Bob’s Burgers: The 50 Best Original Songs

Douglas Laman

May 29, 2022 at 9:00 AM·19 min read

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The post Bob’s Burgers: The 50 Best Original Songs appeared first on Consequence.

When you’re watching an average episode of Bob’s Burgers, there are some fixtures of the programs you can always count on seeing: Series regulars like H. Jon Benjamin and Kristen Schaal, the conversational style of the dialogue, the burger-based puns.

But just as prominent in this animated comedy are musical numbers. Though they’re not featured in every episode, Bob’s Burgers has frequently made time for individuals in its eclectic cast to break out into song. The members of the Belcher family and their friends and neighbors have such outsized personalities, it only makes sense that they’d only be able to express their emotions through similarly larger-than-life ditties.

Across over 230 episodes, Bob’s Burgers has delivered countless memorable tunes, which makes it seemingly impossible to figure out which ones might be your favorite. You might as well try and pick your favorite Bob’s Burgers Christmas episode or your favorite Teddy line.

However, even with so much competition, 50 especially exceptional tunes rise to the top among the original songs featured on Bob’s Burgers. Not only are these songs hysterical, but they also tend to exemplify the style of humor and sharp writing that has made Bob’s Burgers such a delectable treat among animated TV programming. With the new film bringing the Belchers to a whole new theatrical audience, let’s look back over the best songs the show has brought to us.

50. “Weekend at Mort’s”

Being one of the earliest songs on Bob’s Burgers, debuting in just its eleventh episode, “Weekend at Mort’s” lacks the varied and witty lyrics of later musical numbers on the show. But it deserves placement here not only for being one of the first examples of the program’s musical tendencies, but for how it does sound like something a real family would come up with on the fly.

49. “Buckle It Up”

Running only eight seconds, “Buckle it Up” may seem inconsequential. However, it manages to prove quite amusing thanks to how quickly the song morphs from sounding like a soft instrumental preschool number about being safe inside a car to four members of the Belcher family just screaming about seatbelts. Who needs more than eight seconds when you have that kind of hysterical escalation?

48. “Oil Spill”

Is it a one-joke song based on the singer sounding like she’s orgasming? Absolutely. But it’s a funny joke and that’s enough to make “Oil Spill” an enjoyable listen.

47. “Can’t Get Enough (of Your Woman Stuff)”

It’s the instrumental accompaniment that makes “Can’t Get Enough (of Your Woman Stuff)” a treat, as the ditty is accompanied by a hearty dosage of clapping and bongo drum smacking. The lyrics that amusingly dance around the specifics of sexual titillation with phrasing like “I’m feeling something, moving down below” are just the icing on the cake here.

46. “I’ve Got a Yum Yum”

There’s not much lyrical variety in “I’ve Got a Yum Yum,” but you don’t need more than what this tune offers when you have the endearingly boisterous vocals of John Roberts applied to various wacky terms for genitals.

45. “Puppet Battle”

The lyrics to “Puppet Battle” are mostly just repeating the title over and over again rapidly, with only the occasional “String it on” to break up the repetition. But when you’ve got a phrase as innately amusing as “Puppet Battle,” that’s enough to make your song a winner.

44. “I’m Tall Enough”

The pipes of guest star Max Greenfield are put to great use on this tune. Who knew juxtaposing sultry line deliveries and a jazzy electric accompaniment with the banal safety instructions you’d find on any theme park attraction would be so amusing?

43. “Mad Pooper”

“Mad Pooper” solely consists of its titular phrase being dramatically sung on repeat for 36 seconds. Hearing someone this committed to uttering the words “Mad Pooper” would probably get old over two or three minutes, but the inherently humorous phrase has just enough comic momentum to sustain a short and sweet tune like this.

42. “Hate the Way I Love You”

For the ditty “Hate the Way I Love You,” Dan Mintz’s amusingly static Tina Belcher voice gets to play against the lively vocals of guest star Daveed Diggs. That contrast alone is amusing enough to cement it as a standout tune in the show’s run, ditto how Diggs turns out to be just as adept at crooning the wacky lyrics of a Bob’s Burgers tune as he is at belting out Broadway songs like “What’d I Miss?”

