what do you think is the best weird al parody song

I'm defining best in terms of how well the parody lyrics fit within the original lyrics, not only syntactically but that the spirit and style were saved. The best ones also have a certain critique on the original as well (usually explored more in the video) 

I feel that the best is Gump. He starts the lyrics the same was as Lump and it fits perfectly with the iconic image of forrest gump sitting on the bench. nice start. then he just describes how bad that stupid movie is. "his buddy bubba was a shrimp lovin' man" lol. Also he sounds so close to the original that it's believable that POTUS could have recorded it.

Second best is Like A Surgeon because not only does surgeon rhyme perfectly with virgin but there's the extended joke about heartbeats "beating for the very *last* time." perfect writing.

Honorable mention to Tacky (parody of Happy) simply because I read the song as a comment on how tacky it is for pharrell never shutting the fuck up about how happy he is. And there's a kanye rib in there too.

what do you guys think is the best weird al song?

edit: re-reading this post it's clear i have autism lol

Amish Paradise and the Nirvana parody were super entertaining when I was a nipper

I've never heard of Al Parody... is his/their music weird?

Gump is great, but my favorite song of his isn't a parody. It's the Alternative Polka!

Weird Al is a national treasure.

This is his masterpiece imho:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mU6USTBRE

Got more chins than Chinatown.  Can't top that.

  On 1/19/2018 at 12:45 AM, Candiru said:

Weird Al is a national treasure.

  On 1/18/2018 at 10:54 AM, dr lopez said:

 "his buddy bubba was a shrimp lovin' man" 

His friend with no legs he called Lieutenant Dan

His girlfriend Jenny was kind of a slut

He went to the White House, showed LBJ his butt

  On 1/18/2018 at 10:54 AM, dr lopez said:

Second best is Like A Surgeon because not only does surgeon rhyme perfectly with virgin but there's the extended joke about heartbeats "beating for the very *last* time." perfect writing.

even his laziest songs are still funny but the best get quite layered and, arguably in some cases, exceed the excellence of the originals

I think this is a strong contender in that regard - not to mention he literally inferred the plot of Phantom Menace from fan theories and internet forum leaks before the movie was released. hell, christ the way he wraps up the plot in this song lyrics is way more succinct and moving than the actual fucking movie

I'm a lifelong Weird Al fan, IIRC there's been a few threads on him (fair amount of Weird Al WATMMer fans - even ole' awepittance) in the past where I've mentioned this, but as if that wasn't enough here's links to playlists I put together just of his original songs and non-parody homages / style spoofs

Weird Al-riginals: Original songs by Weird Al Yankovic - https://open.spotify.com/user/1255714607/playlist/3g4h0RpXHDsleHpJLeUi3X

"In the Sty-Al of": The Weird Al Yankovic style and genre parodies - https://open.spotify.com/user/1255714607/playlist/3aIwfrKakWWfwI517KZ3eD

Recently I binge listened to his discography and realized some of my favorite songs by him are not just deeper cuts but non-parody songs. Ended up compiling them into the playlists above. 

  On 1/18/2018 at 10:54 AM, dr lopez said:

 

edit: re-reading this post it's clear i have autism lol

I went to a screening of UHF w/ a Q&A afterword with Weird Al. Sections of the theater out of context would have come across like one was at an aspergers meetup.

  On 1/18/2018 at 11:33 AM, valleyinaire said:

Nirvana parody

Cobain and Weird Al had a interesting relationship over this one - mutual respect and Cobain's only request was it not be a 'food song' 

Also Tony Hawk is an extra in the music video, something Weird Al didn't know until 2009

Man, it's hard to pick a "best"... I 've loved Weird Al since I was a little kid "Smells Like NIrvana", "Amish Paradise" and "Gump" are probably the top 3. If I remember right, Coolio was PISSED about Amish Paradise.

I feel like this parody of the Crash Test Dummies song is underrated as well:

  On 1/19/2018 at 6:36 AM, joshuatx said:

 

  On 1/18/2018 at 11:33 AM, valleyinaire said:

Nirvana parody

 

Cobain and Weird Al had a interesting relationship over this one - mutual respect and Cobain's only request was it not be a 'food song' 

 

Did he actually request it not be food related?  I recall hearing that his first reaction when Al dialed him up was "will it be about food?" and he seemed excited about it.  Food did take up a large portion (heh) of his early parody themes.  Livin' in the Fridge is another classic.  i swear there was a video for it, but I couldn't find it on youtube.

^ that one is a great time capsule

Ok, I think I'm going with this one as the best

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMiRGCGIfCg

For me, his music really needs the videos for full effect.  That's where the genius lies.

  On 1/19/2018 at 6:41 AM, Zephyr_Nova said:

 

  On 1/19/2018 at 6:36 AM, joshuatx said:

 

  On 1/18/2018 at 11:33 AM, valleyinaire said:

Nirvana parody

 

Cobain and Weird Al had a interesting relationship over this one - mutual respect and Cobain's only request was it not be a 'food song' 

 

 

Did he actually request it not be food related?  I recall hearing that his first reaction when Al dialed him up was "will it be about food?" and he seemed excited about it.  Food did take up a large portion (heh) of his early parody themes.  Livin' in the Fridge is another classic.  i swear there was a video for it, but I couldn't find it on youtube.

 

I stand corrected.

Cobain and Grohl have allegedly both said they felt that the parody request was the moment when "Nirvana made it" 

I got Bad Hair Day on cassette for my birthday when I was 9. Proto-dank.

  On 1/21/2018 at 2:26 AM, Candiru said:

I got Bad Hair Day on cassette for my birthday when I was 9. Proto-dank.

I remember at our school xmas party. Anyone else remember xmas parties just being like soda, bags of chips, and candy and watching a dumb movie? Making this more odd it was like shorts and shirt weather b/c I lived on Kadena AB, Okinawa at the time. I remember someone bringing in Santa Clause with Tim Allen on VHS. 

Anyway my friend asked our sub if he could play a xmas track from Weird Al and played "The Night Santa Went Crazy" in the boombox. Sub was like 

haha thats a good song.

best non parody weird al song (that's not a polka) is melanie

amish paradise

weird al should make a parody of analord called alnalord

  On 1/22/2018 at 12:11 AM, dr lopez said:

haha thats a good song.

 

best non parody weird al song (that's not a polka) is melanie

ah yes, he's got some great dark comedy songs

my fav original is this one 

Carnival Of the Animals Part 2 with Wendy Carlos.

lol

Living With a Hernia is one of the best.

It's not a parody, but Buckingham Blues aged really well.