hazel said:

Co-sign. Americans and irony have a very tenuous relationship, I'm afraid. It was going kinda well for a while, then Seinfeld went off the air...

Quoting Purple Nikki -

"Yes. Weird Al does not need Prince's permission to do a parody of one of his songs. He is just asking out of respect and is probably trying to avoid the issues that came up with Coolio.
Do you guys rememeber that? Weird Al made a parody of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" from the movie Dangerous Minds. Weird Al made the song "Amish Paradise." Coolio said the song was way too serious to be making fun of and I have to agree."


Ok... now the punchline to the Coolio story. IT WASN'T COOLIO'S SONG TO BEGIN WITH. All 'Gangsta Paradise' is, is a lame rap over a Stevie Wonder song called "Pasttime Paradise" from the Songs In The Key Of Life album. Coolio's 'song' consisted of his usual mumbled speaking over someone else's music entirely. What he was angry about is anybody's guess. Al Yankovic may have had Coolio's tune in mind when he parodied, but considering that Coolio only wrote new lyrics for someone else's song - it's a Wonder (hehe) what he was complaining about.

Prince doesn't want Al to do a parody. Too bad. His loss. But I find it extremely interesting that some knee-jerks in this forum are ATTACKING the guy simply because he answered the question 'who has turned you down'. He isn't required to ask. He does it out of courtesy.

Ya'll bitches killz me. 23 years ago, when I was sitting in my room listening to Dirty Mind ... I never imagined this misguided cult of personality that would spring up around the guy. He joins the Jehovah's Witnesses, gets ruined by a cult, can't cut a decent record anymore... and this tiny little group of fanatical people have lost all sense of themselves, their musical taste and their critical judgement. Boy, the future DID turn out to be weird.

Of course, who knew Michael Jackson was going to be a malformed pedophile with white skin and a plastic nose, dangling babies from balconies.

To you hear-no-evil types, know this: I read all your posts and hear the voice of the Comic Book Shop Guy from the Simpsons.

Here's more fodder for you cannons. Al Yankovic is a 'no talent'? The son of Frankie Yankovic, the king of Polka?Yeah, that's why he does so many polka parodies. He can play. He is a musician.

Now, in case you're confused, Culties, you're now supposed to attack the entire genre of music known as Polka, the decades long career of Frankie Yankovic, and the accordian.

locoarts said:
Prince THANKS for keepin it real! IF you dont like these Hip Hop no talents who need to sample your shit because they ain't talented enough to be real musicans..

Yo, hold on a minute - now you can only be called creativ if you play something yourself on "real" instruments?? What a lot of crap... Surely, lots of great art is created by way of copying older art, and modifying it. And using a computer and samples is just a means of doing this. Also, computers and samples make it possible to create whole new sounds...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, now that P uses real musicians in his band all "artificial crap" is bad and not worthwhile...

Thank god for hip hop and rap! How boring would the music scene be without them

Peace y'all

locoarts said:

While I agree with this statement. Remember that Prince, himself, has sampled in the past.
Examples:
Thieves In The Temple
Tick Tick Bang
TGRES(even though I really don't consider it a sample since its one note)
Billy Jack Bitch

To an extent sampling is pretty cool when sampling is used to add to the music, not when the song revolves around a sample.

Rudedog

Funkmob "Weird Al" is not related to Frankie Yankovic. His fathers name is Nick and his mothers name is Mary. Al and Frankie were friends up to Frankie death in Oct 1998.

fairlite said:

I'm pretty sure that Prince WOULD have to give permission. I think you can cover a song but if you want to make significant changes to the lyrics, you have to get agreement from the the copyright or publishing owner. Something like that. That's why Ginuwine was able put out a cover "When Doves Cry" despite Prince's disapproval. And didn't Prince have to publicly lobby Bilal or somebody not to cover some other song? I seem to recall the Beastie Boys wanting to cover a Beatles tune a few years back, but couldn't because they wanted to change some lyrics and PMac or Yoko or MJ or whoever owns the rights said "no".

rudedog said:

Also check out 7. The basic beat and bass to the song revolves around a sample from an old R&B tune "Tramp". I actually bought a tape with Tramp on it, and you can definitely hear the track on 7.

