# Weird Al: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame potential? **URL:** \ **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:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/21 "2014-07-17T03:49:49Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > He is, however, a consummate craftsman, miles ahead of most of the shoddy image-flingers in video world. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen him on stage, but he’s an amazing performer. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/22 "2014-07-17T03:50:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > 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. Is there a rule that I can’t post in the same thread as you or something? I haven’t replied to 99.99999% of your posts on this board (nor do I want to, trust me.) And you’re the only one getting hostile in this thread… ---
**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 17, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/23 "2014-07-17T03:53:59Z")
I believe that Alfred may be the only person who could top Alex Lifeson’s HOF acceptance speech: (For those who aren't Rush fans, Alex is the third guy.) > [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > 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. I’ll just say that there’s a big difference between parody and mockery. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/24 "2014-07-17T03:59:39Z")
Take it outside, **Leaffan** and **LC Strawhouse**. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/25 "2014-07-17T04:01:35Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > Is there a rule that I can’t post in the same thread as you or something? I haven’t replied to 99.99999% of your posts on this board (nor do I want to, trust me.) And you’re the only one getting hostile in this thread… You decided to post comments about my home town in a thread that is in absolutely no way related to my home town. I possibly have mentioned my home town previously, but that doesn’t give you the right to mock it in a COMPLETELY unrelated thread. You have a habit of posting derogatory comments about The Toronto Maple Leafs and especially Phil Kessel in threads that have absolutely nothing to do with hockey. You need to find a filter between your brain and your keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/26 "2014-07-17T05:14:55Z")
I met Weird Al once. But that is a whole different story. Hall of Fame? That place is a joke, so who knows? ---
**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:** [July 17, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/27 "2014-07-17T05:26:12Z")
I am not going to defend Spitting Image because that sucks hard but Weird Al is really just a pretty safe little comedy act. Not something for any Rock hall of fame. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/28 "2014-07-17T06:38:04Z")
I am of two minds on this. Al both rocks and is famous, so logically he would fit. He’s a darn fine lyricist in his own right, somehow turned an accordion into a rock instrument, and is so famous people will continue to attribute non-Al parodies to him after he’s dead. But ultimately I say no; it doesn’t seem appropriate. He should open his own museum across the street celebrating famous geology (Blarney, Gibralter) and sell baked goods. …And make it a genuinely interesting and funny museum. Or replicate the architecture exactly but fill it with exhibits on legendary polka musicians. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/29 "2014-07-17T07:25:10Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I am not going to defend Spitting Image because that sucks hard but Weird Al is really just a pretty safe little comedy act. Not something for any Rock hall of fame. No matter how much boomers want to deny it, rock and roll hasn’t been “edgy” in decades. It’s safe mainstream popular music. So we shouldn’t be denying potential nominees because they’re too safe. Too safe compared to what? Linda Ronstadt and Hall and Oates? Hell, by making fun of rock and roll rather than taking it too seriously, Weird Al Yankovic is probably edgier than half of the acts currently in the Hall of Fame. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/30 "2014-07-17T14:12:33Z")
But he’s not making fun of rock and roll. He’s making joke songs in various genres. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/31 "2014-07-17T14:24:07Z")
Wanted to add: i don’t think only the great and edgy should be in the hall of fame. It’s a pretty meaningless honour imho anyways. Just would be weird to me to induct a comedy act that happens to be set to music. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/32 "2014-07-17T15:25:25Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > Is there a rule that I can’t post in the same thread as you or something? I haven’t replied to 99.99999% of your posts on this board (nor do I want to, trust me.) And you’re the only one getting hostile in this thread… I don’t think my previous mod note was sufficient. **LC Strawhouse** , [you’ve been told before that your responses to **Leaffan** constitute harassment](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15772398&post15772398). Maybe you laid low for a little while or maybe I just didn’t see the reports, but this is the last time I’m going to tell you: **cut the shit**. You’re breaking the rules and the mods do not cut people a lot of slack when they harass other posters. I will be keeping an eye on this. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/33 "2014-07-17T15:28:39Z")
Absolutely, he should be in. Will he be? never. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/34 "2014-07-17T15:30:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Wanted to add: i don’t think only the great and edgy should be in the hall of fame. It’s a pretty meaningless honour imho anyways. Just would be weird to me to induct a comedy act that happens to be set to music. Because he’s a comedy act who’s a better songwriter than at least half the inductees. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/35 "2014-07-17T15:30:34Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Or replicate the architecture exactly but fill it with exhibits on legendary polka musicians. Like [Frankie Yankovic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Yankovic) (no relation to Al) or Lawrence Welk. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/36 "2014-07-17T15:30:48Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Are you fucking serious? Your sense-o-humour meter is utterly broken. Aye, that shit is whack. Spitting Image wasn’t even funny in the '80s and we laughed at all kinds of stupid shit that decade. ---
**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 17, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/37 "2014-07-17T15:54:29Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 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.” Also, Ray Manzarek played on Craigslist, Weird Al’s style parody of The Doors. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/38 "2014-07-17T16:31:20Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Because he’s a comedy act who’s a better songwriter than at least half the inductees. I really don’t think he’s that good of a songwriter honestly. I know he’s got his fans but the lyrics are just not that great. A lot of the inductees don’t even write their own songs. Since almost all he does is rewrite for a tune, you would have to compare him to pure songwriter inductees to be fair. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/39 "2014-07-17T16:34:57Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I really don’t think he’s that good of a songwriter honestly. I know he’s got his fans but the lyrics are just not that great. A lot of the inductees don’t even write their own songs. Since almost all he does is rewrite for a tune, you would have to compare him to pure songwriter inductees to be fair. His actual song parodies are only part of his work. A style parody requires not only that he write music and lyrics but he has to distill what makes a particular artist’s sound and write to that. Also, he does have a number of original songs. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326/40 "2014-07-17T16:53:31Z")
He’s not know generally for anything other than his parodies of popular songs though. If he gets inducted it wouldn’t be because he can write a badass polka in his sleep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-potential/693326.md?page=3)