# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/161 "2011-04-21T18:56:48Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Just because someone was a jerk to you doesn’t mean you’re given carte blanche to do whatever you want. The rudeness of Lady Gaga’s manager doesn’t excuse Weird Al’s behavior. > > edit: In fact, our behavior in the face of someone else’s rudeness speaks more of our character than our behavior when people are nice to us. It’s easy to be thoughtful and considerate to people who are that way to you. Being thoughtful and considerate to people when they are rude to you is a true measure of character. Being rude in return would have been to put the song on the album anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/162 "2011-04-21T18:58:10Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > I personally think it’s sort of classy that he even bothers to ask. It would be if when someone said no he just dropped it and moved on instead of being a little bitch about it. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/163 "2011-04-21T18:59:13Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Being rude in return would have been to put the song on the album anyway. Because putting the song on youtube and then giving it away for free on top of it is clearly respecting the artists wishes that he so cares about. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/164 "2011-04-21T19:02:20Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Actually, it isn’t really. It isn’t like it’s any great secret that he’s doing parodies of these works, releasing them online for free, and then releasing the albums later. It’s what he DOES, and it’s not like he’s changed that recently. > > Until recently, album sales and radio play were much more important than internet exposure. If some behind-the-times _artiste_ cares enough about their work being pure, and doesn’t realize the power behind interactive net media, then you can’t blame that on Weird Al, he’s just doing what he’s always done. > > I personally think it’s sort of classy that he even bothers to ask. It’s the opposite of classy to pretend you care by asking permission and then _going ahead and doing it anyway_. No one made Weird Al ask permission. He’s the one voluntarily doing it. If his asking is meaningless, it’s a straight up stupid exercise. > [@](#): > > If an artist cares enough about their image and their works to be willing to \*publicly not support \*another artist’s legal fair-use creations, that’s their right. Perhaps it’s worth it to some of them to be true to their ideals or to honor their work or whatever it is they do when they put themselves up on a pedestal. > > The difference here is the diminishing importance of albums and actual sales figures as compared to internet exposure and notoriety. If Weird Al knows better than they do what’s good for their careers, then why is he asking their permission when he has no obligation to do so? This whole mess is entirely Weird Al’s creation. And all of this retroactive justification is bizarre. Weird Al is the one who chooses to seek permission. Everything that follows is on his shoulders. Asking permission implies abiding by the askee’s decision. Which implies that Weird Al has respect for an artist’s decision to say no, regardless of anyone else’s perceptions of the advantages or drawbacks of doing so. Again, if he operates withe the intent of imposing a “major jerks” escape clause, it behooves him to disclose that up front. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/165 "2011-04-21T19:34:36Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Who said anything about flash in the pan? I first heard him on Dr. Demento when I was an adolescent in the early 80s. I think that Gaga will be around for a long time and she definitely hit a peak much higher that Al could ever dream of hitting. Remember Whitney Houston? Her initial success was even greater than Gaga’s. But when you hear about Whitney Houston today, it’s always some variation of how badly she burned out instead of her phenomenal debut success. In the meantime, Weird Al is a legend among novelty artists. Surely people will remember Lady Gaga, but whether she will enjoy long-term success or be a flash-in-the-pan is still up in the air, particularly with the relatively lukewarm reception her new material has been receiving. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/166 "2011-04-21T19:36:09Z")
There’s an additional wrinkle in this particular situation. Al had intended the proceeds from this song to go to the HRC. He probably thought that, given that the song was already recorded and that he wouldn’t have profited by it anyway, he might as well try for voluntary donations. He’s always made clear that asking is a courtesy, not a binding contract. He’s also stated that the permission is for including the song on an album, specifically. He’s also clearly a strong-willed individual himself, as you sort of have to be to keep a career going this long. I don’t really find it that unusual or scandalous that if he decides a circumstance conflicts with his own sense of ethics, he’ll have the last say in what to do with his work. I don’t believe that that in any way renders the entire act of asking for permission unnecessary or nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/167 "2011-04-21T19:43:09Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Being rude in return would have been to put the song on the album anyway. It’s possible for more than one action to be rude. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/168 "2011-04-21T19:46:37Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Because putting the song on youtube and then giving it away for free on top of it is clearly respecting the artists wishes that he so cares about. I’m sorry, but if they didn’t want a WA version of the song, the first step should have been saying no at the beginning. He hadn’t written the fucking thing yet, and they tell him to write and record it. Then they say no. I’m sorry but that’s flat out retarded. In this day and age even if Al hadn’t released the song, it probably would have gotten out somehow. And in _any_ day and age, you don’t ask an artist to write and record something and then seriously expect them to hide it in a closet for the rest of time. