12 Forgotten Novelty Songs

Music comes in many different genres to fit different people's tastes. A fun genre of music is that of novelty songs because they're so different and sometimes even crazy sounding. While they may have been hits when released, sadly some of them end up fading into obscurity once they leave the music charts. Here's a look at 12 songs that were once quite popular that you probably never hear anymore.

1. What Does the Fox Say?

(Ylvis)

When comedy duo Ylvis recorded "What Does the Fox Say?" they had no idea they had an international hit on their hands. They had recorded the song as a promo for their TV talk show I kveld med YLVIS (Tonight with Ylvis). Once released, the video spread like wildfire throughout social media, and eventually the song ended up at #6 on the Billboard chart.

2. Pac-Man Fever

(Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia)

When the game Pac-Man came out, it was a massive success and, to this day, one of the best-selling and highest-grossing video games of all time. Fans of the game, Jerry Buckler and Gary Garcia, jingle writers, decided to write a novelty song about the game, and "Pac-Man Fever" made its way up to #9 on the Billboard chart.

3. She Bangs

(William Hung)

When William Hung auditioned for American Idol with his own rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs," he did little to impress the judges, prompting Simon Cowell to go as far as calling his performance "grotesque." The public had a different opinion of Hung and demanded to see more. Hung went on to record and release "She Bangs," which hit a respectable #34 on the Billboard chart, while his album made #1 on the Billboard Top Independent Album chart. 

 4.  Gitarzan"

(Ray Stevens)

On the one hand, Ray Stevens is known for writing beautiful melodies such as "Everything is Beautiful." On the other hand, he's known for his comedic novelty songs such as "Gitarzan," a top-10 song on the Billboard chart, which is about a jungle man who forms a jungle band with his woman Jane and their pet monkey. 

5. Three Little Pigs

(Green Jelly)

"Three Little Pigs" is a distorted version of the original Three Little Pigs nursery rhyme done in a hard rock, metal-style comedy song off the first album by Green Jelly. The video is done in Claymation, and the song managed to make its way up the Billboard chart to #17.  

6. My Ding-a-Ling

(Chuck Berry)

Originally recorded in 1952 by David Bartholomew, it was Chuck Berry's live version of "My Ding-a-Ling" that became a hit song. Known for songs like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Maybelline," it wasn't until "My Ding-a-Ling" that Berry was able to achieve a #1 hit.

7. Dizz Knee Land

(Dada)

"Dizz Knee Land" is a satirical song that plays off the famous catchphrase, "I'm going to Disneyland," that different sports players uttered after an important game win, especially the Super Bowl. In this song's case, though, it's not after an important win, but more of an achievement such as robbing a grocery store or crashing a car. It landed in the #5 spot on the Billboard Modern Rock Track chart.

8. King Tut

(Steve Martin)

Steve Martin has had a string of hit movies including Father of the Bride, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Pink Panther. He also had a comedic song entitled "King Tut" which climbed to the #17 spot on the Billboard chart. The song pokes fun at how artifacts from the young pharaoh's tomb travel around and the exploitation of his life through souvenirs.

9. Detachable Penis

(King Missile)

A spoken song, "Detachable Penis" is a really quirky song about a guy who partied the night before, only to wake up to find his, well, you know what, missing, and he embarks on a mission to find it. This off the wall song actually made it up the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart to #25.

10. Troglodyte

(Jimmy Castor Bunch)

A definite blast from the 1960s past, "Troglodyte" follows the attempts of a caveman to find a cavewoman. The song uses such 60s phrases as "I'll sock it to you, baby." This quirky tune gave The Jimmy Castor Bunch a place on the Billboard chart of #6 and spent 14 weeks on the chart.

11. They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa

(Napoleon XIV)

Initially, "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa" by Napoleon XIV (aka Jerry Samuels) makes you think the song is about a man who loses his mind after a bitter breakup, when in reality, it's about a man who is angry at his dog for running away. Even though it hit #3 on the Billboard chart, the song was banned by numerous radio stations as it was thought to make fun of mental illness. 

12. Gangnam Style

(PSY)

A major viral hit, "Gangnam Style" topped the charts in over 30 countries. In the United States alone, the song spent 31 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song introduced the horse-riding dance and won several awards, including an American Music Award and a Billboard Music Award, as well as various South Korean awards.

Don't see your favorite forgotten novelty song here? This is just a sampling. There are lots of other novelty songs that never make the airwaves anymore. Do you have a favorite? If so, let me know in the comments below.