41. “Rain, Rain, Flash, Flash”

With a sparser instrumental accompaniment consisting of some drumming and lots of clapping, “Rain, Rain, Flash, Flash” relies heavily on its primary singer, Dan Mintz’s Tina Belcher, to carry the day. Placing so much confidence in Mintz has often served Bob’s Burgers well and this tune is no exception. Moments like Mintz really leaning into a strained high note in belting out one special rendition of the word “thundergirls” makes it clear why he’s so often the MVP of Bob’s Burgers.

40. “Let’s Swap Eyes So We Can Empathize”

In just 51 seconds, “Let’s Swap Eyes So We Can Empathize” travels a lot of different musical terrains. Starting off intentionally bumpy and awkward in Kristen Schaal’s reluctant vocals before transitioning to a soaring electronic anthem, the only constant here is the steady level of comedy.

39. “I Sure Would Like a Mom”

Any song like “I Sure Would Like a Mom” that manages to rhyme “wanna” with “iguana” deserves a spot on this list. Bonus points for how this tune affords Eugene Mirman plenty of opportunities to indulge in his high-strung voicework as Gene.

38. “Cat Trainin’”

This may be the rare Bob’s Burgers song to register as more eerily accurate and sad than hilarious to some viewers, specifically ones who actually own cats. The lyrics here effectively capture the difficulties of trying to get cats to do, well, anything, particularly the inspired line “Put a lot of work in, get a little bit back.”

37. “Who’s a Fun Mom on Halloween”

There are endless Christmas tunes on the radio, but far less musical representation for other holidays, including Halloween. Leave it to Bob’s Burgers to help correct this shortcoming with “Who’s a Fun Mom on Halloween,” which wrings a lot of fun out of the enthusiastic vocals of John Roberts and a rock-n’-roll instrumental accompaniment.

36. “Cease and Desist”

The ever-enduring importance of keeping one’s body and bowels “feeling good” was reaffirmed in the opening to the song “Cease and Desist.” After this, “Cease and Desist” proceeds to be a humorous vision of a “sexy” song, complete with vocals channeling the pipes of Michael Bolton, in the service of talking about humorously mundane matters, like the state of someone’s wrist.

35. “Give it to Teddy”

Larry Murphy’s easily excitable Teddy has been a scene-stealer on Bob’s Burgers for nearly its entire run. The way Murphy can make even the quickest Teddy line something that induces giggles is showcased humorously in “Give it to Teddy,” as Linda’s crooning is often interrupted with hysterical asides from Teddy.

34. “We’re Coming for Ya”

This one Bob’s Burgers song stands out almost exclusively because of the instruments it employs. “We’re Coming for Ya” is harmonized alongside the strum of a banjo, the soft playing of a kazoo, and also some whistling. It’s an arrangement that echoes nothing more than “Petey’s Song” from Fantastic Mr. Fox, which is never a bad song to remind listeners of.

33. “Derek Dematopolis”

Initially, “Derek Dematopolis” seems like an amusing but not necessarily iconic entry in the Bob’s Burgers music canon. But then the final 30 seconds devolve into just John Roberts and Megan Mullaly wailing and suddenly, “Derek Dematopolis” becomes something far more special…and hilarious.

32. “Gravy Boat”

Though a song about a Thanksgiving gravy boat, the phrase that sticks out on this track is “sailors in your mouth.” Singers John Roberts and Megan Mullaly utter this loaded phrase multiple times with all the blissfully unaware enthusiasm you can imagine. The dissonance between that delivery and the underlying meaning of the phrase “sailors in your mouth” is alone enough to make “Gravy Boat” a keeper.

31. “Lifting Up the Skirt of the Night”

The inspired name of “Lifting up the Skirt of the Night” sets the stage for what’s quite the toe-tapping number. John Roberts belts out the vocals here, with the occasional interjection from H. Jon Benjamin, in a song that sounds like it was ripped straight out of the 1980s. The auditory resemblance to a radio staple of this era makes the occasionally wacky lyrics and humorous flourishes in Roberts’s vocals all the more amusing.

