Mandatory Fun (Album 14) Speculation :3

[CharlesNelson]

I looked at several lists similar to the one mrmeadows linked to, and I think early contenders in my mind, based on ubiquity/recognizability, current lack of parodies, parodyability and whether the artist has never been targeted before, are as follows:

"Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - one we discussed a lot last summer, this should be no surprise.
"Clarity" by Zedd feat. Foxes - I think this could easily be parodied, and Al's never spoofed an electro-house song like this. It would be nice in the fourth or fifth parody spot. I still think he could make it the last parody on possibly-his-last-full-album and call it "Parody," making it about himself, but maybe not.
"Wake Me Up" by Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc - similarly electro-produced. Plus, nobody answered me when I asked about the parody-worthiness of Aloe Blacc! None of you can see a parody of this or "The Man"?
"Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons
"Treasure" by Bruno Mars - I know he was technically part of a parodied song on Alpocalypse, but I really feel he'll be represented somehow on Album 14. Polka instead, maybe.
"Holy Grail" by Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
"Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake - both of these because he's gotta do JT at some point, honestly
And yeah, I'll throw "Come & Get It" by Selena Gomez and "Heart Attack" by Demi Lovato on here too

NO "Blurred Lines," Miley Cyrus, PSY, Bieber, One Direction or "Cups," because all of them have some amount of novelty already attached to them. (Except One DIrection, maybe, at this point, deserves it.) I'm not feeling "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line or "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk either because they might be too difficult to get a good parody idea out of - better suited for the polka.

[CharlesNelson]

Since it takes time for Al to have the right idea, get the artists' permission, and then write it out, I think some or all of these parodies came from songs that were already popular last summer. Less likely to be songs that came out around October or later.

Well, here's a quick list to start:
http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/bl ... 013-e.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Perusing the list, I'm only familiar with a handful of songs (as usual), but of the songs I do know I could totally hear Al doing a parody of "Heart Attack". Something about the song's structure and chorus is just begging for a spoof.

Then there's the song "Brave", which I have to say I CANNOT STAND. Every time that song comes on I want to punch it in its face. However, I think it's primo Polka material. I can almost hear Al singing a sped up version of the chorus in 3/4 time, then the music stops and he sings "I wanna see you be brave!"...then we get the bridge to the next song. Totally happening. (Now watch: It won't happen.)

"Get Lucky" seems too repetitive for a parody, but almost has to be in the polka.

"Radioactive" could get a parody. It's a little different, but there's some potential there.

As for "Blurred Lines", I'm on the fence. I hate this song as much as anyone, and I know lesser minds than Al have already spoofed this on YouTube. But I kinda wouldn't mind a parody from the mind of Al, and I think if he came up with a strong enough idea he wouldn't let the crappy parodies stop him from doing his own. As the article says, it was pretty much the song of the summer, so it almost has to be represented by either a parody or polka. No, I don't think the "Blurred Heinz" Twitter gag was some kind of wink to fans that he's parodying it, but I could still see it. But if not, it will definitely be in the polka.

I'll have to listen to the rest of those songs to see if any of them jump out as great parody fodder. Curious to hear CharlesNelson's (and any others) take.

I agree with basically everything you say here, mrmeadows. Forgot about "Brave" (though personally I love Sara Bareilles! Why does it annoy you?) and I could definitely see this on the polka too.

Plus, he recorded "Polka Face" before he recorded the last three parodies on "Alpocalypse" so this could be a new pattern to which Al adheres recording his albums to.

Remember Al started a tour before the album was done, so he kind of had to have the polka done, I dont think it is the start of a pattern, especially since this is quite possibly the last album.

Good points, both of you. We'll have to see - only bermuda knows for sure.

[Moneybags]

One of the thing that Al has brought up time and time again in interviews is how a lot of his parody choices are based on songs where he's got a lot of words to play with. I imagine this has a lot to do with the prevalence of rap parodies over the last fifteen years or so. Because of this, I think Macklemore & Ryan Lewis would be great targets, if not likely.

