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Post by BJ on Apr 21, 2011 9:28:50 GMT -5
You guys are registering at dangerously low levels on the coolometer. Seriously though, different strokes for different folds. If everyone liked the same stuff, life would be boring, etc. I know plenty of people who don't like Stephen Lynch and think Dennis Leary is a joke thief, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying their comedic songs. I just wasn't about to let a thread about Weird Al's minor copyright struggles go by without taking a pot shot at him.
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Post by GProopdog on Apr 21, 2011 9:56:57 GMT -5
Well, at this rate, it won't turn into the whole Coolio debate from years ago:
Coolio's rep: Sure, you can parody Gangsta's Paradise.
Weird Al: Thanks!
Coolio: (Months later) Who the hell said you could parody my song?!?
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Post by callipygias on Apr 21, 2011 10:22:19 GMT -5
I expect stability from MY gangsta rappers, thank you!
I had no idea people took Weird Al's music seriously. Maybe "seriously" isn't the right word, but still.
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Post by solgroupie on Apr 21, 2011 10:38:52 GMT -5
i've always respected al as a comedian first, but he is a talented musician who tends to get lost in the mainstream. a little bit of al goes a long way for me, but he genuinely seems like a funny guy - i loved his part in the jurassic park RT with mike. and my all time favorite weird al video is amish paradise. with florence henderson in it, how could you NOT love it?
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Apr 21, 2011 10:42:46 GMT -5
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Post by Mod City on Apr 21, 2011 10:53:40 GMT -5
Wow, I'll be. The way Al described the whole thing on his blog, her turning down the song after he recorded it didn't make much sense to me. I guess this explains why. Kudos, Gaga, kudos.
And man, if your manager is going to be pulling that kind of thing, I think it's time to get a new manager.
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Post by mrmeadows on Apr 21, 2011 12:24:39 GMT -5
One of his latest originals, "Craigslist", is really well done. Yes, it's in the style of The Doors, but it isn't a direct lift of any of their songs. Also, original Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek plays the keyboard on it...so see, even serious musicians aren't "too cool" to play along with Al: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4sALru9IJk*other "real" musicians who have collaborated with Al include Mark Knoplfer, Ben Folds, Wendy Carlos, The Black Crowes, and others. Prince hates him though. So there's that.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Apr 21, 2011 13:13:40 GMT -5
His new stuff ("Craigslist", "CNR", and "Ringtone") isn't lyrically all that funny or clever. But the music is great. Anyone who can do a style parody of The Doors, The White Stripes, and Queen that well is going to get my attention.
Other tremendous style parodies he's done are the B-52s, Frank Zappa, They Might Be Giants, Talking Heads, Brian Wilson, Oingo Boingo, and the Police, just to name my favorites.
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Post by The Mad Plumber on Apr 21, 2011 14:31:26 GMT -5
This might all be worth it to see a music video where Yankovic is wearing a white wig and a silly piece of metal on the side of his face.
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Post by mrmeadows on Apr 22, 2011 1:26:21 GMT -5
His new stuff ("Craigslist", "CNR", and "Ringtone") isn't lyrically all that funny or clever. But the music is great. Anyone who can do a style parody of The Doors, The White Stripes, and Queen that well is going to get my attention. This is true. His lyrics aren't as goofy as they were back when most of his song parodies were about food and TV. He's kind of...matured a bit, if you will. And yes, I do appreciate the humor in his songs but rarely display any discernible physical reaction to them (i.e. laughing). Actually, this is one of the few Al songs (an original!) that I remember actually laughing at when I first heard it. It's one of his best: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-9MQ4DdBek&feature=fvst
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Post by mrmeadows on Apr 22, 2011 12:24:21 GMT -5
I know plenty of people who don't like Stephen Lynch and think Dennis Leary is a joke thief, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying their comedic songs. Well, if any charge can be aimed at Weird Al it's that his stuff is essentially toothless. It's safe, harmless fun compared to Lynch and Leary who are are definitely edgier guys. It's like comparing Henny Youngman to George Carlin. Sure, Carlin probably wins that match in the "funny" department because there's some shock value and envelope-pushing involved with his material, but that doesn't mean Youngman's jokey Catskill shtick doesn't have it's charms.
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Post by TurkeyVolGuessnMan on Apr 22, 2011 23:12:07 GMT -5
Until Lady Gaga tops a song like this, she just doesn't matter.
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Post by mrmeadows on Apr 23, 2011 11:14:55 GMT -5
Until Lady Gaga tops a song like this, she just doesn't matter. Hey, I posted the link to that song yesterday! (Didn't use the fancy youtube embedding, though.) :-) But yes, this is a fantastic song.
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Post by Afgncaap5 on Apr 23, 2011 14:42:20 GMT -5
As someone on Twitter said, "I'm kind of upset that Lady Gaga approved the parody, because I wanted more reasons to dislike her. Ahh, well." I've got nothing against Gaga exactly, but I can appreciate the sentiment.
I've always thought that Al was a fantastic musician. He has a respectable range when he sings, and clearly actually knows what he's doing with that accordion of his. Plus, the guys in his band are great musicians in their own right (Steve Jay even has a decent musical career of his own.)
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Post by PimPamPet on Apr 24, 2011 17:19:54 GMT -5
Weird Al's da man. I even liked his corny children's TV show!
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