World of Weird Al Yankovic

Friz @ Aug 9 2006, 10:40 PM wrote: What's stopping Al parodying an even older R. Kelly song? Like "I Believe I Can Fly" or "Gotham City", but make it about something in the popular culture, like MySpace or YouTube?

He managed that formula successfully with eBay...

true that

I could see Al doing a song about MySpace, since it's gotten so much press over the last year and since Al just recently opened a MySpace page. But I don't know about YouTube. I don't think that's nearly as popular and mainstream as MySpace has become.

But really I don't really think it's likely that Al will do another song about a website so soon after "eBay." But who knows?

I think it'll be a parody of "Remix to Ignition". The song more musical and melodic than "Trapped in the Closet" and more ripe for Al's brand of parody. Plus "Ignition" was a bigger chart single than "Trapped". Remember that at least four parodies were recorded back in February (meaning the "hit" it's parodying is at least 7-months old, if not older). Al also has said his albums are like time-capsules of pop-culture of the time between his last album and the new one. So although "Remix to Ignition" might not be burning the charts now, it was a big hit. ("I Want it That Way" was a few years old when Poodle Hat parodied it). I hope it's "Ignition" too, I just listened to the song and it is so perfect for Al to take on.

Can I get a toot toot? Can I get a beep beep?

Was R. Kelly the guy who did that "I Believe I Can Fly" song? We haven't got a "classic" song yet, so if he's the same guy, then why is that ruled out?

Yeah, the remix might be done or just the regular version. It could be the "I Want It That Way" of SOL. You know, one of the tracks farther down on the tracklist. Plus, I'd much prefer any rendition of "Ignition" rather than TITC.

Grom @ Aug 10 2006, 11:10 PM wrote: Was R. Kelly the guy who did that "I Believe I Can Fly" song? We haven't got a "classic" song yet, so if he's the same guy, then why is that ruled out?

I was just thinking about that last night.

But I agree, there is a chance Al might parody an older R. Kelly song.

But is 10 years really considered classic? I think if he does I Believe I can Fly the critics will bash him for not being current. After all, hes had 3 albums since that song came out. It isnt like American Pie or Piano Man. At least you can hear those songs 3-4 times a day in a major market, but I cant recall I heard IBICF, aside from the episode of I Love The 90's I saw last week.

"I Believe I can Fly" is not a classic like "American Pie", "Piano Man" or "McArthur Park". It's just bairly 10-years old and outside of "Space Jam" and "I Love the 90s", it hasn't been heard on the radio or TV. It would make Al seem very dated (even if the topic of the song was something current -- like Star Wars, Spiderman, or Jurrasic Park were at the time). It would be like Al putting "Phoney Calls" on this album (Waterfalls was a big hit and a classic TLC song, but its not current or in the same relm as the other classic's he's done). "I Believe I can Fly" is not a classic... at least not yet.

I'm hoping for it to be a "Remix to Ignition" parody (it might be 9-months "behind the times", but remember many of the songs were recorded 7-months before the album dropped). And it was a big hit of the past year.

I'm pretty clueless about which parody Al will choose, but in my opinion, "I Believe I Can Fly" has great parody potential.

i think its WAY (no pun intended) old. I believe i can fly has also been parodied WAY too many times. i vote for Ignition.