OT: Weird Al gets Tacky - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 01:00:32 am
content: You know you grew up in the 80s if you still get a little excited when Weird Al releases a video.http://www.nerdist.com/vepisode/weird-al-yankovic-gets-tacky-with-pharrells-happy/Quote

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 03:44:27 am
content: Weird Al is beyond awesome.I wonder how many times they had to re-do that shoot to get it all perfect in one shot?

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 04:24:11 am
content: Showed this to my sister, and she said it ruined "Happy" for her. Weird Al 1, sister 0

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 04:43:21 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 15, 2014, 03:44:27 amSaw him live, he is absolutely talented far beyond what any one man has any right to be.Wonder who the director of that video was... making one long tracking shot work the way it does is quite an achievement.And we have seven more new videos to look forward to, over the next week! Woo!

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 04:49:20 am
content: I am not so sure it is one long shot. There are a few pannings that could be there to connect shots, e.g. at 00:50.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 04:50:32 am
content: Quote from: Rory on July 15, 2014, 04:43:21 amYep, seen him live too.Very awesome if anyone ever gets the chance.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 04:53:03 am
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on July 15, 2014, 04:49:20 amI'd bet my bottom dollar it is.You don't go to all the effort to set that up and then fake it.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 05:19:12 am
content: My favoritesFranks 2000 Inch TV and The Night Santa Went Crazy

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 06:13:36 am
content: The "pan across the corner" at around 2:01 is a very popular and virtually invisible edit point. However, I agree it looks like a single take. But selecting a space that was reasonably well lit, and not having to worry about sound (sloppy lip-sync) make this not all that difficult to pull off. Especially compared to some of those screen accomplishments from the previous century with the primitive equipment of the day. For example, Hitchcock's film "Rope" (1948) was composed of shots that were limited to the maximum load of film that the cameras of the day would take (1000 ft = 10 minutes each).Yankovic's 3-minute live in 1 take video seems trivial compared to "Russian Ark" (2002): 2000 Actors. 300 years of Russian History. 33 Rooms at the Hermitage Museum. 3 Live Orchestras. 1 Single Continuous Shot. (99 minutes!) Recorded direct to hard drive.In the last week, I've been the technical director (as well as broadcast engineer) for four 90-minute live-broadcast productions with 5 cameras plus graphics, and I can attest that it is mentally exhausting work.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 06:28:55 am
content: Weird Al is just plain awesome and have a few of his albums, never seen him live though, i dont think he makes it to the UK very often.the rest of his band are also very talented musicians

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 07:36:44 am
content: There were a few potential edit points - e.g. the pans in & out of the lift. if you really did it in one shot I'd think you'd want to avoid anything that could look like an edit point.Why make life harder & more expensive than it needs to be

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 08:09:06 am
content: Spoken like a true engineer!

author: PE1RKI
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 08:21:18 am
content: haha, with jack black

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 08:33:43 am
content: damn, he still looks exactly like he did in the 80's. times been good to him.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 11:49:03 am
content: My ears are bleeding.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 12:15:32 pm
content: "Word Crimes", the parody of Robin Thicke's hit which is also on his new album, is absolute genius.Really hope there's a video.Sample lyrics:Okay now here's the deal, I'll try to educate yaGonna familiarize you with the nomenclatureYou'll learn the definitions of nouns and prepositionsLiteracy's your missionAnd that's why I think it's a good timeTo learn some grammar (what)Now did I stammer?Work on that grammar

