World of Weird Al Yankovic

I just stumbled across this fairly recent Pulp video, called Bad Cover Version, and I hope this is kind of how Don't Download This Song turns out.

I wouldn't be surprised if the song was done with multiple celebrity impersonations. Bill Plympton was a caricaturist before he was an animator, and I'll bet that's why Al picked him to do this one.

Wow! That...sucked. But the people did look a lot like the celebs they were impersonating. Especially Missy and Cher.

Why does everyone think this is a style parody? Take a look at what weird_el posted in the first post of this newly merged topic. (Bold emphasis mine.)

Mr. Plympton's latest animated short, "The Fan and the Flower," features voicing by the actor Paul Giamatti and has been shortlisted for a 2006 Oscar nomination. He's also at work on a half-hour documentary for the History Channel on the 1786 Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts, and a video for the pop comedian Weird Al Yankovic for a number called "Don't Download This Song" (sung to the tune of "We Are the World").

I don't think it could be any clearer than that. It's silly to think Bill Plympton wouldn't know a parody from a stlyle parody, especially for a song he's animating and probably listened to hundreds of times to get timing right, etc.

The only argument against it not being a straight parody is that Chamillionaire didn't mention it in his MySpace bulletin. But that's even a weak argument as Al's last couple of albums had five parodies each, and Chamillionaire only mentioned four parodies. Most likely whatever advance promotion material Chamillionaire used to write his bulletin didn't mention it. Plus the last few albums had a classic song parody on it.

I'd be surprised if this was anything but the fifth parody.

Dave

I've been thinking about that as well, that there's still the chance that it's a final parody that was simply just not mentioned by Chamillionaire.

But, the problem is that Bill isn't quoted of saying that the song is "sung to the tune of 'We Are the World.'" That's what the writer of the blurb wrote, so who knows for sure what Bill told them?

There are still two big possibilities here.

1. Bill still could have thought that it was a straight parody. There have been numerous instances in the past where it's been suggested that some style parodies dance dangerously close to being full-blown steals of specific melodies ("Germs," "The Night Santa Went Crazy," "Albuquerque"). And who's to say what he personally considers a parody to be. To many, the first "Naked Gun" is a parody even though it doesn't mimic any specific scenes from any specific films.

2. (and this one seem more likely) Bill was probably misquoted. There are numerous things he could have said that could have been misinterpreted as "sung to the tune of." Bill could have said, "It's a song like 'We Are the World,'" or "It sounds like 'We Are the World,'" or "It makes fun of 'We Are the World,'" or other variations. Reporting it as a parody seems to be more an error on the writer's part than Bill's.

And also, this blurb was first reported back in mid-December. Even though we don't have specific titles yet, we know that Al didn't go back into the recording studio until late February, at which time he most likely began recording the parodies. Only the originals were done at the time the blurb was reported.

It can go either way at this point, as far as I can tell.

It's quite possible that Chamillionaire overlooked a parody. Al himself did that when talking about RWS in Behind the Music (Always found it curious he didn't say anything about Grapefruit Diet...then again, by that point it was already clear Cherry Poppin Daddies were gonna be one hit wonders, so maybe Al didn't want to mention it )

To me though, the best theory supporting that this is a style parody is that if it was a parody, Al would be including bonus material for a parody, and of a song that would be rather expensive at that. It's one of those things that's not impossible (Like the suggestion of Weasel Stomping Day being a parody of that European song I'm not going to bother looking up), but it would be a major shocker if he did it

(No, I'm not trusting the blurb about "videos for all 6 originals" on SOL's wiki page either. I'm going by my own theories)


Wouldn't Al have had to track down Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson for permission? Sure, Quincy'd be easy to track down, Lionel even easier ( )....but Michael Jackson? That one wouldn't be so easy (Especially in the time that Al would've had to ask him...Michael kind of had something going on)

CatraDhtem @ Jul 23 2006, 12:23 AM wrote: And also, this blurb was first reported back in mid-December. Even though we don't have specific titles yet, we know that Al didn't go back into the recording studio until late February, at which time he most likely began recording the parodies. Only the originals were done at the time the blurb was reported.

If he recorded it in February, there's a pretty good chance he started writing it, seeking permission, planning the video, and interviewing animators last year (December).

