![]() Years later he released an unmixed, unmastered version of the 23-second bit online for free.Īfter Al got the OK to cover Blunt’s 2006 weeper “You’re Beautiful” - renamed “You’re Pitiful” - the singer’s bosses at Atlantic Records reportedly had second thoughts and nixed the deal to include it on Yankovic’s 2006 Straight Outta Lynwood album. The band whose original songs sometimes read like “Weird Al” tunes turned down Yankovic’s request to include their 1994 breakthrough hit “Buddy Holly” in one of his infamous polka medleys, “The Alternative Polka.” After CD inserts thanking Weezer for approving the parody were printed, Al said the “Holly” bit had to be “physically cut” out of the track. But that’s obviously not going to be the case.”īeatles/Wings legend McCartney initially said yes to Al doing a take on his iconic 1973 James Bond theme”Live and Let Die.” But when Yankovic revealed that the title he had in mind was “Chicken Pot Pie,” steadfast vegetarian Macca said no dice. “I hadn’t approached him in about 20 years because he always said no, but I had this fantasy that he’d come out with a new song, I’d have a great idea, he’d finally say yes and it would erase decades of weirdness between us. “It’s too bad,” Yankovic said in a 2016 interview. ![]() Yankovic repeatedly tried to get Prince to sign off on comedic takes of “Purple Rain” (“Yellow Snow”) and a Beverly Hillbillies-themed re-do of “Let’s Go Crazy.” The Purple One, however, would not have it. I’m actually really sad it didn’t happen,” Beck said. I think it would have been an amazing video. In a 2022 Audible Words + Music episode, Beck said that he regretted turning down Al’s “Loser” take, “ Schmoozer.” “I regret denying him permission to do it. There are basically two kinds of “Weird Al” parody subjects: ones who are honored and ones who wish they’d said yes. In fact, the polka-loving accordionist and author of such giggle-worthy classics as “White & Nerdy,” “Another One Rides the Bus” and “I Love Rocky Road” has been turned down by some of the biggest names in rock and pop over the years.Ĭheck out a list of 10 acts who told Al to beat it. “The famous quote from him was, ‘Is it going to be a song about food?’ because at that point that’s primarily what I was known for.” When Yankovic explained that it would actually be about how nobody can understand Cobain’s vocals, the singer was even more enthused.Īnd while Al always tries to make sure his subjects approve of his punny remakes, not everyone says yes to the jest. “He was sweet and he got it in like five seconds and said, ‘Of course, you can do a parody,’” Yankovic said of the late Nirvana frontman. ![]() In fact, in a 2012 interview, Yankovic revealed that after Jackson blocked the release of his “Black or White” remake “Snack All Night,” he decided to take on the grunge superstars by spoofing their breakthrough hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” After his manager couldn’t get Kurt Cobain on the phone to get his blessing - which Al always tries to do, even though it’s legally unnecessary - he asked his friend Saturday Night Live cast member Victoria Jackson to give him a hand. From Nirvana to Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga, tributes such as “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Eat It” and “Perform This Way” served as sign posts that they’d really arrived. For some artists, having one of their songs parodied by “Weird Al” Yankovic is a peak career moment.
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