Archive for the ‘Music Humor & Verse’ Category
Saturday, January 28th, 2012
If you enjoy funny song lyrics, you need to give Mark Westin’s latest album a listen. Dark Humour is packed with songs whose cleverness is the envy of humorists like me.
I, for one, can’t resist titles like Narcissistic As Me, Open Mike, When Beautiful People Break Up, and this soon to be classic Falling In Love On Facebook.
In fact, Falling In Love On Facebook was the song that made me fall in love with Mark Westin’s lyrics: A couple of years ago I heard Westin perform it live at one of his regular performance venues: Whistling Willie’s, an excellent restaurant in Cold Spring, New York.
So check it out — you’ll love the lyrics. Besides, Mark Westin plays a mean guitar.
Tags: Album Review, CD Reviews, Dark Humour, Guitar, Mark Westin, Music, Music Review, Recording Review, Restaurants, Song Lyrics, Whistling Willie's
Posted in Music Humor & Verse, Music Reviews, Public Figures | Comments Off on CD Review: Mark Westin’s Dark Humour
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011
Today, October 22, is the birthday of the Hungarian virtuoso pianist/composer/conductor Franz Liszt. Some people consider Liszt to be the world’s first rock star.
Birthday Limerick For Franz Liszt
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The pianist/composer named Liszt
Was as hot as the cancan and twist:
Caused a Beatle-like heat—
Gals would swoon from his beat
And the sounds he produced with each wrist.
Tags: Celebrities, Celebrity Birthdays, Composers, Conductors Humor, Franz Liszt, Music Humor & Verse, Pianists, Public Figures, Rock Stars
Posted in Birthday Verse, Celebrations Poetry, Celebrity Humor, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse, Public Figures | 2 Comments »
Sunday, September 18th, 2011
It’s Limerick-Off time, once again. And that means I write a limerick, and you write your own, using the same first line. Then you post your limerick here and, if you’re a Facebook user, on Facebook too.
As an experiment, I’m offering a freestyle limerick option this week, in addition to my preset pair of lines.
The best submission will be crowned Limerick Of The Week. (Here’s last week’s Limerick Of The Week Winner plus the Honorable Mentions.)
I’ll announce the Limerick of the Week Winner right before I post next week’s Limerick-Off. So that gives you a full week to submit your clever, polished verse.
I hope you’ll join me in writing a limerick with this first line:
A gal who was fast on her feet…
or
A guy who was fast on his feet…
or
Any First Line You Choose
Here’s mine:
Fast Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A gal who was fast on her feet
Knew a winner she yearned to unseat.
So she challenged the champ
At violin camp,
Where strong arms can outpace someone fleet.
Please feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line (and/or your freestyle limerick) and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity on my Facebook Limerick-Off post.
To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please send me an email requesting the alerts. You’ll find my email address on the upper right sidebar, in the “Author” section just below my Limerick-Offs button. Thanks!
Tags: Champions, Competition Limerick, Contest Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Poetry & Prompts, Violinist, Writing Prompts
Posted in Contests, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick Writing Contest, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse, Poetry & Prompts | 43 Comments »
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Operatic Acrostic Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Oh that tenor who’s playing the king
Pierces eardrums while trying to sing.
Easy notes he should reach
Really readily screech,
As we grab some bananas to fling.
(Prompted by Acrostic Only)
If you’d like to read the opera-related humor column that won me the 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award For Humor, here’s my Guide For The Opera Impaired.
Tags: Acrostic Poems, Music Humor & Verse, Opera Humor, Singing Humor, Vocalists
Posted in Acrostic Limericks, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse | 18 Comments »
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
Words meant to welcome—
“Please make yourself at home.”
remind me I’m not.
*****
Oboist mutes gasp,
playing unviable phrase,
conquering Bizet.
*****
A Nantucket man
knew his much lim’ricked neighbor—
envied him his fame.
*****
Plan for the future,
but never let your planning
erase the present.
*****
An alluring scent,
indecently delicious,
renders gents senseless.
*****
(The first haiku was inspired by Sensational Haiku Wednesday’s home prompt. The second haiku was inspired by 3 Word Wednesday’s prompt to use the words gasp, mute, and viable. That second haiku alludes to a notoriously long and difficult oboe passage in Bizet’s Symphony in C.)
Tags: Bizet, Haiku & Senryu, Home, Music Poetry, Oboe, Planning Humor, Scents
Posted in Advice Humor & Poems, Haiku & Senryu, House & Home Humor, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse | 22 Comments »
Sunday, May 8th, 2011
It’s Limerick-Off time, once again. And that means I write a limerick, and you write your own, using the same first line. Then you post your limerick here and, if you’re a Facebook user, on Facebook too.
The best submission will be crowned Limerick Of The Week. (Here’s last week’s Limerick Of The Week Winner plus the Honorable Mentions.)
