If you didn't think Lady Gaga was annoying enough...

[Argus Skyhawk]

If you didn't think Lady Gaga was annoying enough, you might want to read this blog post by Weird Al Yankovic about how she made him go through all sorts of hassles--including cutting short a family vacation--to get permission to parody one of her songs... and then she refused the permission.

Edit: As others have posted below, it turns out that it was her manager's fault and she is not guilty of causing the hassles or refusing the permission. This was not a reason to be annoyed with her after all. It was a reason to be really annoyed with her manager.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I don't think she's annoying at all. And I do think Weird Al is a whiny has-been...

 

[Goliath]

Wow. That sucks.

But at least he released the song. Not his best work, but not bad. Some of the lyrics were pretty funny.

 

[OmahaStar]

Typical. She takes everything so personal, but maybe it's because she presents herself as a freakshow. When she gets called out on it by Weird Al, it hurts the one feeling she has left. Big whoop.

Kudos to Al for releasing it as he has. And since it is parody, legally, he could put it on the album anyway. But he's far classier than she, and wouldn't do that. He wouldn't rip artists off or anything. No, that's Gaga's style ... Compare "Born This Way" with "Express Yourself" by Madonna, and just try saying it's not a blatant rip-off.

 

[Beagleman]

I don't think she's annoying at all. And I do think Weird Al is a whiny has-been...

That's how I see it too...

 

[Canadave]

I don't think she's annoying at all. And I do think Weird Al is a whiny has-been...

A has-been who had a Top 10 single with his last major album?

 

[Goliath]

He wouldn't rip artists off or anything. No, that's Gaga's style ... Compare "Born This Way" with "Express Yourself" by Madonna, and just try saying it's not a blatant rip-off.

Well, if she starts performing while covered with bees, Weird Al should definitely think about legal action.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Typical. She takes everything so personal, but maybe it's because she presents herself as a freakshow. When she gets called out on it by Weird Al, it hurts the one feeling she has left. Big whoop.

I have to say, I'm a little surprised she said no. It's Weird Al. It means you've sorta arrived officially.

Her saying "no" makes me think she's some humorless hipster. He was even gonna donate money to HRC, like what the hell?

And I kinda like her music... (this doesn't change it, but...)

Kudos to Al for releasing it as he has. And since it is parody, legally, he could put it on the album anyway. But he's far classier than she, and wouldn't do that. He wouldn't rip artists off or anything. No, that's Gaga's style ... Compare "Born This Way" with "Express Yourself" by Madonna, and just try saying it's not a blatant rip-off.

Weird Al has always been a classy guy, lots of respect for him personally.

Yeah, Born This Way and Express Yourself, same song. There's some youtube mash up of it... the guy that did it is great.

 

[Aragorn]

There's nothing wrong with saying no, it's the way she strung him along and made him jump through hoops that's par for the course where she's concerned.

Weird Al doesn't even need permission under parody rules, but he does it out of courtesy and respect for the original artist as to whether or not he'll make the song for money.

 

[Spot's Meow]

My opinion of Lady Gaga keeps changing. As soon as I think I am starting to respect her, she does something like this that makes her seem like a snob who can't make fun of herself.

Weird Al rocks!

 

[T'Baio]

I thought the song was actually kinda' funny. Weird Al's always good for a chuckle.

 

[Amaris]

I love Lady GaGa. I think she's made a bad business decision here, unless there's just more to it that neither we or Al knows about. Once more, though, lots of respect for Weird Al, and hopefully GaGa will change her mind.

 

[archeryguy1701]

New update. Apparently, Gaga had nothing to do with shooting the song down. Her manager made the decision himself and then passed it on as her word. Gaga has now OKed the song.

 

[Stiletto]

Her mind has changed..

Apparently the fact that she didn’t approve it was news to Lady Gaga herself!

Yay, new album, here we come.
http://alyankovic.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/gaga-update/

 

[Neroon]

My opinion of Lady Gaga keeps changing. As soon as I think I am starting to respect her, she does something like this that makes her seem like a snob who can't make fun of herself.

It's called publicity.

 

[bigdaddy]

I don't think she's annoying at all. And I do think Weird Al is a whiny has-been...

I agree. I'm more annoyed by Lady Gaga's fans and haters. It's old.

It's like the Glee creators people move on. Someone says no, oh no! Move on.

 

[Amaris]

New update. Apparently, Gaga had nothing to do with shooting the song down. Her manager made the decision himself and then passed it on as her word. Gaga has now OKed the song.

Her mind has changed..

Apparently the fact that she didn’t approve it was news to Lady Gaga herself!

Yay, new album, here we come.
http://alyankovic.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/gaga-update/

Hooray!

 

[Goliath]

Cool. A happy ending.

I have to wonder, though: assuming that story is true--what was her manager thinking?

The only artist I know who has actually refused to let Yankovic parody his music is Prince. That is to say--a weird guy who changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol for a while. And who recently proclaimed that "The internet's completely over."

 

[IndyJones]

It's like the Glee creators people move on. Someone says no, oh no! Move on.

It is interesting that the tone of these threads have been exactly opposite, innit?

 

[Amaris]

Cool. A happy ending.

I have to wonder, though: assuming that story is true--what was her manager thinking?

The only artist I know who has actually refused to let Yankovic parody his music is Prince. That is to say--a weird guy who changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol for a while. And who recently proclaimed that "The internet's completely over."

She has a quirky sense of humor that can be really wicked and fun, and she often pokes fun at herself. I can also believe the manager turning down the song because he may not be a fan of Weird Al, may feel it would jeopardize her legitimacy in some way. He gets paid to help make her image golden, and probably makes most of the decisions. That's his job.

It is thoroughly possible, and well within the realm of likelihood and believability that Lady GaGa simply never learned of it until it was pointed out to her. I guess I'm just not cynical enough to automatically peg her as backtracking on something that, from seeing her personality and sense of humor, she would actually love to see happen (I'm not saying you are either, Goliath).