Weird Al Says 'Don't Download This Song' 353
Kazzahdrane writes "Known geek and comedy singer/songwriter Weird Al Yankovic has released the first song from his new album 'Straight Outta Lynwood' for free on his MySpace page. The track is entitled 'Don't Download This Song' and tells of the dangers of illegally downloading music from filesharing sites." His MySpace page is most excellent. "Hi. Al here. No, really, it's Al. Seriously. What, you don't believe me? Go ahead, check weirdal.com. Hit the MySpace link. See if it brings you right back to this page. Go ahead. I'll wait. See? It's really me. I should point out... this means that conversely, all those other people on MySpace who are claiming to be me or implying that they are me... are definitely NOT me. I'm sure they're very nice people... they're just not 'Weird Al' Yankovic. I assure you."
E-Card & Video (Score:5, Informative)
I look forward to the music video that is supposed to air on Yahoo music [yahoo.com] at 10:00 PM Pacific Time tonight (August 22nd).
Enjoy one of the last artists that is still concerned about his fans and music no matter how hilarious and campy it may be. He has the sense to realize that he's very well off compared to his fans and jokes about solid gold humvees and diamond studded pools.
Re:No problem (Score:5, Informative)
Re:E-Card & Video (Score:5, Informative)
It's worth noting that it's also better to download the song from http://www.dontdownloadthissong.com/ [dontdownloadthissong.com], as opposed to the MySpace linked to in the summary (where the MP3 is 96kbps/22khz, as opposed to 160kbps/44khz).
Re:Another free song (Score:5, Informative)
Basically, James Blunt approved the parody, so Weird Al went ahead and did the track, but then James Blunt's record label objected - so Weird Al released it for free on his website.
"I have a long-standing history of respecting artists' wishes," Yankovic writes. "So if James Blunt himself were objecting, I wouldn't even offer my parody for free on my Web site. But since it's a bunch of suits -- who are actually going against their own artist's wishes -- I have absolutely no problem with it."
MC Lars (Score:3, Informative)
Download this song [myspace.com]
Re:I bought his last album (Score:5, Informative)
in addition, as for Al's supposed anti-downloading stance, it should be mentioned that he is in a somewhat unique position: literally hundreds of songs that AREN'T his are constantly attributed to him on file sharing systems, just because they're (ostensibly) "funny". Al maintains a relatively innocent, upbeat personna, but many of the songs misattributed to him are stupid, mean spirited, or far raunchier than anything Al would want to be associated with. it's a significant problem for the guy that goes much deeper than simple lost royalties.
that said, every time i've heard him asked about file sharing, that is how he has framed his response. he doesn't want people to think he wrote "smoke a bowla"
Re:I bought his last album (Score:5, Informative)
I have very mixed feelings about [Napster]. On one hand, I'm concerned that the rampant downloading of my copyright-protected material over the Internet is severely eating into my album sales and having a decidedly adverse effect on my career. On the other hand, I can get all the Metallica songs I want for FREE! WOW!!!!!
He's previously said that his biggest problem with internet downloading is that many files on the internet are incorrectly labelled with him as the artist, some of these being much more offensive than his actual material.
Re:Blackened (Score:5, Informative)
Direct Link (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Isn't it Lynnwood? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Weird Al vs MC Lars (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Keanu? Is that you? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Don't download it off iTunes, anyway... (Score:3, Informative)
Please, Wierd Al should have understood what he was signing. The label is screwing him, not iTunes.
Re:Another free song (Score:5, Informative)
Re:E-Card & Video (Score:5, Informative)
Re:E-Card & Video (Score:5, Informative)
The lyrics often sound like they came from a couple of bored teenagers, but his music has a wide variety including a lot of original songs that are not simply knockoffs of a specific song. Since You've Been Gone is an original in a barbershop quartet style. Swap a few lyrics, and Germs could seamlessly fit into a Nine Inch Nails album. Hardware Store is a brilliant rock and ska parody with a four part harmony I've wasted an embarassing amount of time listening to.
Good Old Days easy listening.
One More Minute 60s music.
Nature Trail to Hell metal.
Trigger Happy Beach Boys.
You Don't Love Me Anymore soft rock/ love songs.
And of course, an impressive collection of Polkas. Why not enjoy it all with a good sound system?
Re:E-Card & Video (Score:2, Informative)
The music video is by Bill Plympton [plymptoons.com], one of the grand old indie animators. He did a lot of stuff for MTV back when it was starting out, and you've probably seen his sketchy, hand-drawn Geico commercials. Other famous works: 25 Ways to Quit Smoking, The Tune, Your Face, and Guard Dog (Guard Dog is hilariously cute, by the way, and worth a watch).
I saw a talk Bill gave up in Juneau, Alaska a few weeks ago, and he's a very interesting and talented guy. He showed the Weird Al video and it was well done--the video is better than the song, in my opinion. So yeah, check it out, is my gist, as well as his other stuff--kind of like raunchy animated Far Side, kind of like nothing you've ever seen. A strange man.
Re:E-Card & Video (Score:3, Informative)