How will your poems be judged? By meter, rhyme, and cleverness. (If you’re feeling a bit fuzzy about limerick writing rules, here are two excellent resources: OEDILF on Writing A Limerick and Speedy Snail’s Limerick Rhythm and Meter.)
I’ll announce the Limerick of the Week Winner right before I post next week’s Limerick-Off. So that gives you a full week to submit your clever, polished verse.
I hope you’ll join me in writing a limerick with this first line:
A man thought it time to take stock…
or
A gal thought it time to take stock…
Here’s mine:
Taking Stock Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A man thought it time to take stock
Of his life in the world of hard rock
Cuz he made little dough
And to add to his woe,
He preferred playing Handel and Bach.
Please feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity in my Facebook Limerick-Off post.
To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please send me an email requesting the alerts. You’ll find my email address on the upper right sidebar, in the “Author” section just below my Limerick-Offs button. Thanks!
Tags: Bach, Career Poem, Composers, George Frideric Handel, Income Humor, Life Goals, Money Verse, Music Limerick, Poetry & Prompts, Rock & Roll, Taking Stock, Writing Prompts
Posted in Contests, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick Writing Contest, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Money & Finance Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Poetry & Prompts, Workplace & Career Humor | 53 Comments »
Thursday, April 28th, 2011
Whether it’s an Irish pub, a packed rock & roll bar, or a ballroom dance floor filled with Big Band Era seniors, hubby Mark and I will probably dance. Not well, mind you, but with great energy and enthusiasm.
We often attract attention and even compliments, accompanied undoubtedly by such thought balloons as “How do people that old dance so fast?” Or “I’m pretty sure my grandma can’t do that.” Or “What the hell is that woman doing on the men’s side of my synagogue?”
In case you’re wondering, yes we know we’re probably making a spectacle of ourselves. But we’re having fun and we simply don’t care.
Tomorrow, April 29th, is International Dance Day. So Happy International Dance Day, everyone! Here’s my latest limerick:
A Couple On The Move
By Madeleine Begun Kane
When my husband and I try to dance,
Some enjoy us and some look askance.
We’re inept, but enthused,
And don’t have to be boozed
To have rumba-like fun — that’s our stance.
You might also enjoy my We Don’t Think We Can Dance, But We Do It Anyway.
Tags: April Holidays, Ballroom Dance, Big Bands, Dancing Humor, International Dance Day, Irish Pubs, Odd Holidays, Rock & Roll, Rumba
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Dance Humor, Exercise Humor, Limericks, Marriage Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Odd Holidays, Personal, Relationship Humor, Seniors Poetry | 34 Comments »
Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Today I have a bit of fun with two pairs of synonyms:
The words nigh and near —
synonyms, and yet just one
sizzles and sings.
Near merely describes,
while the soaring nigh evokes —
close but no cigar.
But don’t pity near —
it verbs — something nigh can’t do.
This verse now burned out.
*****
Metier, I hear,
is a forte synonym.
What a grand duo —
one traded for the other —
pianometier music.
*****
(Pompted by nigh from Haiku Heights and Weekend Theme’s metier.)
Tags: Haiku & Senryu, Music Tanka, Musical Instruments, Musical Terms, Musical Verse, Synonyms, Wordplay Humor
Posted in Haiku & Senryu, Music Humor & Verse, Tanka | 15 Comments »
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
Flutist misses cue.
Conductor settles the score.
Time to face music.
*****
Botoxified face,
once intelligent with age,
now frozen wasteland.
*****
(Face prompt from Theme Thursday)
Tags: Aging Humor & Verse, Botox, Conductors Humor, Flute Haiku, Haiku & Senryu, Music Haiku, Physical Appearance, Seniors Humor, Theme Thursday
Posted in Aging Humor & Verse, Haiku & Senryu, Music Humor & Verse, Physical Appearance | 17 Comments »
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
Symphony of black,
my uniform for decades —
stage no longer mine.
*****
Harmonics converge
in a dissonant parade
of the marching bands.
*****
(Thanks for the uniform prompt.)
Tags: Dissonance, Haiku & Senryu, Marching Bands, Music Haiku, Noise Humor, Orchestra Musicians, Parade Humor, Symphony Dress Code, Symphony Verse
Posted in Haiku & Senryu, Music Humor & Verse | 10 Comments »
Saturday, March 12th, 2011
Nursing nostalgia,
the tribute bands play covers —
relive what wasn’t.
*****
The injured cellist,
forced to bow out of concerts,
retires her bow.
*****
The big bands play swing —
old couples dance joyously,
then reclaim their canes.
*****
Three childhood friendships —
treasured, instrumental —
piano, oboe, flute.
*****
(The first haiku was inspired by Writer’s Island’s tribute theme. The fourth haiku was inspired by Monday Memories’ friendship theme.)