30. “BM in the PM”

It’s a testament to the underlying sweetness and disarming nonchalantness of Bob’s Burgers that the show could do multiple songs about pooping without coming off as straining to be gross or edgy. “BM in the PM” is a fun example of the show’s musical fascination with defecation, especially since this particular approach to that subject is told with the amusing soft strums of a ukulele.

29. “Street Life”

Reading the name and lyrics of “Street Life” devoid of context, you might assume this is a somber tune full of poverty-informed longing, like “Skid Row” from Little Shop of Horrors. Bob’s Burgers twists those expectations around, though, by having “Street Life” performed by Larry Murphy and John Roberts as Teddy and Linda, respectively, at their most oversized accompanied by lively trumpet playing. It’s a great subversion of expectations that can’t help but make you cackle.

28. “If You Love Something”

Sounding like it was lifted from ohe 1990s rock scene, “If You Love Something” offers up the sage advice that if you’re truly fond of anything, you need to set it on fire. This darkly funny tune manages to keep its comic rhythm going even after this unexpected nugget of wisdom through random phrases like “Safety first!”

27. “Bad at Being a Nun”

“Bad at Being a Nun” is solely comprised of lyrics where Tina declares she’s not so good at being a nun but does have skills at playing with kids punctuated by Linda excitedly saying “and that’s how you pee in a restaurant.” The lyrics aren’t especially complex, but the song is still stealthily catchy and memorable thanks to how “Bad at Being a Nun” gradually becomes more electronic as the song goes on.

26. “Girl Power Jam”

Of course the Bob’s Burgers approach to a female power anthem, in the form of “Girl Power Jam,” would be less Shania Twain or Idina Menzel and more unabashed weirdness. Possibly the only tune in this subgenre to reference “[getting] decapitated,” the chasm between the confident electric guitar riffs and the authentically imperfect vocals makes “Girl Power Jam” something you can rock out to and laugh with.

25. “Date Night”

Once you begin to focus exclusively on the songs of Bob’s Burgers, one begins to realize how often these tunes are an excuse for John Roberts to go extra big and brash with his voice work as Linda Belcher. That’s no complaint, though, since songs like “Date Night,” which features Roberts stretching out the word “food” to immensely humorous effect, definitively showcase that Roberts thrives inside this program’s wacky ditties.

24. “The Briefest of Glances”

Though she may be awkward and not as innately brash as her siblings, romantic infatuation brings out the oversized side of Tina Belcher. Naturally, then, “The Briefest of Glances” sees Tina launching into a hyper-passionate tune over just locking eyes with a potential crush. The massive contrast between the song’s sweeping and energetic nature and Tina’s everyday demeanor is enormously entertaining.

23. “Sex Sex Sex Sex Sex”

Part of the charm of Bob’s Burgers has come from how it approaches ribald subjects with an endearingly naïve perspective. Case in point: the song “Sex Sex Sex Sex Sex,” which sees the concept of fornication amusingly described as the agenda of “a bad man with a master plan” that results in “a little son.” Even if it’s just a result of adhering to the standards of broadcast television, tunes like “Sex Sex Sex Sex Sex” make a humorous case for the power of restraint.

22. “This Wedding is My Warzone”

One of the joys of Bob’s Burgers is how its singular premise (a family running a restaurant) is used as a vessel to explore universal emotions and experiences. “This Wedding Is My Warzone” is a microcosm of this great trait. The inescapable dread over wanting to make a wedding perfect that we all feel is amusingly reconstituted to Bob’s desire to ensure that he provides the best possible catering for a wedding.

21. “Doot Doo I Love You”

Though technically a romantic song, “Doot Doo I Love You” is sung by the various adolescent characters of Bob’s Burgers, so it’s inevitably going to be defined more by comedic chaos than anything else. While reliable standbys on the show like Lousie and Zeke get giggles, the real standout of the tune is the voicework delivered by Aparna Nancherla in her debut guest appearance as Susmita.

