Al, You Should Do These Songs Live

[TMBJon]

A topic where we discuss the songs we would like Al to play from his back catalog, since he's probably organizing a setlist about now. Not necessarily a full setlist, though that would be fine, but what songs would you like Al to include on his set?

In order of preference for me:

1) One (or Both) of the New Originals He Recently Recorded - For obvious reasons.

2) I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead - one of the best originals Al has done IMO, right up there with Dare To Be Stupid (sort of a similar theme actually). This would be easy to play toward the beginning of his set.

3) You Don't Love Me Anymore - I would love to see this return to the set, in the place of One More Minute or Melanie. I think this is his best love song.

4) The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota - I would prefer this to Albuquerque. It was so fun to see this song live in 1996 and it's definitely my favorite long-ish song.

5) Everything You Know Is Wrong - Maybe this is a stretch, but it's also one of my favorite originals. If it's possible to sing this song live night after night, it would be a fun song - especially if he can do a good live TMBG impression. (The Johns emoticons)

6) Craigslist - While CNR and Skipper Dan are likely to be played, I think Craigslist should also be considered. It would make the best live performance out of all five Internet Leaks.

7) Buy Me A Condo - If Al wants to do a classic style parody a la Dog Eat Dog or Dare To Be Stupid on recent tours, he could do a full on Bob Marley costume and maybe a slightly different arrangement of the song.

Of the originals from Straight Outta Lynwood, I would like to see I'll Sue Ya or Close But No Cigar stay in the setlist. If he adds another one, Virus Alert would be the obvious choice.

9) You Make Me - Another one that could be thrown into the first half of the set, where he plays a lot of originals.

10) Polkamix - Assuming there is not a new album or a new polka to coincide with this tour (though a new polka would be amazing, of course), I hope Al does not go the traditional route and just play Polkarama. I would rather see Polkas On 45, or a mixture of several polkas. Or even Bohemian Polka would be pretty rad. One summer tour with no album to promote, why not play a unique choice for the polka selection?






I welcome critique of these choices, and I especially would love to hear your top ten selections, with explanations. Al read our feedback on The Essential Weird Al Yankovic, so why wouldn't he read this?

[ludovica64]

Seriously?.. a Bob Marley thing...? don't you think that might be umm .. misinterpreted?

[TMBJon]

Seriously?.. a Bob Marley thing...? don't you think that might be umm .. misinterpreted?

Huh? How?

[Big Spoon]

1) Craigslist - Not the best of the internet leaks, but has great live potential.

2) Skipper Dan - The best Al song ever. 'Nuff said.

3) CNR - Again, has great live potential.

4) Melanie - One of my favorites. Yeah, he played in during the Poodle Hat Tour, so it's unlikely we'll see it live again so soon, but it's a great song that sounds even better when played live.

5) Stuck In A Closet With Vanna White - A bit more of an obscure Al song, but again I think it would be fun if played.

6) Everything You Know Is Wrong - I would LOVE to see this. One of my favorite Al songs, and by far my favorite song to drive to. However, as Al has never played it live before, the chances are slim.

7) Virus Alert - We didn't get it on the SOL Tour, so I'd like to see it now. Plus, with the pattern of "leaving off an original to save for the next tour," I'd say its likely that we'll see it.

[Kristine]

I can't remember which song it was, OMM or Melanie, but I remember a couple of the band members saying something to the effect of "...and that's why we don't play that song anymore" after they used it as a sound check song at the OC Fair.

+1 on the Bob Marley costume. Should be easy to convert the I'll Sue Ya wig haha. I don't think it would get "misinterpreted"... Bob Marley was a music icon, and will continue to be remembered as such.

I would love to see Skipper Dan!! And not just the video like Weasel Stomping Day.

[Mystik Tomato]

UHF.

I'm not even sure why it's never been played live.

[JEDM]

Frank's 2000" TV
Good Old Days - seems possible ever since Jimmy Fallon

[Kristine]

UHF.

I'm not even sure why it's never been played live.

...because it's not really a "singing" song??
It's a chant-style song with mostly instruments and effects... not to mention female voices, too. It wouldn't really make much sense in a concert setting.

[TMBJon]

Yeah that would be a waste of four minutes IMO.

[Killingsworth]

If it turns out that the album doesn't come out in time and there's no new polka (god forbid) Al should just do "The Hot Rocks Polka" seeing as it is the only polka medley to date that hasn't been preformed live on any tours so far. Other than those, some songs that also haven't been done live in at least a while (that I'd like to see) are You Make Me, Velvet Elvis, That Boy Could Dance, Cable TV, I Was Only Kidding, The White Stuff, One Of Those Days, When I Was Your Age, The Check's In The Mail, Truck Drivin' Song and Virus Alert.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Franks 2000" TV make a comeback.