Mandatory Fun (Album 14) Speculation :3

[Wizzerkat]

Yeah, I don't know if we've talked that much about "Happy" in this thread yet but it is a huge hit right now. Still, even though I don't totally expect him to parody it it's a distinct possibility. I'm not sure what Al would even do with that one. If Al didn't already start recording a parody of this already, it could end up being the next lead single.

I would think Happy is a definite possibility. Pharrell himself could be part of the target (HATS.). Al could also take the happy theme to its extreme as he has done with other themes in the past.

[WesY2K]

Or a song about how much money he is making with that song right now:

Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like buying a brand new roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like making money is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what food stamps meant to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel that I should buy you too

[Big Spoon]

If Al does parody a song from this year's Oscars, I much rather him go after Let It Go than Happy.

[sethmartin]

Let it Go would be great for a lead parody. It's super popular. Also I don't think Al has ever done a parody of a major Disney song before. Would be a nice change of pace.

[Killingsworth]

I think it makes sense that Al would parody Let It Go since Al seems to be making a conscious effort to include at least one song on each album that could be perceived as an "event" in pop culture ala "Trapped In The Closet" and "Born This Way." Right now, "Let It Go" best fits this description out of every hit song that's out right now.

[OneWAY]

If Al does anything having to do with Frozen, it's already done.

With four parodies and a polka done, he most definitely already would have hit that target.

[TMBJon]

Right - I don't want to assume anything, but it seems likely that the lead single will be based off of something that's soon to be released, not a song that was out last fall.

[Marko_The_Odd]

I'd argue that the lead single could be a song that's been out since the fall mostly due to the trend from the last few years of songs becoming big summer hits after being around for months, sometimes over a year such as the case with songs like "Call Me Maybe", "Somebody That I Used To Know", "I Love It", "Too Close", "Sail", "We Are Young", "Can't Hold Us", etc.

Of course this tends to often be more of a case with new artists, as opposed to more established artists whose singles get hyped up before they even come out, and a week or two after release, they are already high on the charts.

But I do think it's highly likely that whatever the song is, it's not in the current top 10 or even 20 right now.

[Killingsworth]

I always percieved the trend on current albums being that the lead single is a song that came out the same year as the album (or at least within the four months leading up to its releasee) and the supporting parodies all being songs that came out up to two years before the album. This makes sense because Al wants to see which songs have staying power and won't just get popular when they come out, but stay popular months afterward so they will still seem relevant by the time the album is complete.

[WeirdAnAl]

My updated list on an idie/alternative polka for 2014

Somebody That I Used To Know
We Are Young/Some Nights
Sweater Weather
Pumped Up Kicks(maybe too late)
Ho Hey
Safe and Sound
My Songs Know...
Everybody Talks
I Will Wait
Little Talks
Sail
Too Close
Pompeii
Radioactive (possible parody)/Demons/It's Time