Covering a parody seems somewhat counter-intuitive. The parody is the evil twin of the cover. A good cover keeps the lyrics but changes the music. A parody does just the opposite. So it’s not surprising that most of the fifteen (!) covers below are of Al’s original songs. I’ve long wanted to compile this post for Cover Me. I believe it’s worth the wait. Oh, and later this week I’ll be posting some covers that didn’t make this post on Twitter, so follow Cover Me now!
Laura Barrett - Smells Like Nirvana
After all that, the first choice here is a parody. A brave choice by Barrett, who surely would have gotten more blog love with a cover of the original. Damn thing features a kalimba, after all! Wikipedia it. [Buy]
Stiff Bristles - Frank's 2000" TV
When Al wrote this in ’93, it probably seemed like more of a joke than it does today. With flat screens now all the rage, two-thousand inches may not be far off. [Buy]
James Eric - The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota
Fact: There is a biggest ball of twin in Minnesota, located in the tiny town of Darwin (population: 276). One Francis Johnson created it in 1950, spending four hours a day wrapping twine. For 23 weeks. Another fact: James Eric was our first Cover Commissions artist. Final fact: October’s Cover Commissions is on now, so go vote! [Buy]
Your Mother - I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead
A dead-on spoof of the entire new-age moment, “I’ll Be Mellow When I’m Dead” doubles as a pretty good rule to live by. Your Mother put this out on the vinyl-only The Weird Al-Bum tribute disc. Well worth the $8. [Buy]
The PowerChord Men - Amish Paradise
Here’s a famous song in Yanko-lore. Coolio supposedly gave his permission for the parody (Al always asks, and has been granted it from everyone but Prince) but then publicly claimed otherwise. Publicity stunt or genuine miscommunication? The world may never know (or care). Still, I’ll bet neither ever envisioned the song as a minor-key acoustic duet. [Buy]
Lager Rhythms - Since You've Been Gone
A cappella groups are the most reliable source of Weird Al covers. This song was vocal-driven initially anyway, so it’s a perfect match for the Lager Rhythms (get it? har!). [Buy]
The iMAniaC - Hardware Store
Al could give Twista a run for his money as fastest rapper alive. OK, maybe not, but he sure blasts out the shopping list in the bridge. The iMAniaC guys take it a different way. Though turning a Weird Al song into something about Star Trek doesn’t seem like a huge stretch. Also, check out this top-notch fan video. [Buy]
Take Away - Eat It
The final parody cover of the bunch. Weird Al has taken on Madonna in the past; if she ever covered him, it might sound like this. Don't miss the parody video...of the parody video. [Buy]
Mike Odd & the Oddities - Nature Trail to Hell
With Halloween on the way, this couldn’t be more timely. If this was an actual movie, I know I’d see it. Frankly, I’m surprised it isn’t. You listening, Dreamworld? [Buy]
Double Down - This Is the Life
Weird Al wrote a recession-themed parody of T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” last year. This seems to be the bull-market companion piece. [Buy]
Yoni Gordon - Dare to Be Stupid
Lots of covers of this one (I get a kick out of the synth-dance version over here). But if you’re feeling punk rock, this Yoni’s for you. [Buy]
Yulenog & Nathan Kuruna - Christmas at Ground Zero
“The Night Santa Went Crazy” tends to be the go-to Weird Al Christmas tune, but I think this one’s more clever. “We can dodge debris while we trim the tree underneath the mushroom cloud.” That’s right, internal rhyming. [Buy]
Sudden Death - Happy Birthday
'Tis the season to be born! Cover Me’s second birthday is on the 30th and my own is on Wednesday. One year maybe I’ll celebrate with broccoli and beer. Not this year though. One other birthday coming up too...oh yeah, Al's, this Friday! We celebrate the season with this selection from the Prosthetic Lips tribute album (free to download). Oh, and happy birthday Micaela and Chiara Klein! [Download]
Throwing Toasters - Good Enough for Now
The acoustic cover is excellent, but what really gets me is the pre-song intro. The Toasters guy explains why covering Al is tough. Listen and learn. [Buy]
Marc and Jon - Polka #27
On every album Al puts the lyrics of a dozen recent pop hits into a polka medley. In a way, it’s the closest he gets to a traditional cover. The idea of putting Al’s own songs into such a melody seems so obvious once you hear it, but it takes a special kind of genius to blend “Albuquerque,” “Dog Eat Dog,” and “Let Me Be Your Hog.” [Buy]
22 comments:
A list aimed straight at my heart.
