Entertainment

'Weird Al' returns with new hits discs

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

CD Review: The Essential 'Weird Al' Yankovic

Tags:

entertainment

REVIEW (WJRT) -- While the majority of the musical masses spend this week focusing on the new Michael Jackson movie and accompanying soundtrack featuring hits like "Beat It" and "Bad," will there be enough love left for "Eat It" and "Fat"?

With times tough and the economy struggling, the easiest way for a musician to make a buck has to be the greatest hits album. And since the checks have probably stopped rolling in for contributions to VH1's "I Love the '90s" specials, it was probably time for "Weird Al" Yankovic to compile the very best of his parodies and original songs on "The Essential 'Weird Al' Yankovic" two-disc set.

Yankovic is no stranger to the compilation disc, having previously released collections such as "Greatest Hits," "The Best of Yankovic," "The Food Album," "Greatest Hits Vol. II," "Permanent Record: Al in the Box," and "The TV Album."

Another best-of disc seems excessive until you remember that Yankovic's career has spanned three decades, spawned 12 studio albums and produced dozens of memorable scene-by-scene music video remakes. Perhaps he's entitled.

More: Follow us on Twitter

If Michael Jackson is the King of Pop, then Yankovic is the King of Parodies. Yankovic hand-picked the songs for his "Essential" collection, making sure to include his most memorable tunes, such as "Eat It" and "Fat," which parody two of Jackson's biggest hits and won Yankovic a pair of grammys in the '80s with lines like: "Eat it, eat it, open up your mouth and feed it; Have some more yogurt, have some more spam; it doesn't matter if it's fresh or canned."

The Jackson parodies remained two of Yankovic's biggest successes until 2006's "White & Nerdy" (a parody of Chamillionaire's "Ridin'") became his first Top 10 hit on the Billboard charts. Keeping the original beat like he always does, he cleverly twists the lyrics to include: "They see me roll on my Segway. I know in my heart they think I'm white 'n' nerdy."

Of course, Jackson isn't the only late musical genius whose work is parodied in Yankovic's catalog. "Smells Like Nirvana" even earned the praise of Kurt Cobain upon its release in 1992, as it poked fun at the grunge rockers' hard-to-understand lyrics with Yankovic singing: "Sing distinctly? We don't wanna! Buy our album, we're Nirvana!" Cobain said Yankovic's parody meant that Nirvana had "made it."

Madonna is said to have appreciated the musical stylings of Yankovic as well, since it has been reported that it was she who mentioned the idea for "Like a Surgeon" to a mutual friend as a take on her 1984 hit "Like a Virgin."

However, not every artist considers imitation to be the sincerest form of flattery. Coolio was vocal about his disdain for 1996's "Amish Paradise," which puts a hilarious spin on "Gangsta's Paradise" with lyrics like: "I've churned butter once or twice living in an Amish paradise&we sell quilts at discount price living in an Amish paradise."

But considering the frequency in which rap artists sample other works -- "Gansta's Paradise" itself is a take on Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" -- Coolio may not have a real basis on which to gripe.

Since Yankovic makes a living coming up with new lyrics to popular songs, some of his music loses its commercial appeal as the parody's original song becomes out of date. But to his credit, "Weird Al" seems to remain relevant longer than those he riffs on. Though the song "UHF" may be lost on children who were raised on cable television.

Children may also need to be shielded from "The Night Santa Went Crazy" depending on whether they still leave milk and cookies out on Christmas Eve.

This original recording from Yankovic details the unfortunate incidents at the North Pole after St. Nick loses his mind. And he smiled as he said with a twinkle in his eye, "Merry Christmas to all. Now you're all gonna die!" This "extra gory version" differs from the album's narrative in that instead of going to jail, Santa is taken out by a SWAT team.

The majority of his songs are family friendly though, and he also includes many of his other original recordings such as lengthy epics "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota," "Albuquerque" and "Trapped in the Drive-Thru."

Yankovic also made notable fans of Don McLean and George Lucas by recounting Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace to the tune of "American Pie." Obi-Wan Kenobi is meant to be the voice behind "The Saga Begins," changing the famous chorus to: "My, my this here Anakin guy may be Vader someday later; now he's just a small fry. He left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye sayin' "Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi."

Other classics include parodies of songs by Queen ("Another One Rides the Bus"), Backstreet Boys ("eBay"), Diddy ("It's All About the Pentiums"), Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Bedrock Anthem"), and another ode to Jackson ("Don't Download This Song") in which he begs in the style of "We Are the World" for listeners to buy CDs instead of downloading music for free.

Ironically, this song was first released as a digital download. Perhaps he assumed you would listen to the angel Al on your shoulder and pay for it.

There don't seem to be any notable omissions from the two-disc set, save for the many polka mash-ups that Yankovic has compiled over the years in which he takes popular songs and combines them in an accordion-laced polka medley.

One such medley is included ("Polkas on 45"), but given Yankovic's proclivity for the compilation, perhaps an all-polka disc is on the horizon. You also won't find any of the songs from "Internet Leaks" since they are yet to be included on an actual studio album.

"Weird Al" fans will love the two and a half hours of musical comedy and any music fan is bound to find their own favorite tune since Yankovic's musical talents know no genre boundaries. If you don't yet own a "Weird Al" disc, this is the one to own. -- Josh Daunt

The ABC12 Listening Room staff: James R. Chesna, editor-in-chief; Josh Daunt, managing editor; Eric Fletcher, chief photographer; Randy Cox, photographer; Josh Daunt, photographer; Chris Carr, photographer; Jessica Reid, contributing photographer; LeeAlan Weddel, contributing editor, writer; Shawn Light, contributing writer.