RIP Tom Lehrer becomes elemental

[Yoused]

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97 years old. We were beginning to wonder if he would be immortal.

​

Authorities are investigating the possibility of a revenge poisoning.

​

 

[Herdfan]

There was a Tom Lehrer album in the house growing up. My friends and I would listen to it when my parents were otherwise not paying attention to us. It was scandalous for a 10 year old boy. LOL.

 

[Roller]

I haven’t heard these songs in years. Pity that it took Lehrer’s death for me to become reacquainted with them. RIP.

 

[Alli]

They're dropping like flies.

 

[Yoused]

They're dropping like flies.

If only the flies would drop at that rate.

 

[japanime]

We lost Mark Russell a couple of years ago. And now Tom Lehrer. They truly were from another time.

Are there any musicians doing political satire today?

By the way, all of Lehrer's music is available for free download from his official website:

Songs and Lyrics by Tom Lehrer

Songs and Lyrics by Tom Lehrer DISCLAIMER STATEMENTI, Tom Lehrer, individually and as trustee of the

tomlehrersongs.com

 

[cbum]

We are all deciduous, falling from the family tree in the autumn of our lives.

My problem is that fate has this distressing tendency of mostly grabbing the wrong people.

On lighter note, here a longtime favorite:

 

[Yoused]

Are there any musicians doing political satire today?

Back in the day, satire was funny. Now all political humor is polarized and just mean spirited. I always perceived that fat junkie on the radio as a bitter, angry asshole, but I suppose the people who cheer on his kind would view me in a similar way. There is no longer any kind of shared sense of basic funny.

 

[japanime]

Back in the day, satire was funny. Now all political humor is polarized and just mean spirited. I always perceived that fat junkie on the radio as a bitter, angry asshole, but I suppose the people who cheer on his kind would view me in a similar way. There is no longer any kind of shared sense of basic funny.

You nailed it. The reason the satire done by the likes of Lehrer and Russell and Vaughn ("The First Family") Meader was so funny is that it wasn't driven by spite. Everyone — including the public figures who were being lampooned — could enjoy and respect it for its good-natured comedic value.