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 01:02:00 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on July 15, 2014, 06:13:36 amLighting you'd have pre-arranged, and only other issues would be the actors cues and composure and other physical goofs like the steadycam person tripping/bumping, or the lift not working right etcA few full scale rehearsals and you'd probably nail it in take or two with a bit of luck. Maybe you'd shoot 3 takes or something and chose the one you liked the best.QuoteI liked the live version of Fail Safe:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fail_Safe_%282000_TV_film%29Not a single shot thing, but huge effort to produce and act the whole thing live to TV.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 01:08:07 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on July 15, 2014, 07:36:44 amThat's the entire challenge of shooting in one take like that, you want to make it a bit complex to really show off the effect.I suspect they weren't at all fussed about scenes and angles doubters might try and use as evidence it's not one shot.They just did it because it was cool, and it is what it is. Doubters can knock themselves out picking holes.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 01:21:08 pm
content: I hope diehard fans of Weird Al are introspective enough to realize how ironic it is that they are, at the end of the day, actually toe-tapping to that god-awful music that he has made it his career to take the piss out of.I think that might be Weird Al's most ingenious joke of all.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 01:46:19 pm
content: Quote from: GK on July 15, 2014, 01:21:08 pmWhilst the praise he receives for his parodies may be ironic, the praise he receives for his truly original content is most certainly warranted.

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 01:48:49 pm
content: Damn, if you think everything he's ever parodied is god awful you have an awfully elitist taste in music.

author: corrado33
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 01:58:41 pm
content: I loved it. Was also going to comment that it was well done as in one large take. Speaking of well done single take shots, wasn't there a movie done a while ago that was one single take for the entire thing? (Someone may have mentioned it above, I don't remember the name, it was old, as in old style, in some large victorian age (maybe) building.)Anyway, great way to start my morning, I liked the first guy after Wierd Al and Jack Black, the first few girls were... meh not that funny.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 02:24:41 pm
content: Quote from: Marco on July 15, 2014, 01:48:49 pmYou mean he parodied stuff that wasn't fit for parody?

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 02:49:16 pm
content: I think just about any song with lyrics is fit for parody, regardless of quality.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 05:56:24 pm
content: Quote from: GK on July 15, 2014, 02:24:41 pmOnly songs by Weird Al are not fit for parody.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 05:58:33 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 15, 2014, 01:08:07 pmWhy would you go to the trouble of doing it in one shot if the result is something that could have been edited from several?My guess is they put some potential edit points in, which they could choose to use if they needed to.

author: jaxbird
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 06:35:23 pm
content: Been a big Weird Al Yankovic fan since the I'm Fat parody, that was truly brilliant:

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 06:48:56 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on July 15, 2014, 06:13:36 amSounds fascinating. Hey, if your job ever has "take your son to work day", call me! Thanks, uh... "dad".hehehQuote from: GK on July 15, 2014, 01:21:08 pmWhile I do feel that a lot of popular music is drivel, this does come across as awful pessimistic. Plenty of stuff that was parodied was chosen because of its high profile, in that it would be recognized by almost anyone with an intact eardrum. Not because of its quality or lack thereof. Also, he's done quite a few original tunes as well. Parody of no one? Of himself?Lighten up.Even drivel can be fun.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 07:10:32 pm
content: Quote from: SirNick on July 15, 2014, 06:48:56 pmThere are several good videos on YouTube showing what goes on inside a live TV control room, some also with great multi-screen shots of inside the studio and all the video shots they are looking at.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 09:09:16 pm
content: Quote from: jaxbird on July 15, 2014, 06:35:23 pmFor Weird Al parodies of Michael Jackson, it's hard to beat (!) "Eat It"

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 09:11:47 pm
content: Quote from: mtdoc on July 15, 2014, 09:09:16 pmWhite and Nerdy - although it does remind me of how I was at Uni

author: BartManInNZ
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 11:27:05 pm
content: The video style reminds a little of "OK GO"This was definitely not done in one take but they try very hard to give it the appearance of one take all the same.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 11:33:56 pm
content: Quote from: BartManInNZ on July 15, 2014, 11:27:05 pmWow, I never heard of OK GO, but that video was fucking amazing! Thanks for that!

