Seth MacFarlane is the animation king pin who surprisingly has a deeper background in music than actual animation. This really shows in his seminal series, Family Guy, in which he produces a strong variety of original and adapted musical performances. However, as prolific as the musical numbers in Family Guy can be (and there are a lot), don't let that get in the way of appreciating the unique, musical tastes of his other series.
American Dad! is the other MacFarlane project that has found a comfortable living outside of Family Guy's success. Having made a brand for itself, its line of music just so happens to be incredibly different from the tastes of Family Guy yet so wonderfully campy and entertaining in their own way. This list will get its playlist ready, as it runs through some of the best musical numbers from American Dad!.
10 Friendiversary
Where Family Guy revels in the campy tones of showtunes and big band music, American Dad! finds its soul in an entirely different genre. Often scene in the melancholic tones of the Smith houses' resident nerd, Steve, American Dad! often parodies and celebrates its own brand of R&B and hip hop music.
One of the most hilarious and addictive instances of this is is the cool, theme song that Steve and friends give to their annual "Friendiversary." Adorning cool gear and working like some of the best R&B groups, their testament to friendship is both a great, introductory rundown of the group and just a great song to listen to on a rainy day,
9 Is She Not Hot Enough?
The episode "Rubbernecking" was a fun romp on the trials-and-tribulations of taking a peak every now and then, and Stan's struggle to hide his adulterous gaze after a car accident implements a couple of fun songs.
And while the CIA rap, "Rubbernecking," was very appropriate for the episode and a fun way to learn about the various methods of rubbernecking, what really takes the prize is another dulcet tone from Steven Anita Smith. He hones into R&B's deep history with adultery and relationships and dishes out a hot number to remind Stan about his hot number, Francine.
8 Reginald The Koala
Though Reginald the Koala doesn't really appear much anymore, he was still a fun attempt at adding a new, mascot character to the series. His backstory certainly fit the absurdity of the show, his dialogue was a fresh voice for the series, and he was part of a lot of a few interesting storylines with Hayley.
The series may have a koala sized hole within its cast of late, but it still left a fun little theme song for fan's to remember him by. All fans really need to know is that he was once homeless, had his brain put into a koala, now works for the CIA, and, above all else, is as cute as a button!
7 Hayley Don't Preach
Parody songs are a sort of forte for Seth MacFarlane. Having a genuine appreciation for the musical arts and having a deep well of pop culture knowledge at his disposal, MacFarlane can put out a good number of parody songs to rival Weird Al Yankovic himself. One of the best parody songs to hit American Dad! is Roger's version of Madonna's "Baby Don't Preach," "Hayley Don't Preach."
In which, he recounts his entire conflicted feelings about having to birth Hayley's husband Jeff (No one has enough time to explain what's going on there.) and decides to do so with a loving homage to everything Madonna and the '80s. This song is just pure gold for getting to see Roger's Madonna costume. The alien can work any outfit.
6 Makin' Whoopee!
Not everything needs to be all fun and games however. Every now and then, the series likes to put down all the kazoos and whistles and put on a sincere face for the audience. While Steve is plenty capable with his voice, it's hard to overstate how wonderful the singing voice is of Hayley and her voice actress Rachael MacFarlane.
When Roger scouts her for a singing gig in his bar, Hayley does the most somber, jazz bar rendition of "Makin' Whoopee!" since Eddie Cantor hit the airwaves in the late '20s. Whoever's heading Fox or TBS, please give Rachael MacFarlane more things to do.
5 Daddy's Gone
At some point in time, American Dad! decided that it didn't need to pepper its hip hop tastes across the series and just dedicated an entire episode to being an R&B musical. "Hot Water" is strange, dark comedy that has a haunted hot tub break up the Smith family. There's plenty of hilarious and loving original songs across this episode, and CeeLo Green as the haunted hot tub has a couple of good scenes.
However, even CeeLo is no match for Steve's sincere nostalgia, as his duet with Roger, "Daddy's Gone," is a shocker with how funny and oddly complex it is as a look into a broken home.
4 Trapped In The Locker
Sometimes the series doesn't really need any other character besides Steve for its low tunes. The B-story to the episode of "Criss-Cross Applesauce: The Ballad of Billy Jesusworth," Steve recollects one of the more interesting days that he's had of late.
In a series of increasingly strange events, Steve's dilemma of being trapped in a locker has him unlock a web of love and heartbreak within Langley Falls, doing so to the cadences of R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet." Scott Grimes, you are treasure.
3 Majestic
"Majestic" is another sincere adaptation of a song that gives interesting weight as the background music to an alien love trial. During Jeff's escapades in space, he becomes trapped in an alien mall and the only way he can escape is by proving that he has actually met his one true love.
The trial proceedings are conducted by a mysterious alien called The Summoner who sings "Majestic" as the entire space ship observes Jeff's memories. What really sells this scene is the fact that American Dad! actually got Wax Fang's Scott Carney to sing it for them.
2 Ollie North
This list really couldn't go on without referencing the main character of the series itself, Stan Smith. Putting his blind patriotism at fully display, he lovingly recalls the events of Ollie North's Iraq-Contra debacle in a fun parody of Schoolhouse Rock! songs.
With the old cartoon's pencil like animation and an odd panache given to such a dark gap in American politics, Stan really did make learning about an important piece of history fun.
1 Girl You Need A Shot (Of B12)
Closing out this list is the series going full force with its simultaneously cynical and sincere look at boy bands. When Steve and his friends are picked up by Snot's music producer uncle, they become a part of a massive music group that tries to parody all of the oddly specific character traits of the boy band craze.
The result of such an endeavor is a surreal music video that is chock full of personality, weird imagery, and funky dancing. It's an immensely funny and genuinely addictive song that is only rivaled by the strangeness of actual boy band music videos.