Okay, the song still sucks, but damn, that was funny

What are some of the best comic approaches you've ever seen to a song?

Let's rule out musical artists who obviously traffic in comedy, such as Weird Al. I'm talking about either a "serious" musical act that does a comedy version of a song (either someone else's or their own), or a comedian (not widely known for music) who did a great parody of another artist's popular song.

Extra points if it's a song whose normal version sucks, but whose parody left you in stitches.

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Kay's post about Grant Lee Phillips' version of a Seger song made me think of this one.

For me, it was a stand-up comedian who did several song parodies. The one that stands out to me is his rendition of Seger's "Night Moves." He had the voice down, and played passable guitar ... but he was using the lyrics to various McDonald's jingles.

Zappa's "Stairway to Heaven" (raggafied, and horn section duplicating the guitar solo) was awesome.

Zappa's final tour included a lot of warped, brilliant covers. Find a bootleg of his version of "I Am the Walrus" from that tour -- he does it straight and it's fantastic.

Sparks' ultra- serious, string-laden version of "I Want to Hold your Hand" is pretty funny. I also love the Pistols' covers of "Johnny Be Good" and "Roadrunner".

While not funny at all, Richard Thompson's cover of "Oops, I Did it Again", is a remarkable reworking, and turns the song into a huge pile of spite and cruelty.

I love Mark Kozelek's dark, moody interpretation of AC/DC's "If You Want Blood...."

I always thought the Jesus Lizard's "cover" of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" was pretty funny.

I've developed such an allergy to "ironic" cover songs over the last few years I don't even want to ponder the question as it's already made me think of Alanis Morissette doing "My Humps" and now I have to have someone come over and hide any poisons in my house for fear I might do myself harm.

That said, I did always think T Bone Burnett's version of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" was a hoot. Not that the original of that song sucks in any way.

faraway eyes