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."
Another free song (Score:5, Interesting)
It's pretty app when thinking about the steretypical Slashdot person.
From what I can remember, he put it online because some copyright/trademark thing kept him from using it on the next album. Not sure what it was, though. It looks like you can at least listen to it on his MySpace page.
One thing I love about Weird Al's songs is that he does his research. In the song from this "article", he mentions such things as Kazaa. In "All about the Pentiums", he throws out a lot of technical terms.
Weird Al is one of my favorite people ever. He's pretty good to his fans, he fights the true fight, and is hilarious to boot. I can't wait for this next album.
Re:Ascii illustration (Score:4, Interesting)
Nice avoidance of the
Re:Weird Al vs MC Lars (Score:5, Interesting)
Napster BAD! [campchaos.com] (as if you haven't seen it)
I can understand that artists want to get the money for the work they're doing... I respect that. Hell, I've even mailed artists money in the mail when I've downloaded songs I really liked (prior to itunes mostly) and I've had some good responses back from them doing that and some interesting t-shirts and signed stuff too I might add. Shrug, the whole drm, screw our fans, etc... it just gets on my nerves.
In the end the fans aren't the only ones hurt the bands are too.
Re:Best commentary on downloading since Tapster (Score:5, Interesting)
Crap. I hit submit by accident.
Back in 2000, Spinal Tap (sorry, I don't have a n-umlaut key on my keyboard) borrowed the domain tapster.com [theregister.co.uk] from some sort of brewery interest web site to put up a parody of Napster. Contrary to Nigel's comment, they actually had a lot of songs up there, mostly Spinal Tap, but they did have at least one "mislabeled" song, which was Zappa's "I am the Slime".
But the Tapster curse lives on, and even the "orignal" tapster.com is no more.
Speaking of myspace (Score:5, Interesting)
Since we're already spending so much time here and acting like junior high kids, I want myspace style slashdot profiles. Imagine what this would do to the community. When you read a post and think to yourself "Overweight, Undersexed Wow junkie" you can click the link and see their photos to confirm your suspicions. Plus, think of the fun we'd all have writing the CSS code to design our pages. Instead of harping on people for their grammar, we could point out how their profile page isn't XHTML compliant.
Taco would be everybody's friend by default, but if you're friends with the real CowboyNeal (or a girl) you would totally put that in your top eight.
Our mail system would be IMAP though
Re:Another free song (Score:2, Interesting)
If you check out the preorder page for "Straight outta Lynnwood" it looks like it's a great deal.
$13.98 gets me a full audio CD, A second side with all the tracks in 5.1 PCM, Instrumentals for all the tracks, and 9 music videos (with one from that dude who did ren and stimpy). This album looks too good to pirate!
Re:E-Card & Video (Score:3, Interesting)
I do not mean to imply that artist should not make money - far from that in fact. Of course artists should recieve compensation for thier works. But the leechery of hangers-on that has evolved around the artists of decades past has, I think, created a culture where the motivation to create art for money is out of ratio to what I (in opinion) feel is the proper scope.
Yes, I am an artist - not the best of course - but I make music and such because I enjoy it. I feel that if I were to write better music (and hopefully it is improving) that more people would listen to, and download, my music.
Perhaps even one day I may recieve some compensation to create music (for a film or game). This would be a wonderful confirmation for me, but to make money is not my primary reason for making music.
I do not like the idea that there are famous artists who are in the field purely for the lust of - and most importantly - as the direct result of the money that be.
Money-made artists are what I am speaking of, not artists who make money.
Re:Weird Al vs MC Lars (Score:2, Interesting)
OMFG - the label! (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:OMFG - the label! (Score:5, Interesting)
Weird Al was originally on a very obscure indie label called "Scotti Brothers." Its name was changed to "Volcano" when another label bought them out, then that label was co-opted by Sony BMG. So yes, he is distributed by Sony, but it's not exactly a diabolical plan on Weird Al's part. Actually I have friends who were in another band on the "Scotti Brothers" label, and found themselves in effect Sony artists. Which is not a good thing, because Sony won't honor the Scotti Bros. terms or release them from the contract-- so their first few CDs are basically buried forever.
This actually happens quite a bit with Indie bands, they sign contracts with small labels (which are usually somewhat vague, as neither have access to top-notch entertainment lawyers) and the labels are bought out by the majors-- and the bands find themselves having to deal with exactly the people they were trying to avoid.
Better call Alanis. (Score:5, Interesting)
The album, according to Amazon, is being released as a DualDisc, and that means that some computers and players won't be able to handle the album [wikipedia.org]. Of three computers in my dorm room last year, none of them could play the newest Springsteen album.
Because of the format choice, there might be some people that don't have any choice but to download the song, either legally (assuming iTunes sells it like they do some of his other albums) or through other means.
Re:E-Card & Video (Score:3, Interesting)
Gig of the 21st Century...Artists vs RIAA (Score:2, Interesting)
Wierd Al
MC Lars
Cruisbox http://audiopium.typepad.com/thatpodcastsong/ [typepad.com]
Can anyone else out there imagine a Live Aid style gig to raise funds to pay lawyers to go up against the RIAA...