Artists who have serious and humorous

[LiveMusic]

Dark and light, serious and humorous, however you want to say it. What artists come to mind? This isn't the norm but there have been exceptions. I guess many don't want to put humorous songs in because it could detract from their 'serious' songs? Especially if they're a songwriter?

Jim Croce comes to mind. As does Paul Thorn. John Prine has some more light-hearted material. Steve Goodman, check. The Beatles also had an eclectic mix on some of their albums. I don't recall the Eagles having humorous songs. Stones? Not really. Neil Diamond, no. Elvis? Maybe uplifting or light-hearted but I can't think of funny songs. Paul Simon? Neil Young? I can't think of any for either of those two.

In country, George Jones did. Johnny Cash did. Willie did. George Strait, not really. Garth Brooks? I guess he did kinda.

Chris Stapleton? No. Jason Isbell? No.

Insight appreciated!

[reeve21]

Jimmy Buffet. He is more than Margaritaville

[jomaynor]

Hank Williams certainly did this. Mick Jagger & Keith Richards in their prime, too - e.g., Dear Doctor & Sympathy for the Devil on Beggars Banquet, or Country Honk and Gimme Shelter on Let it Bleed.

And Frank Zappa's lyrical content was all satire and absurdity, but his instrumental pieces were serious.

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by LiveMusic

In country, George Jones did. Johnny Cash did. Willie did. George Strait, not really. Garth Brooks? I guess he did kinda.

Chris Stapleton? No. Jason Isbell? No.

Insight appreciated!

Roger Miller, yes. https://www.axs.com/roger-miller-s-10-best-songs-47997

Regarding Jason Isbell, I always laugh when I hear Super 8 Motel. The subject matter isn't terribly funny, he just has a way with words. I guess it is his attempt at something lighthearted, but certainly not one of my favorite songs of his.

[roylor4]

Paul Thorn.

His daddy was an evangelical preacher, his uncle was a pimp and he is a former professional (nationally ranked) boxer. His stuff can be serious all the way to hilarious. His band is smokin'. If you have never heard of him, check him out on Youtube.

We do three of his tunes:

Joannie, The Jehovah Witness Stripper
Honky Tonk Neanderthal

[Hurricane Ramon]

The [ Pop Music ] scene type talent has it's place . Sometimes It's only a brief moment in the life of an entertainer
when it comes to the Big Time and longevity .

IMHO it appears that those who last transcend and rise above the [ Pop Culture ] thing and into the realm of the true
artist who can cover any mood or style with equal proficiency and stay healthy are the biggest stars .

It's all good to me - some gooder than others through the passage of time . One great example is Itzhak Prealman a classical violinist :
http://www.itzhakperlman.com/

At 13 I saw his TV debut in 1958 I was 8 years old . His concerts have the humorous along side of the serious every time .
He is the consumat artist virtuoso and an unbelievable super human doing this since suffering polio as a child and from
crutches to wheelchair he carved his way into being a career musician he's still performing today - talking serious longevity .

In the realm of guitar these names come to mind although some didn't have the longevity :
Tommy Emmanuel
Django
Andre Segovia
Charlie Bird
George Benson
Charlie Christian
Wes Montgomery
Eddie Lang
Lonnie Johnson
Jimmy Rogers the singing brakeman
Chet Atkins

and many many more than I could begin to name .

¡ All these cats could get serious and funny in the same song !
EZ :

HR

[Hurricane Ramon]

Originally Posted by reeve21

Jimmy Buffet. He is more than Margaritaville

He's seriously funny

EZ :

HR

[Nyghthawk]

Listen to Don McClean's Everybody Loves Me off of the American Pie album.

[slooky]

Smiling girl directing traffic flow,
45 strapped over cotton print dress,
Marimba brown and graceful limbs,
Give me a moment of loneliness

Headlights pick out fallen sack of corn,
One lone tarantula standing guard ,
We pull up and stop and she ambles off,
Discretion much the better part of cars,
Rodrigo the government driver jumps out,
He's got chickens who can use the feed,
We sweep the asphalt on our hands and knees,
Fill up his trunk with dusty yellow seeds

From Bruce Cockburn-Dust and Diesel
On a trip to Nicaragua
One of the many favorites he has written
Humorous to serious back and forth throughout the song!

[Ten]

First artist that comes to mind for me is Guy Clark, but Townes Van Zandt is right there too.

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by LiveMusic

I guess many don't want to put humorous songs in because it could detract from their 'serious' songs? Especially if they're a songwriter? Neil Diamond, no.

Neil Diamond wrote and recorded "Porcupine Pie"! It didn't get very good reviews, so, after that I guess he gave up on the lighthearted stuff.

[LiveMusic]

Originally Posted by roylor4

Paul Thorn.

His daddy was an evangelical preacher, his uncle was a pimp and he is a former professional (nationally ranked) boxer. His stuff can be serious all the way to hilarious. His band is smokin'. If you have never heard of him, check him out on Youtube.

We do three of his tunes:

It's a Great Day to whoop somebody's *****
Joannie, The Jehovah Witness Stripper
Honky Tonk Neanderthal

I listed him in my original post.

Thanks to the posters. Some good mentions. Most obvious is Jimmy Buffet. It worked for him!

Of all the ones in this thread, the two who come to mind with 'serious' songs in addition to 'haha funny' songs instead of just mildly humorous songs is Jimmy Buffet and Paul Thorn. And... they did/do it on an ongoing basis. For instance, Don McLean did do 'Everybody Loves Me' but his catalogue doesn't showcase humor in a continual basis. Not to say this is bad at all, he is a fave artist of mine. Plenty of artists do not do much/any humor.

I just thought of a couple more Texas music / Red Dirt artists who blend downright funny/humorous and seriousness... Ray Wylie Hubbard and also Hayes Carll. Jerry Jeff Walker definitely has upbeat songs, even humorous, but I can't think of haha funny songs like the other two I mentioned. Charlie Robison is another who has done both and he has some that are pretty funny.

Jackson Browne had 'Rosie' but I can't think of any more humorous songs of his. He remarked one time, joking about his material being mostly dark.

Many blues artists did both funny and dark.

[SprintBob]

I always admire the range that Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel bring to us. I especially like the soul that Tommy projects in a live performance. You have to see him live to experience this.

[The Watchman]

Warren Zevon - clever humor.

[bill austin]

Greg Brown, Chris Smither, Robert Earl Keen.