author: BartManInNZ
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 11:43:54 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on July 15, 2014, 11:33:56 pmCheck out their other videos - creative geniuses imnsho. I suspect the Weird Al was taking the mickey out of them as well with this video given the similarity in style.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 11:51:45 pm
content: Quote from: SirNick on July 15, 2014, 06:48:56 pmOh dear me. I've heard it said that Yanks lack both a sense of their own irony and a healthy capacity for self deprecation; I suppose that extends to Canadians alsoHalf of Weird Al's art is perpetuating musical abomination. It’s not just the costumes that are “tacky” in his latest offering. If you really love listening to this stuff in a musical sense, then just own up and be comfortable with the fact that you have no taste, instead of (not singling you out here) laughably over-blowing his lyrical genius.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 11:58:50 pm
content: Quote from: BartManInNZ on July 15, 2014, 11:27:05 pmI thought that they did do that in one take... Or is it just cleverly spliced? A lot of people were claiming that it was one take, but it is the internet after all.Either way, their song "" is one of my personal favorites, and has an absolutely genius music video to go along with it.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 12:29:44 am
content: Quote from: SirNick on July 15, 2014, 06:48:56 pmI agree, it's not like people actually listen to Weird Al's songs over and over, they are just fun to watch and talk about with friends and coworkers and move on.Not all of the songs were awful, but they are definitely picked because how popular they where at the time.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_recorded_by_%22Weird_Al%22_Yankovic

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 12:35:51 am
content: Quote from: TheBorg on July 15, 2014, 11:58:50 pmFrom this video, it looks like all done in one take imo.

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 12:41:16 am
content: Yeah, a musical comedian, as it were.I feel I should reiterate the point that "pop music" in general (while often not sophisticated, original, or deserving of critical acclaim) is often used as a milepost in one's own personal soundtrack. Music can be a lot of things, including just... fun. Take the Black Eyed Peas (please.) Musical geniuses? No. Not at all. However, bring a PA system out on the lawn, pour some drinks, and crank up "Let's Get It Started" and people will enjoy themselves. It's for blowing off steam and living for the moment. There's nothing wrong with that.If you're too pretentious to identify with that, you should immediately schedule a few days off and do whatever is necessary to un-pucker yourself. O0

author: BartManInNZ
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 01:08:05 am
content: Hadn't seen the behind the scenes video there BravoV - whilst this shows one take... it was one of many single shot takes and the final video could be comprised of composites from the many takes I believe due to some of the other behind the scenes information they give away. Particularly around the paint drop scene. Not to take away from their creative genius it is still a very well done video and they deserve the kudos for their forced perspective craziness.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 01:22:23 am
content: Quote from: SirNick on July 16, 2014, 12:41:16 amDo you know what a non sequitur is?

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 01:31:15 am
content: Quote from: GK on July 16, 2014, 01:22:23 amI think his reply to my post was in context, not sure what do you mean.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 01:31:23 am
content: Quote from: BartManInNZ on July 16, 2014, 01:08:05 amAgree, must be quite tremendous man hours spent just to create all those backgrounds.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 01:45:53 am
content: Quote from: miguelvp on July 16, 2014, 01:31:15 amErrr.... I’m quite sure that the allegations of pretension were directed at someone else.....If someone can’t laugh along with a parody without a sense that the joke may very well be on the likes of themselves as much as anyone else, then they are also ripe for ridicule. So talk about missing the point completely....geeezzzz. I’ll elaborate no further in case I cause anyone else undue grief.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 01:48:26 am
content: Quote from: BartManInNZ on July 15, 2014, 11:27:05 pmMIND BLOWN!Someone on twitter also pointed out this one:

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 01:57:31 am
content: Quote from: BartManInNZ on July 15, 2014, 11:27:05 pmDefinitely one continuous shoot:But yeah, maybe a few cuts in the end to take out the camera handover stuff.

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 02:30:47 am
content: Quote from: GK on July 16, 2014, 01:45:53 amSimilarly to your previous comment, it was directed to "your" in the general sense. I could've been more clear. Apologies.Quote from: GK on July 16, 2014, 01:45:53 amNo, I think I catch your drift, I just disagree. I doubt very much that Weird Al is trying to ridicule the songs he parodies. (Assuming that's your stance with the "also ripe for ridicule" and "greatest joke of all" comments.) In every quote I've come across, he seems to have respect for the original artists. And while I wouldn't say he's a lyricalgenius, I would say he's clever, and the musicians are talented, therefore his stuff is entertaining.Similarly, I don't think it's necessary to despise the original, to appreciate the parody. It may however be cathartic, in the sense that the originals tend to be played ad nauseum, so getting to poke fun might be a release of sorts. Nonetheless, when "Smells Like Nirvana" came out, I was a grunge fan and got a hearty chuckle out of the parody as well. (OTOH, I agreed wholeheartedly with the content of "Achy Breaky Song".)Is it a sequitor yet, or am I still missing your point?

author: BartManInNZ
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 02:34:20 am
content: More than parody - he speaks truth, nuff said!

