His parodies are always going to be more popular than his original songs, but here on the Dope I’ve seen references to his original songs a bunch of times, including songs like “You don’t love me anymore” “One more minute” and “Good enough for now” among others I’m sure. These probably came from weird Al fans, as I expect that these songs didn’t get much general public awareness though. But they are still amazingly well written songs. And as a lyricist, he’s amazing.
Still, don’t really get why he should be inducted into the hall of fame.
This one is kind of a gray area between a style parody or pastiche of Harry Chapin and a parody of Chapin’s 30,000 pounds of Bananas. But I’d not call it a parody.
Except it’s not really a parody. Yeah, it’s in the same style, but it’s a song Devo might have made itself rather than a parody of a song Devo might have made.
I pretty much agree with the criticism section on Wikipedia for the HoF. It’s a profit venture and acts are carefully screened in how they will support making money with attendance and performances. It’s meaningless, except for those artists that might still benefit from some more record royalties due to the promotion.
Personally, I think Weird Al deserves any and all acclaim possible, and he is certainly influential to music, especially where humor and music videos are considered.
The only thing that is of value in the RRHoF, in my opinion, is that it is able to attract some wonderful live performances and jam sessions that we would never otherwise experience. If they focused more on the performance and jam session atmosphere of the induction, and less on the “honor” and induction ceremony, then it would be more than yet-another-profit-tool for the record labels.
Weird Al brings up an interesting question as well, now that we’re entering the generational window of the 80’s/90’s performers. Will extremely influential genre-defining-busting groups such as (below) make it in? Ever? Or will the RRHoF just continue to tap the 60s/70s well until it’s dry?
The Cure
The Smiths / Morrissey
XTC
Bauhaus
Bjork
Primus
Eurythmics
Madness
…and so on. My prediction is that the RRHoF will ignore that block of 15-20 years and pretend it didn’t happen, occasionally throwing a token bone like Devo in to point to “representing” the times, and then start inducting Maroon 5, Matchbox 20, and Avril Lavigne as soon as they become eligible.
Weird Al sang it better, but that Spitting Image one was disturbing and hysterical. Thanks for linking it.
That said, in a real “Rock Hall of Fame”, you wouldn’t be allowed in if you didn’t write your own songs…at least some of 'em. So, yeah-Elvis out, Buddy Holly in. Monkees might slip in because Nesmith wrote a song or two per album (the “country-rock” sounding ones), and Weird Al? Nope–he’s parodying stuff–he’s doing a funny job of it, but if he gets in, the guys at Mad Magazine who wrote fake lyrics should get in too.
With respect to the part about “no historic importance or influence,” I agree completely. That’s what keeps him out in my mind. Now, if Weird Al had managed to spark a whole perfect-parody genre and all these parody bands were out there just trying to be as awesome as Weird Al’s work and some of them succeeding – as in, he started a whole Parody Thing, then yes. RRHoF nominee. If his clever lyrics had some political influence or sparked any sort of social awareness/change/movement at all, again, yes. But he’s pretty much about very well-crafted (don’t get me wrong; I appreciate his talent) musical parody that has amounted to fluff, like cultural wallpaper.
I agree that he doesn’t really have any cultural influence. Or rather, influence in the world of rock.
He’s well-respected, no doubt. But he’s not a game changer.
He’s a brilliant wordsmith and parodist, and no doubt a good musician in is own right. And a heck of a performer, too! But I just don’t see him fitting in alongside other bands that made a difference in rock 'n roll.
I think Weird Al is just too much in a class of his own
