novelty
what it is
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make novelty a playlist
turn these 21 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is novelty?
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music.
What are good novelty albums to start with?
Try Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits by Crazy Frog, A Very 1999 Christmas by jschlatt, Zerwee by Billy Cobb, and Because I Got High by Afroman.
Who are some women making novelty?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/novelty/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making novelty, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20