The Simpsons: 20 Greatest Songs In The Show's History

By Dan Wakefield / December 11, 2013

16. Happy Birthday Lisa

Episode: Stark Raving Dad Lisa's birthday is only a few days away and, despite having promised her the 'best present ever', Bart is running out of ideas. Luckily, there's someone in the house who just might have the solution. Leon Kompowsky, a man Homer brings back with him from a spell in a psychiatric hospital who seems to believe he is Michael Jackson. Just the man, then, to help Bart perform a special birthday song for his sister. With Bart providing the beat on an upturned waste paper basket, Kompowsky delivers such sentimental (some might argue overly so) lines as ''You gave the gift of a little sister/ And I'm proud of you today'', much to his subject's delight. Whether you'll be as content with a chorus of ''Lisa, it's your birthday/ Happy birthday, Lisa'' circling your head for days, however, is another matter.

15. Drop The Bomb (Yvan Eht Nioj)

Episode: New Kids On The Blecch Having escaped the collective wrath of Springfield once more, Bart takes refuge in the car of a passing stranger. Fortunately that stranger turns out to be record producer LT Smash, who moulds Bart, Milhouse Nelson and Ralph into a boyband dubbed the Party Posse. Their video for 'Drop The Bomb', containing such lyrics as ''Your love is more deadly than Saddam'' and converting terrorists into bikini-clad dancing ladies were bound to raise an eyebrow or two, but its biggest talking point is the seemingly nonsensical chorus of 'Yvan eht nioj'. What could it possibly mean? I guess it's not meant to mean anything, like rama-lama-ding-dong or give peace a chance, but still? The more you watch this episode, the more you appreciate good-humoured guest appearance, for, as a parody of vacuous pop groups, Party Posse could almost pass for the real thing; especially with their brilliantly banal ballad ''Spell Out What You Mean to Me'. But 'Drop The Bomb,' with its damn catchy (if a little creepy) chorus, will always have a special place in every Simpsons fan's heart. For some, it's a highlight of a particularly strong episode. For others, it might even shed some light on how they suddenly found themselves at sea €“ that is, if the super-liminal approach didn't work first. HEY YOU, JOIN THE NAVY!