1.
parody song; song with altered lyrics sung to a familiar melody
A version of an existing song where the original lyrics have been replaced with humorous, satirical, or otherwise different words while keeping the same melody. Popular as entertainment among children and in comedy.
替え歌を作った。
I made up a parody song.
子供たちが替え歌を歌って笑っている。
The children are singing a parody song and laughing.
あの芸人は有名な曲の替え歌で人気を集めた。
That comedian gained popularity with parody versions of famous songs.
Compound of 替え (replacement, from 替える) and 歌 (song). The concept is similar to English parody songs — the melody stays the same but the lyrics are changed, usually for humorous effect.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 替え歌を作る: to create a parody song
- 替え歌を歌う: to sing a parody song
- 替え歌にする: to turn into a parody song
CULTURAL NOTE:
Parody songs are a staple of Japanese comedy (お笑い). Comedians like Shimura Ken and Hiro Iki have made 替え歌 a popular entertainment format. Children also commonly create 替え歌 of school songs and popular tunes.