Latest news with #TheMasochismTango
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tom Lehrer cause of death: What did the singer-songwriter die of?
Rest in Peace to the great Tom Lehrer, who helped put the periodic table of elements to song! 🎶 Before there were satirical songwriters like Weird Al Yankovic, there was Tom Lehrer, who wrote delightful and funny songs like Poisoning Pigeons in the Park and The Masochism Tango. He was hilarious and brilliant. On Saturday, Lehrer died in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Per USA TODAY, his friend David Herder confirmed the news to various publications. So what was the cause of death? We don't have that information yet. All we know is that he died at the age of 97. And what we can do is spend some time listening to some of his best songs and to pay tribute to the brilliance that was Tom Lehrer. What are Tom Lehrer's best songs? Here are a couple: Very upset to hear of the passing of Tom Lehrer at the age of 97. I sang and performed this song at my high schools talent show when I was 15. All the teachers stood there aghast, then everyone laughed like hell. An absolute genius and one of my favourite satirists ever. So good.
Metro
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
American musician and satirist Tom Lehrer dies aged 97
Tom Lehrer, best known for his satirical songs in the 1950s and 60s, has died at the age of 97. The singer died on Saturday at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as confirmed by his friend, David Herder to The New York Times. The singer was a popular satirist in his early career and the inspiration behind other satirists, including Weird Al Yankovic. Lehrer was a Harvard-trained mathematician and had teaching posts at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of California. He had success in the music industry but spent much of his life pursuing a life in academia, never quitting his original role as a mathematician and just taking sabbaticals when needed. In 1960, he stopped performing, before returning in 1965, and then leaving the industry for good in 1967. In 2000, he spoke to the New York Times about his enduring success: 'When I made that first record, it was just to sell around Harvard. 'It never dawned on me that all these years later, well, I wrote 'Fight Fiercely, Harvard' in 1945 and the band plays it at half-times now, 55 years later.' He added that despite his success, he was never interested in fame. 'I don't feel the need for anonymous affection,' he said. 'If they buy my records, I love that. But I don't think I need people in the dark applauding. It's nice to be reassured once in a while, but a real performer has to do it over and over again. I can't understand the Yul Brynner phenomenon, 'The King and I' night after night.' 'I'm not interested in promoting myself, or revealing to total strangers anything about me. That's not my job. More Trending 'I read some of these things with people who will tell you all about their abortions, and their affairs and their divorces and their nervous breakdowns and their parents, and why are they doing that? And I'm sure if you asked them how much money they made last year, they'd tell you it's none of your business.' The singer was best known for his songs The Masochism Tango, Send the Marines, and The Hunting Song. In Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, he detailed the birds' appetite for 'peanuts coated with cyanide' and in I Hold Your Hand in Mine, he sang about necrophilia, and in I Got It From Agnes, he spoke about catching a venereal disease. His tune, The Elements, was a list of the chemical elements set to the tune of I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General from The Pirates of Penzance and popularised in The Big Bang Theory. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Dame Cleo Laine, first lady of British jazz, dies aged 97 MORE: Hulk Hogan 'lost a lot of weight in final weeks before death' MORE: 70s jazz musician Chuck Mangione dies aged 84
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tom Lehrer's iconic songs: ‘The Elements', ‘The Masochism Tango' and more gems from satirical genius
Tom Lehrer, the musician and satirist known for his razor-sharp wit and dark humour, has passed away at the age of 97. A Harvard-trained mathematician, Lehrer rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s with his clever songs that blended comedy with biting political and social commentary. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His unique style influenced generations of comedians. Lehrer's passing was confirmed by his friend David Herder to the New York Times. With his brilliant mix of intellect and irreverence, he left a lasting mark on the world of music and satire. Tom Lehrer's iconic songs 'The Elements': This clever tune lists all the chemical elements, set to the melody of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General'. It became a hit among science buffs and comedy fans alike. ' The Masochism Tango ': In this fiery number, Lehrer mixes romance and pain, dancing through twisted desires with lyrics like, 'I ache for the touch of your lips, dear / But much more for the touch of your whips, dear…' 'I Hold Your Hand in Mine': Possibly his darkest love song, this ballad tells the creepy tale of a man holding onto his lover's severed hand, both literally and lovingly. 