27 Cheers! Weird Al has a new album coming out!

[Max Carnage]

I'll undoubtedly be the only one posting to this thread, but as the biggest CFoA around, I'd be remiss if I didn't tell the world.

Weird Al's newest album "Poodle Hat" is coming out on May 20! There's a picture of the cover at www.weirdal.com . Not sure of any of the parodies or original songs, just the name of the album. But that's enough to get my accordian folding!

Plus, Al has a cameo on the Simpsons on April 13th! This Sunday! It's Al's birthday gift to me!

[diku]

I thought he was dead...


Must be a comeback album...

[whiterabbit]

I must let my brother know!

[Max Carnage]

Don't call it a comeback! He never left!

[Max Carnage]

Just noticed on the album cover...looks like a Christina Aguilera look-alike in the front right side, but not so whore-like :)

[whiterabbit]

I'm going to see him in Gulfport NO MATTER WHAT. I saw him several years ago. He puts on a fun stupid concert.

Though this time I guess he won't have his mom to introduce him. "My son, Alfred!" :D

She was so NORMAL.

[bouv]

Originally posted by whiterabbit
Though this time I guess he won't have his mom to introduce him. "My son, Alfred!" :D

She was so NORMAL.

Why not? Did she pass away? If so, that's sad...I went to see Weird Al a few years ago, and I remember his parents introducing him.

Al puts on a great concert, and I hope he comes round these parts again real soon.

[dogchow]

Originally posted by whiterabbit
I must let my brother know!

So must I! Wait a minute...if I don't tell him, I can get the CD for his birthday! I won't have to get him Yu-Gi-Oh cards after all! :D

[Astralbovine]

I'm not a fan of Weird Al, and I otherwise wouldn't be posting in here, but it HAD to be said:

Doesn't "Poodle Hat" sound extremely close to "Mink Car?"

[Blackeyes]

See, EVERY album Al makes is a comeback album, on account of he said so in his Behind the Music episode because he makes an album only every couple of years because he likes the slow pace of it and stuff. Heh.

[Weird_AL_Einstein]

Well it's about #$$%^& TIME! Four years! Four &*^$^&$ years, people!

[Corbomite]

Weird Al on Simpsons, eh?

With few exceptions, all guest shots since like Michelle Pfeiffer and Aerosmith have lacked.

Do recall Bart is a mortal enemy of Dr. Demento (And Linda Lavin.)

[whiterabbit]

No, the concert I saw was at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California, not far at all from where he grew up. I don't think he takes his mom on tours with him is all.

Everybody was cheering for Mom as much as they were for Al himself.

[Dread Pirate Jimbo]

I've been a big fan of Al since back in the day when Dr. Demento was playing his all-accordian, pre-fame stuff. I even got to interview him for my university newspaper when he did his first cross-Canada tour in 1995 (it's not every day that I get to speak to a Grammy winner). Extremely well-spoken, candid, and thoughtful for a guy who makes a living by being a buffoon. The concert two weeks later was great -- he and his band play a very engaging, surprisingly slick show.

Yay for a new album. I await with baited breath...

[Rico]

Ah yes...

I was working at KSLY/San Luis Obispo in 1982 when Al was just starting out - he'd come by our radio station every few weeks with new tapes for us to listen to.

Our morning host, Captain Buffoon, was the first DJ (IIRC) to play Al's music. Dr. Demento may have made him a household word, but Captain Buffoon made him a local star.

And DPJ, I must second your impression of Al. Incredibly intelligent, slightly warped, and extremely polite and fun to be around.

Although I haven't seen him since 1983...

:cool:

[ElwoodCuse]

Actually, that album cover reminds me a lot of the cover for Billy Joel's Turnstiles.

[Gorgon Heap]

Mink Car ... isn't that TMBG?

Anywho, I am sooo happy about this. I was just wondering the other day when he'd have a new one coming out. My only problem is I also have to get another copy of Running with Scissors since mine got repo'd with my old car. Dagummit.

[Trion]

Well, there's a song cue if I ever heard one. ;)

[Max Carnage]

"Stop Draggin' My Car Around!"

[c_goat]

But... I'm not yet sick of listening to Running With Scissors... it's too soon I tell you.

I'll definitely see him on tour again. I've seen him 3 times already. Hooray for Al!

I wonder if he made a new Star Wars song, since at the last concert those were the two biggest hits, and Episode 2's been out long enough.

