His new album is great. One song he did that isn't technically a parody (its one of the songs he does that is in the style of a certain artist, but not a parody of a specific song) that I actually laughed out loud to a few times was Jackson Park Express (done in the style of someone named Cat Stevens, whose name I recognize but don't know any of his songs). I also really enjoyed Mission Statement, done on the style of Crosby,Stills and Nash. His polka was awesome as always, and I recongnized way too many songs in the polka. Tacky was a little weak, probably the weakest on the CD, but not bad.
Didn't recognise that was Aisha Tyler in the video. Al was also in one of the recent Epic Rap Battles videos as Sir Isaac Newton.
Here's 'Foil' (featuring Patton Oswalt): [yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLuKg-WhduhkmIcFMN7wxfVWYu8qnk0jMN&v=w-0TEJMJOhk[/yt]
I think that's one thing that I appreciate about his work: the music is topical, but the writing is (relatively) timeless. We can still sing "Eat It," for one thing. Oh, and there's so much more thought put into "Word Crimes" than "Blurred Lines." So once again, I prefer the parody over the original.
As others have basically pointed out about themselves, I'm getting old. I have no idea what song "Foil" is parodying (and yes, I know how to look it up; that's not the point), nor do I particularly like it enough to even listen to the original song. Stupid getting older reminders.
May I just say that I've appreciated him more ever since he shaved his trademark but gross looking mustache and got rid of his dad-glasses? I mean, I realize that's his classic look, but still.
That's one's kinda meh. I suppose they can't all be great. I dunno. I like his classic looks. There's something ... erm .. classic about it.
Royals has been a favorite song of mine so his "Foil" was pretty fun. I've only listened to that and Tacky, but based on those two songs, Weird Al still has it
"White and Nerdy" is a modern era favorite, and "Bohemian Polka" used to be on regular rotation. I still watch UHF every now and then. Hard to believe that he's been at this for more than 30 years now.
The original song's an attack on materialism and conspicuous consumption, and is quite good and timely: [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFasFq4GJYM[/yt] [Verse 1] I've never seen a diamond in the flesh I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies And I'm not proud of my address, In a torn-up town, no postcode envy But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room, We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams. But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece. Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash. We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair. And we'll never be royals (royals). It don't run in our blood, That kind of luxe just ain't for us. We crave a different kind of buzz. Let me be your ruler (ruler), You can call me queen Bee And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule. Let me live that fantasy. [Verse 2] My friends and I—we've cracked the code. We count our dollars on the train to the party. And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this, We didn't come from money. But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom. Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room, We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams. But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece. Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair And we'll never be royals (royals). It don't run in our blood That kind of luxe just ain't for us. We crave a different kind of buzz. Let me be your ruler (ruler), You can call me queen Bee And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule. Let me live that fantasy. Ooh ooh oh We're bigger than we ever dreamed, And I'm in love with being queen. Ooh ooh oh Life is great without a care We aren't caught up in your love affair. And we'll never be royals (royals). It don't run in our blood That kind of luxe just ain't for us. We crave a different kind of buzz Let me be your ruler (ruler), You can call me queen Bee And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule. Let me live that fantasy. I think that he looks better too and sexier (and I'm saying that as a guy.) He occasionally brings that look out (for the Straight Outta Lynwood album:
It has a unique sound and I enjoy it. In fact I think Lorde is one of the best up and coming artists and wish great things for her.
I think "Foil" would be better if the lyrics had stayed on food. I get where Weird Al was coming from for the second half of the lyrics, but it kind of loses me there.
Firstly let me say that I think Al (and indeed any artiste who does parody material) can only be strengthened when the original songs are already so good. I think the truth of the matter is that a reason this album is looking good is because Al is bang up to date on his popular music references this time round(*), and it has been a particularly good year so far for popular music. Some excellent material floating around which can only be a good foundation for Al's versions of the songs. His Iggy Azelea parody ("Handy") had me in stitches. (*) This is an overlooked factor. One thing about some of Al's previous albums is that the songs have been great but the references have been out-of-date by the time the album eventually gets published. But this time it seems Al is literally right on top of current music.
I'm going to have to disagree here. All of Al's best songs are parodies of classics: "American Pie" "Another One Bites the Dust" "Bad" "Like a Virgin" "Smells Like Teen Spirit" etc. I'd bet most of these songs will be all but forgotten within ten years. And the parodies will go the way of "Amish Paradise" where the parody outlives the original. And while it's a funny song, it's nothing compared to the parodies of those I listed above.