Who is your country's present Tom Lehrer?

[arildno]

Witty, tonguetwisting singers with an often satirical bite in their texts,, but just as likely to descend into hysterical silliness. I would think every country has such a national icon.
In Norway, his name is Øystein Sunde, unchallenged for the last 40 years.

Who has that honour in your country?

And as for Americans, do you have any present day challengers to Lehrer's legendary, but somewhat hoary status?

 

[MisterX]

Well there's "Weird Al" Yankovic, from the USA, but I'm not sure you'd describe his work as witty or tongue-twisting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Comedy_musicians_by_nationality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_comedy_musicians

 

[arildno]

We'll there's "Weird Al" Yankovic, from the USA, but I'm not sure you'd describe his work as witty or tongue-twisting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Comedy_musicians_by_nationality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_comedy_musicians

Yes, I thought he might fit the bill.
Any other Americans who have taken up TL's mantle?

 

[Redbelly98]

Does it have to be a musician? I like to think that Jon Stewart's news/political comedy is in the same spirit as what Tom Lehrer did. Weird Al is funny in his own right, but his humor has nothing to do with anything going on in the real world.

 

[Astronuc]

Possibly Mark Russell. He keeps his comedy pretty clean and funny.
http://www.markrussell.net/

 

[George Jones]

In Canada, The Brothers-In-Law didi some good satirical songs in the 60s and 70s.

 

[Cecilia48]

http://www.infoocean.info/avatar2.jpg Well there's "Weird Al" Yankovic

 

[dodo]

Does s/he need to have a Ph.D. in mathematics?

Edit: Ehem... A master will do... now that I read his biography.

 

[phinds]

I doubt we'll see Lehrer's like again any time soon. He was not only clever and funny but erudite at the same time. Weird Al is a clever guy but he's no Tom Lehrer.

 

[Jack21222]

This isn't my country, but Australia has Tim Minchin.

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

Has some language, do not watch at work. This reminds me a little of Lehrer's "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park"

 

[Pythagorean]

Came in here to mention Minchin. Also not from Australia.

 

[MisterX]

The late Warren Zevon left some evidence of being erudite in his work, although it may be more dark, sick, or desperate than laugh-out-loud funny. Some of his songs involve history, geography, or other vocabulary that may not be common knowledge. While his work is newer than Lehrer's, Warren is not a "present" artist due to mesothelioma.

These may not be safe for work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJefPK_UkdM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0NlXKPaqZg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHWmxCoTV3Y

 

[Danger]

I loved Frank Zappa's social commentaries.
In my country, though, the best that I can think of right now are Bowser & Blue.

With Evo: Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert are the only US newscasters that I trust. In fact, I'm horrified and severely apologetic to you Yanks that Ashley Banfield escaped our confines and is making your lives miserable. She was actually a reputable reporter before she crossed the border.

 

[Redbelly98]

With Evo: Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert . . .

Pssst, hey, can you keep a secret? I'm not really Evo, it's a disguise.

(Please don't tell anybody.)

 

[Danger]

Sorry, Red.
I had no idea what the hell you were talking about in the Feedback section about the April Fool's gag until I just read your last reply and went back to check out the one that I had cited. That was a neat trick.