(This Title's Just) Six Words Long
Last time we checked in with indie polka player "Weird" Al Yankovic, he was giving away "You're Pitiful." While the tune wasn't very funny, Stereogum applauds any effort to make fun of James Blunt. James even gave his blessing, as he has a sense of humor about his music's ubiquity (unlike some people). Atlantic Records, however, believes this is no laughing matter! It's the first time a label (and not an artist) has stopped the release of a "Weird" Al song. Via omniscient blogger tool Wikipedia:
Yankovic recorded the song to be included on his Straight Outta Lynwood album after, according to Yankovic, having been given Blunt's blessing to parody the song. However, following its recording, Blunt's record company, Atlantic Records, allegedly told Yankovic that he could not include the song.So Straight Outta Lynwood (out 9/26) lacks Blunt, but will have parodies of Green Day, R. Kelly, Usher, and Chamillionaire ("Ridin" rewrite "White and Nerdy" is the first single).Yankovic told NPR in an e-mail that the question of whether Atlantic could legally forbid the parody, given the United States Supreme Court's 1994 Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. decision recognizing parody as fair use, is "moot," saying that the issue was "more of a political matter than a legal matter," suggesting that both Blunt and Volcano (Yankovic's label) would wish to avoid alienating Atlantic.
If you do decide to buy the rock comic's new album, Al diplomatically implies non-digital is the way to go. Via Digital Music Weblog:
When asked by a fan whether purchasing a conventional CD or buying a digital file via iTunes would net Yankovic more pocket money the artist answered on his website."I am extremely grateful for your support, no matter which format you choose to legally obtain my music in, so you should do whatever makes the most sense for you personally. But since you ASKED... I actually do get significantly more money from CD sales, as opposed to downloads. This is the one thing about my renegotiated record contract that never made much sense to me. It costs the label NOTHING for somebody to download an album (no manufacturing costs, shipping, or really any overhead of any kind) and yet the artist (me) winds up making less from it. Go figure."
Your reward for sitting through a lecture on Al's legal woes: Yankovic grills Avril Lavigne:
Posted at 4:33 PM
Tags: Avril Lavigne
Interview (or similar) also available here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YRsBRMbGQjg
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Thanks Adam. I replaced the vid link!
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I don't know why but every time a new Weird Al album is about to come out, I get really excited about it, even though I inevitably sell the album two months later. His last two albums were fun, and the first time you listen to a Weird Al album, it's always a scream, but he has no staying power. Maybe that's why every time he puts out a new album, it feels like a comeback album.
I hope he has another Ben Folds collaboration.
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Oh I get it... like bomb and kill you if you don't do what we want, political... instead of spend lots of money, sue you, and lose, legal.
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Seriously? The team of stereogum scribes (all 700 of you) should start reading Entertainment Weekly. This was a sidebar topic like 6 weeks ago.
EW is available at most major everywheres.
Please start riding the crest of the wave, and not the wake.
Thank you.
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When I worked at a management company 10 years ago, a band whose name rhymes with Kounting Krows had denied Al and he sent a fax over very nicely asking to reconsider. There was a huge list of people who'd approved him and the list of folks who'd said no was....Prince. Greatest thing he ever did was the classic Grand Royal interview where Russell Simins (a huge fan) set him up and had Spike Jonze pose as a crazed fan and also had Yoko & Sean Lennon walk up right when he asked him a question about a Beatles parody. He also revealed his greatest unused idea ever: a Pumpkins parody, "Despite my old age, I am still making minimum wage!" Brilliant. Just like Cover Me Badd (check out the live mashup we just put up of Sounds of Silence/Enjoy The Silence/Kelly Clarkson & god knows what else...) http://www.myspace.com/covermebadd
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I prefer "My Cubicle"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O_5ef49N5I
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Oh LL Cool F, you're so on top of things. I wish... I wish... I wish I knew this breaking news on Weird Al 6 weeks ago so I could start savings some pennies to eventually coinstar for an itunes gift card so I could then pay to download the album when it's released. Now I'm a good 42 pennies behind. Shit.
Speaking of sidebars, LL Cool F, why don't you download that DMX album advertised over there on the right. I bet you'll like it. DMX is quoted as saying: "No one is saying anything. It's not rap, it's crap." That must be his motivation behind the songs: "Dog Love" and "Walk These Dogs" Come on LL Cool F, go buy it.
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i still like weird al, but i hadn't heard a truly funny song from him in a while until that clip of his avril parody "decapitated"). that was great.
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This isn't the airport, Clark.
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LL, lets just kiss the inside of our pointer and middle fingers and then make the peace sign. It's cool. I just wanted to give you a hard time, that's all. I went to a Weird Al concert once and I'll have to admit, it was interesting. The costume changes were pretty seemless, though.
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