# Weird Al: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame potential?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 17, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326 "2014-07-17T01:37:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/1 "2014-07-17T01:37:09Z")
Inspired by other threads on eligibility: does Weird Al deserve a nomination at least?
I’m not going to start a poll because there are dozens of options to consider and I am not well-versed in them all.
What do you think? HOF nomination for Weird Al or not?
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### Author:  [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/2 "2014-07-17T01:43:21Z")
No. No no no no. Nominating him would destroy the HOF’s integrity (although they’ve done a great job of that themselves).
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/3 "2014-07-17T01:46:15Z")
His fans certainly think so - they’ve been trying to get him in for years.
By any metric you care to name (records sold, length of career, shows performed, money made, awards received), Weird Al is a legend.
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### Author:  [@Orr\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orr_G)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/4 "2014-07-17T01:48:38Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#):
>
> No. No no no no. Nominating him would destroy the HOF’s integrity (although they’ve done a great job of that themselves).
No. No no no no. Nominating him would destroy Weird Al’s integrity.
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### Author:  [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/5 "2014-07-17T01:53:00Z")
As a lifelong Weird Al fan, I am left wondering, what would be the point?
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### Author:  [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/6 "2014-07-17T02:10:34Z")
The Rock HOF isn’t very credible as an institution, IMO, raking only a step above the WWE HOF.
But sure, going by the standard that Weird Al deserves it more than some who have already been inducted, he should be in there.
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### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/7 "2014-07-17T02:19:10Z")
He has the respect of the artists whose songs he’s parodied, mostly by seeking permission from them, even though, legally, he doesn’t have to do so. Many rock and roll artists consider it a sign that they’ve arrived when Weird Al spoofs one of their songs. Rick Derringer produced his first several albums. Mark Knopfler played guitar on his parody of “Money For Nothing.” Led Zeppelin gave his band permission to reproduce the guitar riff from “Black Dog” for “Trapped in the Drive-Thru.” B. B. King calls “Generic Blues” one of his 10 favorite blues songs. So I vote “yes.”
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### Author:  [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/8 "2014-07-17T02:27:34Z")
I just don’t think Weird Al is all that interesting and seems like more of a court jester than an artist. Most of his “parodies” are really safe & affectionate and wouldn’t be out of place on the Muppet Show.
Case in point, here’s the SAME song parodied by [Spitting Image](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDl-g2-u6-E) and [Weird Al](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mU6USTBRE). They’re not even in the same league.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/9 "2014-07-17T02:35:13Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#):
>
> I just don’t think Weird Al is all that interesting and seems like more of a court jester than an artist. Most of his “parodies” are really safe & affectionate and wouldn’t be out of place on the Muppet Show.
>
> Case in point, here’s the SAME song parodied by [Spitting Image](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDl-g2-u6-E) and [Weird Al](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mU6USTBRE). They’re not even in the same league.
Yeah, Al’s is _much_ better.
You have to realize, he doesn’t just parody songs. He also writes original songs that are entirely his own and he does style parodies that still require him to write both words and music.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/10 "2014-07-17T02:37:42Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#):
>
> I just don’t think Weird Al is all that interesting and seems like more of a court jester than an artist. Most of his “parodies” are really safe & affectionate and wouldn’t be out of place on the Muppet Show.
>
> Case in point, here’s the SAME song parodied by [Spitting Image](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDl-g2-u6-E) and [Weird Al](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mU6USTBRE). They’re not even in the same league.
Yeah, you’re right. The Spitting Image video is mean, vindictive, embarrassing and not at all funny. Not in the same league at all.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/11 "2014-07-17T02:38:13Z")
His original songs alone should get him in, not that anyone should care.
By the way, what a huge disappointment the actual hall of fame is. I went in 2011 and it’s not interesting at all. It has few interesting items.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/12 "2014-07-17T02:39:15Z")
I was bored of the Spitting Image gag a _loong_ time ago-off-key wrinkly puppets was funny once.
Once.
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### Author:  [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/13 "2014-07-17T02:45:12Z")
Puh-leeze! Spitting Image taking on Ronald Reagan (“[Da Do Run Ron](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElQyUH9OMMM)”) or ZZ Top (“[We Got Beards](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKGai9_81gY)”) beats Weird Al singing about cheddar cheese (or whatever) any day of the week.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/14 "2014-07-17T02:48:49Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#):
>
> I just don’t think Weird Al is all that interesting and seems like more of a court jester than an artist. **Most of his “parodies” are really safe & affectionate and wouldn’t be out of place on the Muppet Show.**
>
> Case in point, here’s the SAME song parodied by [Spitting Image](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDl-g2-u6-E) and [Weird Al](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mU6USTBRE). They’re not even in the same league.
Obviously, not only have you listened to little of his output but you haven’t really watched The Muppet Show if you think either one is safe and affectionate.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/15 "2014-07-17T02:53:31Z")
Spitting Image. 1984-1996 12 years
Weird Al 1979-present 35 years and counting
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/16 "2014-07-17T02:57:02Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#):
>
> Puh-leeze! Spitting Image taking on Ronald Reagan (“[Da Do Run Ron](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElQyUH9OMMM)”) or ZZ Top (“[We Got Beards](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKGai9_81gY)”) beats Weird Al singing about cheddar cheese (or whatever) any day of the week.
Are you fucking serious? Your sense-o-humour meter is utterly broken.
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### Author:  [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/17 "2014-07-17T03:07:06Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> Are you fucking serious? Your sense-o-humour meter is utterly broken.
I’ll have you know that my sense of humor was developed while loitering under the Bluewater Bridge and in the parking lot of the Lambton Mall. Do you know where I can redeem my Club Z points these days? 😛
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### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/18 "2014-07-17T03:30:51Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#):
>
> I just don’t think Weird Al is all that interesting and seems like more of a court jester than an artist. Most of his “parodies” are really safe & affectionate and wouldn’t be out of place on the Muppet Show.
>
> Case in point, here’s the SAME song parodied by [Spitting Image](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDl-g2-u6-E) and [Weird Al](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mU6USTBRE). They’re not even in the same league.
“Fat” is nowhere near one of Weird Al’s best parodies, yet it’s actual music unlike whatever that Spitting Image video was created with. A Casio keyboard?
His videos are always perfect parodies, often better than the songs. In an MTV world that means a lot.
I wouldn’t put him in the HoF; no historic importance or influence. He is, however, a consummate craftsman, miles ahead of most of the shoddy image-flingers in video world.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/19 "2014-07-17T03:40:14Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#):
>
> I’ll have you know that my sense of humor was developed while loitering under the Bluewater Bridge and in the parking lot of the Lambton Mall. Do you know where I can redeem my Club Z points these days? 😛
In case anyone is wondering, this spam is a reference to my hometown. It has nothing to do with the thread, and it’s not the first time LC Strawhouse has followed me around the boards and stalked me, making snide references to the performance of the Toronto Maple Leafs and their star player Phil Kessel.
See [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15770964&postcount=22)
I don’t know what your issue is with me LC Strawhouse, but I feel sorry for you. And I hope you get banned eventually.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/20 "2014-07-17T03:47:22Z")
Some people feel that if it’s not cruel, it’s not funny. Now don’t get me wrong - some great humor is cruel. But humor doesn’t have to be cruel. And cruelty is certainly not automatically funny.
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