Tom Lehrer - The Masochism Tango - with intro

[@unclenogbad1509]

"Mr. Lehrer's muse is not fettered by such inhibiting factors as taste." - a review from the New York Times that he's always cherished.

[@casvandijck9338]

The moment one does something good, they'll kick someone in the shin.

[@grmpEqweer]

Lovely.

[@geofreycrow9663]

No critic would understand, but that really is the highest compliment a critic can give an artist

[@rabidbunnies2]

It's perfect.

[@JustSad66]

Always suspected he wrote that himself!!

[@gdj6298]

What gets lost under the lyrical brilliance is that he's a bloody good pianist!

[@casvandijck9338]

A mathematician. That's what he is what gets lost. The pianist part was quite clear.

[@gdj6298]

​@@casvandijck9338 Alright, he was a mathematician. I like that in a singer.

[@christophers.8553]

@@gdj6298 I suppose at least you can count on him.

[@qwmx]

@@christophers.8553 ...to find x.

[@HuhWHODIDTHIS]

REAL!

[@richsackett3423]

3:16 Wow. In the hiccup line he replaced "Excuse me" with "Entschu" for the local crowd. That's a badass musician.

[@melissastone6388]

Yep, on his Tom Lehrer discovers Australia, hr changes several song references to make it "local" - genius on so many levels.

[@squiglemcsquigle8414]

Its unnskyld norwegian for excuse me

[@johanbrand8601]

I really thought he said "oh shoot"

[@mintyvole]

and i genuinely thought he said "wont you," like "...wont you take your cigarette"

[@ava8340]

@@mintyvole me too PFFT

[@wayneswickley4005]

Fifty Shades of Tom.

[@TeaReesa26]

Countably infinite shades of Tom.

[@beatriceblake5201]

If he consented, I definitely would ;-)

[@NatandGeorge]

50 shades was about domination, & play sadism, not masochism. I read all 3 -- excellent trilogy.

[@casvandijck9338]

@@NatandGeorge If it's about sadism, it's about masochism; if it's about play sadism it's about play masochism. There's no coin's head without a tail.

[@k.ebartlett1830]

@@NatandGeorge As someone pretty heavily into kink, it's not really about any of those-it's about abuse being justified through the veneer of a kink by an asshole billionaire with a freudian complex.

[@omeragam8628]

I feel like if Tom was working today and posting his songs on youtube he would have become viral in days. sireosly, this guy is the 50's version of the internet....

[@undeadwolve7297]

Omer Agam there is someone who is a spiritual successor named Bo Burnham

[@wynndoesthings8662]

@@undeadwolve7297 he's not as good, weird Al is better than Bo.

[@beatriceblake5201]

It must be hard being this ahead of one's time.

[@isaacstokes7239]

@@beatriceblake5201 yh sucks but like hes still Alive yanno

[@bricktasticanimations4834]

@@isaacstokes7239 Yep, 96 this year in fact. Hello from 2024!

[@DataExpungedNull]

"My heart is in my hand.... Yech!" Classic!

[@G6JPG]

I can never hear anyone say it now!

[@piassavakost8225]

I guess this is from the Copenhagen performance, because he's included a small treat for the live audience: After his hic at 3:17 he says "undskyld", which is Danish for "excuse me".

[@vasilikikakara3092]

piassavakost could be Norway too. excuse me is "unnskyld" in Norwegian.

[@dougmontgomery1868]

Jeg taler ikke dansk.

[@ribanamay3724]

The info says it's a recording from Norway

[@buckplug2423]

doesn't he just say "oh shoot"?

[@squiglemcsquigle8414]

Its the norwegian one

[@nimuefate8652]

My friend swears she and her fiancée will be dancing to the instrumental of this song as their first dance song. It also works because it's an inside joke with our group and her fiancée is from Argentina (Argentine tango).

[@Alaryk111]

Did they dance to it?

[@SeanLigman-yo6yc]

Oh ..i thought it was because they are into kink...

[@deadsoup12]

you can't just leave us hanging like this did they dance to it?

[@bareakon]

This is what is meant by "enthusiastic consent"

[@darwinjaevidavin8916]

The original version of: Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry.