[Max Carnage]

Shoot, last time Episode 1 hadn't even come out before he had "The Saga Begins" done. I assume he got the script or treatment ahead of time from Lucas, judging by the "I bet he's gonna marry her someday" line which was lifted from the novelization.

I'm betting on a "Lady Marmalade" parody (yes it's old, but was made new again. Heck, he spoofed "MacArthur Park" and "American Pie" too.) Maybe something from Britney Spears. And some kinda rap metal like Limp Bizket or Kid Rock. What else has been big in the past year or so? Lord of the Rings?

I like to think I had a small part in Al's coming to Nashville on tour in 2000. I wrote his website in 1999 and asked why he hadn't played Nashville since around 83. He explained that the venue he played in (Zanies comedy club) was so small that they didn't really enjoy it much. Then months later, a stop in Nashville was scheduled for Sept. 2000. I don't know if I put the idea back in his head or it was a happy coincidence, but I'll take the credit :)

[Short Guy]

I will certainly be checking that out if I get the chance. I've always like Weird Al, and I'm curious which songs he's spoofing on this album. Bring it on.

[gonzoron]

Wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

(what else needs to be said?)

[tracer]

Is that poodle on Al's head the same stuffed dog they used for "fluffy" in the "Jerry Springer" video?

[Max Carnage]

I'm thinking Poodle Hat is a reference to Christina. Then again it may refer to nothing on the album and is just a great phrase. "Running with Scissors" and "Alapalooza" didn't seem to refer to any part of those respecive albums either.

[Max Carnage]

While I've got the attention of Al fans, does anyone out there have any tapes of early ALTV episodes? The first couple of times were hilarious, doing a kinda Dr Demento of the video scene. Songs didn't even have to be novelty, just weird. I've got the most recent one or two I think but I'd love to see the old ones again.

[rjung]

I'm with Weird_Al_Einstein on this one -- it's four years too long since the last ALbum! Woo hoo!

[sciguy]

Yay! <does happy dance around my cubicle>

Anyone feel like listing guesses about spoofs to be included, or is that too much of a hijack?

Here's my guesses anyway:
* Lord of the Rings
* Reality television (I'd say "I will Survive" has a high probability)
* I'm divided on hoping for an Nsync/backstreet boys/Britney/Christina send-up. On the one hand it'd be funny, on the other it might give them too much credibility. Didn't someone say once that a musician hadn't really "made it" until they were parodied by Weird Al?

[brianjedi]

Originally posted by sciguy
Didn't someone say once that a musician hadn't really "made it" until they were parodied by Weird Al?

Kurt Cobain.

[Fibber McGee]

My guess is there'll an Eminem parody of some sort on the album. Him and his music are ripe for parody and Al has never been one to shy away from obvious targets.

[Blackeyes]

After the SNL performance.

Al asked them if he could parody their first hit, they asked him if it'd be about food. He told them it was about how no one can understand their songs.

[Wintermute]

NEW WEIRD AL ALBUM?!!

*Happy dance! Whoo! Whoo! Yeah, baby, it's your birthday!*

I actually love the stuff he writes himself better than the parodies. I just think he's amazingly talented. He's covered, like, every style of music out there, and he's done it well.

[Wintermute]

Originally posted by Fibber McGee
My guess is there'll an Eminem parody of some sort on the album. Him and his music are ripe for parody and Al has never been one to shy away from obvious targets.

I think Eminem would be a good choice, but I can think of two reasons why it might not happen:

[list=1]
Emimem already sort of parodies himself with "Slim Shady", although he hasn't done him in a while.
Now he has an Oscar, he may be too "serious" an artist to allow a parody.
[/list=1]

But I'd sure love to see the video!

[sciguy]

Originally posted by Blackeyes
After the SNL performance.

Al asked them if he could parody their first hit, they asked him if it'd be about food. He told them it was about how no one can understand their songs. You know, that makes "Sounds like Nirvana" even more enjoyable!

Originally posted by Wintermute
I actually love the stuff he writes himself better than the parodies. I just think he's amazingly talented. He's covered, like, every style of music out there, and he's done it well. Me too! Of his originals, my favorite is a toss-up between "This is the Life" and "One more minute", although "Albuquerque" is fun just for the pure insanity of it.

[tracer]

"One More Minute" isn't an original tune -- it's a parody of "The Great Pretender".

