Novelty
Also known as novelty song, novelty songs
A flexible comic-pop label for songs that aim to amuse, surprise, or parody as much as they aim to entertain musically.
Origins and context
The label is most often used in English-language popular music, especially the post-vaudeville, radio, and television eras, where comic performance, parody, and brief narrative songs were widely circulated.
How to listen
Start here
- Listen for the joke structure: setup, escalation, punch line.
- Pay attention to how production tricks or exaggerated performances carry the comedy.
- Notice that the same label can fit everything from gentle parody to chaotic sound-effects spectacle.
Mood
- Playful
- Wry
- Theatrical
History
Novelty songs have deep roots in vaudeville, music hall, and early popular entertainment, where comic numbers were part of the show rather than a side attraction. In modern pop history, the label has been used for humorous or satirical recordings that often tell a compact story and stay memorable because they are funny first and musical second. By the mid-20th century, radio and television helped novelty records travel fast, and artists such as Spike Jones and Allan Sherman became closely associated with the form. AllMusic’s style pages place figures like Weird Al Yankovic, Tom Lehrer, Spike Jones, and Allan Sherman among its key names, while describing novelty songs as brief, story-driven, and usually written with a humorous gesture.
Notable artists
- SJSpike Jones
- ASAllan Sherman
- TLTom Lehrer
- WAWeird Al Yankovic
Essential listening
- 1
- 2
- 3
Novelty style overview