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 02:45:34 am
content: Quote from: SirNick on July 16, 2014, 02:30:47 amThat kinda goes against the definition of parody, don't you think? But yeah, I'm sure the lyrics toTackycould have fit to absolutely anything equally as well.......

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 03:11:29 am
content: Quote from: GK on July 16, 2014, 02:45:34 amStrictly speaking it goes against some dictionary definitions of it - but 'ridicule' almost always implies contempt and mockery, whereas parody can be a good-natured jab.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 04:05:31 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on July 16, 2014, 03:11:29 amYou arereallysplitting hairs there. There is no such thing as parody without an element of ridicule and trying to pretend otherwise would just be downright silly.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 04:18:48 am
content: Apparently there is another "Happy" parody by someone else. This one has a cameo by Joan Rivers.

author: andtfoot
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 10:55:55 am
content: Quote from: rolycat on July 15, 2014, 12:15:32 pm

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 11:21:27 am
content: Apparently, it is a single take:Quote

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 11:26:03 am
content: Awesome. Thanks, andtfoot.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 02:26:56 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 16, 2014, 01:48:26 amA y video where they take hammers to vacuum tubes gets top marks from me

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 05:15:12 pm
content: This is my favorite from a few years back.

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 08:01:52 pm
content: Quote from: GK on July 16, 2014, 04:05:31 amIt can be a parody of the lyrics, it can be a parody of the video ... and of course it can simply be called a parody because those have special legal protection. Just a for instance he didn't do a parody of American Pie because he thought it was a bad song in my estimation (he has said he is a fan of Don McLean) and it's not a bad song in my opinion.Even if you disagree his repertoire is very wide ... to reiterate, if you think everything he's ever parodied is god awful you have an awfully elitist taste in music.

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 08:47:31 pm
content: While this doesn't technically address the inspiration behind the parodies, it does hint at the mutual respect between Weird Al and his "targets":Quote(All quoted from the Wikipedia page.)

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 09:58:38 pm
content: Quote from: andtfoot on July 16, 2014, 10:55:55 amMy reaction while listening to this song:Different song but gets the point across XD

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 10:08:18 pm
content: Quote from: Shock on July 16, 2014, 05:15:12 pmOh man that was great too.

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2014, 11:03:00 pm
content: I'm a big WAY fan, but his past couple albums seem to be going with the status quo of "two good songs surrounded by 18 crap songs".That said, I really like "Word Crimes" and "Handy".

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 12:08:19 am
content: Quote from: justanothercanuck on July 16, 2014, 11:03:00 pmit happens. thats why you see so many one hit wonders. a band comes up, trying to make it big, they have worked for years perfecting their songs and trying to get a break. then they do, they hit the big time. they record the songs they have been doing for the last 10+ years and are a huge hit. then reality sets in. they have contracts that require them to put out an album every 2 years. only 2 years to write, record, mix, release, ect... all new material that they had previously taken YEARS just to write. their 2nd and 3rd albums are completed as per their contract, but suck accordingly, and you never hear from them again.when you get into the REAL big time, like weird al, black sabbath, iron maiden, megadeth, metallica, the stones, maddona, billy joel, elton john, ect.. the people that have the talent to put out album after album after album of good new content under very tight time constraints (and dont forget the all the time spent touring too) its a miracle to just get 2-3 well written "good" songs per album.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 12:23:07 am
content: Quote from: Marco on July 16, 2014, 08:01:52 pmYes, that's right, the guy is really a tribute artist. I can see the light now.And yawn.... I made a general comment about the musical quality of the tunes he parodies. Yes, in my estimation, they are generally god-awful. I am genuinely sorry if that continues to cause you grief. Maybe you could try pulling that pineapple out of your rear.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 12:38:11 am
content: Quote from: SirNick on July 16, 2014, 08:47:31 pmHow does any of that support your stubborn opposition to my benign claim that fans of Weird Al should see equal cause to laugh at themselves in much of his stuff?That capacity isn't even beyond the original artists - even the god-awful ones.

