Novelty song
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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A novelty song is a silly or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions were ballads and dance music. Novelty songs achieved great popularity during the 1920s and 30s.
Novelty songs are often a parody or humor song, and may apply to a current event such as a holiday or a fad such as a dance. Many use unusual lyrics, subjects, sounds, or instrumentation, and may not even be musical. The #1 Greatest Novelty Song, "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!", has little music and is set to a rhythm tapped out on a snare drum and tambourine. One novelty song, a remix of "Axel F", started as a mobile phone ring-tone.