The only thing most musicians want is to be taken seriously. To be allowed that credibility, however, usually involves years of nonstop touring, playing in smoky little clubs for little to no money. Only after paying these vague and arbitrary "dues" (an industry term invented to keep musicians impoverished for as long as possible) are they welcomed into the Legitimate Musicians Club. That struggle is intensified ten-fold for musicians who either perform satire or at least include an element of humor or kitschiness in their act. Just because a person wears a giant hat covered in feathers and dildos, doesn't mean they can't also be a very talented songwriter. Sadly, the music industry (and even sadder, music fans) likes to group those people into an entirely separate category, so as not to stink up the Legitimate Musicians Club with their lightheartedness and whimsy. But some "joke" acts are able to transcend these artificial boundaries of snobbery and receive at least a little bit of critical acclaim for their musicianship. Others will always be looked down upon for their silliness, but that's okay because they're still pressing onward and doing their own thing, free from the judgment of narrow-minded doody heads who deserve to have their nipples twisted into oblivion.
