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January 26, 2023
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How many guitars does a guitarist need?”/“Just one more”

A guitar player often likes to have many guitars. "How many guitars does a guitar player need? Just one more" is a popular joke that has been printed on many images. "Q. How many…

June 20, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How many mystery writers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?” (joke)

A "lightbulb joke" involving mystery writers is: Q: How many mystery writers does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: Two. One to screw it almost all the way in and the other to give it a…

June 30, 2022
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How many ska bands does it take to screw in a lightbulb?” (Joke)

Ska music has a tempo change, and fans often shout, "Pick it up! Pick it up!" This is the punchline of a popular ska joke. "q: how many ska bands does it take to screw in a…

June 30, 2022
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How many ska kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?” (joke)

Ska music has a tempo change, and fans often shout, "Pick it up! Pick it up!" This is the punchline of a popular ska joke. "q: how many ska bands does it take to screw in a…

June 30, 2022
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How many ska musicians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?” (joke)

Ska music has a tempo change, and fans often shout, "Pick it up! Pick it up!" This is the punchline of a popular ska joke. "q: how many ska bands does it take to screw in a…

March 16, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How many sopranos does it take to screw in a light bulb?” (joke)

Singers have popular jokes on how many it takes to screw in a lightbulb: Q: How many sopranos does it take to change a lightbulb? A: One. She holds the bulb and the world revolves around her.A:…

September 14, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How many tenors does it take to screw in a light bulb?”/“None. They can’t reach that high.”

An tenor version of the "lightbulb joke" is: Q: How many tenors does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: None. They can't reach that high. "How many tenors does it take to screw…

March 16, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“How much to buy a singing ensemble?” (choir joke)

"A choir" sounds like the word "acquire." A joke was posted on Twitter by Terry F on February 27, 2018: ME: How much to buy a singing ensemble?PRODUCER: You mean a choir?ME:…

January 19, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Human statue street performers can be made to move by taking money out of the hat”

Many street performers stay still like statues; a hat is near them for donations. A joke was credited to an email by Chris Bird in February 2017: "Human statues can also be made to move by…

May 1, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I always wanted to be a Gregorian monk, but I never got the chants”

"Chants" sounds like "chance." "I've always wanted to be a Gregorian monk but I never really had the chants!" was posted on Twitter on August 14, 2017. "I…

November 19, 2024
Education/SchoolsFood/DrinkMusic/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I am so proud of my Dyslexic daughter. She has managed to get in the school Brass Band. Playing the Toblerone”

"Trombone" (a musical instrument in the brass family) shouldn't be confused with "Toblerone" (a Swiss chocolate brand), but there are jokes. "I am so proud of my…

July 13, 2019
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I believe in censorship—I made a fortune out of it” (Mae West)

Brooklyn-born actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol Mae West (1893-1980) experienced censorship, especially for her play Sex (1927). West was quoted in The Daily News…

April 26, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthMusic/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I believe Michael Jackson’s moonwalk was faked on a soundstage in Arizona”

Moon landing conspiracy theories have been popular, and there have been jokes that Michael Jackson's famous "Moonwalk" dance was also faked. "RT @stephanathome: I believe…

September 17, 2024
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I can always tell when they use fake dinosaurs in movies”

"I can always tell when they use fake dinosaurs in movies" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The dinosaurs in movies -- unlike the animals in movies -- are all…

December 15, 2012
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I can hold a note as long as the Chase Manhattan Bank” (singer Ethel Merman)

The actress Ethel Merman (1908-1984) in the musical play Girl Crazy (1930) sang the song "I Got Rhythm" (music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin) and became an instant star.…

June 3, 2021
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I can play by ear, but it’s much easier if I use my hands” (music joke)

"Playing by ear" doesn't mean that a musician uses ears instead of hands, but there are jokes. "I do play by ear. But I play better with my hands" was posted on Twitter by…

April 9, 2025
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/CircusTransportation

“I can’t be the only one that pauses the music to see if the siren is in the song or behind me”

When a person is driving a vehicle and is listening to music, is the siren that is heard in the music or from another vehicle? "Me pausing the music to see the siren is in the Song or…

June 22, 2022
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I can’t believe the entire Siberian Orchestra is trans”

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is an American rock band. "Trans-Siberian" usually means "across Siberia," but there are jokes where "trans" means…

February 15, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I can’t die! I’m booked!”

New York-born actor and comedian George Burns (1896-1996) wanted to live to at least age 100 and he constantly worked, without formally retiring. He long-planned to celebrate his 100th birthday…

November 26, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“I can’t speak for anyone else, but I think I’m a terrible ventriloquist”

A ventriloquist speaks for someone else -- a "dummy." "I can't speak for anyone else, but I think my ventriloquist act is going well" was posted on Twitter by This Henry…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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