P also has his humorous side. Just listen to him laugh and do his JB impersonation during "Tricky". "Somebody bring me a piece of chicken...ooohhh!" Hilarious!

Uptown

butter4yourmuffin said:

No, he doesn't need Prince's permission for a parody. Copyrightlaw doesn't require to ask for it. And parodies of songs don't work if lyrics aren't changed. There may be a case of defamation of character if Prince's persona is insulted and damages are caused, but that's hard to prove with a parody.

Uptown said:

In most cases using sound samples does require permission, but Prince obtained that for the song "7".

As for samplins not being "cool" when the song revolves around the sample... that's just your opinion.

Anyone here remember Bobby Jimmy and the Critters. Probably not, but BJ was the black equivalent to Weird Al. Bobby Jimmy did at least two parodies of Prince; "Milkshake", a hilarious spoof of "Housequake", and "Sandwiches", an equally funny take of "Scandalous"...("Sandwiches...I'm talkin' bout lettuce and cheese...") I wonder if Bobby Jimmy did these without P's approval...I wonder what P thought about these parodies. If U've never heard any of these then try to find them.

As for samplins not being "cool" when the song revolves around the sample... that's just your opinion. [/quote]


Well, you know I mean like Puff Daddy, Will Smith..that kind of shit. 7 has a lot of original material in itself to stand alone, it can do without the sample but it adds to it.

Rudedog

I am another longtime fan of both Prince and Weird Al...

it is correct that Al doesn't need permission to do parodies of anyone's songs, but he respects the artists enough that he WANTS their permission, and won't do parodies without it.

Eminem let Al do the parody of the song "Lose Yourself" but didn't want Al to do a video, which had already started in pre-production stages, so Al nixed the whole video.

If you don't get Al's sense of humor, fine, but don't say that Al is disrespectful of anyone, because that's a lie. I wish Prince would just get off his high-horse and let Al do a parody of him. I happen to think the stuff Al has done in reference to Prince has been in good taste, such as "Wanna B Ur Lover". That is an extremely funny song, and sounds just like Prince's style. Every artist takes their songs seriously, even Al does his own non-parody songs! But that doesn't mean they are in bad taste.

I've got tons of Prince music, even 12" vinyls that I cherish, so my adoration of Prince's music should not be questioned in this... I just happen to love both Al and Prince.

prince needs to lighten up

This guy has always been taking shots at Prince. I've seen

interviews in the past with him making these types of

comments.

The hits in the 80's comment can work both ways Al because

you've been doing the same bit since the EARLY 80's it was

funny the first couple of times 20 years ago but your

routine is played now. I was hoping that we had seen the

last of his tired act. This guy has no talent and has done

nothing but made a living riding on the coat tails of

others. I mean I've never seen him do anything original that

was succesful and who's still giving this slug a record

deal.

Prince's decisions as of late have not been very smart but

the decision to keep Al away from his music is a good one.

Al I guess you'll have continue to find others entertainers

to USE so you can still make a living.

ewm232003 said:

are you kidding? Of course Al has made a living poking fun at music and TV stars, that's what a king of parody would do! But if you know anything about Al, which by the sounds of it you don't, you'd know he only parodies artists that he respects and enjoys the music of. He hasn't done any parodies of Prince's work without his permission because he's respected Prince. Al does make his own songs, another thing you apparently didn't know and didn't WANT to know... which should and could be commerically released but for some reason Al decides not to do that. If you'd take the time to know Al's work as much as you think you know Prince's, you'd see that. Like I've said, I have more Prince work than I do Al, but I enjoy both equally. Parodies are just that, parodies of what someone ELSE does! Lighten up people!!! For a guy that has made his career out of being an enigma, he needs to have a reality check. Sex is not what makes the world go around, I'd rather live without sex than without humor...
[This message was edited Sat Aug 9 12:29:10 PDT 2003 by dianak]

dianak said:

