World of Weird Al Yankovic

k, I just read the link that Marty posted.

I agree that it's silly for a label to go against their artist's wishes.

What I want to know from other Al fans is this. Why is it that when an artist turns Al down for a parody, we instantly blast the artist and put him on our "list"? I understand that Al does comedic music, and that's why we all love him, but honestly, why can't we take a look from the artist's point of view? Imagine you had something that you worked really hard on (the fact that many "popular" artists these days don't write their own material or play any instruments anymore is neither here nor there), and someone approached you wanting to make fun of it. Would you be okay with your project being openly mocked (in good fun or otherwise)?

I'm sure most of us would, but there are a lot of people in the world who just don't want something they were involved in to be made fun of.

I completely agree with you, Weirdalfreak, but I think the circumstances are different in this case.
I respect an artist's wishes to turn down a parody, but not a record label's wishes to unjustly make profit off of Al's already approved, recorded, and mastered song. Parody is covered under fair use and Al only asks the artists (and pays them) because he is a nice guy. There is no reason for a record label to be obnoxious about it.

Personally, I don't put every artist who turns Al down for a parody on "The List". I only do that to those artists such as Eminem. Approving Al for a parody and video and then changing your mind about the video will earn you a spot on my list. James Blunt is not on "The List" because he approved of the parody. Atlantic Records did not.

Well, I agree--but I hate Prince for a different reason: beating Al out as Sexiest Vegetarian.

Kevbo1987 @ Jun 19 2006, 03:49 PM wrote: Personally, I don't put every artist who turns Al down for a parody on "The List".

Exactly. There's a major difference between an artist without a sense of humor or without a desire to hear their work done as a parody, such as Prince, and an artist who acts pissy about it after the fact for whatever reason.

I have to agree too. Prince shouldn't be on the same List as Emimen and Atlantic. We have to respect his wishes to turn down a parody, but there's something about it that irks me....like the artist is insecure with their music or something

KnottyEmily @ Jun 19 2006, 04:30 PM wrote: I have to agree too. Prince shouldn't be on the same List as Emimen and Atlantic. We have to respect his wishes to turn down a parody, but there's something about it that irks me....like the artist is insecure with their music or something

Are you reading what you're saying as you type? Eminem only turned Al down for a video, Prince turned Al down for multiple songs

Yes, but Eminem probably made Al lose money on PH. Prince didn't affect him negatively, just neutrally.

Agreed. Not having a video for Poodle Hat certainly hurt the publicity efforts for the album, and therefore Al's sales. So Eminem did do Al some economic harm. Al was always careful to express appreciation for Em letting him do the song, but then, Al is (almost) always gracious.

TMBJon @ Jun 19 2006, 04:05 PM wrote: There is no reason for a record label to be obnoxious about it.

I agree here. I think that the record company stepping in to personally ensure that a song does not get made, even though the original artist wants it done is silly.

If Prince turned down Al for multiple songs, that doesn't mean we should hate him. That also doesn't mean that he has no sense of humor. It just means he worked hard on his projects, and doesn't want them to be made fun of. We all agree that it's the artist's loss when they turn Al down, so why let it fester any more than that?

I understand that Eminem turned Al down for a video, but at least he let Al do the song. Yeah, he may have said ok on the video, and changed his mind later, but it's his to do that with, isn't it? Didn't Al make any other videos for Poodle Hat? If not, why?

I just don't understand why we villify these guys because they turn Al down.

Dumb n00b for Al wrote: Well, I agree--but I hate Prince for a different reason: beating Al out as Sexiest Vegetarian. 

Ok, I can handle that!