[Zap_Rowsdower]

I am so out of touch with current music, I would not know what song he was parodying. However I still enjoy his stuff, the rare times I hear it these days.

[Max Carnage]

Originally posted by tracer
"One More Minute" isn't an original tune -- it's a parody of "The Great Pretender".

Sorry, but it's an original. One of his style parodies. Even then, I think "Great Pretender" is really stretching it. Put them side by side, and you won't hear much in ways of similarities. It's just a parody of 50's love songs.

[fusoya]

Originally posted by tracer
Is that poodle on Al's head the same stuffed dog they used for "fluffy" in the "Jerry Springer" video?

Nope, it's Bela - Al's actual pet poodle.

I can't believe I have to either travel, or wait until the end of AUGUST for Weird Al concert #14 :mad:

[Dread Pirate Jimbo]

Originally posted by Max Carnage
While I've got the attention of Al fans, does anyone out there have any tapes of early ALTV episodes? The first couple of times were hilarious, doing a kinda Dr Demento of the video scene. Songs didn't even have to be novelty, just weird. I've got the most recent one or two I think but I'd love to see the old ones again.

I taped Al's 1994 MuchMusic appearance, dubbed AlMusic of course, but I don't remember if I got the whole two hours (it's at the end of an old, ratty tape). Very funny stuff and, I assume, pretty much the same schtick he used on MTV.

[rjung]

Originally posted by sciguy
Of his originals, my favorite is a toss-up between "This is the Life" and "One more minute", although "Albuquerque" is fun just for the pure insanity of it.
I'll cast my vote for "Christmas At Ground Zero," just for the sheer lunacy of juxtaposing the two events.

But I thought "The Night Santa Went Crazy" crossed the line from funny to tasteless. Maybe I'm not demented enough...

[ElwoodCuse]

IIRC, Al says he wrote the entire "Saga Begins" song based only on internet spoilers and had no official peek at the script to the film.

[gonzoron]

Originally posted by sciguy
* I'm divided on hoping for an Nsync/backstreet boys/Britney/Christina send-up.

Well, he did put some Backstreet boys in Polka Power on RWS, but it took him like a decade to do New Kids on the Block.

[fusoya]

just an update on this album

Here's the tracklist

SPOILER:

1. "Couch Potato," parody of Eminem's "Lose Yourself"
2. "Hardware Store"
3. "Trash Day," parody of Nelly's "Hot in Herre"
4. Party at the Leper Colony
5. "Angry White Boy Polka," parody of Papa Roach's "Last Resort," System of a Down's "Chop Suey," the Vine's "Get Free," the Hives' "Hate to Say I Told You So," the White Stripes' "Fell In Love With a Girl," the Strokes' "Last Nite," Disturbed's "Down With the Sickness," Rage Against the Machine's "Renegades of Funk," Limp Bizkit's "My Way," Staind's "Outside," Kid Rock's "Bawitdaba," P.O.D.'s "Youth of the Nation" and Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady"
6. "Wanna B Ur Lovr"
7. "A Complicated Song," parody of Avril Lavigne's "Complicated"
8. "Why Does This Always Happen to Me" (style parody of Ben Folds)
9. "Ode to a Superhero," parody of Billy Joel's "Piano Man"
10. "Bob" (style parody of Bob Dylan)
11. "E-Bay," parody of the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way"
12. "Genius in France" (tribute to Frank Zappa)


I'm really looking forward to the polka, but most of the parodies sound like letdowns...hoping for some great originals!

[Max Carnage]

I just heard a soundbite from Al on the radio this morning that Eminem wouldn't give Al permission to do a video parody of "Lose Yourself." Figures he'd be forfeiting his masterful integrity" or some such rot. Al said it was going to be great to. Since it's the first song on the album, it would have been the first single too. Who releases singles without videos these days??? What's he going to show when he pirates the MTV airwaves?

[Menocchio]

Dude, that Polka kicks ass.

[c_goat]

I don't know, Al tends to make great parodies of songs that I hate, and I can't help but like Al's version. That means I'll probably like "Trash Day", since I really really hate "Hot in Herre". It worked in the past with "The White Stuff", "Taco Grande" and "Achy Breaky Song", to name a few.

Although the fiancee's going to be upset about the Billy Joel parody. Long Island girls love Billy.

[Jonathan Chance]

I am so completely out of touch that I only recognize one song on the Polka Medley.

Blame it on XM.