank Zappa, making fun of modern “culture,” which exalts cheap thrills over more quiet living, and in a bit of a bawdy way.  He’s happy being himself, let everyone else lose their lives to endless partying and hangovering.  I am quite in agreement!   Giorgio Gaber “Il corrotto”  A bluesy tune, with a (fitting, as it is another bawdy one) a horn section.  Poor guy, he’s trying to be good, yet his hormones seem to be getting the best of him.  By the end, I seems as though the hormones have prevailed.

dr wu23:  John Prine “Dear Abby”  The venerable John Prine (RIP) in a live recording, this particular song I haven’t heard.  Here he writes to Dear Abby, asking for advice, solo acoustic guitar and John’s voice alone.  This poor guy is so afflicted with his life, lol!  We are what we are and we ain’t what we ain’t!  Love his pseudonyms for each verse….And, pretty good advice there, too.  Some people never learn this, who knew that John Prine had all the answers we need, in this tidy package of a song. 

Lewian:  Foyer des Arts "Wissenswertes ueber Erlangen"  This one has a kind of circus-y feel to the music, you can tell it’s funny, even if you don’t understand the lyrics (but thank you for providing them)….also the sarcasm in the vocalist’s delivery lets you know you’re being told a comical tale.  Wherever one is from is the best place, after all, we have similar tales from state to state in the US, kind of putting down the neighbouring state, which also puts down your state. 

Crane:  Welcome to these polls!  Here we have the often hilarious They Might Be Giants “Fingertips”  The song is making fun of sort of classic songs in a mashup of all kinds of popular culture types of music from lounge acts to tv commercials and several things in between.  Makes me think of Firesign Theater on speed instead of LSD, or Bonzo Dog Band with ADHD.  

Icarium:  Supertramp “Fools Overture”  Very familiar with all three of these, so will not vote “for,” them, which doesn’t indicate how much I appreciate the music whatsoever!  Fool’s Overture begins with piano and then a keyboard whistle sort of sound.  Background sounds of a crowd enter with sounds of trumpets and pealing of bells follow, “we shall never surrender,” is heard (Churchill?) and some sirens, more bells and then some keyboards start up with a steady beat of the drums.  Full band enters with horns up front.  Vocalist comes in with soaring vocals.  Cut back to sounds of a crowd and wind blowing.  Vocalist reenters with choral vocals chiming in as the song becomes more marchlike and the wind returns to end the piece.  Marillion “Script for a Jester’s Tear”  A Marillion classic here, very dramatic piece with Fish fronting the band.  Song of lost love, and perhaps of childhood as well, with majestic keyboards and guitars wailing along with the vocals.  In classic prog fashion, there are tempo changes and movement with dynamics, as Fish fights with his angst, then the song fades with him enquiring of his lost love.  Jethro Tull “Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow”  Song begins with a very immediately recognizable Tull sound.  Mandolin rings out with Ian Anderson’s questioning at Yuletide why others don’t have more compassion for others.  Keyboards underscore his singing, with a sense of churchliness, and also interweavings of flute and syncopated drums.  A choral a capella section enter, then full band again with Christmas bells added in.  Song fades out with a sense of a processional march.

Shadowyzard:  Happatai “Yatta”  Very pop-ish music, delivered in a comic manner, the video is very absurd, to go along with the lyrics and delivery.  I don’t know what to call it, precisely, but it is certainly funny, in a very bright and cheery sort of way.  Gencan “Kendimi Kontrol Edemiyorum”  Some bluesy electric guitar (though it’s an acoustic in the video), actually has a Turkish sound to the lead.  Sort of a semi-rap delivery, with more musical vocals in the chorus.  Not sure if the translation I found is correct, but seems to be saying the guy is sort of out of control silly/crazy?  Nihat Dogan “Macoyum Ben”  This one uses more of a Turkish orchestra sound, so reminds me a bit of Bollywood without the extreme costumes.  The vocal is very much what I remember hearing around the Middle Eastern clubs in SF.  I couldn’t find a translation into English for this one.  Very disco-y as well, but it’s because it’s dance music.  It sure seems to be something about beautiful women, however, and I find his facial expressions (and theirs), very funny, in a cute, conspiratorial way.  Daler Mehndi “Tunak Tunak Tun” This begins with a vocal sort of calling, then a disco-y/Middle Eastern beat comes in…the guys’ expressions are really cute, he seems to be kind of making fun of dance in it, to me?  They are also, certainly fun to watch, no matter what they’re saying, which, according to a translation I found, is quite simple, “Come and love me, listen to what the heart says.”   Rodolfo Chikilicuatre “Baila El Chiki Chiki”  This I understand more of, since it’s in Spanish, he is definitely making fun of dancing, with the go-go-type dancers demonstrating the various dances. 

