# Weird Al’s “Straight out of Lynwood” **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836 "2006-10-01T15:49:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/21 "2006-10-02T06:44:01Z")
> [@](#): > > My knowledge of physics is flaky but that is what I thought. I looked it up for those interested and there should also be a gravitational constant in there, but that wouldn’t sound too good. Nah, that’s OK, he covered that base (all of which are belong to him) by saying “proportional” instead of “equal”. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/22 "2006-10-02T20:41:32Z")
Haven’t gotten a copy of the album yet (music stores are so 20th century!), but I did listen to the album from my brother, and I like 'em all aside from “Weasel Stomping Day” and “Stuck in the Drive-Thru”. I was surprised that “I’ll Sue You” was _not_ a parody, as it seems like a perfect parody of some gansta-rap title on shooting people. On a semi-related note, am I the only person who thinks Al is getting a tad overdone with the geek/nerd jokes? We had “All About the Pentiums” last time, and now we’ve got “White and Nerdy” and “Don’t Download This Song”. I mean, I like the geek humor, but I worry that he’s falling into a rut…? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/23 "2006-10-02T21:06:37Z")
He’s always billed himself as uncool, a geek, a nerd, a loser etc. (I remember reading the advertising for joining his fan club, he bashed himself pretty good, called himself in essence a hopeless loser. This would have been on his Dare to Be Stupid album.) He’s just carrying on with his act. He does enough “cool” things to balance it out I think. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/24 "2006-10-02T21:56:51Z")
[QUOTE=Lakai] BTW, I am going to go ahead and try to tell girls that there is a force of attraction between us . . . proportional to the product of our masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between us. 😉 [/QUOTE] Dude…that’s like calling a girl fat. A HUGE no-no. But, that being said, “White and Nerdy” rocks. And the only reason I’m familiar with the original song is because my job over the summer involved listening to a radio that would be on a country station in the morning, and a top 40 station in the afternoon. Oh joy of joys that was. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/25 "2006-10-03T00:32:19Z")
I’ll Sue You is a perfect Rage Against The Machine pastiche, circa 1992. Style, not song. Close but No Cigar, I think, reminds me of Huey Lewis and the News. Pancreas is a perfect Brian Wilson parody, from the Smile album. Not Beach Boys, but Brian Wilson. Virus Alert gets me, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/26 "2006-10-03T03:31:39Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Dude…that’s like calling a girl fat. A HUGE no-no. [/QUOTE] Not really, because it isn’t insulting. I just need to get the timing right and then it might work … or not. Most likely not. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/27 "2006-10-03T05:24:05Z")
I finally got to look at the actual CD, and holy shit! It’s like it’s from the not-to-distant future! What kind of crazy-ass awesome packaging is that?! And I’m disapointed that the video for “White and Nerdy,” isn’t on there for some reason, and that the karaoke is just one still image per song. It would be cool if you could get the karaoke for the videos. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/28 "2006-10-03T05:46:29Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Pancreas is a perfect Brian Wilson parody, from the Smile album. Not Beach Boys, but Brian Wilson. [/QUOTE] I’d actually say Pet Sounds. The opening melody is clearly “God Only Knows,” the closing musically quotes the coda of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/29 "2006-10-03T13:24:48Z")
[QUOTE=rjung] On a semi-related note, am I the only person who thinks Al is getting a tad overdone with the geek/nerd jokes? We had “All About the Pentiums” last time, and now we’ve got “White and Nerdy” and “Don’t Download This Song”. I mean, I like the geek humor, but I worry that he’s falling into a rut…? [/QUOTE] “Last time” was Poodle Hat. “It’s All About The Pentiums” was off of Running With Scissors, released way back in 1999 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/30 "2006-10-03T14:10:20Z")
[QUOTE=Trion] “Last time” was Poodle Hat. “It’s All About The Pentiums” was off of Running With Scissors, released way back in 1999 [/QUOTE] Of course, Poodle Hat also gave us Couch Potato for TV geeks, Ode To A Superhero for comic geeks, eBay (although that’s fairly mainstream), and Bob, which is just plain geeky. 😃 All About the Pentiums and Virus Alert are for computer geeks, White and Nerdy is for nerdy geeks, and I can probably think of more if I wasn’t at work. Something for everyone, and all that. Weird Al uses an accordian as his primary instrument, how can he not turn out geeky music? (I’ll have to add Virus Alert to the songs I like from Straight Outta Lynwood, too. One of the things I’ve liked about Weird Al is that sometimes he introduces me to styles of music I’d have never found otherwise. Virus Alert, according to [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Outta_Lynwood), is based off the band [Sparks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparks_%28band%29), so now I’m checking out their music as well.) ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/31 "2006-10-04T07:18:50Z")
