Lynstrumentals

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WeirdAl.com boasts instrumental versions (with accompanying on-screen lyrics) for every song on Straight Outta Lynwood. This is a good idea, but it surprised me. They made a careful motion to make sure we know that there are only 6 videos (possibly only for the originals), I think that if there were only 6 instrumentals, it would have been careful to tell us.

With that said, this strikes me oddly because, on Poodle Hat, Al only included the instrumental versions of his originals. Really, it is Al and TBITB performing the parody instrumentals, but they are imitating the works of someone else without really changing it much at all.

How do you think this will go down? Will this be cool with the original artists?

[minnick27]

I cant really see Al doing something like that without finding out if it was cool beforehand. The last thing we need is a controversy for this album.

[Al's #27 fan]

Yeah, I agree with minnick. I'm pretty sure he'd make sure that it was okay with the original artists.

Also, it doesn't change the amount of royalties they'd get. The percentages would still be the same.

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I cant really see Al doing something like that without finding out if it was cool beforehand. The last thing we need is a controversy for this album.

Well, of course. But doesn't it seem odd that Al is including songs that he really had no part in writing? That doesn't seem like his style.

[Bruce the Duck]

It's possible that the instrument versions of the parodies will include additional sounds or instruments that will enhance and change the original versions. For example, he could include accordion or various goofball sound effects to the songs. I don't know. Just throwing ideas out there.

[anthontherun]

Plus, most of his parodies are a bit faster/shorter than the originals...and like Jeremy said, if there are any additional (or less) sounds and instruments (an instrumental "Spam" would be somewhat different from an instrumental "Stand"), that'll change it too.

And as long as royalties are paid, covers are legal too, although knowing Al, he got permission beforehand.

[Teh Dingo]

It's also odd and against Al's style to do these 6 videos So, I don't think we can count on Al's "style" for this album.

He's just going in all kinds ofdirections...he knows what he's doing

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Personally, being a parodist myself, I get excited by instrumentals. Seeing that Al has already done parodies of the original songs, I'm probably not going to use them, but I love to have them anyways. This is really good news for me and all others who love instrumentals.

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One more point of interest about the instrumental blurb on the album page is that the on-screen lyrics are presented as an "option". Does that imply that the lyrics may distract from something else happening on screen? There must be a reason why one would not always want the lyrics on.

[Bruce the Duck]

I would think there would be on-screen lyrics as an option for the 6 videos.