"Weird" Songs That Were Hits

[Wyrdlow]

In December of 1971, when I'd just turned 7, this masterpiece topped the UK charts. It was the first song I remember learning. Dad got me the single and I apparently sang it constantly. Whenever we had visitors I would be brought out to perform. I remember that getting old quickly!
In a bizarre twist of fate, my current band was asked to play it at a friend's 60th birthday party and it was so well received we've kept it as an encore ever since - so I've been singing it for 53 years now!

 

[Michedelic]

I don’t know what any of these charted, but I’d consider them “weird” by pop radio standards of their times;
Wooly Bully, Alley Oop, and The Flying Lizards version of Money.

The first two, especially Sam The Sham, were hits. The Flying Lizards was more of an underground/club thing.

 

[Jack Butler]

Came here to post this. My grandmother had this 45 and it always creeped me out as a kid.

I never thought “novelty” songs, as defined by most(but not all)titles mentioned above, were weird, just musical comedy bits, audio cartoons. The instrumental “Popcorn” was mentioned…That was just the sound of the future coming at you; one of, if not the, first all-synthesizer pieces aimed at the pop charts. However, even in the aftermath of psychedelia, Richard Harris’ “McArthur Park”, with its odd operatic structure and overwrought vocal(forget the cake in the rain business)struck me as a little off for Top 40 radio at the time.

The writer of that article was really reaching for an angle to dress up essentially an obit piece with not much else to say, and failed miserably. They missed what should have been at the top of the list. It came and went in a matter of two weeks when I was a kid, skyrocketed to number one, and disappeared almost immediately, either due to over-saturation or banning, but it appealed to many with a warped sense of humor, and introduced a slang phrase…

It was perfect… parents and authority figures hated it.
The B-side of the 45 was just the track backwards, and there eventually was an entire album of similarly themed songs, many quite orthodox and witty, if you weren’t offended by the subject matter.

 

[Wyrdlow]

Not a hit, but seriously weird, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band performing Jaques Brel's "Next." The horror, the horror...

 

[Wyrdlow]

The author apparently has never heard the term "novelty songs." What a load of pretentious nonsense. And as I was there at the time, I can say I do not remember anyone suggesting "Brand New Key" was about sex.

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Rubbish article - great thread! Some brilliant replies; this will keep me entertained for hours.

 

[Jaygetsreal]

I have a playlist called Wacky Songs that I play when I'm feeling a bit weird. Will be adding some fun new ones from this great thread. Thanks OP

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Rubbish article - great thread! Some brilliant replies; this will keep me entertained for hours.

I live to serve.

 

[ryco]

One of my FAVE minor hits from back when!! The riffing guitar tone is just teh KILL!!
LOVE how the bass run in the verse walks down and hits the root early!
Still have my RCA transistor radio = KOL, KJR, KYAC!!!

 

[Michedelic]

Not a hit, but seriously weird, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band performing Jaques Brel's "Next." The horror, the horror...

Then there was “Delilah”, more of a goof…


But ultimately, the horror is his take on “Tomorrow Belongs To Me”, which is disturbing enough in its original form/context.

 

[Michedelic]

One of my FAVE minor hits from back when!! The riffing guitar tone is just teh KILL!!
LOVE how the bass run in the verse walks down and hits the root early!
Still have my RCA transistor radio = KOL, KJR, KYAC!!!

Classic “Nuggets” material. The Cars covered it…

 

[Paul New]

The author apparently has never heard the term "novelty songs." What a load of pretentious nonsense. And as I was there at the time, I can say I do not remember anyone suggesting "Brand New Key" was about sex.

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Say “New Key” quickly with a strong accent on the first word.

 

[Wyrdlow]

Then there was “Delilah”, more of a


But ultimately, the horror is his take on “Tomorrow Belongs To Me”, which is disturbing enough in its original form/context.

To be fair, a great proportion of their stuff was very, very weird! Isobel Goudie, Faith Healer, Tale of the Giant Stone Eater... Pretty high on my "too late now" gig list.

 

[Pauly 4001]

In England we had Twinkle with the classic "Terry." ("Don't do it! Don't do it!)

I went on a driving tour of England in the weeks after my younger brother was murdered and my wife and I bought a compilation cassette of cheesy girl group pop songs and this was on it. I've been trying to recall what this song was for years.

 

[Minimalist]

This was a huge hit in Germany in the 80ties.

 

[Pauly 4001]

While this song wasn't especially weird or a hit we should all pay tribute to Bill.

 

[ardgedee]

This was a huge hit in Germany in the 80ties.

"Da Da Da" was an international hit. Even made the dance charts in the US.

And then 15 years later Volkswagen used it in a TV commercial so the label reissued the song and it became popular again (although without charting).

 

[Paul New]

 

[trevcda]

I submitted a what's this song? thread on here a couple of weeks ago and found the ear worm of a quirky song called Send Me on My Way by Rusted Root. The enunciation, the lyrics, the penny whistle solos, it pretty weird.

 

[DownRound]

It never occurred to me what that Melanie song was about.
Or this one.
Slow learner....

 

[Wyrdlow]

I went on a driving tour of England in the weeks after my younger brother was murdered and my wife and I bought a compilation cassette of cheesy girl group pop songs and this was on it. I've been trying to recall what this song was for years.

Glad to help!