I was watching music videos on YouTube and got going on Weird Al parodies and realized I like most of his parody versions as much or more than the original now. I might not have said that back in the day, but it feels true for most of them, now. Apparently, some of the artists he parodied like Kurt Cobain and Michael Jackson kinda felt the same way.
Name a Weird Al Yankovic song that isn't better than the original.
- Thread starter ripcord
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I don't think I've even heard his parody of that. Can't argue with you about it, as it is a great, iconic song.
Loved his stuff since I was a kid. If he sings it, it's good. Living in the Fridge is one of my favorites. New it before I even heard the original.
He should be in the R&R Hall f Fame.
I agree that many of his parodies are better than the original. And the videos are hilarious.
My favorites are; "Word Crimes", "White and Nerdy", "Amish Paradise", "Tacky"
I don't think the Michael Jackson parodies are better, nor a few others eg "Foil" which is "Royals" which is not that great to begin with but has a catchy sound.
Cuz BOB isn't a parody. it's a Pastiche, an original in the style of another artist, in this case Bob Dylan.
dnewton3
Staff member
Jeopardy. The Kihn original was better than the parody.
W.A.Y. made me laugh several times. ...then he'd vanish.
He popped up on Joe Franklin's TV show (the most basic of local TV shows ever made).
I guess You Tube is where you have to see his videos?
I thought he lived off the coast in a boat to avoid subpoenas to copyright court.
Seriously, his songs were funny and caught somebody's ear for at least a brief while. Ergo, I figured he got 6 month windows of permission.
He popped up on Joe Franklin's TV show (the most basic of local TV shows ever made).
I guess You Tube is where you have to see his videos?
I thought he lived off the coast in a boat to avoid subpoenas to copyright court.
Seriously, his songs were funny and caught somebody's ear for at least a brief while. Ergo, I figured he got 6 month windows of permission.
I still sing "I lost on Jeopardy, baby!" weekday nights at 7:30pm.
Love Weird AL. I used to listen to Dr. Demento on KMET and Al would do live performances from the bathroom of the studio. Check out this original of his, a 45 of this lives in our living room jukebox.
“Word Crimes” is most definitely better than “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke. However it is not better than “Got to Give It Up” by Marvin Gaye which Thicke and associates acoustically plagiarized. Thicke was ordered to give up royalties to Gaye’s estate over the ordeal. So I guess you can say in a roundabout way that Weird Al’s version is not better than the original (ie, Gaye’s version.)
Both Dylan and Yankovic were/are clever lyricists. They're wired differently than most of us-- their brains are constantly arranging, re-arranging words until pure poetry results. Yankovic is also a great English teacher-- look at Word Crimes (Blurred Lines.)
I've seen both in concert-- Dylan, of course, being closer to retirement and not at his peak anymore. Yankovic only performs "Wierd Al originals" to completeness, with a montage of his parody works, when he's live. Might be a licensing thing.
"Stop Draggin my Car Around" is not as good at the Stevie Nicks original. It's one of his earlier works and a little rough. Same with "Another One Rides the Bus."
Eat It , Al’s parody of Michael Jackson’s “ Beat It”, is excellent.
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Another favourite is the parody on Michael Jackson’s “Bad”. Al’s title was “Even Worse”.
Interestingly odd genre but sure makes an otherwise awful flight go by quicker
I've seen Weird Al in concert twice. He did his parodies. He was great.
Here’s a bit on royalties for the owners of the original song.
I heard that Prince wouldn't let him use any of his songs. Maybe his ego wasn't strong enough or something.
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