Tag: \”Weird Al\” Yankovic

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Friday Link Session

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  • Viva Joe Strummer: The Clash and Beyond turned up for free viewing on Hulu recently. I haven’t watched it yet, but a glance around the web shows fair-to-middling reviews. (But I’m a completist, so you know it’s going into my eyeholes.)

     

  • Through some happenstance of internet serendipity, I learned of Cleveland band Harvey Pekar. As a fan of late Cleveland comics writer Harvey Pekar, I can’t imagine the jazz-loving worrywart listening to this heavy band, but I feel better about the world just knowing they exist.

     

  • A recent episode of the Nerdist podcast had me digging up this ’90s treasure:

     

    “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” – Crash Test Dummies

     

    I still like the song, but I know haters are gonna hate. I wouldn’t have brought it up here, though, if it hadn’t led me to this “Weird Al” Yankovic parody. Those of you who were cognizant in the ’90s might want to brace yourselves for the time warp.

     

    “Headline News” – “Weird Al” Yankovic

     

    Then, confluence as Al joins the Crash Test Dummies for a performance at the 1994 Canadian Music Video Awards.

     

    “Headline News” (snippet) – “Weird Al” Yankovic with Crash Test Dummies

     

    Now step outside for a moment and appreciate the fact that it is no longer the ’90s.

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Slackday: I wanna bowl with the gangstas

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I’m not usually one for comedy music. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not out of some indignation that people are messing with the pure art form of music because I’ve listened to just as much ridiculous crap as the next person. It just doesn’t make me laugh. “Weird Al” Yankovic, however, transcends the banality of comedy music by being an exceptionally adept musician and arranger whose parodies are often better than the originals. He wasn’t always quite as good at hip hop, but he has evolved over the years to the point where he can do hip hop better than hip hop. Yes, I know this is not saying much when it comes to mainstream hip hop, but work with me here. Watch the evolution.

“Amish Paradise” – amusing, but not impressive.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOfZLb33uCg]

“It’s All About the Pentiums” – Better. Better than Diddy (again, work with me here).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpMvS1Q1sos]

“White & Nerdy” – A freaking masterpiece.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw]