Thought everyone who might not have seen this might find it amusing!

In today's "Metro" newspaper free in UK major cities, there's a "60 Second Interview" with 'Weird Al' Yankovich - the comedy musician famous for rewriting the lyrics of hits. Perhaps the most famous being the "Eat It" spoof on Michael Jackson's "Beat It".

His latest album contains spoofs on Eminem and Avril Lavigne. Apparently Eminem has agreed to the spoof of one of his songs, but is not allowing a video to be made of it.

In a very lighthearted interview, he also mentions the following:-

Q: Who's turned you down for a song?

A: It happens extremely rarely. I've been doing this for more than 20 years, and most people see it as a homage. Some people have been more upset when I haven't done a parody. It's like they think: 'What's wrong with me?' The only person to have turned me down consistently is Prince. And this was way back in the 1980's when he was actually having hits. For whatever reason, he never saw the point of me.

Q: What would you have done?

A: I wanted to do "When Doves Cry", "1999" and a couple of others. I still call him every couple of years just to see if he has developed a sense of humour, but he hasn't.

Moonwrap

It is a little aarogant of Prince not to let Weirdo do a song, but hey -- doesn't he have a right to be a little aarogant. Perhaps Prince simply takes his songwriting and musical outlets seriously. He has referred to him as "his children," and no good parent would want their children made fun of -- sense of humor or not.

didn't he feature in the video of Partyman?

I wonder if this 'Weird al' is ever gonna develop a sense of humor..

- Avril Lavigne is already a parody
-'Weird Al' Bollocks was funny 30 scdes 18 years ago

Prince IS arrogant, but so what? it's part of his image.. Maybe his arrogance is more related to uncertenty or just plain stardom.

Weird Al is probably as passé as Prince is.
And theyr humor is totally different. I can't see why he's joking on people in the first place.. how original.

If so, i'd rather would like to hear him do something with THE CROSS and call it THE CROTCH...

Maybe Prince takes his music seriously and doesn't want it to be parodied for profit. What incentive does Prince have ot let Weird Al use one of his songs? I think Prince has done the right thing here...it isn't up to him to help Weird Al's "career".

prince is american, he's not perfectly relaxed when it comes about irony...

hazel said:

lol, by all accounts ive ever heard prince has an excellent sense of humour, he probs just doesnt see what he has to gain by letting weird al parody him, although it is funny that weird al still calls him up every couple of years! by the by, isnt the simpsons from the USA? its proof complete that some americans can grasp irony!

maybe
its
a
white
thing..

i know americans are great, if they are in the good mood..just an ironic post!

I don't think his parodies are funny and if Prince told him no, he needs to just forget about it and move on, what's the point of him dwelling on that now? There are a lot of other people he can make fun of.

selena, you're right..a parody of when doves cry, a single from th'80 wich NOBODY can recall except for his diehard fans would be a bad choosing for a reentrè actually..

there is a reason his name is weird...just so f*ckin weird kind of like people you really try to avoid...but he wont GO AWAY i applaud p for turning the ass down

Jatrig said:

- I agree. I wouldnt let comedians earn money making fun of my songs, but I would love to be covered by good artists (if I was a musician)

Moonwrap said:

HAHHAA!! He STILL hasn't developed a sense of humor amongst other things like a good business sense, kindness and appreciation for his fans.

Rudedog

hazel said:

He planned to do the parody THEN, not now dumbass.

I just saw Wierd Al in concert last Saturday night...amazing, high energy show!!!

at on point, during one of his "interviews", him and Celine Dion start singing 1999...funny stuff

also, his new song "wanna b u're lover" is very Prince like...even Al says that is his immitation of Beck doing an impression of Prince...in concert he comes out dressed in a bright white suit, ONA style, and some wicked hihg heels...

I love AL!!!

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I think what would just make me mad is not the song itself, its how he would act in the video. Weird Al would end up over doing the prince look and intentionally making prince look worse, thats the issue with me.
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Weird Al is a lighthearted funny guy who has always made me laugh. Prince and some of his fans seriously need to lighten up. People on here make little jokes about Prince lines, and even write little parodies from time to time. What's the difference? Or did it rub some fams the wrong way that Wierd Al remarked on Prince not having a hit recently, and no sense of humor?

Why would he be arrogant? Thats his music there4 its absloutly his right whether 2 take Weird Al's request or turn it down.

Funny, but I just started a threat if Weird Al did a parody of Prince..

rudedog said:

He planned to do the parody THEN, not now dumbass



hemm.guess i need a new pair of glasses..thank you..
p.s what is a dumbass?

Who the hell is he? I've never heard of him.

I would have said "no" as well.

Legally Al wouldn't even have to ask, but he's a pretty good guy and wants permission. BTW Al's new record sold more then TRC :GRIN:

What hasn't sold more than TRC? LOL Weird Al rulez!

lovemachine said:

lovemachine said:

Thats right, Al does not need Prince's permission to do any parody of his songs. Al ask's out of respect. If he all of a sudden wanted to just do one he can do so with no legal ramifications so long he doesn't use any samples of the original etc. Prince has absolutly no sence of humor any more and I don't think he ever will develope one either. I takes himself way too seriously. He should learn to chill.

Jem said:

How could anyone possibly make him look any worse than what he has already done to himself lately?

Harlepolis said:

Its absolutely arrogant cause Prince takes himself and his music way too seriously. Weird Al is not making fun of Prince, but just taking Prince's idea and doing an amusing variation on it. What Weird Al is not insult the artist who originally made the song, but put a humorous spin on it. Michael Jackson and plenty of others saw the humor, but I guess..again..Prince just takes "his work" way too seriously.

Rudedog