Would anyone know who he was if it weren't for Michael Jackson?
Posted on 06/25/2009 7:04:09 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Just the other day, I was trying to get my kids to eat. I tried all the usual nonsense about starving children in Africa and staying healthy. Who should come to the rescue but Weird Al Yankovic on You Tube. His adaptation of Michael Jackson's hit song "Beat It" did the job. Thank you Michael Jackson for the tune. Thank you Weird Al for the words.
My kids sing this all the time.
My son’s seen Weird Al in concert. Twice.
I was a big fan of Al before "Eat It". Anyone that listened to Dr. Demento's syndicated radio show in the late 70's and early 80's had heard Al's work.
But, I admit that it was that music video that put him "on the map". The first time I saw it, I couldn't stop laughing.
A couple of hours ago Borat hoped that Perez Hilton would be the third person to die today!!
Exactly, his fan base was a small set before that song.
Eat It is a classic. But its no ‘Amish Paradise.’
Al made his name off MJ for sure.
My kids love Weird Al!
Weird Al is a big hit at our house as well. Used to listen to his stuff on Dr. Demento’s radio show back in the 70’s as well. The kids like “Christmas at ground zero”, but that siren still gives me the creeps. Lived through too many duck and cover drills.
Aggie Mama-—What class? ‘84 and ‘86 here.
Hell yes... Dr D. on the late great "Might Met" (Little bit of Heaven, 94.7 KMET, Twiddle Dee!) in LA
On of my fave was Weird Al rip on Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" called "Another One Ride the Bus"... just Weird Al on his accordion
It was also on Dr D that I first heard "The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo" later to be just "Oingo Boingo"
I saw an interview with Al a year or so after that video was released. He made it very clear that he was grateful to Jackson for granting permission to do the parody, because it gave Al the national exposure he needed.
Al always made it a point to get permission from the original artist before recording a parody, although he has performed "unauthorized" parodies in his concerts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weird_al#Reactions_from_original_artists>
Loved “The Rye or the Kaiser”
Hehehehehe
If you think the song is creepy, the music video will give you the chills. It uses clips from those "duck and cover" movies from the 50's:
That was recorded live on Dr. Demento's show, when Al made his first guest appearance.
If that is true, then it is noble of him because parodies do not require the permission from the owner of the song being parodied.
>Loved “The Rye or the Kaiser”
YES!! That’s a great song.
My husband and I are both ‘93. I actually prefer the Weird Al stuff on his ipod versus all the other junk out there. When I first heard the “Christmas at Ground Zero” I LOL’d. It was amazing how much of the song I had to explain to my kids. My favorite songs of Al’s are “White and Nerdy” and “Trash Day”. I won’t let my kids listen to the originals, but Weird Al’s versions are fine. =)
He looks like Tiny Time with his hair grown out, no glasses and no ‘stache.
First time I ever heard Weird Al was his mock of "My Sharona" - ie: "My Bologna" - which The Knack were supposedly to become the *next Beatles* (yeah, right! /laughs) ... eenywees, Weird Al seemed to have a sort of focus in churning out mocks of popular songs where 'food' became the main source of humor - "My Bologna", "Eat It", "Fat" ... his popularity in doing this type of parody rose accordingly, but it started before MJ
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