Music

Funny The Way It Is by: The Dave Matthew's Band

This song, by the Dave Matthew's Band, isn't exactly about funny as in "ha ha" funny like you'd think from the title.  It's actually about how ironic things in life today are and how it can sometimes seem funny.  For example, one of the lyrics is: "funny the way it is, if you think about it.  Somebody's going hungry and someone else is eating out.  Funny the way it is, not right or wrong.  Somebody's heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song."  The song depicts how unfair things in the world today can be.  At the exact same time in perhaps the same place, one person can be living life luxuriously while another could be struggling just to feed their family.  We now realize that this song isn't humorous at all, but it actually reveals how unfair society is and how the irony of it can seem funny "if you think about it."

Laughing With by: Regina Spektor

Laughing With by Regina Spektor is a song explaining how nobody laughs at God when they're in serious situations such as being hospitalized or grieving over a lost one. It's in these situations that people pray to God when, really, the relationship should be more than just asking Him for favors.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al Yankovic is a satirical artist known for his parodies of popular songs.  His first comedy song sold more than 12 million albums, he has recored over 150 parodies and original songs, and has performed in more than 1,000 shows.  By taking the tune of a popular song and changing the words to create a different theme, he makes millions laugh.  He reminds us that music, though an insightful and inspiring work of art, can also be used to make people laugh with certain lyrics.  Weird Al is not mocking the artists he makes parodies of, however.  He is actually making the song more popular by creating a funny version!  Some artists actually ask Weird Al to make parodies of their songs!  Below are two of Weird Al's most popular parodies, Ebay (Parody of "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys" )  and "White & Nerdy" (Parody of "Ridin' Dirty" by Chamillionare.)  

Don't Worry Be Happy By: Bobby McFerrin

The nice, relaxing beat in the background makes the world seem like a happy, peaceful place. Bobby McFerrin whistles this calm, melodious tone, causing a sense of relaxation to fall upon those who listen to the song. When his voice comes in at 33 seconds, you realize the whole beauty of the music is within the simplicity of its melody and rhythm. Bobby encourages people to just be happy and not worry about the many stresses of everyday life. Throughout the song, he talks about troubles/problems which may occur, but still ends each stanza by saying "Don't worry, be happy," hence the name of the song. His rhyming lyrics at 2:40 explain how unhappiness will spread to others because sadness is just as contagious as laughter. According to Bobby McFerrin, happiness is something that should always be present in our lives. Without happiness, nobody can truly live their life to the fullest.

Venetian Princess

Venetian Princess, aka Jodie Rivera, is a Youtube internet personality who became famous in 2006.  Similar to Weird Al, she makes parodies of popular songs and events.  With over 1 million subscribers and more than 350 million video views, she is an internet sensation.  She is yet another example of how music can be used to make people laugh just as often as it can be used to inspire people.  One of her most popular songs is "7 Things Guys Don't Have To Do" which is a parody of Miley Cyrus' song "7 Things."  It was one of the top 10 viral videos in the year 2008.  She is not the only person who is featured in this video, however.  The video features many different clips of girls doing "things guys don't have to do."  Jodie is yet another example of someone who uses her musical talents and her remarkable sense of humor to get her point across.

The Lonely Island

The Lonely Island is a musical group consisting of Andy Samberg, Akiva Shaffer, Jorma Taccone known for their comical songs and music videos performed on Saturday Night Live.  Their songs help add a musical aspect to the humor on SNL.  Below is one of their songs called "I'm on a Boat."

The Chanukah Song by: Adam Sandler

Everyone is familiar with all the Christmas carols played during the holiday season, but rarely do you hear any songs about Chanukah. "The Chanukah Song" by Adam Sandler not only provides us with a good laugh, but it also teaches us a little bit about this Jewish holiday and who in hollywood celebrates it.  This song is an example of how when humor is added, it becomes easier to focus on learning a certain topic.  With silly rhymes and examples of Jews in hollywood today, Sandler teaches us all a little bit about Chanukah in a funny way.  

Candlelight by: The Maccabeats 

The Maccabeats are an all-male college a cappella group from Yeshiva University in New York City. On May 17th, 2011, the group performed at the White House at a reception in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month where President Obama thanked them for "their outstanding performance." Candlelight is a spoof of pop singer Tiao Cruz's famous song "Dynamite," receiving over 5.2 million views on Youtube. Although the lyrics may appear humorous, they teach the basics of Chanukah and give some insight on Jewish history. The name "Maccabeats" is actually based off the Maccabees, a Jewish rebel army that defeated the Macedonian Empire and took back control of Judea. They reasserted the Jewish religion, expanded boundaries of the Land of Israel, and reduced the influence of Hellenism (spread of Greek culture). This is all explained in the first and second verse of "Candlelight."

The French Revolution

The French Revolution is a parody of Lady Gaga's song Bad Romance.  It is yet another example of how humorous songs can be helpful in learning what would usually be a boring topic for some.  Through this music video is funny and patriotic, we learn a lot about history.  Humor and music are two great ways to make learning fun!

Price Tag by: Jesse J

Life isn't all about the glamour, money, fame, and fortune. In the modernized society we live today, people have forgotten what it means to lead a moral life and to sustain genuine friendships. We always end up making assumptions about people based on their social class, how much money they make, where they live, and sometimes even their skin color. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how big a person's house is, or what kind of car he drives. Jesse J is trying to tell us that as human beings, we often decide to put a price on everything. We eventually forget what's truly important and worry too much about what other people think. As a result, people get carried away with artificial desires and do not stop to enjoy life for what it really is. That's because true happiness is priceless; you can have everything in the world, but it doesn't mean you'll be happy.