20. “Nothing Makes Me Happy”

Kevin Kline’s vocal performance as Mr. Fishoeder is one of the great joys of Bob’s Burgers. The musical number “Nothing Makes Me Happy” allows this voice actor to really shine with a tune that’s all his own and full of preposterous wordplay. Even if Bob’s Burgers were a terrible show, its existence would be worth it just for the moment in “Nothing Makes Me Happy” where Kline sinks his teeth into the phrase “big o’l sexy boy.”

19. “Taffy Butt”

An episode serving as alright pastiche of The Goonies comes to a fitting close with “Taffy Butt,” a ditty parodying “Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough,” complete with that tune’s original singer Cyndi Lauper. Even if you don’t know The Goonies from Gremlins, though, “Taffy Butt” will have no trouble tickling your funny bone.

18. “Groping for Glory”

Sounding like a 1980s inspirational song tailor-made for montages, like “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion),” “Groping for Glory” is a fun pastiche on a familiar musical mold. Even better, it manages to take the victory-encouraging spirit of these tracks to their most logical extreme in its closing lines with the casually vicious phrase description of a mountain as “stained with the blood of your enemies.” Try finding that sort of writing in “Eye of the Tiger!”

17. “You’ve Got the Guts”

Another entry in the long line of Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving numbers, “You’ve Got the Guts” musically realizes the internal voices of turkeys waiting to be slaughtered for Thanksgiving. Depicted as part of a stage production put on by the show’s adolescent characters, the ramshackle turkey costumes adorned by these youngsters are already quite hilarious. Brilliant wordplay like “quirky turkey” only exacerbates the rampant comedy in “You’ve Got the Guts.”

16. “The Diarrhea Song”

Who knew a tune belted out by Linda called “The Diarrhea Song” could tug on the heartstrings? That’s all thanks to this song concluding with Gene, who has his own longstanding affection for farts, saying “I love you, Mom” with 100% sincerity. “The Diarrhea Song” doesn’t just embody the prominence of bathroom humor on Bob’s Burgers, it also reaffirms the show’s endearing heartfelt vibes.

15. “Bad Things Are Bad”

One of the more expansive tunes in the Bob’s Burgers musical canon in terms of scope, “Bad Things Are Bad” allows multiple characters a chance to harmonize their feelings. Everybody from the members of the Belcher family to Teddy to Regular-Sized-Rudy gets a chance to shine here. No matter who your favorite character is on this show, you’re bound to be pleased with who gets to be highlighted here.

14. “Daddy/The Itsy Bitsy Stripper”

“Daddy/The Itsby Bitsy Stripper” gets off to a raucous start with Bob commenting that a tune named “Daddy” must be “a family song” only for Tommy (Fred Armisen) to launch into singing about how his father abandoned and sold drugs to him. The laughs keep on coming from there in this comically extreme melodramatic tune, particularly in Gene’s aside that “Daddy” is “no ‘Elderly Prostitute.’”

13. “Happy Crappy Place”

“Happy Crappy Place” alternates wildly between depicting Bob being happy with his gardening skills and Louise and Linda struggling mightily in running the family’s restaurant. It’s already a fun song thanks to the wildly contrasting moods on display, but it gets even better due to tiny visual touches like how Bob’s plants dance along with his singing.

12. “This is Working”

While most Bob’s Burgers stand out because they make you laugh, “This is Working” proves to be so memorable because of its quiet undercurrent of melancholy. H. Jon Benjamin lends real subtle sadness to Bob’s yearning for Linda, who’s now working at her own job. Though it doesn’t spiral the show into wall-to-wall bleakness, lines in “This is Working” like “I’ve barely noticed that she’s gone” do hit harder than expected.

11. “The Snake Song”

It’s doubtful you’ll look at snakes quite the same way again after listening to Gene harmonize about his problems with these creatures in “The Snake Song.” This includes this child repeatedly pondering aloud “where are their arms and legs/it’s not ok!” The creative aims of “The Snake Song” are simple, but also quite amusing and effective at getting one to think a bit more about the unnerving aspects of those slithering reptiles.

