# "Weird Al" gives Pharrell the "Tacky" treatment **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107 "2014-07-14T21:40:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/121 "2014-07-18T22:42:31Z")
While we wait for the next one to come out, here is an Epic Rap Battle of History starring Mr. Yankovic that came out about a month ago and is absolutely brilliant: [Sir Isaac Newton vs. Bill Nye the Science Guy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yis7GzlXNM) So far, I would put Word Crimes in the top position followed closely by Tacky, then Handy, Sports Song, and Foil. All of them are clever, though; it’s a pleasure to see him still at the top of his game. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/122 "2014-07-19T00:30:06Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I think one of the dancing handy men was supposed to be Mario. And I think the other’s dressed like Bob the Builder. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/123 "2014-07-19T01:18:30Z")
By the way, if we’re really going to hit deserving noobs with _Word Crimes_, I suggest we put Tim Minchin’s beat poem [_Storm_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhGuXCuDb1U) to similar use. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/124 "2014-07-19T02:04:06Z")
Weird Al reminds me of my childhood, and I still have a soft spot for him, but Tim Minchin is far and away the superior songwriter and satirist: he’s much cleverer and much more on-point in his satire. Weird Al is probably a better performer, but all around I’ll take Minchin any day. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/125 "2014-07-19T02:30:35Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > wow… Handy is one of the very few times that the original is so awful that even Al can’t improve it. Bleccch. I think I’ll be skipping that one a lot when I get the album. (yeah, I realize my old fogeyness is showing. get off of my lawn, and take your iggy azalea with you!) Indeed, that was perhaps the first Weird Al parody I’ve listened to and had no desire whatsoever to hear the original. That said, he inspired me to check out Pharrell’s “[Happy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM)”, and I gotta say I really kind of like it, even though it’s not my usual “style”. > [@DrDeth](#): > > "Second, a little rumination on Weird Al’s violent reactions against “bad grammar” raises deep and longstanding questions of social equity regarding class, education, race, age, ethnicity, gender, and how these relate to languages, dialects, and social registers. " > > Wow, what a pretentious windbag! It’s a HUMOR song, “moran”. What a way to miss the entire point. :rolleyes: Speaking of “moran”, was Al depicting a particular meme with the way he was dressed while holding up that sign? If so, it’s one I haven’t encountered. > [@Marley23](#): > > The twist in Foil is smart because the original premise isn’t interesting enough to carry the whole song. I find it very, very interesting that Al released that video the day after [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) published the following article: [5 Reasons Conspiracy Theories Are Destroying the World](http://www.cracked.com/article_21341_5-ways-every-conspiracy-theory-makes-world-worse.html#ixzz37sTVBQeB) Wake up, people! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/126 "2014-07-19T02:40:20Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Speaking of “moran”, was Al depicting a particular meme with the way he was dressed while holding up that sign? If so, it’s one I haven’t encountered. [![](https://slackbastard.anarchobase.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/morans.jpg) ](https://slackbastard.anarchobase.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/morans.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/127 "2014-07-19T02:47:19Z")
> [@Sean\_Factotum](#): > > That drummer over Al’s left shoulder seems a little old for a high school marching band. Is he one of the members in Al’s regular band? That’s Al’s bass player, [Steve Jay](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_jay). He’s awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/128 "2014-07-19T03:04:27Z")
Hah! Trailer for “The Weird Al Story”: > **[“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”](https://funnyordie.com/2010/03/22/18487/weird-the-al-yankovic-story/)** > > Trailer for the upcoming Weird Al Yankovic biopic. This film is sure to sweep next year’s Academy Awards. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/129 "2014-07-19T03:24:29Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Hah! Trailer for “The Weird Al Story”: > > [http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3231da28bb/weird-the-al-yankovic-story](http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3231da28bb/weird-the-al-yankovic-story) That’s hilarious, but is Wilde supposed to be Madonna or Cyndi Lauper? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/130 "2014-07-19T04:03:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > That’s hilarious, but is Wilde supposed to be Madonna or Cyndi Lauper? I assumed Madonna, since she asks about “Like a Virgin/Surgeon”. And she doesn’t look as off-putting as I found Lauper back in the day. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/131 "2014-07-19T04:08:01Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > I assumed Madonna, since she asks about “Like a Virgin/Surgeon”. Well, I think she just says “…one of my songs.” Later on, the trailer shows _Like a Surgeon_, but I don’t recall a specific connection being made to Wilde’s character, though it’s probably safe to assume she’s intended as Madonna. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/132 "2014-07-19T04:08:40Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > That’s hilarious, but is Wilde supposed to be Madonna or Cyndi Lauper? She’s [80s Madonna](http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/That-Madonna-Look-the-80s-300443_300_400.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/133 "2014-07-19T04:12:34Z")
Am I the only one on the internets who thinks the backup singer closest to Al in [Foil"](https://www.google.com/search?q=weird+al+foil&num=100&newwindow=1&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=T_DJU7HPBInf8AGvv4DIAg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAw&biw=1600&bih=704) is [Lorde](https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&safe=off&biw=1600&bih=704&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Lorde&oq=Lorde&gs_l=img.3..0l10.51433.52568.0.52828.5.5.0.0.0.0.147.592.0j5.5.0....0...1c.1.49.img..0.5.583.gaKaf406sl0) (look at the singer’s mouth) and the one in the middle is [Wendi McLendon-Covey](https://www.google.com/search?q=Wendi+McLendon-Covey&num=100&newwindow=1&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Xu_JU6i-DqXb8gHH3YHYBA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1600&bih=704) (look at the singer’s eyes), also from Reno 911 Unfortunately, I can’t tell who the singer furthest away from Al is, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the actress before… ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/134 "2014-07-19T04:14:44Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > She’s [80s Madonna](http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/That-Madonna-Look-the-80s-300443_300_400.jpg). fap fap fap fap fap … ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/135 "2014-07-19T11:29:34Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > Am I the only one on the internets who thinks the backup singer closest to Al in “Foil” is… …Elaine Carroll. The others are Kathryn Burns and Andree Vermuelen. It’s in [the YouTube description](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-0TEJMJOhk). I think Patton Oswalt was not in the room during this shoot. The reverse isn’t him, and the wide is a composite. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/136 "2014-07-19T12:56:20Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > …Elaine Carroll. The others are Kathryn Burns and Andree Vermuelen. It’s in [the YouTube description](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-0TEJMJOhk). Oh. That’s very different, and I’m not very clever… I _tried_, doggonit, to find those credits, honest. Never could yesterday. \ ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/137 "2014-07-19T13:28:26Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > By the way, if we’re really going to hit deserving noobs with _Word Crimes_, I suggest we put Tim Minchin’s beat poem [_Storm_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhGuXCuDb1U) to similar use. That’s really great. Between that and Word Crimes, we could probably just shut down a third of this board. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/138 "2014-07-19T13:39:05Z")
Hey, waitamint! What does ‘spastic’ mean in the UK? ---
**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:** [July 19, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/139 "2014-07-19T13:47:40Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Hey, waitamint! What does ‘spastic’ mean in the UK? I gather it means a person with some sort of physical disability. I’ve never heard it used that way in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107/140 "2014-07-19T13:56:31Z")
Cultural differences, eh? Just like we say “elevator” and “truck” whereas in the UK they sometimes _boil_ their beef. Sorry. I’ll come in again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-gives-pharrell-the-tacky-treatment/693107.md?page=8)