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 01:15:40 am
content: Because of the stubborn premise that the original music is worthy of mockery in the first place. Just because it is chosen for parody (selected due to popularity, or merely whim) doesn'timplythat the original wasn't credible to begin with. Of course, musical taste is subjective so you're free to form your own opinions, but I think many of us here would have no shame in listening to the songs that were parodied. It's not that we don't "get the joke", or can't laugh at ourselves, it's that there's nothing funny there at all.Remember, WAY's lyrics aren't usually making fun of the song or the artist. They're often about something else entirely, just riding on the same melody. Hearing a familiar song out of context is part of what makes it funny, but it's also more likely to appeal to listeners that have already heard (and possiblylike-- LOLZ!!!11) the original. The artists that like the parodies are in this camp. You would assume they like their own music, but they also like the parody as it's own product.So. Don't like the music? That's fine. But insisting that the rest of us are failing to understand our folly implies that we like aparodyof a song wedon'tlike, which is often just not true. And even when it is, we can enjoy the reinterpretation on the basis of it being clever in its own right, without being daft.<< You seem to be fond of these, so this one's for you.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 01:33:24 am
content: Quote from: SirNick on July 17, 2014, 01:15:40 amDo you know what a strawman argument is?Much of the original material IS worthy of mockery. If you think that (just for example) crap likeHappyor that controversial song essentially about bashing up and sexually subjugating your girlfriend that was the basis for that limp parodyWord Crimes(a wasted opportunity) aren't worthy of mockery in every conceivable sense then you don't merely have bad taste - you live in an alternate universe.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 01:46:18 am
content: Today's video: Foil!

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 03:14:42 am
content: Quote from: GK on July 17, 2014, 01:33:24 am'Happy' is a deliberately simple tune which was composed for a children's cartoon film. It's fun, uplifting and extremely catchy. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it 'crap' in anyone's estimation but your own.As for "Word Crimes", I found the lyrics to Robin Thicke's original sleazy and unpleasant, although scarcely the rapist's charter which some people claim it to be. It had already been parodied by numerous artists, and Weird Al found a witty and entertaining angle.We get it. You don't like "Weird Al" Yankovic's humour or his music. Or apparently any popular music composed in the last thirty years. But please stop explaining to everyone else how stupid they are because they happen to disagree.

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 03:49:58 am
content: Quote from: GK on July 17, 2014, 01:33:24 amYes. The Internet's default criticism for any opposing point of view.You win.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 09:43:24 am
content: Quote from: rolycat on July 17, 2014, 03:14:42 amNo, you really don't get it. It's besides the point, but since you bring it up, I find some of "Weird Al's" (abbreviated for no reason other than saving keystrokes) humor moderately amusing and the rest inoffensive. I don't live in a twilight zone of relativism where appreciation for music is an entirely one sided subjective affair and all is equal. I have plenty popular music in my collection, recorded less than 30 years ago, that is quite bad (poor musicianship by any objective standard) and really shouldn't be there anymore, but remains an occasional guilty pleasure nonetheless (mostly nostalgia). As a consequence I can't laugh along with a parody of terrible music without laughing, to some degree, at myself, unless the music is unequivocally and abominably bad. To my advantage nothing in my collection is as musically shit asBlurred LinesorHappy.Word Crimes, lyrically, as a song in its own right, it may be "witty and entertaining", but a cutting parody of the original it isn't. You can consider that just my "opinion". I hope expressing such it isn't too offensive in this Weird Al Yankovic = God/Genius thread.As forHappy, just because you find it "fun, uplifting and extremely catchy", doesn't make it so in anyone's estimation but your own. So there! Now does that make a point worth anything? What is your objective in this logically bunk and self-righteous line of admonishment? Except for the prepubescent it's a bloody awful tune that has made is far enough in the mainstream that it now deserves judgement on a level beyond that of a mere children cartoon song, FFS, which is the exact reason it has become a target for parodies, including Yancovic's, as a vehicle for poking fun at contemporary (pop) culture. If you like the song than fine, just don't take yourself so bloody seriously.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 02:19:09 pm
content: 'foil' is hilarious !