[@miasumner272]

Goodness I love Tom, especially his little gestures he does in each song, yeah there's the obvious ones but there's a lot of subtle ones like when he says envy. I just am enamored by his vocal and physical quirks he does alongside his music.

[@breadmoneyarchival]

I like to imagine Tom Lehrer circa 1959 making reservations with a dominatrix as a means of making this song as accurate as possible.

[@MURDERPILLOW.]

I like to imagine he wouldnt have to, he was already well versed

[@therealzilch]

It should also be mentioned that he's a great pianist.

[@xinthrau8520]

i think of morticia and gomez listening to this

[@FlashakaViolet]

+Xinth Rau otp

[@lordnumbnutsthe1st891]

Thank you, thank you a million times - you just reminded me to go re-watch the old Addams Family shows. :)

[@dougmontgomery1868]

If Lurch were alive he would turn over in his grave!

[@LazyIRanch]

@@dougmontgomery1868 This song would sound great on the harpsichord!

[@juniperberryyyy]

Yes

[@clashfan26]

This is a hilarious song to sing in a karaoke bar, especially if you act out the kicking and whip lashing and trampling with cleats. Just make sure you practice it a few times beforehand so that you can get the tempo right. Classic novelty song!

[@HeathersAVPM]

To anyone who doesn't know, Masochism is when you find pleasure in your own pain, sadism is when you find pleasure in causing someone else pain...a surprising amount of people think it's the same thing;)

[@chrismanuel9768]

And a sadomasochist enjoys both giving and receiving pain

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Love watching Tom’s hands gliding across the keyboard as he plays this!

[@sudcciv6443]

I did not REALIZE that BDSM has a "theme song"! THIS is clearly it! ;)

[@SeanLigman-yo6yc]

Its this or "Perversion" from the Movie 'First Nudie Musical"....

[@JamiJR]

This is the song Gomez used to woo Morticia.

[@geraldfrost4710]

They danced the Mamushka.

[@benjamingruder4875]

His piano playing is unreal! Totally relaxed and totally fits.

[@marytina4125]

I wish my classmates and friends could understand the beauty of his work

[@emilsteillsson1145]

My heart just stopped

[@danielbarber9669]

yeah i would tame his strange too

[@3dgyt33n3]

Emil Steillsson of course otstopped, its incredibly deformed. it shouldn't have that many lumps.

[@G6JPG]

Is it in your hand? (Yeuch!)

[@synthiazeng]

Came back from some covers. Some comments said Tom’s version was dry, which I enthusiastically disagree. Tom may not have the best voice, but surely he has the best interpretation.

[@G6JPG]

I actually like his voice. Clear (credit to all the recording engineers) without being showy: you listen to the words, not the singing.

[@Anteater1234567]

This piece is really helped by seeing him play it, with all the gliss's and emotion. Adds so much.

[@abcdefghijklmno66109]

I can't help but smile when I hear this song. I heard it first when I was in high school. Later as an adult I went to a fetish club to witness some of the things mentioned in the song. I began to laugh at the scene in front of me. Not that what I saw was funny... it just reminded me of me in an English class listening to a cassette

[@TrekkerLLAP]

I find him incredibly attractive while he's singing this... ;D

[@nelsonjanusson7278]

we all do every single one of us

[@zararule427]

4 years ago, 4 months ago

[@jamien.5528]

CHANNEL HAS MOVED. He’s a snacc

[@notaninstrument7707]

I was gonna say like why is this kinda hot

[@tabithavanderpool418]

@@notaninstrument7707 edit* I take it back. You're a kid have fun with life 😰

[@3fps2]

this dude is very funny. i emjoy all the comments talking about how hed still do well today, its good when people get reminded rhat people have always been people.

[@ellyem1885]

Whenever I listen to this song, I need to listen to it at least anotheh two more times because it's so awesome! Tom Lehrer is one of my very very favorite artists of all time! Absolutely incredible.

[@5610winston]

alternate to the "castanet" couplet: "...a reminder 'til yet, love how This Passion was born! How I envied the rose that your teeth used to clench, love: when I tried something French, love, all I got was a thorn!"

