Saturday
Oct082011

31 Days Of Weird Al - Day 7: Like a Surgeon

Madonna did not like any of the potental parodies that Weird Al pitched. In there place she suggested the title "Like a Surgeon." Al thought the idea was pretty great. This is the only time that Al had the direct input on a song from the original artist*.

*Ray Manzarek played organ on Craigslist

Saturday
Oct082011

31 Days Of Weird Al - Day 6: Amish Paradise

If the take away from Smell's like Nirvana is that being the subject of one of Weird Al's songs was a sign you had "made it" in the music industry — Amish Paradise shows that not everyone in the music industry was as awesome and Kurt Cobain.

Legally, Al does not have to seek artist's permission to record a song because they are parody. But because he is a nice guy, he always seeks permission. Coolio's lable signed off without asking Coolie. After the song was released and become a hit, Coolie said publicly that Amish Paradise was a "desecration."

Coolie is now a clown rapper.

Wednesday
Oct052011

31 Days Of Weird Al - Day 5: Smell's Like Nirvana 

Jumping ahead a little brings us to Smell Like Nirvana. Weird Al asked Cobain if he could do a parody of the song and without missing a beat, Cobain said "Yes." In later interviews, Cobain and Dave Grohl felt like they had "Made It" once Weird Al had parodied there song.

Tuesday
Oct042011

31 Days Of Weird Al - Day 4: Fat

Day 4 features the second Michael Jackson parody. "Fat", in my mind, remains Weird Al's greatest achievement of the 1980s. The video is an almost shot-for-shot remake Jackson's original video. This song (and its fat suit) remain a centerpiece of Weird Al's live show.

Monday
Oct032011

31 Days of Weird Al - Day 3: Eat it

On Day Three we enter the golden age of Weird Al. If "Another One Rides the Bus" brought fame to Al, than "Eat It" brought the money. "Eat It" went to #11. No other single was as successful until "White and Nerdy" went to #9. This song also highlights the second important theme to this countdown: Food.

A bonus note: Weird Al personally presented the lyrics to Michael Jackson.