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 04:38:28 pm
content: Quote from: GK on July 17, 2014, 09:43:24 am(TL;DR)Saw your forum postIt's really fantasticThat was sarcastic......Never mind, I give upReally now, I give up

author: Kjetil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 07:07:48 pm
content: I really love his suit in the new oneThis is my clear favorite among his other songs:is also epic, and with lots of subtle points

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 10:21:45 pm
content: Did anyone else catch the Alanis Morissette jab in "Word Crimes"?https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8Gv0H-vPoDc#t=161

author: TerminalJack505
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2014, 02:42:05 am
content: Yes, Weird Al is a genius. I present exhibit 'A'.A double parody. A parody of a song and of the song's singer (Bob Dylan) with a little twist.I won't spoil the "little twist" of this video. If you don't get it then read the YouTube comments.If you are too young to know who Bob Dylan is then all you really have to understand in this particular case is that, when he sung, he was really hard to understand due to his distinctive singing style.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2014, 02:54:26 am
content: Quote from: TerminalJack505 on July 18, 2014, 02:42:05 amAwesome! I hadn't seen that before. Yes, a parody and a tribute (not ridicule)!Pure genius.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 03:55:06 pm
content: Quote from: TerminalJack505 on July 18, 2014, 02:42:05 amShame it appears to be banned in the rest of the free world. God bless USA! God bless RIAA! God bless MPAA! Freedum Murika Style!

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 03:57:39 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on July 21, 2014, 03:55:06 pmNo kidding. Pretty much everything else of his is available in Canada, why not this? Friggin' stupid.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 04:06:44 pm
content: I actually did a search on and found it in VimeoIt's fucking amazing - Just read all the cards backwards! Genius!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 04:26:03 pm
content: Thank you, I was thinking I was the only one where it was " sorry you are not allowed".

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 06:16:06 pm
content: It has to be said, anyone learning Guitar can do pretty much all of Bob Dylan's repertoire using just 3 chords. If you really want to be fancy, 5 chords will do. O0

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 06:30:23 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on July 21, 2014, 06:16:06 pmYeah, but you forget the harmonica

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 08:39:56 pm
content: Quote from: justanothercanuck on July 16, 2014, 11:03:00 pmHe mentioned on an interview that this album was his last to fulfill his 16 album (!?!?!) contract. So he will now be releasing songs in a single song format more timely than putting together a whole album. That will also allow him to be more timely.

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 08:45:44 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on July 21, 2014, 06:16:06 pmThere was a local guitar player that was fantastic. But part of his act, he gave away large suckers. Then put one in his mouth, and was as unintelligible as Dylan.

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2014, 09:41:58 pm
content: Quote from: GK on July 17, 2014, 09:43:24 amDo you realize you wasted more keystrokes typing that than actually typing out "Yankovic".

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2014, 09:09:40 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on July 15, 2014, 01:00:32 amI used to but not any more. After 'Like a Surgeon' and 'Fat' the trick grew old. While playing Al's Tacky video my kids pointed me to a way more hilareous version of 'Happy':

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2014, 12:54:48 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on July 23, 2014, 09:09:40 pmBeat ya to itQuote from: Stonent on July 16, 2014, 04:18:48 am

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2014, 04:25:23 pm
content: Holy thread resurrection, Batman...OK GO's "I won't let you down"latest video - turning cute Japanese girls with coloured parasols into a dot matrix of pixels... and riding around on some strange Honda vehicles.