On June 3rd, nearly 10 years after he posted his first video to YouTube, Bo Burnham’s latest comedy special “Make Happy” aired on Netflix, and it is arguably his best work yet. Upon its release, I figured it would be a great time to reflect upon why Burnham is one of the greatest comedians working right now. As seen in his specials, Burnham’s work is more of a one-man show than simply a stand-up routine. Unlike other comedians and performers who work too hard to be relatable, Burnham’s comedy centers around the themes of introspection, performance, and societal critiques. Comedy music is rarely appealing, but using catchy tunes combined with provocative, meta, and oft-irreverent lyrics Burnham makes the style his own and creates an irresistible show. I definitely recommend listening to his comedy albums and watching Burnham’s specials “Words, Words, Words” (Comedy Central), “what.” (YouTube and Netflix), and “Make Happy” (Netflix), but to start out, here are some of Bo Burnham’s best songs and comedy segments to enjoy.
1. "From God's Perspective"
One of Burnham's best songs, "From God's Perspective" humorously questions organized religion and notions of morality. It's full of laughs, but also reflects Burnham's personal ideas more so than his other works, and asks the audience to question the intentions behind their actions.
2. "Country Song"
Burnham is exceptionally talented in his ability to pinpoint problematic patterns within the mainstream music industry. In this song, Burnham criticizes the methods used to write modern country music.
3. "Repeat Stuff"
The most well-known of his musical parodies, "Repeat Stuff" makes fun of the formulaic nature of romantic pop songs. Doing this allows Burnham to acknowledge the pop music industrial system through subverting the product which it creates. One highlight is his pointing out the vagueness of pop lyrics to make "every girl think this song's about her" with the line "I love your eyes and their blueish brownish greenish color."
4. "Kill Yourself"
As demonstrated by the title, "Kill Yourself" is darkest of Burnham's musical parodies, but does a great job of noting how inspirational songs (like Sara Bareilles's "Brave" or Katy Perry's "Roar") fail to address the complexity of emotional turmoil.
5. "#deep"
A collection of absolutely incredibly deep and provocative thoughts, “#deep” is both entertaining but also is filled with lines of truth which resonate with the listener, such as “If momma is right and the world is my oyster / Then I must have an allergy to shellfish.”
6. "love is..."
A collection of hilarious similes and metaphors, “love is...” demonstrates Burnham’s ability to create enjoyable songs with cheeky lyrics you couldn’t exactly sing at a family gathering.
7. "Straight White Man"
Part of what makes Burnham such a popular comedian in today’s societal landscape is his ability to recognize social patterns and behaviors and eloquently and comedically acknowledge them in his work. “Straight White Man” is a perfect example of this, as it is an ironic piece which makes fun of the supposed struggles of the most privileged members of society.
8. "Sad"
A humorous take on the sad things we witness, “Sad” also makes astute observations about what it means to be a comedian, and what we tend to find funny.
9. "i'm bo yo."
Burnham’s most popular video on his YouTube channel, "i'm bo yo." is a quick-paced rap that’s so chock-full of jokes that you need to listen to it multiple times to fully appreciate its humor.
10. "WDIDLN? (What Did I Do Last Night?)"
Short but hilarious, “WDIDLN?” makes fun of the over-hyped song style while striking a cord of emotional realism.
11. "art is dead."
Lots of Burnham’s work focuses on performance itself, and this song does even more so than most. In it, Burnham reflects upon his own role in society and on what it means to have a career as a comedian.
