This question occurred to me yesterday morning as I read this article in the Sunday New York Times about Weird Al Yankovic.  Weird Al has been spoofing rock and pop songs for 3 decades–who can forget his version of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” (“Eat It”)?!

Well before Weird Al burst onto the scene, Frank Zappa was mastering the art of integrating humor into rock music.  A musician’s musician who surrounded himself amazing players, Zappa often used humor as a tool to critique a number of institutions, including the U.S. government, organized religion, Western pop culture and the music industry.  Zappa did not simply write funny lyrics to average rock songs–he utilized a variety of odd sounds, rhythms, tempo changes and melodic inflections to deliver a humorous point.  Here is one of many examples…

It seems to me that humor in rock music helps to correct a tendency among some musicians in the music industry to take themselves a little too seriously.  In addition to Zappa and Yankovic, bands like Fountains of Wayne, Barenaked Ladies and Tenacious D (among others) have done a good job of carrying the humor torch in rock.  These bands do not sacrifice musicianship for humor–they are funny, insightful and they rock!

According to Fr. Jim Martin, S.J. (disclosure: a good friend), religious people are often way too dour and serious.  This seriousness is mistakenly equated with holiness and it turns people off to religion as a result.  Here is an excerpt of a talk Martin gave expounding on this point:

Theology, organized religion, and all people of faith could use some humor.  The fighting over doctrinal questions, social morality and who does/does not have authority is getting tired and banal.  Dialogue seems to have been thrown out in favor of drawing battle lines and defending “the truth”–as if something as mysterious and Other as God can be neatly defined and understood.  Let’s laugh more–at ourselves and each other!

One of the best rock bands of all time, The Who, wrote brilliant rock masterpieces–”Who’s Next,” “Tommy,” “Quadrophenia”–but they also were able to write and perform silly, humorous rock songs without worrying about losing rocker credibility and respect from fans.  Can we learn something from their example?  And while you’re pondering that question, check out one of the most ridiculous, yet endearing, rock songs of all time–the Who’s “Boris the Spider”