Classic or Dud: Weird Al Yankovic

al is a better singer than pharrel

Why is it a surprise or noteworthy that someone who can accurately mimic the phrasing and flows of a wide range of disparate singers and rappers would be a better singer than a producer who barely has a voice and has problems staying in tune or in rhythm?

Great story from the AMA (in response to the question "Do artists ever request parodies"):

That happens sometimes in social settings - an artist will make a comment at a party or awards show like, "Hey Al, when are you going to do a parody of one of MY songs?" I don't know if they're being polite or making conversation, but that's always nice to hear. Actually, last year I was in New York doing a satellite radio tour, and Graham Nash was in the very next room... and it just so happens I had just recorded my CSN pastiche "Mission Statement" (which is on the new album). So I walked over to say hi... he sees me, and the first words out of his mouth are, "So, when are you gonna do a parody of 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes'??" I whipped out my iPhone and played "Mission Statement" for him. Instant request! (He loved it, BTW.)

Nash vmic offering one of Stills' songs to Weird Al.

haha

'Handy', 'Foil' and 'Sports Song' have all made me legit lol so far

Actually, last year I was in New York doing a satellite radio tour, and Stephen Stills was in the very next room... and it just so happens I had just recorded my CSN pastiche "Mission Statement" (which is on the new album). So I walked over to say hi... he sees me, and the first words out of his mouth are, "you know I invented the song parody."

omg yes

we need to have a Stephen Stills bingo card

Hey Al! I'm a huge fan and have been ever since my older brother introduced me to The Food Album when I was little. You've been a big influence on me since I was young and I loved your last AMA so I thought I'd show up early for this one! I messaged you on Facebook yesterday but I'm sure you have tons of mail to read and might not get to it for a while so I'm here to say hello.

My question is a lame one, but important to me and a good number of your fans: Have you begun considering taking crypto-currency for your records (i.e. BitCoin, LiteCoin, and DogeCoin)? There's a great payment processor called GoCoin that allows you to easily take all three. I know that you are currently selling through iTunes, Amazon, and MyPlay Direct, but do you ever talk to them (mostly MyPlay Direct, the smallest but most malleable of the three companies for sure) about accepting new digital currencies?

can't wait for Al's bitcoin song

been around the world don't speak the language
but the bitcoin don't need explaining

I was thinking more "it's going down, I'm yelling bitcooooooin"

i got one more bitcoin without ya
i got one more bitcoin without ya
i got one more bitcoin without ya
i got one more one more biiiiitcoooooin

why you gotta be so rude
don't you know it's money too
why you gotta be so rude
it's a virtual currency

all of you OTM

Can I buy fedoras with this virtual coin
say yes, say yes, cuz i need to know
you say you'll never accept bitcoin till the day that you die
please shop Target, but the answer is no!

The Faux Fighters jammer is so perfect. Bemuda Schwartz nails Taylor Hawkins drum style

you could say it's

THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST

lol

lol.

these bitcoins ain't loyal

played a mix of nothing but the polkas this afternoon...pure bliss
new one is a jam

Yessss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-0TEJMJOhk

that is perfect

Where's the National Medal of the Arts for this dude, seriously?

so goddamn awesome

i hope weird al lives forever

what if he does

poor Weird Al, cursed to watch all he loves age and die around him

Weird Al lives forever to parody an Oasis song

I just realized the first B-52's song I ever heard was probably "Mr. Popeil".

al is a better singer than pharrell

― katherine, Tuesday, July 15, 2014 11:28 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

― mattresslessness, Tuesday, 15 July 2014 17:30 (Yesterday)

Even Moby sings better than Pharrell.

whoa hey now

I waited all day to watch that video, we're in a place in this house where the dinner hour is pretty high fucking octane

thank you weird al for an absolutely perfect remedy

Carl Wilson:

Fallon and Yankovic both seem childish when you compare them with the deftness of musical satirists such as the hip-hop-appropriating, adults-only, Saturday Night Live-sponsored Lonely Island, with half a dozen near-classics already behind them (including better grammar humor than “Word Crimes”); or understated New Zealand style-synthesizing-virtuosi imports Flight of the Conchords; or the polymath improvisational genius Reggie Watts.

Now, I love Carl, but "Weird Al" < Lonely Island, Flight of the Conchords?! WROONNNNG!

Fallon and Yankovic both seem childish when you compare them with the deftness of musical satirists such as the hip-hop-appropriating, adults-only, Saturday Night Live-sponsored Lonely Island, with half a dozen near-classics already behind them (including better grammar humor than “Word Crimes”)

Cursing! Rapping! You know, grown-up stuff! Totally unlike the childishness of singing corporate jargon in perfect CSN harmonies.

I can't think of a single Lonely Island song I've ever wanted to hear (or video I've wanted to watch) twice. Meanwhile, I've watched the "Foil" video about a half dozen times today.

Dude presumably meant kid-friendly more than childish

I mean, the idea that Andy samberg isn't childish

I like Lonely Island a lot and the suggestion that they are better than Weird Al makes me stabby

otm that is so wrongheaded I can't even

Ok if you're going to damn weird al for not going for the throat, I'd advise not making a running of gag of different words in place of Weird

Running gag, rather

i'm pretty sure lonely island themselves would scoff at the idea that they're better or more adult than weird al

the turn at 'o and btw i cracked the code' in 'foil' is so great. how i know i'm old: his classic rock parodies consistently my fave now - 'bob', 'craigslist', 'mission statement'.

to me just the way that Yankovic's parody best songs hold up as songs *in their own right*, often with fully-fleshed out narratives...to me that alone puts him above all those guys right away

I played 'foil' for a few coworkers who had never even heard of Lourde and they all dug it as a song in and of itself, because it was funny that second verse conspiracy hook is so good

I do miss when al would have spike jones sounds throughout the songs, not down with the increasing karaokeness of his backing tracks for the last, uh, twenty years

Lol and apparently I expressed this sentiment on this thread a decade ago

Still stands, bring back the squelches

al does pastiche better than lonely island for sure

al does polka better than lonley island point game set match

"Foil" is so expertly done. It tricks you into thinking it's going to be a weak joke, then turns amazing.

yessss "foil" was my favorite non polka.