'I Got It From Agnes': With brilliant wordplay, Lehrer traces the spread of a venereal disease through a social circle, keeping the tone cheeky rather than crude. 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park': Spring in the city turns deadly in this comical song about lacing bird food with cyanide. It's disturbingly delightful. 'It Makes a Fellow Proud to Be a Soldier': This marching tune pokes fun at army life and military clichés, gently teasing everything from training routines to uniform pride. 'The Vatican Rag': A bouncy ragtime tune that mocks Catholic traditions with lines urging worshippers to 'genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!' 'Fight Fiercely, Harvard': Lehrer lovingly ridicules Ivy League manners, imagining a football game where players encourage each other with refined politeness. 'The Old Dope Peddler': Told with a wink, this tune follows a local drug dealer who's 'giving the kids free samples' in the hopes of creating lifelong customers. 'Bright College Days': Looking back at university life, Lehrer gives the usual nostalgic college song a twist filled with sarcasm and schoolboy humour. 'Lobachevsky': In this faux-Russian piece, Lehrer praises plagiarism in academia. The key lesson? 'Plagiarise! Plagiarise! Let no one else's work evade your eyes!' 'My Home Town': What starts like a sentimental tribute to small-town life quickly turns into a list of shady characters and back-alley dealings. 'We Will All Go Together When We Go': A cheerful take on nuclear apocalypse, this crowd-pleaser reminds us that at least we'll all be fried together. 'Be Prepared': A twisted version of the Boy Scout motto, the song offers dodgy advice under the guise of helpful readiness. 'The Wild West Is Where I Want to Be': This one celebrates the American West with humour, radioactivity, and military-industrial references. 'I Wanna Go Back to Dixie': Lehrer mocks Southern nostalgia by highlighting the region's history of racism and inequality through upbeat melody and biting irony. 'The Irish Ballad': Don't be fooled by the folky sound. This grim tale tells of a girl committing murder after murder in the sweetest voice imaginable. 'The Hunting Song': A gentle tune disguises the chaos of a hunting trip that goes hilariously and violently wrong. 'When You Are Old and Gray': Romance fades fast in this brutally honest love song, where the singer says his affection will end as soon as his partner's beauty does. 'The Wiener Schnitzel Waltz': Here, food and romance mix in a whimsical tale of love, lust, and Austrian cuisine. 'A Christmas Carol': Christmas commercialism is the real target in this song, with the melody hiding a critique of holiday consumerism. 'Oedipus Rex': Lehrer gives the classic Greek tragedy a cheeky twist, adding mother jokes and academic flair to a bizarrely chipper tune. 'In Old Mexico': An unlucky traveller visits Mexico and finds misfortune at every turn, all told with exaggerated characters and satirical flair. 'Clementine': This parody of the classic folk song takes listeners through increasingly ridiculous musical styles, from operatic to cowboy country. 'She's My Girl': Love and hate collide in this tune, where the singer complains bitterly about his partner, but still insists he's in love. Free music for the world In a rare and generous move, Tom Lehrer announced in 2020 that he had given away all rights to his songs. He placed them into the public domain, meaning anyone could use, perform, record, or rewrite them freely. He even gave up the rights to his own recordings. 'In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs. So help yourselves, and don't send me any money,' he wrote on his website. He also warned that the website would be 'shut down at some date in the not too distant future' although it was still live at the time of his passing
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tom Lehrer passes away at 97: Remembering the satirical songwriter and math professor with a witty charm– Read inside