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/169 "2011-04-21T20:09:27Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I’m sorry, but if they didn’t want a WA version of the song, the first step should have been saying no at the beginning. He hadn’t written the fucking thing yet, and they tell him to write and record it. Then they say no. I’m sorry but that’s flat out retarded. In this day and age even if Al hadn’t released the song, it probably would have gotten out somehow. And in _any_ day and age, you don’t ask an artist to write and record something and then seriously expect them to hide it in a closet for the rest of time. No, what is retarded is writing and recording it as a means to get approval for releasing it. That is all on Al, he didn’t have to do any of that, he chose to do all of it and then acted like a bitch when he didn’t get what he wanted. You keep acting like any of this was required of him when he did it only to stick to his moral code or whatever, which he then threw right out the window when things didn’t turn out the way he wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/170 "2011-04-21T20:16:22Z")
It’s not a freaking moral code, it’s simple professional courtesy. Weird Al has never handed final say over to another artist. Don’t try to make it bigger than it is. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/171 "2011-04-21T20:20:55Z")
It’s just plain self aggrandizing bullshit if it goes out the window when he doesn’t like the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/172 "2011-04-21T20:32:03Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > It’s just plain self aggrandizing bullshit if it goes out the window when he doesn’t like the answer. I’m sure he doesn’t like being told no by Prince and Paul McCartney either, but he abides by their wishes, probably because they A, don’t have him write and record the song before they’ll okay it, and B, because they’ll communicate something beyond a flat no. This was just a baffling situation all around. Again, I agree that he should have stepped off and walked away as soon as they said they wanted to hear the song first, but I still have a hard time seeing how he’s acting like a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/173 "2011-04-21T20:36:25Z")
He asked for permission, she (or her manager, whatever) said no, he released the song on youtube and plans on giving it away for free. That is practically the definition of acting like a bitch. He didn’t have to do ANYTHING that was requested of him, that they asked him to write and record the song should in no way affect what he did. He either cares about the artist wishes or he doesn’t, period. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/174 "2011-04-21T20:39:54Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > He asked for permission, she (or her manager, whatever) said no, he released the song on youtube and plans on giving it away for free. That is practically the definition of acting like a bitch. He didn’t have to do ANYTHING that was requested of him, that they asked him to write and record the song should in no way affect what he did. He either cares about the artist wishes or he doesn’t, period. You do realize what “final say” means, right? You do understand how it’s possible to take another’s input into consideration when making your own decisions without being required to follow said input? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/175 "2011-04-21T20:40:52Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > You do realize what “final say” means, right? You do understand how it’s possible to take another’s advice or concerns into consideration when making your own decisions without being required to follow said advice or concerns? I fail to see how any of that makes him any less of a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/176 "2011-04-21T20:42:44Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I fail to see how any of that makes him any less of a bitch. Then you’re welcome to your opinion. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/177 "2011-04-21T21:20:41Z")
They didn’t tell him no, they led him on. ---
**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 21, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/178 "2011-04-21T21:20:51Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > Remember Whitney Houston? > > Her initial success was even greater than Gaga’s. But when you hear about Whitney Houston today, it’s always some variation of how badly she burned out instead of her phenomenal debut success. The crack pipe had much to do with that. I think that Gaga will avoid that. > [@](#): > > In the meantime, Weird Al is a legend among novelty artists. Yes he is. Exactly my point. > [@](#): > > Surely people will remember Lady Gaga, but whether she will enjoy long-term success or be a flash-in-the-pan is still up in the air, particularly with the relatively lukewarm reception her new material has been receiving. I think that she’ll have a career like Madonna’s. That pretty clearly seems to be her model. She’ll have to reinvent herself along the way and I believe that she is savvy enough to do that. I have seen a few hundred concerts in my time and I’ll probably see a few hundred more before I die and I wouldn’t see either Al or Gaga for free so I really have no dog in this fight. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/179 "2011-04-21T21:35:35Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > The crack pipe had much to do with that. I think that Gaga will avoid that. And that is my point. You can only _think_ that right now. Surely things have been going well for her so far for the most part, and the potential for enduring success is there, but no one was expecting Whitney’s downfall when she was dominating the charts, either. Of course, we agree that novelty star != pop star and comparing the heights of their carreers is like apples and oranges. Within their specialties, though, Lady Gaga still has a long way to go. ---
**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 21, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118/180 "2011-04-21T21:39:29Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > And that is my point. You can only _think_ that right now. Well obviously. When did I ever claim precognition? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-gaga-denies-weird-al/579118.md?page=10)