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Post by mrmeadows on Apr 20, 2011 13:14:34 GMT -5
Looks like Weird Al got strung along by Lady Gaga only to have the rug pulled out from him after recording a fully-produced parody of "Born This Way" for his new album: alyankovic.wordpress.com/the-gaga-saga/Gee, Gaga. That's weak. (At least we still get to hear the song.)
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Post by Mod City on Apr 20, 2011 14:19:46 GMT -5
I agree - weak. Lady Gaga is a bit too impressed with herself and, if I may say so, WAY overrated. She's not fit to take up space in Madonna's shadow. Born This Way is flat-out rip off of Express Yourself, anyway. At least Madonna had the class to say "whatever, it's cool" when half the music-listening world called Gaga out on it.
Will definitely have to check that out online.
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Post by mrmeadows on Apr 20, 2011 14:35:20 GMT -5
I agree - weak. Lady Gaga is a bit too impressed with herself and, if I may say so, WAY overrated. She's not fit to take up space in Madonna's shadow. Born This Way is flat-out rip off of Express Yourself, anyway. At least Madonna had the class to say "whatever, it's cool" when half the music-listening world called Gaga out on it. . There's a subtle reference to "Express Yourself" in the Al version....maybe Gaga didn't care for that. (Although it was in the lyrics he provided beforehand....I don't get it.)
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Post by Ratso on Apr 20, 2011 14:41:10 GMT -5
Al is a good guy.
This Gaga clown will be forgotten in a couple years.
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Post by BJ on Apr 20, 2011 14:52:22 GMT -5
I've always felt Weird Al was a hack, but on the other hand, Lady Gaga isn't interesting at all. I don't know if I can pick a side in this fight.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Apr 20, 2011 15:37:52 GMT -5
I've always felt Weird Al was a hack, but on the other hand, Lady Gaga isn't interesting at all. I don't know if I can pick a side in this fight. If you think he's a hack, you should really listen to more of his stuff. Especially his original material. Unbelievable musicianship & an incredible band. James Blunt did this to him on his last album, saying he didn't want to be pigeonholed as a one-hit wonder. Not only did Blunt disappear into obscurity as precisely that, but Al ended up doing "White and Nerdy" as his lead single instead. Game. Set. Match.
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Post by BJ on Apr 20, 2011 15:58:21 GMT -5
If you think he's a hack, you should really listen to more of his stuff. Especially his original material. Everything I've seen of him for the past 25 years is one boring parody song after another. You can basically write those in 10 minutes if you're bored enough. He may be a good musician, but I have no idea since that's not how he's made a name for himself. Just like Gallagher might be a funny person, but all I ever saw were the same old sledge hammer gags that I found funny when I was 5 years old.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Apr 20, 2011 17:12:11 GMT -5
If you think he's a hack, you should really listen to more of his stuff. Especially his original material. Everything I've seen of him for the past 25 years is one boring parody song after another. You can basically write those in 10 minutes if you're bored enough. He may be a good musician, but I have no idea since that's not how he's made a name for himself. Just like Gallagher might be a funny person, but all I ever saw were the same old sledge hammer gags that I found funny when I was 5 years old. That's my point. His parodies only constitute half of his albums' material. I agree that the parody schtick gets old quickly. That's why you should check out his other material, and then you mightn't find him such a hack. It would be like someone saying they watched 20 minutes of "Manos" and deciding that it's boring because, "the skit wasn't funny and the rest of it was just them watching a terrible movie." We MSTies know that it's way more than that.
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Post by BJ on Apr 20, 2011 17:53:13 GMT -5
I don't think that's a great example. I've spent quite a bit of time following music in my life, and I've never seen any evidence of Yankovic's non-parody music. Yet every year I seem to hear some lame rewording of a current pop song. It's difficult to care about his other stuff if he doesn't present it. That example would work better if someone watched 20 skits, thought they were all stupid, and never gave the theater segments a chance.
All of his singles and videos are always parodies. I was tired of them 20 years ago, and yet it still comprises half of an album? If I hate half a band's album, or half a comedian's set, I'm not going to like them. With hundreds of albums I'd love to check out, there's no way I'd spend the time to see what he has to offer.
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Post by mrmeadows on Apr 20, 2011 19:37:23 GMT -5
Well, parody or original, he does strictly perform comedy songs. So if that's not your cup of tea then so be it. But Mr. Atari is correct: Al is not just a guy who changes the words to existing songs and calls it a day. He writes and performs a lot of original material as well. And ask anyone: his live concerts are must-sees. Anyway, the kerfuffle is resolved. Apparently there was a misunderstanding between Gaga's management and Al's people. She ended up approving the song and all is right in the world. alyankovic.wordpress.com/
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Post by Don Quixote on Apr 20, 2011 20:53:04 GMT -5
Hardware Store is one of the best things recorded by man. You heard me.
Ratso does make a good point, and so does Mr. A. Essentially, Weird Al is trapped by pop culture, since that's what he essentially uses to sell his records. I don't know how many people would buy an album of his of only originals. The pop parodies appeal to a wider audience. Lady GaGa is just another pop star, and while pop stars reinvent themselves and try to change, they will ultimately be a victim of their success. They won't always go in the same direction as the rest of culture. The moment they do that one too many times, they are essentially consigned to the history books.
Anyway, I'm sure Al could kick GaGa's ass.
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Post by theroadtodeep13 on Apr 20, 2011 21:31:59 GMT -5
Lady Gaga may be weird, but Al Yankovic is as weird as they come! GO, AL!
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Apr 20, 2011 22:13:07 GMT -5
My favorite original Weird Al song. It's some random internet dude's video, though:
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Post by Mighty Jack on Apr 21, 2011 1:18:23 GMT -5
Sounds like Weird Al has the same problems the Smothers Brothers had. They actually were good folk musicians and could harmonize with the best of 'em. But they had a hard time selling their non-comedy albums.
I'm not a huge fan but I like Weird Al enough and get a chuckle out of him still (mummy posted his parody on "Complicated" that got me laughing - so, it still works)
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imapotato
Nanite
You should really just relax...for Mystery Science Theater 3000
Posts: 40
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Post by imapotato on Apr 21, 2011 8:40:09 GMT -5
How can anyone not like Weird Al?
Grew up with him, had his albums (yes physical plastic albums) and played them non stop.
His polka renditions of songs were the original mash ups As for originals:
Happy Birthday Harvey the wonder hamster Everything you know is wrong Since you've been gone One more minute (play this when a relationship ends, you'll feel better) Dare to be stupid UHF
and of course Hardware store...a rapper couldn't spout that fast paced song off
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