Slight thread hijack: Which Lynwood is the title “Straight Outta Lynwood” referring? Yeah, I know that it’s parodying NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton”. Still the first thing I thought was “isn’t that the Seattle suburb?” before realizing most people outside Washington State would never of heard of the town. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/32 "2006-10-04T07:47:16Z")
[QUOTE=installLSC] Slight thread hijack: Which Lynwood is the title “Straight Outta Lynwood” referring? Yeah, I know that it’s parodying NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton”. Still the first thing I thought was “isn’t that the Seattle suburb?” before realizing most people outside Washington State would never of heard of the town. [/QUOTE] Lynwood, California, which interestingly enough, aside from being Weird Al’s hometown, is quite near Compton. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/33 "2006-10-04T07:52:31Z")
[QUOTE=BayleDomon] (I’ll have to add Virus Alert to the songs I like from Straight Outta Lynwood, too. One of the things I’ve liked about Weird Al is that sometimes he introduces me to styles of music I’d have never found otherwise. Virus Alert, according to [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Outta_Lynwood), is based off the band [Sparks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparks_%28band%29), so now I’m checking out their music as well.) [/QUOTE] Huh…never heard of Sparks, but I would have guessed it was a “style parady,” as they are often called, of either Rage Against the Machine, as mentioned earlier, or even Korn. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/34 "2006-10-04T08:41:11Z")
It’s I’ll Sue You that’s the Rage Against the Machint style parody. Virus Alert is very not RAtMish. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/35 "2006-10-04T18:45:46Z")
[QUOTE=rjung] On a semi-related note, am I the only person who thinks Al is getting a tad overdone with the geek/nerd jokes? We had “All About the Pentiums” last time, and now we’ve got “White and Nerdy” and “Don’t Download This Song”. I mean, I like the geek humor, but I worry that he’s falling into a rut…? [/QUOTE] All the Weird Al fans I’ve ever met in real life are geeks or nerds. Given his incredible popularity on the SDMB, I’d say that holds pretty well for the internet community, too. The man just knows his audience. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/36 "2006-10-04T19:39:56Z")
[QUOTE=BayleDomon] One of the things I’ve liked about Weird Al is that sometimes he introduces me to styles of music I’d have never found otherwise. Virus Alert, according to [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Outta_Lynwood), is based off the band [Sparks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparks_%28band%29), so now I’m checking out their music as well.) [/QUOTE] You never heard of Sparks? I suppose you never saw the movie [Roller Coaster](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076636/) either 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/37 "2006-10-04T23:47:18Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Huh…never heard of Sparks, but I would have guessed it was a “style parady,” as they are often called, of either Rage Against the Machine, as mentioned earlier, or even Korn. [/QUOTE] I give you [Sparks](http://music.yahoo.com/ar-265398---Sparks). The Rhythm Thief is one of my favorite songs and videos. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/38 "2006-10-05T00:24:16Z")
[QUOTE=Tengu] It’s I’ll Sue You that’s the Rage Against the Machint style parody. Virus Alert is very not RAtMish. [/QUOTE] :smack: Yeah, I got the songs mized up in my head. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/39 "2006-10-05T01:14:14Z")
[QUOTE=LateComer] You never heard of Sparks? I suppose you never saw the movie [Roller Coaster](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076636/) either 🙂 [/QUOTE] Nope, sorry. I guess I’m too young. 😛 I’ve been browsing samples of Sparks on iTunes, and I can’t for the life of me see the resemblance between Virus Alert and any of their music. There’s some techno beats, but nothing as fast paced. It doesn’t sound bad, but not really my cuppa, whereas Virus Alert manages to catch me (one of the few Weird Al songs I enjoy more for the music than the lyrics). ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836/40 "2006-10-05T03:39:23Z")
I’m afraid to mention this anymore to my IRL friends or my husband because they’re all so sick of hearing me talk about it and saying “OMG Listen! Listen!” I think this CD is the best he’s done in many moons, personally. White and Nerdy is fantastic, Virus Alert cracks me up, Weasel Stomping day made me go “What? Ewwww!” and Trapped at the Drive Thru is awesome. I have officially forgiven Al for cancelling his show that was ON MY BIRTHDAY a few years back. I was so upset when I heard it was cancelled that I cried all the way to work. I was having a really bad fall, work sucked, and I had 1 thing to look forward to- the concert. Then…cancelled. It’s OK now, I forgive! Please tour again! Zette [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-s-straight-out-of-lynwood/374836.md?page=3)