10. “I Love You So Much (It’s Scary)”

Projects from American Dad! to Turning Red have done parodies of late 90s/early 2000s boy band music, so it’s no surprise that Bob’s Burgers also got in on the fun with “I Love You So Much (It’s Scary).” Not only is it an accurate parody, but having it presented as a music video that the Belcher children are watching allows this trio to make amusing observations about the production in between verses, making an already fun number even more entertaining.

09. “Butts, Butts, Butts”

Bob’s Burgers got its own “Pink Elephants on Parade” with the tune “Butts, Butts, Butts,” with the musical number depicting Linda being haunted in a nightmare by brightly colored animal anuses. A strange concept for a song is appropriately accompanied by lots of stylized imagery, not to mention a jaunty tune that, thanks to its limited lyrics, you can sing along to in no time.

08. “Kill the Turkey”

While some Bob’s Burgers songs are great because of their exceptionally crafted lyrics, “Kill the Turkey” is so much fun because of its ramshackle words. It sounds like something Linda Belcher is making up on the spot, while the constant quiet sounds of protest from Bob only accentuate the humor in a perfectly imperfect tune.

07. “The Harry Truman Song”

Few things on the planet are as funny as Linda’s chipper delivery of the words “Where is Harry S. Truman? He’s dead in the ground.” Throw in a soft, upbeat instrumental accompaniment to such conceptually grim lyrics and you’ve got one of the most darkly comical tunes ever harmonized on Bob’s Burgers.

06. “Nice Things Are Nice”

Not is “Nice Things Are Nice” a fun song to listen to, but it also works beautifully at accentuating the individual personalities of the primary Bob’s Burgers characters. Even a digression to chronicle Louise being chained up with Mr. Goiter gives her lyrics that accurately reflect her specific style of humor. Best of all, the song continues the dark running gag of Mr. Fischoeder almost letting slip his involvement in nebulously defined evil matters.

05. “Bad Girls”

Tina Belcher embraces her wild and mischievous side with the song “Bad Girls,” though her definition of “bad” is a little warped. Though channeling the sound of The Runaways, Tina’s idea of being degenerate in society is not paying for lip balm or ripping the heads off dolls. Tina may have gone bad, but this song chronicling her unruly exploits is downright great.

04. “The Fart Song”

Rarely have farts been depicted with such warmth and welcomed with open arms in pop culture as they have in countless episodes of Bob’s Burgers. They’re such a key part of the show’s aesthetic that they even inspired “The Fart Song,” whose subject matter is pretty self-evident. Rather than just go for low-hanging crass fruit, the lyrics to “The Fart Song” will make even the strictest adult titter thanks to creative descriptions of flatulence like “the wind that’s in your tails.”

03. “Work Hard or Die Trying, Girl”

The titular musical number of “Work Hard or Die Trying, Girl” is a truly strange amalgamation of Die Hard and Working Girl all told through as a High School musical stage production. Pursuing such a baffling concept is reflective of the bold creative swings that make this tune so much to watch unfurl. The palpable dedication to adapting the finer details of both Die Hard and Working Girl into the form of a musical is especially fun to witness.

02. “Electric Love”

Bob’s Burgers has often turned unexpected topics into upbeat songs, but “Electric Love” takes the cake in this regard. Inspired by Thomas Edison murdering the elephant Topsy in 1903, “Electric Love” imagines a romantic ballad between Edison and this pachyderm. It’s as bizarre on-screen as it is on paper, but it’s all hilarious to watch unfold thanks to ingenious lyrics like “They’ll say aw Topsy at my autopsy.”

01. “Bad Stuff Happens in the Bathroom”

Though technically a song about Bob being stuck on the toilet, “Bad Stuff Happens in the Bathroom” is so much more than that. Bob’s Burgers has garnered such a large fanbase thanks to musical numbers like this one, which doesn’t skimp on clever lyrics or a catchy beat despite being concerned with such a ludicrous subject matter. Funny, character-driven, and thoughtfully made, that’s Bob’s Burgers in a nutshell.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie is in theaters now. Check out the full playlist of the above on Spotify below!

Bob’s Burgers: The 50 Best Original Songs
Douglas Laman

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