World of Weird Al Yankovic

Very cool to see how many Fark members out there appreciate Al...well, almost. They had previously flooded the Make the Rock Hall "Weird" web site with visits a couple of months ago, so apparently a lot of that was out of actual interest.

I'm also pretty sure that first reference to "Jay" (the "Bermuda and Jay" line) was in fact referring to Steve, and I do see what the person was getting at. Let's face it, a lot of groups spilt up because the members just get sick of each other.

As for that other guy's problem with the real Jay, who knows what happened. Based on the very few posts that mentioned the situation, it seems as if this person had contacted Jay to propose some sort of parody collaboration with Al. Well, naturally Al does all of his own songwriting himself, so Jay no doubt passed.

Whether the conversation actually could have elevated to a shouting match (which I kinda doubt) or this gent just wanted Jay to come off as an uppity jerk is a matter of opinion. All I can say is on the scant number of occasions I've been lucky enough to converse with Jay (via e-mail, telephone, or in person), he's been very polite and professional, so I don't know what this other guy's been smoking.

CatraDhtem @ Jun 1 2005, 04:01 AM wrote: I'm also pretty sure that first reference to "Jay" (the "Bermuda and Jay" line) was in fact referring to Steve, and I do see what the person was getting at. Let's face it, a lot of groups spilt up because the members just get sick of each other.

If you're right about what he was getting at, I still don't get it. Of all the rock-musician-type guys you could conceivably cram into a band bus and expect them to stay there for twenty years, Jon and Steve certainly seem like two of the more grounded, not-prone-to-needless-frictions-and-ructions sorts you could find.

Orthography Enthusiast @ May 31 2005, 06:27 PM wrote: I just went back and checked my "sent mail" box, and realized that I wuz edited!

HA! I knew it was you! I never knew anyone personally who got a Google Alert. WTG, Helen!!

Orthography Enthusiast @ Jun 1 2005, 12:21 AM wrote: If you're right about what he was getting at, I still don't get it. Of all the rock-musician-type guys you could conceivably cram into a band bus and expect them to stay there for twenty years, Jon and Steve certainly seem like two of the more grounded, not-prone-to-needless-frictions-and-ructions sorts you could find.

Yeah, it's a flimsy concept at best to suggest that the guys would have left by now if not for Al's demeanor, but I guess the point was they were trying to convey how nice of a guy Al is.

Orthography Enthusiast @ May 31 2005, 09:27 PM wrote: I just went back and checked my "sent mail" box, and realized that I wuz edited!

Here's what I actually sent:

I guess leaving in the parenthesis about Suzanne would have had some privacy/lessened funniness issues (more the latter than the former, since Suzanne's existence and marital status is no big secret) but, as printed, it seemed to leave the impression that I possibly thought Al might indeed have groupies (not just us Al-Gals but groupies in the sense of "females you do things with").

Not that there wouldn't be women lined up outside his door, waiting there since the week before, if he were taking applications for the position, but he's a classy guy.

Well, Helen, I didn't get the impression Al had groupies, even without the mention of Suzanne. But, then again, I'm an Al fan, and I know he doesn't have them. Hopefully, folks don't get the idea that he does. It came off more like he didn't, but that he does have female fans that enjoy the attention he gives them during OMM.

CatraDhtem @ Jun 1 2005, 07:27 AM wrote: Yeah, it's a flimsy concept at best to suggest that the guys would have left by now if not for Al's demeanor, but I guess the point was they were trying to convey how nice of a guy Al is.

Well, I can buy that, but it needs more than one kind-and-decent personality to keep that bus rolling. Fortunately, it does have more than one.

Orthography Enthusiast @ Jun 1 2005, 09:48 AM wrote: Well, I can buy that, but it needs more than one kind-and-decent personality to keep that bus rolling.

That's where the whips and Jolt Cola come in.

CatraDhtem @ Jun 1 2005, 04:51 PM wrote: That's where the whips and Jolt Cola come in.

Not to mention the Farker's uncle who was a stunt driver.

I thought this article from today neatly sums up the current state of song parodies. The only slight problem I had with it is that he thought "Star Wars Cantina" was the product of the morning DJs he was listening to.

What hath Weird Al wrought?

comparing Al to locusts? grr

Although I wouldn't mind if morning DJs backed off and left it to Al to do it right.