[@PrincessDreamActress]

I like your altered lyric, it follows the song well and it rhymes. And it's fun to sing that lyric

[@5610winston]

PrincessDreamActress Actually, the "altered lyric" is in Mr. Lehrer's song book. I agree. It is slightly more "blue"; I think it may have been amended for the revue "TOMFOOLERY". If you can find the book, check out the alternate lyric for "When You Are Old and Gray".

[@PrincessDreamActress]

5610winston Oh I see. Still it's an interesting altered lyric. And thank you I'll keep that in mind.

[@5610winston]

PrincessDreamActress That was in a Tom Lehrer Songbook.

[@malakaibickers]

This is the first time I've heard the song with the intro. Thanks for posting.

[@joemama4946]

Yo Suddam you a masochist too?

[@rcevey2]

I love Tom Lehrer. He's able to be deviant without going in to gross, while being timelessly funny.

[@DanielsPolitics1]

He mines holding a still beating heart in his outstretched hand. He goes into gross.

[@synthiazeng]

His live performance is a thousand time better than the CD recording.

[@duncanyourmate2433]

it does not get more entertaining ,

[@duncanyourmate2433]

this is humour , promise , clever , classic ,

[@duncanyourmate2433]

it truly is a statement ,& compliment to the writer/performer that No One wants to put their comment ,(Geeze Lighten Up ) in the USA/s new world

[@malbecks316]

It's fantastic this was uploaded in this format. Not only is Mr. Lehrer's music delightful, he is also a joy to watch. If this were just audio, I would have missed out on his hilarious expressions and body language.

[@vegesaurus]

i love lehrer, he's so funny and stuff, but the one thing i REALLY admire him for is his talent on the piano. he's so versatile and talented!

[@G6JPG]

Not just the playing, but the composing - in any style (see Clementine).

[@Zoomingout101senpainoticeme]

This is my song. Hello I am your friendly masochist

[@gregorsamsa9264]

It's a fun song.

[@kathyhalton8352]

Friendly neighborhood BDSM couple

[@beatriceblake5201]

Sit down and shut up ;-p

[@marcusallard8626]

:))))))))

[@emmawalter5433]

Darling, you're not alone!

[@tedcoollanghaug1219]

3:18 he says unnskyld and not excuse me. That kind and nice of him to do.

[@aliceleder2765]

tom lehrer was a musical genius!

[@cienh2o]

I'm so glad Dr. Demento played these songs on his radio show, and I got to listen to them. How even more wonderful to be able to SEE Mr. Lehrer sing and play them. Thanks kindly for the postings!

[@6funswede]

Thank you for a nice comment!

[@mollificent]

Is it wrong to admit that I get the shivers when he sings "To sew up the gash/You made with your lash..."? Did I just say that out loud? :)

[@casvandijck9338]

Define "right", then consider if it's wrong for yourself ;)

[@LouisSpyder]

Strong Gomez Addams vibes! I love it!!!

[@G6JPG]

There's at least one KZbin clip with Gomez (?) and Morticia tangoing to it.

[@rickardlagrelius5555]

His timing is beyond impeccable.

[@onpsxmember]

Lehrer means Teacher in german ;D just heard "the elements" on jango and now i'm looking for more

[@monello198]

I was brought up listening to him.. my father played his "an evening wasted with" album constantly... i am word perfect on every song.. please take the time to appreciate him.. ;-}~ allow me the pleasure of sending you a few of my favourites

[@ileanamulder]

I would happily oblige, Tom!

[@6funswede]

@xPinkxIsxPunkx, I don't know Tom Lehrer at all, but he discovered my illegal 2007 posting and he decided that he wasn't going to ask KZbin to remove the material. So the "wisdom channel", which is Tom Lehrer only, has stayed until now. I don't know how long this is going to last, but forward the channel address to friends or enemies who have a sense of humor ;D

[@bebophitchhiker]

My dad had all of his albums, and I could never gey enough of his teisted humor. Not bad for a math professor from HAAAAAVAD!

