Amen to that. I heard “Pretty Fly for a Rabbi” before I ever heard “Pretty Fly for a White Guy”. I thought The Offspring’s version sucked Al has mentioned that his parodies are also musically different from the originals, in that he plays them at a different tempo (usually faster, ala “My Bologna”) and often shortens them by leaving out instrumental solos and such.
One thing I don’t think I ever heard, though: who played the guitar solo on “Eat It” - Rick Derringer or Jim West?
I guess that’s one problem with being the kind of parody artist he is — he has to work with what’s available (big hits), so that the greatest number of people will recognize the song being parodied. Unfortunately, nowadays that means hip-hop and R&B, because that’s about all Top 40 radio wants to cram down our throats any more. I’ve noticed, as the years have passed since I bought Al’s debut album in 1984, that I recognize fewer and fewer of the songs he parodies. Which is why, I suppose, I tend to prefer his original songs lately.
On the other hand, it’s to his credit that he is able to make the parodies funny even to people who haven’t heard the original version.
I spotted “Lindsay Lohan” as it went by, and I had meant to pause it during some future viewing.
How about the “Top 8” on his MySpace page, as depicted in the video? I spotted Pee Wee Herman, but again, I haven’t paused it yet. (They’re not the same top 8 as on his actual MySpace page.)
In two of Al’s music videos- Like a Surgeon and This Is The Life, there is one of those take-a-number signs. In each video, the sign reads “Now serving #27.” Someone wrote in to Al’s fan newsletter The Midnight Star asking if there was a signifigance to the number. Al’s official response: “27 is a funny number.” From this point onward, Al has tried to place a reference to 27 in each of his works, be they albums, TV appearances, or whatnot.
Did you notice what Wikipedia article Al was changing to read “YOU SUCK!”?
Atlantic Records- the same label that wouldn’t let him put his James Blunt parody You’re Pitiful on his new album.
Know what I really love about Al? His very genuine appreciation of pop music. He stays current and I don’t think I’d ever hear him complaining about the ‘crap’ being shoved down his throat.
True Top 40 love is hard to come by. That’s why me 'n Al are likethis.
(featherlou foolishly left her computer up and logged in, so this is her hubby furiously typing away. MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!)
According to the FAQ portion of weirdal.com, Al’s mom’s birthday is February 7 (2/7), which is where the number originally comes from.
I think Al’s last album, “Poodle Hat,” was his funniest one ever. Tunes like “Bob,” “Coauch Potato” (parody of “Lose Yourself” by Eminem), “Trash Day” (parody of “Hot In Herr” by Nelly), “Angry White Boy Polka,” A Complicated Song" (parody of “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne), and “Why Does This Always Happen To Me?” are among the best things he has ever done. And there are four more tracks on the album that hold up very well against the rest of his music.
Now one thing that has me pissed off is that his record label has decided to only release the enhanced CD/DVD in the USA, which means I either have to settle for the inferior CD-only international version when it hits stores a week late up here in Canada or I have to make a pilgrimage to the States next week to buy the good version. Once again, the prejudices of the system rear their ugly head!
“Weird Al” rules! I want to marry him and have his babies!
I’ve never thought about it like that. My husband and I listen to Top 40 music (and I’m damned near IN my forties), and I’ve been feeling a little weird about it since we’re so old (but some of it is so damned good!). I guess we have that Top 40 love, too.
(Sorry about my husband’s lack of etiquette - I told him that sheep-lovin’ remarks were mandatory when co-opting someone else’s computer!)
OOH OOH - I see your nerdiness, and I trump it with my own - Donny Osmond looks like he was inspired by Angel and Wes in his dance sequences! (My all-time favourite scene from “Angel” so far.)
That definitely is the line, based on my ears. Not only does it makes sense, it rhymes with the previous line, “I’m fluent in JavaScript as well as Klingon.”
[minor nerdy correction]
“I’m fluent in JavaScript as well as Klingon,
(RFC)
You see me roll on,
My Segway.”
[/mnc]
You know, I don’t hear the line “here’s the part I sing on” anywhere in the song. Is the album version of the song different from the video or something?
Al has mentioned that his parodies are also musically different from the originals, in that he plays them at a different tempo (usually faster, ala “My Bologna”) and often shortens them by leaving out instrumental solos and such.