Tags: Aging Humor & Verse, Big Bands, Cellos, Childhood Memories, Dancing, Flute Haiku, Friendship, Friendship Haiku, Health Haiku, Health Poetry, Monday Memories, Music Haiku, Nostalgia Haiku, Oboe Haiku, Piano Haiku, Seniors Humor, String Players, Swing, Tribute Bands, Writer's Island
Posted in Aging Humor & Verse, Dance Humor, Friendship Humor, Haiku & Senryu, Health Verse, Music Humor & Verse, Seniors Poetry | 9 Comments »
Friday, March 11th, 2011
I had such a good time with my Clichéd Limerick the other day, I thought I’d write another:
A Fit Over Fiddles
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I hope you don’t think this a nit,
But cliché buffs should surely admit
That we need to part ways
With certain clichés:
Just how often do fiddles sound fit?
UPDATE: Happy Cliché Day, November 3rd!
UPDATE 2: World Fiddle Day falls on the Saturday closest to May 19.
Tags: Cliché Day, Clichés Humor, Fiddle Day, Fiddles, Fitness Limerick, Health & Medical Humor, Language Satire, May Holidays, Music Humor & Verse, November Holidays, Odd Holidays, Violins, World Fiddle Day
Posted in Cliché Humor, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, Language Humor, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse, Odd Holidays | 6 Comments »
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
American Idol Not Idyllic (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I watched Idol last night — wasn’t dandy.
They gave compliments out just like candy.
And something is wrong
When with song after song
The toughest of judges is Randy.
(Linked in I Saw Sunday)
Tags: American Idol, Contestants, Fox TV Humor, Idol Judges, Jennifer Lopez, Music Humor & Verse, Music Limerick, Randy Jackson, Singing Voice, Steven Tyler, Talent Contests, Television Review
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Contests, Entertainment Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Television (TV) Humor | 9 Comments »
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
It’s Time To Tanka Beethoven
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The King’s Speech film score
gets Desplat an Oscar nod,
but poor Beethoven
is overlooked once again—
He needs a new publicist.
NOTE: Alexandre Desplat’s Oscar-nominated score for The King’s Speech is dominated by the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, specifically Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the Emperor Concerto. For more information on Beethoven’s frequent appearance in film scores, read Why Beethoven Deserves An Oscar.
Tags: Alexandre Desplat, Beethoven Piano Concertos, Beethoven Symphonies, Entertainment, Film Scores, Films, Ludwig van Beethoven, Movie & Play Humor, Movie Reviews, Music Humor & Verse, Music Tanka, Oscars, Tanka, The King's Speech
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Contests, Movie & Play Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Oscars Humor, Tanka | 3 Comments »
Saturday, February 26th, 2011
String quartet concert
missing one violinist—
time to improvise.
*****
Cruising musician
garners Carnegie Hall gig—
fantasy at sea.
*****
Distracted jazzer
misplaces his melodies—
loses audience.
****
Clueless conductor
hurls baton at oboist—
finally a cue.
*****
Billy Joel said:
We Didn’t Start The Fire.
Maybe we need to.
*****
(My first and third haiku were inspired by The Writer’s Island improvise prompt. My second haiku was inspired by Haiku Wednesday’s fantasy prompt. My late addition 5th haiku was inspired by Sunday Scribblings’ fire prompt.)
Tags: Billy Joel, Carnegie Hall, Classical Music Humor, Conductors Humor, Fantasies, Fire, Haiku & Senryu, Haiku Wednesday, Improvising, Jazz Pianist, Music Haiku, Music Humor & Verse, Musical Verse, Oboe Humor, Orchestra Musicians, String Players, Sunday Scribblings, Writer's Island
Posted in Creativity Verse, Haiku & Senryu, Music Humor & Verse | 25 Comments »
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
One of my limerick-writing pals has challenged me to hold a Double-Dactyl-Off. My initial response was “What the hell’s a double dactyl?”
So I Googled it, read the rules, and attempted to write a couple of them myself. I’ll try to summarize the rules here and will provide links to some good resources and samples. (Don’t worry if you find the rules confusing. Once you read a couple of examples, they make more sense.)
1) A double dactyl is a two stanza (eight line) humorous poem consisting mostly of dactyls. What’s a dactyl? A dactyl has three syllables, one stressed followed by two unstressed (/ _ _ ).
2) Line 1 is a nonsense phrase consisting of two dactyls (like Higgeldy Piggeldy or Dickery Dockery or Flippity Flappity.)
3) Line 2 is the name of a famous person (usually historic) but must be a double dactyl (like Emily Dickinson or Joseph DiMaggio or Hans Christian Andersen.)
4) Lines 4 and 8 must rhyme.
