Introducing songs with dumb jokes

pklima · #1 07-24-2010, 04:15 AM

I've always wanted to tell an audience that "Smooth Operator" is about a plastic surgeon who operates on people and makes their skin smooth. Haven't gotten to do that yet, but last night I introduced Bjork's "Unravel" as being about how much Bjork hates that famous composer who composed that famous bolero, hence the title.

Yeah, that's terrible. What's the worst you've got?

**Rune Bivrin** · #2 07-24-2010, 06:35 AM

I could tell you, but then you'd have to kill yourself.

**bassybill** · #3 07-24-2010, 12:08 PM

Not necessarily used for introducing songs, but dumb corruptions of song titles often make me smile (usually as in jokes for the band).

We used to play a number called "Sock it to 'em" which usually got called when we were choosing the set as "Sock Item". Yes, weak, I know.

zachoff · #4 07-24-2010, 12:09 PM

Butthead voice: "This is a song about becoming the man. It's called become the man."

Nobody laughs... Ever.

Top_Ten · #5 07-24-2010, 12:27 PM

I was in a band called the Mr. T Experience and the singer of that band used to introduce literally every song with the line "this is a song about a girl." It became kind of a trademark.

kesslari · #6 07-24-2010, 12:33 PM

We introduce original instrumentals with "we're writing more instrumentals, 'cos as we age we forget more and more lyrics..."

zachoff · #7 07-24-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top_Ten

I was in a band called the Mr. T Experience and the singer of that band used to introduce literally every song with the line "this is a song about a girl." It became kind of a trademark.

That band was good.

OtterOnBass · #8 07-26-2010, 09:32 PM

The frontman usually introduces covers as his own and originals as others'.

'This is a song I wrote in a boxcar with an old friend back in Arkansas." Then we proceed to play The Cure.

Hoffman6000 · #9 07-26-2010, 09:41 PM

Used to be in a band that did "Never Been Any Reason" by Head East, but instead of "Save My Life" we sang "Shave My Wife I'm Going Down for the Last Time" .....also introducing any song and announcing to the audience the key, tempo, key signature, or feel of the tune usually gets some puzzled glances....of course these gags are always much funnier to the band than the audience.

Jeff K · #10 07-26-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoffman6000

Used to be in a band that did "Never Been Any Reason" by Head East, but instead of "Save My Life" we sang "Shave My Wife I'm Going Down for the Last Time" .....also introducing any song and announcing to the audience the key, tempo, key signature, or feel of the tune usually gets some puzzled glances....of course these gags are always much funnier to the band than the audience.

I like it!

walterw · #11 07-27-2010, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pklima

I've always wanted to tell an audience that "Smooth Operator" is about a plastic surgeon who operates on people and makes their skin smooth. Haven't gotten to do that yet, but last night I introduced Bjork's "Unravel" as being about how much Bjork hates that famous composer who composed that famous bolero, hence the title.

i can see by this audience shot just how well those jokes go over:

Quote:

Originally Posted by pklima

Yakob · #12 07-27-2010, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top_Ten

I was in a band called the Mr. T Experience and the singer of that band used to introduce literally every song with the line "this is a song about a girl." It became kind of a trademark.

I love MTX. Based on the line "I was", I take it you're one of the three or four previous bassists? Is Dr. Frank cool in real life? He seems like a cool guy.

Just wondering

.

EDIT: Using the power of Google, I now know that you were with the Mr. T Experience from 1989 to 1995 and played bass on 4 releases, to the best of my knowledge... You also played bass with Samiam on two albums. Congratulations on being the man, and holy crap to I feel creepy for being able to dig that up.

D.M.N. · #13 07-27-2010, 12:57 AM

Not introducing the song, but occasionally when the band I'm in does Substitute by The Who, me and the drummer sing "Prostitute" in the high harmonies during the chorus.

5StringBlues · #14 07-27-2010, 01:16 AM

On occasion,I will introduce a song as being " a favorite of the horn section".

We have bass,drums,harmonica,2 guitars.No horns.

pklima · #15 07-27-2010, 01:19 AM

At a medieval festival our singer decided we might as well do some originals, so she introduced a nonsensical song about smuggling a rhinoceros into a city with a story about how in early medieval times in Africa, people would smuggle rhinos into cities on the early medieval Africa subways. Then I added that this is "early music" because the band wrote it last year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

i can see by this audience shot just how well those jokes go over:

Haha, yeah.

thudfromafar · #16 07-27-2010, 02:13 AM

Anyone want to hear some Mozart? No? Ok fine...

5StringBlues · #17 07-27-2010, 02:15 AM

"We've got alot of requests but we're gonna keep playing anyway"

MatticusMania · #18 07-27-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pklima

I've always wanted to tell an audience that "Smooth Operator" is about a plastic surgeon who operates on people and makes their skin smooth. Haven't gotten to do that yet, but last night I introduced Bjork's "Unravel" as being about how much Bjork hates that famous composer who composed that famous bolero, hence the title.

Yeah, that's terrible. What's the worst you've got?

I would have told them that 'Unravel' was about the loss of Bjork's favorite casmere sweater...

Phalex · #19 07-27-2010, 12:53 PM

Once and a while whilst waiting for the drummer to finish drinking a beer, or feeling up the chick that somehow had the bad fortune of wandering behind the drum riser, I'll whip out my version of my favorite Rodney Dangerfield joke:

You know, we really love playing at this bar. It's like our home away from home. The waitstaff is really friendly and Mike is my favorite bartender of all time. When I got here this evening for load in Mike says to me "Hey man. Good to see you. What'll you have?" I said "Ahhhh.. I don't know Mike. Why don't you just surprise me?"

"He showed me a naked picture of my wife. Again."

I don't really think anyone can understand me in the crowd, but the band cracks up.

Top_Ten · #20 07-27-2010, 01:30 PM

Yikes, at least you don't have my social security # and mother's maiden name!

Anyway, yeah that's me -- good times! Frank is a cool guy. We were good friends for a while, but I don't see him much these days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yakob

I love MTX. Based on the line "I was", I take it you're one of the three or four previous bassists? Is Dr. Frank cool in real life? He seems like a cool guy.

Just wondering

.

EDIT: Using the power of Google, I now know that you were with the Mr. T Experience from 1989 to 1995 and played bass on 4 releases, to the best of my knowledge... You also played bass with Samiam on two albums. Congratulations on being the man, and holy crap to I feel creepy for being able to dig that up.