A funny story began at a Christmas party in 1990 as a group of seniors at the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia were eagerly anticipating their upcoming graduation. One student had the clever idea of turning Neil Sedaka’s classic “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” into a parody, aptly titled “Waking Up Is Hard to Do.”
What began as a playful idea soon became a memorable part of their final year, with the parody becoming an instant favorite among the group.
The singing group known as The Laryngospasms might have a tricky name to pronounce, but their fans simply call them “The Spasms.” Their name comes from a medical term for a throat spasm that can happen when an anesthesia tube is placed – a nod to their background in medicine.
Despite the serious origin of their name, the group is anything but. For decades, they’ve been spreading joy and laughter with their hilarious musical performances, winning the hearts of audiences everywhere with their unique blend of comedy and song.
The Laryngospasms’ video for “Waking Up is Hard to Do” has become a viral sensation with over 16 million views on YouTube. The clip opens with the guys standing behind a blue sheet, but the fun kicks in once the sheet drops.
The group dives into singing their hilarious and inventive lyrics while performing their daily tasks in the hospital. Even the patient on the operating table gets in on the action.
In “Waking Up Is Hard to Do,” the group humorously takes aim at their own medical profession, touching on everything from mistakes to malpractice with playful lines like, “If I wake I’m going to sue because waking up is so hard to do.”
In an interview with the Oakdale Patch, band member Doug Meuwissen revealed that the band was shocked with their fame.
“I’m always amazed at the reaction we get from people,” Meuwissen said. “I guess if you give someone a microphone, that person can become a rock star.”
What started as a niche act, focusing on anesthesia-related humor for nurse anesthetists, has evolved into a broader collection of medical parodies. Initially, their music catered specifically to operating room jokes, but over time, they’ve expanded their topics to cover a wider range of medical subjects.