1. Wouldn't "Bohemian Polka" be the closest he's gotten to a traditional cover? (That is, except for the live version of "Radio, Radio" you can find on YouTube.)
2. "Mellow" is about the "new age" movement, not the new wave. Just saying.
True! I actually posted "Bohemian Polka" back in the day. The "Hot Rocks Polka" is probably second - at least that's all of the same artist.
And thanks for the typo correction. Don't think Al would slander the new wavers - they've given him some great parody material!
Al linked to this page on his Twitter feed just now. Yay!
has no one covered "one more minute"?
i always thought that one would be a perfect cover song...
indie blockedappella did an acapella version of Mr. Popeil - indieblockedappella.com
Thanks for putting Throwing Toasters on the list! Appreciate the mention! Great list!
That "Prosthetic Lips" compilation, linked to from Sudden Death's "Happy Birthday" cover mention, contains TWO One More Minute covers.
Also, Al covered the "George of the Jungle" theme song on his Dare To Be Stupid album.
Great googley moogley. That polka is genius!
I wonder if Al would write a song about those crazy Zhu zhu hamster pets (if you dont know what i'm talking about, you must be living under a rock, but if thats the case, visit getZhuZhu.com and learn about them). Seriously, Al once had a hamster named Harvey (you know, the Wonder Hamster!). Also, these weird fads are just begging to be joked about. I know other parents that are going to sleep outsider overnight for these toys, amazing! Any way, you rock Al, and everyone knows it!!!
Great insight! Regarding permissions, though, I seem to remember a bit of an issue between Al and Eminem aka Marshall Mathers aka Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot over Couch Potato.
You're dead on Bret. Em gave Al his blessing to record the "Lose Yourself" parody, but drew the line at letting Al make a video.
Al ripped Em a new one (gently) after the incident on AlTV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gjTXtFpo1c
re: "Amish Paradise" - I think the reason that Coolio made that announcement (after Al had done both recording & video) was the theory posted by Al himself on his website at the time: Bad Hair Day (the album it appeared in) was doing better in sales than Coolio's album (at the time).
It also reminds me of the time I belonged to an online group of traditional gamers (board games, card games, etc) and the leader was doing a SHOUTcast broadcast every Friday to liven things up. One week, the theme was "covers", so I sent in a request for "Bohemian Rhapsody". He (the leader) said it didn't qualify --but I shot back that it did qualify as Al used the original tune & lyrics in a Polka arrangement.
End result: the song played!
Grillo the Clown covered "Amish Paradise" first, actually.
"This Is The Life" was actually a separate Weird Al song, unrelated to "Whatever You Like"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_the_Life_%28song%29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18vzLo3sKJg
Awesome post, Ray. I can't believe you found a cover of This is the Life! One of my favourite originals.
I would like to point out that Al didn't cover George of the Jungle. He's the one who wrote it. It's his song!
@Anonymous
That's actually incorrect. The original "George of the Junlge" cartoon was made in 1967. The theme was written and recorded the same year. Al would've been only about seven years old at the time, so he couldn't have written it.
(off topic, but I jsut finished eating broccoli and beer when I was reading this. Rock on!)
Thank you so much for this compilation! I didn't know many of these covers existed...and as a huge fan of Al, I'm having a great time listening to them all.
You can buy the YOUR MOTHER "Weird Al-bum" 10" from here
it has 6 songs and is awesome!!!!!
once again, Ray. thanks! I can't wait to listen to all of these,
james eric
That synth-dance version is by Mc chris.
Post a Comment