Tom Lehrer was a famous American musician, songwriter, and math professor known for his funny and clever songs. He used humour to talk about serious topics like politics, religion, and education. He passed away at the age of 97 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The news of Tom Lehrer's demise was confirmed by his longtime friend David Herder to the New York Times. The sharp-witted musician and mathematician was known for his dark and funny songs like 'The Masochism Tango,' 'The Vatican Rag,' and 'The Elements'. Tom Lehrer's life journey Lehrer wasn't just a musical talent; he was also a brilliant mathematician. While he gained a cult following for his clever and often controversial songs, he continued to work as a math professor at Harvard and later at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He once joked that he didn't need to rely on music for a living and could easily make a teacher's salary instead. Born in New York into a Jewish family, Lehrer showed talent early, learning piano at the age of 7 and entering Harvard at just 15. He graduated with top honours and earned a master's degree shortly after. In 1953, he recorded his first album Songs of Tom Lehrer for just $40. The album, featuring humorous and satirical songs, quickly became popular among college students and sold over 10,000 copies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Japanese AI invention allows you to speak 68 languages instantly. The idea? Genius. Enence 2.0 Undo After serving in the Army, he released 'More of Tom Lehrer' in 1959, which included some of his best-known songs like 'The Elements' and 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park'. His style was edgy, and he was grouped with other bold comedians of the time like Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl. His live shows were famously titled 'An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer.' In 1965, Lehrer gained national fame through the show 'That Was the Week That Was'. His album 'That Was the Year That Was' became a hit in a short period. The songs poked fun at politics, religion, war, and education with sharp humour. He also wrote songs for the children's show 'The Electric Company' and supported political campaigns like George McGovern's in 1972. Later in life, Lehrer stepped away from the spotlight and focused on teaching math and musical theatre. He never married and had no children, but his witty and intelligent songs continue to inspire and entertain generations.
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who was Tom Lehrer, legendary satirist behind ‘Elements' dies at 97?
Tom Lehrer, pianist, songwriter, mathematician, and the man who made black comedy sing, has died at 97. According to Variety, his friends said he was found at his home in Cambridge, Mass., on Saturday. A cult figure long before television caught up with him, Lehrer balanced fame with a day job: teaching math at Harvard and, later, UC Santa Cruz. As he once told a crowd, 'I don't like people to get the idea that I have to do this for a living. I mean, it isn't as though I had to do this. I could be making, oh, $3,000 a year just teaching.' Tom Lehrer achieved national fame with NBC's 'That Was the Week That Was' in 1965. (IMDb) Also read: When Miranda met Andy! Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway spotted shooting together for The Devil Wears Prada sequel From $40 studio time to national TV Born in New York to a Jewish family, he started piano at 7, devoured the American songbook, and could mimic any style on the keys. A prodigy, he entered Harvard at 15, graduated magna cum laude in 1946, collected a master's a year later, and noodled on a doctorate for years. In 1953, for $40, he cut 'Songs of Tom Lehrer' in a Boston studio - cover art: Lehrer as a devil at the piano. Passed hand to hand on campuses, it sold 10,000 copies and made him an underground star, according to Variety. The follow-up, More of Tom Lehrer (1959), arrived after his Army stint and delivered staples like The Elements, The Masochism Tango and Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. Time magazine promptly slotted him with the era's 'sick' comics - Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl - a badge he wore just fine. Live, he packaged the material as 'An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer.' Also read: Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson fuel dating rumours with their cute banter 'TW3,' Reprise, and the long fade back to class Tom achieved national fame with NBC's 'That Was the Week That Was' in 1965. His Reprise LP 'That Was the Year That Was' peaked at No. 18, taking aim at prejudice ('National Brotherhood Week'), nukes ('So Long Mom'), the Church ('The Vatican Rag'), and education ('The New Math'). He later wrote songs for 'The Electric Company,' stumped at McGovern fundraisers in 1972, and then mostly retreated to academia, teaching math and musical theater at UC Santa Cruz, reports Variety. Lehrer never married and had no children. FAQs How old was Tom Lehrer when he died? He was 97. Where did Tom Lehrer teach? He taught mathematics at Harvard and later at UC Santa Cruz. What TV show boosted his national profile? NBC's That Was the Week That Was in 1965. What are some of his most famous songs? 'The Vatican Rag,' 'The Masochism Tango,' 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park,' and 'The Elements.' Did Tom Lehrer ever marry? No, he never married and left no children.
