# Lady Gaga denies Weird Al **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 20, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118 "2011-04-20T18:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/41 "2011-04-20T21:52:11Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Thanks for the laugh. No longer liking Weird Al=forgetting what FUN is. Good stuff. Melodrama, we have arrived! > > How sad it is that you think that everything we enjoyed when we were younger automatically translates to adulthood. Aw, now we’re both sad. Right, I shouldn’t have risen to the bait. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/42 "2011-04-20T21:57:12Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I guess I just don’t see how Weird Al has made a career of this stuff. No disrespect intended for his fans here, but beyond 8-12 year olds I can’t comprehend the appeal. Well, for someone trying not to be disrespectful of his fans here, that sure sounded disrespectful. You know who else was disrespectful and had no sense of humor??? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/43 "2011-04-20T21:58:45Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I guess I just don’t see how Weird Al has made a career of this stuff. No disrespect intended for his fans here, but beyond 8-12 year olds I can’t comprehend the appeal. > > Don’t get me wrong, when I was in the age I mentioned I thought he was a laugh riot, but now I just shake my head with wonder. > > It’s her song. If she doesn’t want it used I don’t see how anyone can fault her for it. For me it’s no different than artists/writers who don’t want their songs used for commercials. It’s something she created. Then she should have said no up-front, rather than putting Al through the rigamarole of actually producing and recording the song before deigning to say no. Didn’t I just say this earlier? As for the rest of your post, congratulations for sharing your opinion. I mean, personally I don’t feel the need to bang out a few sentences of stream-of-consciousness opinion about every artist that has any sort of thread started about them regardless of topic, but that’s just me, and our differences make the world go around, am I right? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/44 "2011-04-20T22:01:48Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Then she should have said no up-front, rather than putting Al through the rigamarole of actually producing and recording the song before deigning to say no. Actually, things are a little more interesting than it seems at first glance. [TMZ](http://www.tmz.com/2011/04/20/weird-al-yankovic-lady-gaga-rejected-born-this-way-parody-perform-this-way/)’s got an update, and it sure as hell sounds like _someone_ is being squirrely. > [@](#): > > But sources extremely close to the singer tell us, “There must have been a misunderstanding because [Gaga] is in no way trying to block the release of the parody.” > > According to sources, “She’s busy touring and hasn’t heard the song yet. Her manager hasn’t had a chance to play it for her yet” – adding, “She’s a huge Weird Al fan.” > > A bizarre situation – because Al claims Gaga’s manager is the one who denied him in the first place … forcing him to release “Perform This Way” unofficially on YouTube. Either Al is lying – unlikely, as he’s got a rep for being a decent guy – or the manager tried to shut Al down and realized he dug a hole. Or there was honest miscommunication. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/45 "2011-04-20T22:14:44Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I was surprised that no one had posted this to the Dope yet, and the YouTube video of the song only had 330 views! The view counts lag behind by hours and always stop right around the 330 mark–I’ve uploaded over 800 vids and have seen it with tons of them. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/46 "2011-04-20T22:32:23Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Prince turning Al down repeatedly was news to me, also, and disappointing. I actually think Prince has a pretty good sense of humor about himself. Heh, Prince is weird that way. The Foo Fighters covered Darling Nikki, and in response during an interview Prince said that he didn’t appreciate it and that they should write their own tunes. Fast forward to Prince’s 2007 Superbowl half-time show, where he included a cover of Foo Fighters’ “Best of You” in a mashup of several other covers. And no, the Foos had not given permission and had no clue that he was going to do that, but of course they didn’t have a problem with it. But then, the Foos are A LOT less full of themselves than most others in the music business. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/47 "2011-04-20T22:40:34Z")
Lady Gaga has less talent than a wart on Weird Al’s pecker. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/48 "2011-04-20T22:55:35Z")
