An Al-lebration

[thebitterguy]

Slate.com has an article on 25 years of Weird Al.

Interesting look at his career and the evolution of pop music.

Comments

[granolademonic.livejournal.com]

That was incredibly well-written and insightful.

[doc-mystery.livejournal.com]

Nice survey of his career.

The Youtube links were a nice touch, too.

::B::

[nottheterritory.livejournal.com]

OOoh - now I feel all warm and fuzzy about Al again... Mind you, I don't know most of the songs he's riffing off these days, so the parody element is a little lost on me.

Having grown up with Tom Lehrer as well as Wierd Al, I remember early realizing how Al is the beating heart of 'parody' as opposed to 'satire'. It's interesting to read an analysis in which his lack of satire is kind of satirical... or something... (does that make sense? I'm not really well)...

[thebitterguy]

We've just been listening to him way past when we were aware of the popular music that's right for him to satirize. We're no longer hip, just square.

You've mentioned your strong feelings on him as parodist vs satirist before.

[thebitterguy]

Glad you liked it. Do you think Deven would like a copy of Poodle Hat for Christmas?

[thebitterguy]

And by Poodle Hat, I meant Straight Outta Lynwood.

[thebitterguy]

Yep. Youtube is the Alexandrian Library of Al Videos; I have to steal that line.

[granolademonic.livejournal.com]

Oh Hells yes, he's a Weird Al dork going way back, like me.