I had an idea for a good amount of Al-related things (mainly the Audio Collection and comedic transcripts) that wouldn't really translate well on other websites. Besides, it'd be a fun opportunity to learn HTML.
ADHD, low spoons, and lack of time don't really do wonders for your ability to write, let me tell you...
For the sake of simplicity, this site uses the term "studio album" exclusively for the 14 main, well, studio albums ("Weird Al" Yankovic (1983) to Mandatory Fun). This excludes Medium Rarities, Peter and the Wolf with Wendy Carlos, the Weird: the Al Yankovic Story soundtrack album, all compilation albums and box sets, all extended plays, and anything else that isn't (commonly) listed as a studio album. (Of course, not that it'd stop me from reviewing 'em on the Audio Collection, should I ever decide to, but still.)
Basically (as used on this site), any song that isn't in a studio album. This occasionally leads to the scenario of calling a relatively find-able song (like "Now You Know" or "Headline News") "rare", but hey.
As a Weird Al fan (and thus, a Dr. Demento and Luke Ski fan), I call it "funny music" out of respect to the art form. I only really call it "novelty music" if I either have to or think it makes the sentence clearer.
"But what about "mad music"/"comedy music"?"
"Funny music" was the alternative I found first and it caught onto me. Besides, it rolls more off the tongue.
"Doesn't Dr. D himself call 'em novelty records from time to time?"
Quiet, you! (My official answer is, of course, that I use "novelty music" in causual conversation and "funny music" in important discussion.)
The feeling of an instrumental going up and down, the beat. It can't be too bounceless (not very interesting to listen to), but it can't be too bouncy, either (ears start to hurt). I use the term a bit loosely here, and that's because bounce is something you have to feel and thus, subjective.
Because I associate aquas, teals, and other light blues (especially Mint/#66CDAA, the background color of this site) with Al. Why? I couldn't tell ya; it just feels like an Al color.
Hm! It's a tie between the late, acquired taste of Jerry Samuels (Napoléon XIV) and the obscure, risque sound of Dan "Damaskas" Hollombe. Both of 'em are pretty good!
I'll admit, I mainly just recreationally listen to music (read: I've never been all that interested in specific musicians/bands), but I do have some reoccurring favorites. They Might Be Giants, Lemon Demon, The Monkees, Nirvana, and (ironically) Prince are my main ones.
Imagine if someone from the Midwest suddenly started speakin' in a Southern drawl (and occasionally lisped or sounded German instead, at that!). That's a pretty close description of what's goin' on over there.
And you'd be right! I've never been to one of his concerts and I never discovered a lost Weird Al song. But, still, with all the knowledge I have of him and the fact I've (mostly) transcribed a song that (presumably) had no official lyrics beforehand, I wouldn't call myself "casual".
For the reason why I do most things; because I think it's funny.
First of all, rude. Second of all...no, not really.
Just send me an ask (or, if I know you, DM me) on Tumblr and I'll see if it fits (presuming, of course, I wasn't planning to put it on here already).
Yes. Consider the Links page (along with a bunch of other stuff here) to be in perma-"under construction".
It's just a reference to one of Napoléon XIV's songs ("Marching Off to Bedlam", specifically).
I intend for it to update throughout the year (and likely a while after that). It gives me some leniency, y'know?
If I like the lyrics (and, related, how catchy and/or witty they are), if I like the instrumental and if it has enough bounce (very important!), if I like the subject matter, if I like the music video (should there be one) and so on. These don't appear in the reviews proper (as in, say, a list), but I may include them...somewhere.
The official music video for said song, should there be one. If not, I'll just link to the song itself (uploaded by Al himself, of course).
The only exceptions I intend to make for this rule are "Foil" (the ending of which, these days, just feels a bit too tasteless to include) and "Close but No Cigar" (...hopefully obvious). I'll just link to the offical audio instead.
I haven't listened to 'em, so I don't have much reason to link 'em at all.
Al's songs can be classified into three categories: Parodies, Originals, and Medleys. Parodies are for...well, do I need to tell you? Songs like "Eat It" and "Amish Paradise" are parodies. Originals are for songs not explicitly parodying a specific song and can be split into two subcategories: Style Parodies (imitating the style of a specific artist) and True Originals (songs that Al and the band (relatively) thought up on their own time). Songs like "Dare to be Stupid" and "Hardware Store" are Originals. Medleys are for Al's signature polka medleys (stringing snippets of popular music to a polka instrumental). Songs like "The Alternative Polka" and "Polkas on 45" are medleys.
Probably not. I just find it interesting.
What can I say? Al and the band just make them sound great.
When I create a decent amount of drawings to share and/or finally remember to share them here. This site is only running off 1 GB, after all.
You would think that something where the main work is listening to people and writing down what they said would be easy, at least compared to the other stuff on this site. You...would be wrong.
Come back home, won't you?