5) Somewhere in the second stanza there’s is a double dactyl formed by a single word (like megalomaniac or gubernatorial or idiosyncrasy.)
Here’s the form which I borrowed from Miss Rumphius.
1 – double dactyl nonsense phrase (like Higgeldy Piggeldy)
2 – double dactyl of a person’s name
3 – double dactyl
4 – one dactyl plus a stressed syllable (/ _ _ / )
5 – double dactyl
6 – double dactyl
7 – double dactyl
8 – one dactyl plus a stressed syllable (/ _ _ / )
(Wikipedia provides the rules and examples.)
Here are my first two attempts. (I invite you to post your own in my comments.)
Higgledy Piggledy
Ludwig van Beethoven
Wrote the Eroica,
Sadly went deaf.
Incontrovertibly
Gifted and masterful.
Some say he’s better than
Brahms. Need a ref.
*****
Rickety Rackety
David A. Paterson
Got to be gov cuz boss
Spitzer resigned.
Patterson governed us
Counter-productively.
Sure’s been a while since a
Governor’s shined.
I’m looking forward to your double dactyls. Have fun! And if you’re on Facebook, please post your double dactyls here on Facebook too.
Tags: David Paterson, Double Dactyls, Emily Dickinson, Hans Christian Andersen, Historic Persons, Humorous Verse, Ludwig van Beethoven, Poetry Challenge
Posted in Creativity Verse, Double Dactyls, Light Verse, Music Humor & Verse, Poetry Forms, Poetry Rules, Political Satire | 9 Comments »
Thursday, December 23rd, 2010
I don’t want to sound negative (I try to save the negativity for my political blog) but I hate Handel’s Messiah.
It’s not that I have anything against Handel. His Water Music and his Royal Fireworks Music are very enjoyable. And he wrote some lovely oboe sonatas.
But the Messiah? Hearing just a measure or two is enough to drive me nuts. And not just because of its really boring Hallelujah Chorus. Or the fact that you can’t get through the Christmas holidays without roughly a gazillion choral societies singing the damn thing.
Handel’s Messiah is dull enough to turn almost anyone into an atheist. And that’s why I wrote this haiku and limerick:
Haiku:
Sacrilege, I know.
But to Handel’s Messiah
I say, “Bach! Humbug!”
Limerick:
I sigh when I hear the Messiah.
It’s a work that just doesn’t inspiah.
Give me Bach any day.
Rather see the ballet!
So enough Hallelujahs! Oh, myah!
Update: My pal Bill Nothstine points me to this Flash Mob performance of the Messiah’s Hallelujah Chorus. And I have to agree with him — if you’re going to see any of the Messiah, this is the way to do it.
Tags: Choral Music, Chorus Humor, December Holidays, George Frideric Handel, Holiday Music, Holiday Verse, Messiah
Posted in Holiday Humor, Music Humor & Verse | 2 Comments »
Thursday, December 16th, 2010
Oh, joy! I just realized that today is Beethoven’s birthday. How Pathétique of me to almost forget the birth date of this Eroica fellow. After all, I’m so Appassionata about his music, the least I can do is make a concerted effort to remember his birthday.
But I did manage to orchestrate a limerick opus in Beethoven’s honor:
It’s Beethoven’s birthday today.
Born in 1770 — Yay!
His nine symphonies — great!
None compare — no debate.
Happy birthday, dear Ludwig. Hooray!
Tags: Beethoven, Classical Music, Composers, December Holidays
Posted in Limericks, Music Humor & Verse | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
Just in time for Chanukah, I’ve given Winter Wonderland a new first verse. Feel free to add your own verses, if you’re so inclined. As for me, I’m on the hunt for some chocolate Chanukah gelt. But first I must sing my Chanukah song verse:
Candles lit. Are you looking?
Dreidels spin. Latkas cooking.
Menorahs aglow.
(A mitzvah, you know.)
Chanukah is here. Strike up the band.
Tags: Chanukah, December Holidays, Festival Of Lights, Hanukkah, Holiday Song, Jewish Humor, Song Parody, Winter Humor
Posted in Celebrations Poetry, Holiday Humor, Jewish Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Seasons Humor | 6 Comments »
Sunday, November 28th, 2010
You’d think Texas cops would have more important things to worry about than marijuana in Willie Nelson’s tour bus. But apparently not, so they arrested him. And that cries out for a limerick:
Limerick Ode To Willie Nelson
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Willie Nelson is in a tough spot
Cuz of grass on his tour bus. What rot!
Such arrests make me groan.
Wish they’d leave him alone.
They’re musicians — they’re s’posed to smoke pot.
Tags: Drug Laws, Legal Limerick, Marijuana, Music Humor & Verse, Pot, Willie Nelson
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Crime & Punishment Humor, Entertainment Humor, Legal & Lawyer Humor, Limericks, Music Humor & Verse | 5 Comments »
