Weird Al 201

You probably don't need Weird Al 101. Odds are good you know your "Amish Paradise," your "White and Nerdy," your "Smells Like Nirvana," and of course your "Eat It." Perhaps you could even test out of Weird Al 123, if you're familiar with some non-lead singles, like "I Lost on Jeopardy," "It's All About the Pentiums," or "Yoda."

But it's time to get down to business, students. It's time we tackled some Weird Al original songs.

First thing we discuss after going over the syllabus is that half of Al's songs are not parodies. Every other song on every album is a song he wrote the music for. These are, usually, "style parodies," written to sound like a particular band or maybe just to fit into a genre.

Let's begin.

Would you care for a song about an internal organ, written in the style of the Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys? Of course you would. ("Pancreas," 2006)



How about a song written only in palindromes? ("Bob," 2003)



Al admits that "One More Minute" (1985) is about a real breakup--I don't know what it says about me as a person that I think that makes it funnier.



"Truck Drivin' Song" (1999) may not even be the best original song on Running with Scissors, but it's the only Weird Al song (I can think of) that features steel guitar.



Finally, if I had to pick a favorite Weird Al song, this is it: the "Generic Blues." (1989)


Good job today, class. See you next time. Click here to read more . . .