Having a laugh and making great music can be the same. Often, both approaches come from the same source: Pain. One might listen to great music to forget a problem, and one can laugh to do the same.
Every once in a while, though, comedy and music combine. If done well, it is magic, and there is arguably no great expression of humanity. Creating music and creating comedy are things only we can do.
But a laugh and a cry? It takes talent to cause this. In the cases below, the brilliance of each performer is worthy of multiple listens.
Four comedians who have also created great music
Steve Martin
Martin first brought his banjo on stage as a prop. He had an arrow stuck through his head and was a comedian with a banjo. That is a funny image, and Martin, in all of his comedic genius, knew it. The trick is that Martin was very good at playing the banjo.
So much so that Martin has won Grammys for his being a part of bluegrass and roots music songs. Other excellent musicians like and respect Martin as a banjo player, so should we.
Bo Burnham
There could be some in the world who don't know Burnham is a comedian. They might simply see him as more of a musical artist, and that is fair. While he is funny on the iconic COVID-influenced Inside, he also speaks for all of us with his feelings of loneliness and exile. His songs, while sad, bring us hope.
Burnham is a great example of how a comedian can make us laugh, but also bring real observation of how reality works. He can be light-hearted or lead us
Stephen Lynch
The weirdness comes with the question: What happened to Lynch? He is still around, but hasn't produced a new album in six years. Is he busy doing Broadway again (he was the lead in the Broadway production of The Wedding Singer) or what? There is no evidence of anything.
But his earlier musical works as a comedian are brilliant. The Craig Machine from 2005 is amazing and a must-listen for any music fan. His track from 2012's Lion, "Tennessee," speaks volumes in today's political climate.
Weird Al Yankovic
The King with a capital K. Weird Al has caused the line between comedy and pure music to be blurred. He is good enough to create great songs, even if they aren't parodies, but then he creates parodies that are many times better than the originals.
For instance, who wouldn't rather listen to his version of "Beat It" (called "Eat It," because...) now than listen to the morally odd Michael Jackson original. Are both songs good? Sure, but you'll feel better about hearing the Weird Al one. And that is only one of the multitude of great tracks he has chruned out.
Yankovic isn't only a great musician or a great comedian, he is each one separately excellent. Most of his records are worth listening to, both in laughing with while also appreciating the songwriting.