Are you kidding? the only reason he doesn't due any of

Prince's songs without permission is because he doesn't

want to get sued. As far as Al doing parodies of artist he

respects it mighty funny that he decides to pay his respects

when these artist's have a hit song out. Show me where Al

has ever mentioned that he respected Coolio BEFORE he

did a parody of his song. He might have respected him

afterwards since Coolio let him cash in of some of his

success. Furthermore I'm quite aware that Al has done his

own music ( I bought one of his albums when I was 8 I use it

now to hold my window up on hot summer nights.) my comment

was I've never seen him due anything original that was

SUCCESSFUL and I can give you and answer as to why these

songs aren't released commercially because they can't stand

on there own and there's nothing like riding someone elses

success. Lastly why would I want to take the time to know

Al's work I've got better ways to waste my time.

obviously you know nothing about Al's work...


first of all, Al listens to all genres of music, and just because he doesn't make his list of favorite artists known doesn't mean he doesn't respect them. You have no idea what types of music he listens to at home, and neither do I, because it's in the category of MYOB...

It's pretty apparent that doing music parodies means that you have to stay current. Do you really think that people are going to buy a parody of "Twist and Shout"??? Get real!!! Since it's pretty apparent you're not an Al fan, you wouldn't know how good his original songs are. I'd love to see songs like Genius In France released as a single, maybe made with a good video it would sell, but it's not "commerically viable"... so his record company probably wouldn't invest the money in it.

Let's face the fact that if nothing else, at least Al has a sense of humor about himself, he's done the Simpsons and various other projects. You didn't know he's done "Peter and the Wolf" too... so music parodies aren't his own forte!!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I'm not here to change people's minds about how they feel regarding Al... just to give more information. Too many people only know his parody hits, do a little more research and you'll know the whole story.

BTW, regarding Coolio... Al's people ASKED Coolio's people for permission about "Amish Paradise" before they made it... I'll bet Coolio got made fun of by people about this, and that's the reason he put up such a ticked-off front. But since Coolio got money, I don't hear him complaining about it!!!

dianak said:[quote]obviously you know nothing about Al's work...


first of all, Al listens to all genres of music, and just because he doesn't make his list of favorite artists known doesn't mean he doesn't respect them. You have no idea what types of music he listens to at home, and neither do I, because it's in the category of MYOB...


DARE TO BE STUPID IS THE BEST AL SONG EVER!!!


Rudedog

Rudedog...

it's hard to choose the best Al or Prince songs...


I happen to love "Wanna Be UR Lover" by Al... what would really be cool if Prince would ever get a sense of humor is if he and Al would make a video TOGETHER! But I doubt that ever happens!!!


I think "Gotta Boogie" has to be the best original song of Al's... and I don't think it's a parody of anyone!

As for Prince... well my choice would be "17 Days" very funky and danceable...



Diana

dianak said:

Diana I love you!!!

ewm232003 said:

awww shucks ewm... you're not just saying that are you?

lol

I'm sure you're an Al fan too, so you know what I mean...




Diana

BTW, on the question of legal issues with parodies, this from Al's website...


Does Al get permission to do his parodies?

Al does get permission from the original writers of the songs that he parodies. While the law supports his ability to parody without permission, he feels it's important to maintain the relationships that he's built with artists and writers over the years. Plus, Al wants to make sure that he gets his songwriter credit (as writer of new lyrics) as well as his rightful share of the royalties.





so there's the answer to the legal question everyone!!!




Diana

JC said:

Yeah, white people suck.

rudedog said:

I kinda lean that way too, but for a great exception, check out Cake's "Arco Arena" and then Jay-Z's "Guns & Roses" (w/ Lenny Kravitz. G&R is completely built on the AA sample but the rap and vocals definitely take a cool instrumental to another level.