Things You'll Need:
- Musical instrument
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Step 1
Listen to great parodists. A few, such as Tom Lehrer and "Weird Al" Yankovic, gained fame for their work, but there are many other more obscure artists worth listening to. Radio shows like The Dr. Demento Show are great places to find parody music. Specifically in the political arena, pay attention to the contributions of The Capitol Steps and Mark Russell.
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Step 2
Learn an instrument. You need something on which you can accompany yourself, such as a piano, guitar, or accordion. Knowing a little bit of music theory couldn't hurt either.
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Step 3
Find out which music speaks to you. Parody can be done in the style of show tunes, pop anthems, folk songs, gospel, or pretty much anything else. The key is that it is recognizable and, if possible, somewhat silly music.
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Step 4
"Steal" a song. Find a tune everyone will recognize and appropriate the melody. You can also write an parody that nods to a musical style in the form of an original song, but it is more work and less instantly recognizable.
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Step 5
Pick an issue. Don't worry about coming up with a timeless song satirizing, say, economic inequality. Make it current: Write about the policies of the present administration, or the attitude of some group in 21st century America, or a really funny and telling political gaffe. You can always go back and rework a parody to update it.
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Step 6
Write the song. Every song is different, but it will always help if you have something in it that your listener can grab onto. A catchy and humorous refrain will help the song stick in people's minds.
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Step 7
Play the song for people. Parodies are not art music; they are meant to amuse and entertain. Play yours to friends. Better yet, play it on a downtown street corner. See how people react, and try to come up with more effective lyrics or a better delivery.