George:  Denis Leary “A**hole”  Now this one I do remember, he was pretty funny as a shock comedian.  Begins with acoustic guitar and love his kind of satiric commentary.  Yeah, sometimes it takes a really long time to evolve, sadly.  He was right on, with this.  One of those things that are true, yet funny.  Loved the choirboy chorus….he got those stereotypes so right!  Kinda reminds me of someone.  You, too?   Alestorm “F*cked With An Anchor”  A charming little ditty (and love the bloodied keyboard!)  In kind of an Irish jig mode, very rousing and full of expletives, made me laugh! Plus, they’re actually pretty good players, so pull it off well. 

Aside:  No apologies necessary, I did indicate if pieces were very short, there could be more.  I do understand peoples’ wanting to have enough time to listen and enjoy, however, so I thought that was a good way to meet halfway, at least to start.  You’re enthusiastic and always make great contributions to these polls, not to mention (as she mentions it, lol) putting together those poll playlists for us!

You know already that I enjoy a good parody, so here we go with the final 3 short pieces.

Stephen Lynch “What If the Guy from Smashing Pumpkins Lost His Car Keys?”  Brilliant, he sounds JUST like Billy Corgan!  Daveyboyz “Heavy Metal Farmer”  Begins with electric guitar and drums setting the scene, then the growling commences and the angry vocals.  This is pretty funny, the poor cows, lol!  TractORR!  Cathy Richardson “Covid Breath”  This is pretty brilliant also….Now which one is my favourite?  Might be this one, since I’m a big Tull fan.

suitkees:  Neil (Nigel Planer) “Hole In My Shoe”  LOVED The Young Ones, esp his character.  Begins with a short diatribe from Neil, then goes into the song, which is hilarious!  Followed by his parody, “Hurdy Gurdy Mushroom Man”   He does such a great mimicry of Donovan here, kind of almost a take on “Atlantis,” in the delivery at first, then he goes into more LSD style stream-of-consciousness lyrics with a bouncy bunch of music and a children’s chorus.  This is so very silly and fun.  King Missile “Eating People”  Begins with piano, beautifully played, and a person going into the possible reasons for cannibalism.  It becomes very light in tone, with the awful concept being happily sung (hilarious!).  A good parody on some of the discussions of why someone is vegetarian or vegan.  Nice horn solo ¾ of the way in.  Followed with another by them, “And”  This one begins as a metal-type song with “bad,” singing (all off key-ish).  What I think of as a “list” song, listing many words after “and,” as the starting word.  There is a portion of starts and stops, then the off-key singing jumps in and out with some bing-boings, then back into the main theme. 

Lewian:  Deichkind “Richtig Gutes Zeug” This one starts with an 80’s kind of keyboard, but spoken vocals.  Yes, there is a tendency in people to think they have the best of everything (unless they are envious of things others have), whether it’s truly “good,” or not.   Also, the endless acquisitiveness of so many people to buy, buy, buy, have, have, have. 

JD:  I think this is the first time you’ve come to these polls?  I know I’ve seen you about the site, but not sure if it was around here, so welcome!  And welcome again, if I’m wrong.  😊 Frank Zappa “Dancing Fool”  Big Zappa fan here, so very familiar with song, making quite a bit of fun of disco music.  Will not spoil it for others, if they are unfamiliar with how it commences.  Also was happy to hear it again on a show that played on 1 April, perfect choice for the day and a great contribution. 

Tancos:  John McCutcheon “Barefoot Boy with Boots On”  I do know of John McCutcheon, I have a singer friend who used to cover a song of his, but haven’t heard this particular one.  This one is very fiddles-forward, a bit of a reel.  A nonsense and absurdities song, it is very amusing, with the twists and turns it takes.  The Fredösphere “Abraham Lincoln Was an Invader from Space”  Begins with some “space” clinkies, then banjo and a singer in an Appalachian style, yet monotone vocal, with the chorus being semi-spoken and wheelie-wheelie noises for comic emphasis here and there.  Various Presidents are invoked, with announcements of how they also had odd abilities, presumably from their space origins. Tom Smith “I Had a Shoggoth”  This one references HP Lovecraft, with the amorphous “shoggoth,” in the title.  This is also features a banjo, but has a much more musical vocal.  This one takes the folk tradition of introducing different spooky characters, then repeats them as one more is added each time (think “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” or “I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly).  Very amusing!  Cathy Berberian “Ticket To Ride”  This is a fun take on someone who is presenting a “serious,” performance and then it becomes something else, entirely.  A song done “in the manner of.”  Here, the singer takes on the song if it were arranged as an operatic aria.  Very fun!

Scott:  No pressure to vote or anything, just glad to see you back.  Scatterbrain “Tastes Just Like Chicken”   This is a complex rocky piece of music, but with a robotic rap sort of vocal, with some choruses which are more “musical.”  Has plenty of sarcasm regarding the homogenization of current culture with a blistering short lead just right of center.  Yeah, it does all taste like chicken, unless you know where to look.  Good entry!