This is why “Weird Al” Yankovic is 27 times better than Lady Gaga – or at least her management company

“Weird Al” Yankovic has carved a successful career as an actor, as an author, and as a video music director.  And if his current career path doesn’t work out, he can always fall back on that engineering degree he earned at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Oh yeah, and he’s a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-parodist-satirist.  You know… “Eat It,” “Like a Surgeon,” “Amish Paradise,” etc., etc.  The songs are funny, and most of the artists who get the “Weird Al” Yankovic parody treatment actually appreciate the coverage – because it means that they’ve accomplished enough fame and notoriety that “Weird Al” wants to satirize one of their hits.

Perfect example.  Back in the early 1990’s, when Nirvana made an appearance on Saturday Night Live, “Weird Al” contacted Nirvana after their performance and asked if he could get permission to parody their song “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”  Kurt Cobain gave his blessing – and then asked if the parody would be about food or something like that.  “No,” said Al, “It’s going to be a song about how nobody can understand what you’re singing in that song!”  And with that, Cobain gave his blessing to parody their song AGAIN.

Compare.

Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”	“Weird Al” Yankovic’s “Smells Like Nirvana”

Most artists have no problem with “Weird Al” parodying their biggest hits. And even though Al doesn’t legally have to ask their permission, he still asks each artist out of respect for their creative process – as well as making sure the artist won’t get cheezed off by the parody. The list of artists and bands who have received – and enjoyed – the “Weird Al” treatment include Madonna, Don McLean, Joan Jett, Dire Straits, Chamillionaire, Diddy, Barenaked Ladies, and some guy named Michael Jackson.

Al put the following story on his weblog, which I’m linking to here.  But the condensed version of the story goes like this.

So as Al’s trying to finish off his new album, he gets an idea to parody Lady Gaga’s current hit “Born This Way.” He contacts Gaga’s management, and asks Gaga for permission to parody the song. Gaga’s management says she wants to hear the track before giving permission. Al sends her the lyrics of his parody. Gaga’s management says she wants to HEAR the song, not just read the lyrics. Al and the band go into the studio and create “Perform This Way,” and send it to Gaga for approval.

Gaga’s management responds back. “No.”

Now here’s the problem. You don’t just go into a recording studio and bang out a hit in 15 minutes. There’s studio time and all the other bills that must be paid. And to finish off an album in time for release – let’s say in time for a tour or something – you need to let the record company know in plenty of time that an album will be coming from you or from your band, so that they have enough time to ramp up the promotional machine.

Well, unfortunately with Gaga’s refusal, that left Al with 11 songs on a 12-song album. So reluctantly Al had to take “Perform This Way” off the new LP – even after going through every single hoop and ring of fire that Ms. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta put him through. And even after all that, she still put the kibosh on the record.

Of course, that never stopped Lady Gaga from blatantly poaching everything but the bustier from Madonna’s “Express Yourself” to create “Born This Way.” It’s okay for Gaga, but not for “Weird Al.”

That’s right. Al can’t put the track on his new album.

But no law says he can’t release it FOR FREE to the entire world!!

Which is exactly what he did yesterday, featuring it on his homepage. So allow me to spread the news… by comparison, here’s Lady Gaga’s song “Born This Way” and “Weird Al” Yankovic’s version called “Perform This Way.”

Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”	“Weird Al” Yankovic’s “Perform This Way”

And after Al put the parody out for free, he received a message of support.

From Lady Gaga herself.

As this blog post update reveals, Lady Gaga’s management team NEVER FORWARDED THE PARODY to Gaga for approval.  And Gaga loved the parody, and gave her approval for the parody to appear on Al’s new album.  Al-fans rejoice!!

See, Lady Gaga has to be aware of one thing. The last person who told “Weird Al” not to parody his stuff was James Blunt – well, his record company (Atlantic Records) told Al not to put the parody of Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” on the upcoming new album. So Al let that one track go out to the masses for free.

By the way, anybody seen James Blunt of late? Anyone?

Didn’t think so.

“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt	“You’re Pitiful” by “Weird Al” Yankovic