[@CaptainGuzzleguts]

Dean Friedman told me that this song was the inspiration for his song "S&M" ... if you've not heard it, or heard of Dean, go listen to the song, it's on his album ~"Well, well" Said The Rocking Chair~ which you should also listen to fully, a great album by a great singer-songwriter!

[@bliastreb6466]

An amazing genius! We might not see him again in our generation.

[@G6JPG]

If a generation is 20 years, then more like three generations!

[@owenw.1643]

most attractive video 10/10

[@Randy97402]

Happy Birthday, Tom Lehrer! Thank you for all your years of educational satire and song. I've been a fan for a long time, but I've never been able to see you peform. Thank you very much for sharing your performances.

[@crazypianolady]

Definately one of my favourites to listen to and to play!

[@malakaibickers]

Ah, and of course a thank you to Mr. Lehrer for writing and performing.

[@crazypianolady]

Perfect comedic timing and piano playing! True legend. I can also see Hugh Laurie playing this haha

[@6funswede]

@Anteater1234567, thank you, yes, this is true, especially for the songs "The Masochism Tango" and "Wernher von Braun". I've told Lehrer that I think he played all his songs beautifully in old Norway and that this is one of my absolute favorite comedy TV-performances EVER. Read the video description if you want the details for this song. I really enjoyed your comment :-)

[@proximacentauri2684]

I think I understand now why the elderly complain often about the world being dry of fresh talent. The likes of Tom are one in a million, and even more rarely recognised.

[@Paulsdottir]

I still have the album, "That was the year that was." Thank you so much for posting so more people can hear and enjoy this incredible guy & his work.

[@AwesomeSaucePictures]

MUST. STOP. LISTENING ;D

[@isaactalisman9311]

I keep wanting to learn this song, but I can't find any music (free, seeing as I have no money) anywhere. Not even tabs. It's a shame, this song represents me so well.

[@6funswede]

AkimotoUchiha, thanks, I appreciate that. Look, this is important for you to know: I'm an unpaid hacker here, and the channel is non-commercial. My payoff is just to preserve American comedy history on video. Tell your friends to tell their friends...

[@23CoSo]

Fabulous talent. Many thanks for posting many of them.

[@6funswede]

@vegesaurus , yes this is true. Lehrer could perform comedy songs for an hour -- all of them with intricate lyrics -- while barely even looking at the piano :-)

[@FriskyNikki]

My favorite song will always be New Math. A classic.

[@beatriceblake5201]

If I had a time machine, I would go ask Tom Lehrer to marry me........

[@marytina4125]

Same

[@ribanamay3724]

You guys still can;)

[@charlesrae3793]

Pity he wrote so little; the world needs Tom Lehrer!

[@calypsothefatracoon68]

WHAT?! This song is from 1967 and I'm only obsessed with it now?!

[@casvandijck9338]

I'm kinda scratching behind my ear as well - how did this happen?

[@G6JPG]

I hope you have now found all his other works!

[@artlailey1496]

seeing as this is in black and white i feel this is just in 50 shades of gray :)(thank you sly buster)

[@HuhWHODIDTHIS]

Help I’m in love with this song

[@elizabethbower2168]

Such a clever song sung by an excellent pianist

[@6funswede]

@Joeykm1972, yes they are, although I'm just the unpaid hacker and enthusiast here. My joy is to have people buying the super-rare DVD and enjoy Tom Lehrer uninterrupted, because -- to me -- he is still the world's number one musical satirist. People who click on my user name will be treated to Lehrer's material and NOT any of my own amateur video crap. The 6funswede channel is Lehrer ONLY. Spread the word!

[@Joeykm1972]

I've never heard of Tom Lehrer. But seeing these videos, has convinced me to buy that video. He kinda reminds me of the Dr. Demento show for some reason. In a way, these video are kinda like free advertisement for his dvd.

[@asexualkitten46]

Gomez and Morticia's favourite song

[@macfreak18]

haha, if you were singing the masochism tango... what was their way of punishing you? :P NOT punishing you?

[@musiccollector]

Heard this for the first time in 1973. I haven't stopped laughing! What's wrong with those people - a rather benign crowd? :-(

[@G6JPG]

More that (a) things were different in 1967 (b) things were/are different in Norway.