He wouldn't need to have anything recorded to get the animation process started. Just give Bill a copy of the "We Are The World" LP or cassette (did it even come out on CD?), a rough draft of the lyrics, and his ideas and storyboards for what he wants the video to look like. It takes a while to animate a full music video (I assume), so Al probably was in touch with all his animators pretty early.

Yeah, it's possible Bill Plympton or the NY Times writer got the facts wrong, but it's also possible John K. thinks he's animating an original, but it's really animating a parody, or it's possible Chamillionaire thinks Al is parodying Usher, but he's really parodying P. Diddy. If you're taking Chamillionaire's word, why the skepticism of the NY Times writer's word?

I think you need to convince me it's not a parody by either finding a source that says so, or finding the name of the fifth parody artist.

spacedingo @ Jul 23 2006, 12:35 AM wrote: Wouldn't Al have had to track down Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson for permission?  Sure, Quincy'd be easy to track down, Lionel even easier (    )....but Michael Jackson?  That one wouldn't be so easy (Especially in the time that Al would've had to ask him...Michael kind of had something going on)

Michael needs the money. He wouldn't say no. In fact, he's probably begging Al to do another parody.

Dave

Elvis @ Jul 23 2006, 03:44 AM wrote: If he recorded it in February, there's a pretty good chance he started writing it, seeking permission, planning the video, and interviewing animators last year (December).

That could very well be, but we didn't hear about this from Bill until mid-December, which surely means he was approached, commissioned, and had started production some time before that. That means Al would have had to lock down all ideas for a parody, both musically and lyrically, about three months before he was able to record it, maybe even earlier. That's certainly possible, but there's been some discussion lately around here about Al being a perfectionist, which he is creatively, and it seems as if he would keep tweaking a song idea until he was ready to record it.

Putting together a makeshift demo might make for a good reference tool, but to send it off and say "Animate this!" seems kinda risky.

Yeah, it's possible Bill Plympton or the NY Times writer got the facts wrong, but it's also possible John K. thinks he's animating an original, but it's really animating a parody, or it's possible Chamillionaire thinks Al is parodying Usher, but he's really parodying P. Diddy.  If you're taking Chamillionaire's word, why the skepticism of the NY Times writer's word?

But there's your answer right there. The info about John's video came direct from him. The info from Chamillionaire about the parodies came direct from him. The info about Bill's video was reported second-hand. If John or Cha turn out to be incorrect about the information they sent out themselves, then at least one can say, "Well, he was wrong because he had said such-and-such." There is no direct quote from Bill about what he is/was working on, so one can't later say "Well, Bill was wrong because he had said such-and-such." There's another step there, and well, let's face it, the press isn't entirely accurate all the time when it comes to Al ("Twelve Pains of Christmas??").

I think you need to convince me it's not a parody by either finding a source that says so, or finding the name of the fifth parody artist.

Well, at the same time, one piece of questionable evidence isn't convincing me that it is a parody. I'm certainly not against the idea, but I don't think there's enough there for me to say, "Well, that clinches it." Like I said, from the little we do know for sure right now, it can go either way.

Elvis @ Jul 23 2006, 03:44 AM wrote:
I think you need to convince me it's not a parody by either finding a source that says so, or finding the name of the fifth parody artist.

Dave,
What about the fact that another song was recorded today along with what most certainly was "White and Nerdy"? Most certainly a parody (though possibly the polka), this would eliminate the space that DDTS would've taken up.
If this animated video process had been occurring for the Poodle Hat originals and Bill Plympton was animating the video for Bob, don't you think he might just consider that a parody of Dylan? I think it could be the same for this song.

TMBJon @ Jul 23 2006, 03:42 AM wrote: Dave,
What about the fact that another song was recorded today along with what most certainly was "White and Nerdy"? Most certainly a parody (though possibly the polka), this would eliminate the space that DDTS would've taken up.

You say that so nonchalantly. Like "but what about the fact that AL has a poodle." I almost had a heart attack. Finally, we know: ITS 12 SONGS!

BTW - Dave, I'm with you on the MJ thing. He needs tons of money, not only to pay his lawyers, but to keep him looking like a space alien. You never know when the home planet will contact him.

TMBJon @ Jul 23 2006, 01:42 AM wrote: What about the fact that another song was recorded today along with what most certainly was "White and Nerdy"? Most certainly a parody (though possibly the polka), this would eliminate the space that DDTS would've taken up.

It didn't necessarily replace DDTS, if it DDTS is a parody. It's possible he didn't have either the Green Day, R. Kelly, or Usher parody done.