Fake bands, real songs: 50 best tunes by "made-up" musicians

I mean, Spinal Tap are a "real band" too after all

Alice Bowie the sentimental favorite, but the songs from Hedwig are actually good.

"I Think I Love You" just ahead of "Sugar Sugar." I registered my complaint elsewhere that the Partridge Family are very, very real.

"Sugar Sugar" was massive. I had the 45, probably not long after it was released. To my young brain, the Archies were 100% real.

I mean, I know the Monkees at a certain point--pretty early--played their own instruments. I'm not sure about the Partridge Family...vocals, at least, I think.

I voted for the Banana Splits--it's a really good song for a bunch of filthy animals

Also, re "It Don't Worry Me" from Nashville: I don't think I'm alone in counting Barbara Jean's "Dues" as the film's musical highlight (greatest moment, period), but that's complicated by the fact that the real Ronee Blakly included that on her debut album three years earlier. So they went with something else.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2G2zcjC8Cs

Me And My Rhythm Box from Liquid Sky is my favourite song by a fictional artist. List should include tracks from Rock Follies and Jem and the Holograms as well.

Payday (1972) with Rip Torn has some wonderful songs

Also, Breaking Glass (1980) with Hazel O’Connor basically doing the soundtrack in-character is a keeper

the songs from Slade In Flame are great but that feels like cheating because it's basically just Slade

all the Walk Hard songs are surprisingly good but I voted Banana Splits because that one's in my head all the time. plus TMBG did a fun cover of it

Mention of Payday reminds me of Kris Kristofferson in Cisco Pike doing--as the fictional character Cisco--key songs from Kristofferson's The Silver Tongued Devil and I. So I guess that doesn't count. (The album came out a few months before the film.)

Three Small Words is great but whatabout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DNQjFB4-nQ

Oops I meant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DNQjFB4-nQ

The monkees situation is explained in the intro

We also had a long debate about what to do with the Monkees, before it was decided that at a certain point, they Pinocchio’ed their way into being a real band, and thus didn’t qualify. (Otherwise, “Daydream Believer” would have been very highly ranked.)

But honestly this is a good fun list, i like it

Write-in for Buddah Stalin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7ZJMD-aFQE

i luv the 6-5-4-3-2-1 gimmick in 3 small words but i'm easy w stuff like that

Swanky Modes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emkef_SG0rs

well, if you're gonna do Tapeheads, you gotta have Baby Doll by Cube Squared.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnTUSgHzZx0

write-in vote for Build Your Career At Carey Business School

Rolling Stone must have overlooked The Sleez Sisters from Times Square and their tune "Your Daughter Is One"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1pwU1z8-aw

shocking omission

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmDABl1MFgE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvM3ymUKrn8

Can’t believe this didn’t make the list

Dragon Sound - Friends (this is stuck in my head often)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVtyOwcQo-w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_4bu_uoR9k

write-in for the sacred cows - "kill kill kill"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD8FHrCHhQE

also, how the FUCK has nobody brought up Drimble Wedge and the Vegetation yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXnoWb88Jr4

LOL, was literally just about to post "No Drimble Wedge, no credibility."

Add to the growing list of write-ins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rfU1sC5vK8

“Free Me” from Peter Watkins’ PRIVILEGE (1967) is a classic. Patti Smith’s cover a decade later is iconic

I'd add Sweet Saturn Mine and BOTH Little Mouse and Machadaynu to the roster obv

rappin' all day and I'm rappin' all night

for real though hard to argue with the number one, primetime Adam Schlesinger, and sung by Mike Viola who is my favorite unsung singer/songwriter

also surprised "killer tofu" or "need mo allowance" didn't rate, yodalay hee hoooo

When it comes to Mighty Wind, I'm partial to Eat at Joe's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAKvNhu2jww

As much as I love CB4, that's like exponentially better than "Straight Outta Locash"

well, if you're gonna do Tapeheads, you gotta have Baby Doll by Cube Squared.

Oh Yeah! Secret Devo Track!

Another glaring omission

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD9askPYtko

I love 'Please Mr Kennedy' so much. If I had to pick a list of favourite movie scenes, that whole bit would be included

Any love for Infant Sorrow?

Inside of youuuu

I love 'Please Mr. Kennedy' so much.

Forgot all about that--loved it too.

From animated bands:

The Hex Girls from Scooby Doo and the Witch's Ghost. Not sure whether I'm a Hex Girl or Earth, Wind, Fire, and Air is the better song. They have had a few more songs throughout the years as well. They've enjoyed enough of a resurgence that there is copious Hot Topic merch devoted to them now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=attfhQWmVNA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K6YXa22owc

Would also recommend Everything's Gonna Be Alright by the Chipmunks & Chipettes, from Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQMf3rVRAfE

Not sure if the Girls of Rock & Roll would count, because it was originally used in The Malibu Bikini Shop before ending up as another Chipmunks/Chipettes duet in the Chipmunk Adventure, but it's a classic too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB0x4ui5ANw

In the non-animated category, it is a truly guilty pleasure that I get Ming Tea's BBC stuck in my head every time someone mentions the BBC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1w85qMqIjs

Not sure if the Girls of Rock & Roll would count, because it was originally used in The Malibu Bikini Shop

Mind ... blown

Yeah, it was a pretty wtf moment when I found that out as well. I do think the Chipmunks took it to another level though.

It's Not Easy Being Green
Do The Bartman

misbehavin' by aimee-leigh and baby billy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-znj7Uf9Oo

Holy shit, that's amazing. "Runnin' through the house with a pickle in my mouth"? Also, crazy transformation there for Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland.

oh yeah, Aimee-Leigh Gemstone is a great one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OowljuWOaac

Don’t forget this Canadian content from Degrassi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAlQ9whq8Hs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f8ol_fm7-o