[@tracyhardyjohnson1315]

That "come-hither" look at 3:25, tho...

[@qwmx]

Proof he can do sexy. I would love to see him pull this performance at the age of 97 and beyond to see how it looks.

[@N70SAK]

Thankfully, I grew up under the care of Dr. Demento.

[@flamewear]

we've peeked boys

[@ellariel7457]

This song is the legitimate predecessor to Martin Mull’s “Humming Song.” Absolutely love them both!!

[@BigBen52]

TOO much fun! Great find, Mikee.

[@AkimotoUchiha]

i'll send this song to my friends thanks for the upload

[@6funswede]

@daemonpoet, you know, you should thank Tom Lehrer for the channel too. If it wasn't for him, old "6funswede" would be history. As for the CD/DVD, that's the comedy release of the century in the U.S. and worldwide. It's also the (comedy) Christmas gift of the year 2010. At $15 approx. The Tom Lehrer Collection is a bargain, and you get the videotaped performance uninterrupted. BTW, you just wrote THE favorite comment.

[@6funswede]

@MelpomeneRose, your thanks should go to Lehrer who opted NOT to roast me when these clips appeared in 2007. By now The Tom Lehrer Collection (CD/DVD) is out. Assuming that you have a lot of Lehrer´s songs already, I still want to say that the collection also has a DVD with this priceless performance uninterrupted. A perfect $14 gift to your worst enemy :-)

[@TINMANschannel]

loved it,,,, , never heard of him ,is there room for two Mikee's on youtube ,,LOL

[@BlackFlameSupremacy]

I agree, even though two family members might not be biologically related, that doesn't mean they're not family. Just like the region you were born in means nothing compared to the region you grew up in. An adoptive family means just as much if not more.

[@jmj5388]

Takes me back to nights spent listening to “Dr. Demento”.

[@marycigarettes]

now i know where you get it from mikee..i'd never heard of this chap......i love it

[@edgyusername_]

@mysterioso2006 *smirk* what percentage of masochists do you think look up this song in the first place? But it's also my anthem, which my boyfriend still makes fun of me for.

[@bee-of2we]

The 27dislikes obviously have no taste

[@jamescrow4078]

I grew up listening to That Was the Year That Was LP with my mom and dad. Per your indication I bought the given Lehrer CD/DVD on amazon. Thanks. I think this particular song gives the unknowing the incorrect idea about Lehrer. He was a political/social satirist not "kinky"...ftw?

[@G6JPG]

True, though he _knew_ about the kinkier sides - see "I got it from Agnes" (without actually mentioning any of them!).

[@amcpjc]

Love it

[@WhiteTiger950]

I looked this up after hearing Uncle Kage sing it on his winestream on 23, July, 2016.

[@maryphillipps9889]

thanks much appreciated

[@kirriereoch]

I once threw cation to the wind, but regrettably (for myself), the wind threw it back. Wind, ehat a fudge!

[@kazi_Tahmin]

when he lays his fingers on that piano, you see it coming!!

[@6funswede]

Antibaryon, thank you! Send the video url to your friends, this is rare (American) comedy history. To all viewers; also use the HQ-button and read the video description :-)

[@Ginea25]

"Religion" by its modern definition is... well, at least, by its most accurate definition, the one offered by Daniel Boyarin, in his book "Crossroads", is a group that defines membership solely based on the beliefs of the member coinciding entirely with those of the group. That's why, despite what you said, people don't automatically assume that someone is a Christian just because he was born to a Christian family.

[@mysterioso2006]

The anthem of masochists like me everywhere! :P

[@6funswede]

JhericFury, it depends on who you ask. If you ask me, I'd say that a more famous Tom Lehrer would be a healthy corrective to all the madness going on. But if you ask Tom Lehrer he'd probably say that he would'nt want that kind of fame. But check out the twelve songs on the channel in the HQ-versions, and promote some free American comedy history on video to your friends :-)

[@jimbobago]

This seems like a pretty scandalous song for its time.

[@rachaelt8729]

It’s still a pretty scandalous song nowadays 😂