As much as I'd like to see Al take on "Wake Me Up" in parody form, that's a song with a LOT of music in relation to how many lyrics there are, so I don't see it happening. On the other hand -- and I've probably posted this a couple of times now -- I think "Radioactive" has a lot of potential for a parody (or, to a lesser extent, "Demons"). If nothing else, the singer from Imagine Dragons does that huge gasping noise at the beginning of "Radioactive" that'd be so perfect for one of the lines that Al doesn't change in the parody.

I refuse to acknowledge the remote possibility of a "Blurred Lines" parody. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. But the sheer number of jokes he's made about it on twitter is the exact reason I don't think he'd use it in a parody. From a comedic standpoint, why would you make fun of a song over and over as a lead-up to making fun of that same song again when you have the option to use a site like twitter to make fun of literally anything you want, including stuff that's not going to be on your album? It wouldn't make sense. But I suppose the polkafication of "Blurred Lines" is still feasible.

I'm still banking on a folk section of the polka (i.e.: The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, Of Monsters And Men). Oh, and maybe that "Let Her Go" song where Passenger sounds like a teensy weensy mouse.

Oh, and I'd kind of like to see a Janelle Monae parody, if only so Al can replicate her stage persona during live shows. Did you guys see her on SNL? Holy heck.

[mrmeadows]

Forgot about "Brave" (though personally I love Sara Bareilles! Why does it annoy you?) and I could definitely see this on the polka too.

I don't really have an opinion about Sara Bareilles herself. . .I'm sure she's fine. I've only just heard the song and find something about it grating. I tend to not like upbeat, "feel-good" songs for whatever reason. I don't even really care for "Happy", which everyone seems to love. (But I'm not like a dour, depressive guy or anything...it's just personal taste, I guess.)

I'll have to listen to the other songs you listed. I don't think I'm familiar with any of the ones I didn't already mention....but that's not surprising since the only time I keep up with popular music is when I know what's coming down the pike on the next Al-bum and start doing homework on the parodied/polkafied songs.

[Killingsworth]

"Wake Me Up" would make a better EDM parody than "Clarity". I could also see a parody of "Radioactive" on this album. "Clarity" would be a better fit for the polka. Also, since "Heart Attack" has been thrown around here I think two better songs by Ms. Lovato for parody/polka fodder might be "Give Your Heart A Break" and "Neon Lights" (if the latter was just a bigger hit).

[drewdy9999]

I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned "Roar" by Katy Perry. Yeah, she was in the last polka, but I feel like she's big enough to get a parody.

"Snore" seems like an easy parody that nearly writes itself, at least in the chorus. It's technically been done before on YouTube but none of the versions are of great quality.

[CharlesNelson]

A thought I had earlier today. When was the last time Al did a two-in-one parody, two songs by the same artist in one song? "Bedrock Anthem"? Would anyone like to see Al do this again? I think Justin Timberlake would be a great candidate for this right now, because he has several popular songs out right now, though none much bigger than the others, and many of them have similar sounds and feels to them. Does that make sense?

[mrmeadows]

A thought I had earlier today. When was the last time Al did a two-in-one parody, two songs by the same artist in one song? "Bedrock Anthem"? Would anyone like to see Al do this again? I think Justin Timberlake would be a great candidate for this right now, because he has several popular songs out right now, though none much bigger than the others, and many of them have similar sounds and feels to them. Does that make sense?

I like the idea of him doing this, even though the two songs where he has done it ("The Plumbing Song" and "Bedrock Anthem") aren't exactly two of my favorites. I'd be all for him trying it again on #14, though. Not sure who the best candidate would be for it. Timberlake would work. How about Beyonce? Too bad Kanye West's last album was a lukewarm seller (even if a critical favorite). . .he'd be a good one to tackle.

[TMBJon]

Too bad Kanye West's last album was a lukewarm seller (even if a critical favorite). . .he'd be a good one to tackle.

There's no way that Yeezus is removed from consideration due to lukewarm sales. Its release was one of the biggest musical events of 2013.

[CharlesNelson]

Yeah, both Kanye and Beyonce are good targets for a double-parody, too!