Five parody songs which are better than the originals
They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and in the world of parody music, that’s usually the case. The moment a song gains traction, people worldwide try to imitate it in some way, either impersonating the artist singing it or taking the song in a whole new direction. As soon as Charli XCX skyrocketed to fame at the height of BRAT summer, a lot of people were trying to imitate her songs, and she isn’t alone in this.
Going back decades, there have always been people who write parody music based on popular songs. It seems to have become more popular in the wake of social media, but the parody has always been there. The majority are silly and a bit of fun, some are terrible, and then the odd few are absolute masterpieces.
Here, we are going to focus on the latter. Throughout the entire history of parody songs, there have been a few that are so good that they completely eclipse the original. There are a number of reasons why this is the case. Sometimes, the parody provides an interesting commentary on another topic, whereas with other songs, the parody is so silly that it’s hard not to love it.
This is Far Out’s definitive list of parody songs which are better than the originals.
Five parody songs better than the original:
Flight of the Conchords – ‘Inner City Pressure’
A parody of ‘West End Girls’
OK, it might be a stretch to say that Flight of the Conchords managed to one-up Pet Shop Boys, but there is no denying that their offering with the track ‘Inner City Pressure’ is incredibly impressive. They capture the essence of the original but apply it perfectly to the situation the characters find themselves in.
The song is equal parts fun to listen to and an exercise in musical know-how. Since their comedic debut with Flight of the Conchords, the two have continued proving their musical prowess throughout their careers.
Spinal Tap – ‘Big Bottom’
A parody of almost every rock song ever made
No matter how much we adore the parody musical This Is Spinal Tap, there is no escaping the fact that while poking fun at rock bands, Spinal Tap managed to become a pretty good rock band. Fans await with bated breath for the sequel to the rockumentary, not just because they love the original movie, but they love the band that it’s centred around.
While Spinal Tap aren’t parodying anyone in particular, Steven Tyler took offence to the movie, feeling like it hit too close to home. “I’m sitting there watching Spinal Tap and they’re making a joke of it,” he said, “And I’m going, ‘But that really happens; you don’t understand!’” he said, “I actually got up and left. It was like, how dare they make fun of something that means so much to me?”
Weird Al Yankovic – ‘Eat It’
A parody of ‘Beat It’
Sometimes, people try to be too clever with the parodies they write. Weird Al Yankovic is one of the smartest parody writers of all time, but he brandishes this by championing silliness and childishness. There are too many examples of this to count, but one of the best examples is his parody of Michael Jackson, ‘Eat It’.
Pair the amazing song with the fact that Yankovic made a shot-for-shot remake of the original video with Jackson, and you have a recipe for a perfect parody. The combination of childishness and genuine musical ability on display here is truly inspiring.
Kermit the Frog – ‘Once in a Lifetime’
A parody of ‘Once in a Lifetime’
Look, a parody doesn’t always have to be a clever reworking of a classic. Sometimes, it’s enough to put Kermit the Frog in an oversized suit and have him recite the lyrics to The Talking Heads ‘Once in a Lifetime’. It might not be high-brow art—you could argue it’s not art at all—but it’s charming and funny, and that’s all a parody needs to be.
This is a silly sentence to write: Kermit sings the song very well. Additionally, because the original ‘Once in a Lifetime’ is such a bizarre song and the video is so strange, it doesn’t feel all that weird having Kermit recite it. If anything, his presence grounds the video slightly.
Saturday Night Live – ‘Friendos’
A parody of ‘Bad and Boujie’
“I feel like every time I bring up emotional conflict, he just wants to talk about the Lambo.” Saturday Night Live have done an insurmountable number of parodies in their 50 years on the air, but one of the best is their depiction of Migos going to therapy and discussing how material possessions get in the way of their friendship.
Pair this with Childish Gambino rapping throughout the track, delivering the killer punchlines that have made him a famous rapper. The song is genuinely impressive, and the parody is packed with wit.
