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New Line Cinema
Sandler shone in 1998's "The Wedding Singer."
"Jack and Jill," Adam Sandler's new film in which he plays both a man and his twin sister, is getting ravaged by critics. "Even by sloppy Sandler movie standards, this one’s a wreck — fart jokes, potty zingers and pit-stain gags," writes Roger Moore in the Orlando Sentinel. The Hollywood Reporter review calls it "witless and sloppily constructed."
Yeah. So I won't be seeing that one. But I still think Sandler's a smart, likable and funny comic, in the right sketch or movie. So I'm going to put "Jack and Jill" out of my mind and think of Adam Sandler the singer instead.
1. "Lunch Lady Land"
Here's the thing about Sandler's comic songs. They're both hilarious and sweet, and musically well-written. Sandler's song about the day that cafeteria food takes revenge on a hairnetted, mole-bedecked lunch lady (Chris Farley, of course) is just perfect. And it switches tempos amazingly well, from a rat-a-tat-tat humor piece to an almost sweet ballad, and switches right back. Hoagies and grinders, hoagies and grinders...
2. "The Lonesome Kicker"
This might be the best sports song ever. In "The Lonesome Kicker," like in Peter, Paul and Mary's "Right Field," Sandler takes up for the most-derided position on a sports team. Even his coach doesn't know who the heck he is: "But I kick that ball, and I pray it goes straight, and if it does, the coach says 'Good job, number 8." And there's an amazing amount of football knowledge crammed in here too. "Another blocked kick! And everybody blames me! But it was the left guard, who didn't pick up his man!" Listen to this just once, and you'll find yourself humming it the next time your favorite team's kicker shanks one. Oh, good job, number 8.
3. "The Hanukkah Song"
Sandler's "Hanukkah Song," listing famous Jews who celebrate the holiday, is a seasonal classic. "Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli? Bowser from 'Sha-Na-Na' and Arthur Fonzarelli!" Also, who knew so many words rhymed with "Hanukkah," even "marijuanica"? His "Thanksgiving Song" is also an awesome tune for a holiday that isn't often musically remembered. "A turkey for me, a turkey for you! Let's eat turkey in a big brown shoe!"
4. Anything from "The Wedding Singer"
It's no news to anyone that I'm a 1980s freak. Sandler's 1998 movie "The Wedding Singer" got the era's details right and managed to weave a touching and funny story about wedding singer Robbie (Sandler) and his love for sweet waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore). Hey, somebody get some pants on that kid!
5. "A Song about Elmo"
"Sesame Streeters" may not be Sandler's regular audience, but why not? He's just a big kid himself. So his visit to the street's little red monster teaches kids about rhyming with Sandler's own childlike charm. Best line: "At night he takes a bubble bath, just so he won't Smellmo."
What's Sandler's best song? Tell us in the comments.
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Red Hooded Sweatshirt surely should make honorable mention.
What about The Thanksgiving Song or Red Hooded Sweatshirt?!
I was just singing "sloppy joe, sloppy sloppy joe" last night...ha!
"At a Medium Pace" is his all time classy classic.
Agreed - Gael clearly has not listened to Sandler's music if she didn't include that one on the list.
Sick, twisted, and oh so funny - truly a comedy classic. Hell, even the Tollbooth Willie segments from "They're All Going to Laugh At You" were actually funny. Sandler doing a cover of "You Spin Me Round" was really funny at all - and since the former lead singer of that band is a true freak up there with the "lion guy" and those other plastic surgery addicts it's hard to hear that song and in ANY way think of it as funny at all. Apparently Gael is not aware of what a freak he/she (whatever gender 'he' goes by this month) actually is.
edit: Sandler doing a cover of "You Spin Me Round" was not really funny at all
Sure there were a few funny things going on in the background - but that was the MOVIE not the SONG. This article claims to be about '5 great Sandler songs' but that wasn't one.
Ok... i LOVE the Hannukah one, but my all time favorite was the song he does in Mixed Nuts....ooooohhhh so many things for me to wonder...... The whole movie is great, but that is just LOL funny.
My favorite was "Opera Man" for the New York City Concert after 9/11
Only song that he did that's even remotely funny is "Piece of S*** Car" and that's only funny because the censored version has car sounds covering the profanity.
....use of the term "great" in relation to these songs is stretching credulity to a ridiculous length....don't ya think?....
i disagree. these songs are amazing!
Depends how close minded and self absorbed you are.
I'm a fan of "POS car". The car I had when the song came out was in worse shape than the one described in the sog.
Great songs? You're kidding, right?
Sandler seems like a really good guy, but as an actor he is lazy beyond any reasonable standard. He either plays himself, or occasionally he makes a weird face (when he was the son of Satan), or uses a dumb voice (water boy), but I cannot remember any movie in which he actually put some effort into a part. Now don't get me wrong, I find him a likable guy, and his movies often have a serious moral lesson under the silliness, but all of them are virtually zero effort, lazy productions. I am a afraid that all this easy money has made Sandler believe that no matter how little effort he puts into his parts we will come.
Great comedy songs people. He is a raunchy comic and most of his songs reflect that. If you aren't a fan of his work you aren't going to be a fan of the music either.
Weird Al Yankovic has had some great "comedic" songs too.
I'm also confused as to why it is that people read articles, and comment, about entertainers they aren't fans of. It's a little part of your life you will never get back.
Sandler has never claimed to be an Oscar worthy thespian and will pretty much admit that making movies is more like pulling together a bunch of footage of him and his pals goofing off. He has made a lot of money doing it in the process.
I find that it is pretty dumb to criticize someone that tries to make people laugh. Even if the effort sucks they still tried and laughter is a good thing.
Could there ever possibly be anything LESS funny than Adam Sandler? Oh yeah - Adam Sandler singing. He would have amused me in maybe 5th grade. The fact he gets $20M a picture is evidence that America has a collective IQ somewhere around 50. Only comedian less funny is Jay Leno - another gazillionaire for no understandable reason.
Stairway To Heaven will always be a classic,
adam sandler plays incredible guitar and drums'
and he can sing a rock athem...
A rock anthem, "In Opera".
From 50 first dates - "Forgetful Lucy".
Her lips are so damn juicy.l
Sandler's best song, by far: "Piece of S**t Car." Unquestionably the finest white-boy rap/reggae tune he's ever done.
Of course, it may be the only white-boy rap/reggae tune he's ever done...
(Imagine my relief.)
there is NO GREAT adam sandler ANYTHING!
Definitely the song from The Wedding Singer that he sings on the airplane...I'm gonna make you smile, whenever your sad...wheel you around when your arthritis is bad...:D
My fave is the Red Sweatshirt. He makes me fall down laughing.