Favorite Polka?

[scottidog]

Doing a little research... I just found out that Hot Rocks is all Rolling Stones songs.



Ok, yeah, duh. But I don't listen to a lot of the Stones, ok? So, Hot Rocks and Bohemian Polka are a little different than the other polkas in that they pay tribute to just one band in each.



Safe to say then, that Al really likes the Stones and Queen?

[Orthography Enthusiast]

So, Hot Rocks and Bohemian Polka are a little different than the other polkas in that they pay tribute to just one band in each.

Safe to say then, that Al really likes the Stones and Queen?

Are the polkas a tribute? Well, maybe, who knows? But Bohemian Rhapsody is such a juicy target, that alone would have been reason enough to polka it.

[scottidog]

Looking at my Album covers, I see that the self titled album did not have a Polka. I am assuming because the idea had not occurred to Al yet. There are Polkas on all the rest with the exception of "Even Worse."



Since I don't want to accept the possibility that a Polka is not a required element on a WAY album, what is the explanation for the omission on EW? (I really, really want for there to be a Polka on P@TLC.)



Has anyone heard/read Al's explanation?



My assumption, and it may be wrong (probably is) is that after Polka Party which was not as big a commercial success as some of his albums, that they didn't want to risk the Polka association on EW. FWIW, I happen to love Polka Party even if it does have Toothless People on it.



Anyone have the skinny on this?

[minnick27]

I never heard an official explanation on it, but Bermuda did respond to a question (posed by moi) that the polka is not guaranteed on any album, as there have been only 8 so far. but i do believe that Al knows that is what we all love, so he will probably keep doing 'em



Mike

[scottidog]

I certainly hope so. I think/hope he likes them too. I remember reading on AAA that they are a bit of a logistical nightmare to work out the permissions, payments etc. But they are so worth it.



Now why didn't Scotti Bros ever release a Polka Album? It would have been worth the price of admission to get all the polkas including Who Stole The Kishka and Polkamon all in one place...



My newest acquisition is Polka Party. I love the part where he say "I like this part!" That boy has such joie de vivre!

[scottidog]

I didn't want to start a whole new post for this and it is sort of "Polka" related...



I was watching Al's ep of Behind The Music (what I got of it on tape) and they were discussing Polka Party. From what I gather it was a bit of a disappointment as far as sales were concerned. And it wasn't much of a critical success either. I have been trying to find reviews for it, with no success. Apparently only the hard core fans liked it.



It does have some clunkers on it, to be sure. Toothless people, ugh. Here's Johnny, where is that skip button? And Living With A Hernia is one of those songs that sometimes I like and sometimes I don't. It is better as a video.



But the majority of the Album is really good. Dog Eat Dog, in my opinion one of Al's very best songs ever. Addicted To Spuds, one of the best of the food songs. One Of Those Days, a very funny song. Don't Wear Those Shoes, what can I say about this silly bouncy little tune except that I love it? Good Enough For Now, also one of my favorites. Christmas At Ground Zero, love it or hate it... it is one of the Classic Al songs. And the title song Polka Party is certainly as good as any of the other Polka Medley's.



To judge by Al's comments, he didn't think it was his strongest effort either. He said that at that time in his career he didn't have the luxury to wait 2 or 3 years between Albums (enough luxury already, Al... release date, soon?) he had to pretty much crank stuff out to keep in people's minds.



For those of you who were fans at the time, was this ALbum really a disappointment, or was it just blown out of proportion by VH1 in their attempt to find some angst in Al's life?



I kind of think, that like UHF, perhaps PP had to age. Like fine wine, or stinky cheese.



FWIW Al, I think Polka Party is a gem of an ALbum. "Weird Al" in lederhosen, what's not to like? It's those punk kids who look goofy.

[Orthography Enthusiast]

I didn't want to start a whole new post for this and it is sort of "Polka" related...

I was watching Al's ep of Behind The Music (what I got of it on tape) and they were discussing Polka Party...It does have some clunkers on it, to be sure... But the majority of the Album is really good.

I finally bought it myself, and I think I agree with you. "One Of Those Days" is a fine song, and getting it stuck in my head will probably make me a better person. :biggrin: And "Dog Eat Dog" has some deep resonances too.

I agree with you, "Living With A Hernia" makes a better video. And I do like "Addicted to Spuds." I will admit to a sneaking fondness for silly food parodies. They just go straight to the easily-amused portion of my brain (a portion which is steadily enlarging).

I kind of think, that like UHF, perhaps PP had to age. Like fine wine, or stinky cheese.

Yeah, think of the satiric punch "Toothless People" gains with every Stones tour. It's going to wind up in the same category as "Smells Like Nirvana."



I have to admit, when I heard "Toothless People" and "Living With A Hernia" I asked myself, "Was Al working on commission for the AARP or something?"

[scottidog]

I will admit to a sneaking fondness for silly food parodies. They just go straight to the easily-amused portion of my brain (a portion which is steadily enlarging).

Easily amused? Is that why I find Gotta Boogie so amusing? Really, it makes me chuckle every single time I hear it. Because I am three.

I have to admit, when I heard "Toothless People" and "Living With A Hernia" I asked myself, "Was Al working on commission for the AARP or something?"

Not too bad for our Peter Pan, eh?



Hey OE. You didn't say what you thought of Good Enough For Now. Is it one of those off-kilter love songs that I enjoy and you don't?



And give Don't Wear Those Shoes a few good listenings. It made me chuckle the first time, but after prolonged exposure its becoming one of my favorites. I love the musical style. As a style parody, who do you think it parodies? I can't decide but it has a definate Meatloaf feel to me, especially the female background vocals. But then, what do I know?

[Orthography Enthusiast]

You didn't say what you thought of Good Enough For Now. Is it one of those off-kilter love songs that I enjoy and you don't?

What I think of "Good Enough for Now" is that Al came perilously close that time to writing an actual love song. Protestations of lasting devotion, coupled with the "sort of everything I ever wanted" stuff... that would have been an unusually realistic and genuine love song. Adding in the "until something better comes along" material turns it into another shrewdly-observed chapter in his ongoing field guide to not-exactly-love.

And give Don't Wear Those Shoes a few good listenings. It made me chuckle the first time, but after prolonged exposure its becoming one of my favorites. I love the musical style. As a style parody, who do you think it parodies? I can't decide but it has a definate Meatloaf feel to me, especially the female background vocals. But then, what do I know?

I do like DWTS, quite a lot. But I don't have the foggiest idea whose style it might sound like. I wasn't listening to much pop music when Polka Party came out.



For that matter, I wasn't listening to Polka Party when Polka Party came out. But I am now. I gotta say, Al's a real failure as a failure. Even the album that tanked is still in print and selling (not very fast, but it's selling) sixteen years later.

[scottidog]

I gotta say, Al's a real failure as a failure. Even the album that tanked is still in print and selling (not very fast, but it's selling) sixteen years later.

Yeah. Sad isn't it? Not to mention that in a lot of cases he has outlasted the bands that he parodied. Not bad for a "one hit wonder." I wonder if any of those Missing Person's fans kick themselves for booing our favorite band?



I have to say that while RWS is my favorite Album, Polka Party is shaping up to be a sentimental second.