> [@FlightlessBird](#): > > Breaking news: (or whatever) > [TMZ link:](http://www.tmz.com/2011/04/20/weird-al-yankovic-lady-gaga-rejected-born-this-way-parody-perform-this-way/)Lady Gaga – I Didn’t Reject Weird Al Yankovic. > > Seems like a weird bit of he said she said. And thus the story gets more coverage then her just agreeing in the first place. I’m inclined to back MsWhatsit’s take on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/49 "2011-04-20T22:59:03Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I guess I just don’t see how Weird Al has made a career of this stuff. No disrespect intended for his fans here, but beyond 8-12 year olds I can’t comprehend the appeal. > > Don’t get me wrong, when I was in the age I mentioned I thought he was a laugh riot, but now I just shake my head with wonder. I totally agree with this and was set to say pretty much the same thing. > [@](#): > > It’s her song. If she doesn’t want it used I don’t see how anyone can fault her for it. For me it’s no different than artists/writers who don’t want their songs used for commercials. It’s something she created. I kind of disagree with you here though. If I were an artist, I’d tell him “no” from the get go and not make him actually record the song first. I mean either you like his work and you’d trust him to do it in his usual style or you don’t like his work and just refuse. If for some reason this particular parody was way far afield from his normal work then I take all of this back. Finally, anyone who honestly thinks that Weird Al will be remembered more through the ages than Gaga is just delusional. I don’t care for the output of either of them but there is a clear difference between a novelty act with some hardcore fans and a cultural phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/50 "2011-04-20T23:03:50Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Lady Gaga has less talent than a wart on Weird Al’s pecker. There’s a “Can’t Touch This” joke in here somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/51 "2011-04-20T23:06:39Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Finally, anyone who honestly thinks that Weird Al will be remembered more through the ages than Gaga is just delusional. I don’t care for the output of either of them but there is a clear difference between a novelty act with some hardcore fans and a cultural phenomenon. I think you got Gaga and Weird Al the wrong way round there. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/52 "2011-04-20T23:11:10Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I think you got Gaga and Weird Al the wrong way round there. 😃 I could kind of work either way, I have to admit. That said, Al isn’t selling out venues at nearly the rate of Gaga. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/53 "2011-04-20T23:22:28Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Finally, anyone who honestly thinks that Weird Al will be remembered more through the ages than Gaga is just delusional. I don’t care for the output of either of them but there is a clear difference between a novelty act with some hardcore fans and a cultural phenomenon. Weird Al is a flash-in-the-pan that has somehow managed to have a career that has lasted 30+ years. I wouldn’t give Lady Gaga any hope for having the same longevity. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/54 "2011-04-20T23:25:31Z")
Update: Apparently Lady Gaga has now approved the parody. And the glorious circle of [del]promotion[/del] life goes on. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/55 "2011-04-20T23:43:00Z")
Yay! It’s OK! > **[GAGA UPDATE!](https://alyankovic.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/gaga-update/)** > > Well, this was a strange day. After putting my Lady Gaga parody on YouTube this morning – and announcing that it wouldn’t be on my next album because Gaga didn’t approve it – there was a huge outpo… ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/56 "2011-04-20T23:50:50Z")
Yeah, Al’s 15 minutes are almost up… ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/57 "2011-04-20T23:56:05Z")
I told MrWhatsit about this whole brouhaha – why he puts up with me, I will never understand – and his reaction was, “Well, yay for Twitter for once again solving the world’s social problems.” ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/58 "2011-04-20T23:57:25Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Good answer. > > Woulda been cool if he did uhm…well, her most famous song (IMHO, as it’s the only one I know) - “Bad Romance.” I think it’s a better song than “Born This Way” and we all know Al could have come up with some fine lyrics. Maybe he could have lauded “Pepperoni”, to the tune of “Paparazzi”… ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/59 "2011-04-20T23:57:55Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I guess I just don’t see how Weird Al has made a career of this stuff. No disrespect intended for his fans here, but beyond 8-12 year olds I can’t comprehend the appeal. Most of his silly parodies are, sure, kiddie fare. But there’s kiddies out there, and I can laugh at 'em occasionally just as I can laugh at good slapstick cartoons now and again. Not my bread and butter, but I understand the market. That said, Weird Al’s recorded a handful of more “grown up” focused stuff over the years – usually the non-parody tracks on his albums. They’re hardly SERIOUS, but some dabble in solid wordplay, real humor, and an occasional dose of actual satire. They’re too few and far between, though; I’d love to hear Weird Al release a “non-zany” album, if only to see if he could pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/60 "2011-04-21T00:20:11Z")
Holy shite, the internets move fast. I read about this maybe three hours ago on someone’s Facebook wall, and thought it was lame of Gaga to string him along through the approval process, review the lyrics, then insist he record the song and send it her, then say no, but hey, bitchier things have been done in Hollywood. Now the whole thing’s resolved? Very good then. Don’t see myself running out and buying Al’s album any time soon (or Gaga’s for that matter), but at least I can walk away feeling like there’s just one less smidgen of douchery in the world. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118.md?page=4)