[BasketofPuppies]

Celebrities say they know they've "made it" when they appear as guests on The Tonight Show or Late Show (with David Letterman, not Joan Rivers).

But when they participate in comedy bits on those shows, that's a sign their careers aren't in the best of shape.

Does the same thing apply to "Weird Al" Yankovic songs? A number of musical performers have said they didn't realize they had hit the big time until Al asked them permisssion to record parodies of their songs. But is getting a portion of your song included in one of his polka medleys sort of being told, "you're not that important"?

[ghporter]

Al almost always gets permission to parody songs ahead of time. There was a problem with Coolio's "Gangsta Paradise" which may have been more agent-to-agent than anything else, but other than that, as far as I know, all of Al's parodies have been agreed to by the original artists.

As for the polka medlies, I would think that they sort of fall into the same category, though only a small part of the song being parodied is included-and it's just done to polka music instead of having new, very silly lyrics applied to the original music.

[ReggieX]

Originally Posted by BasketofPuppies

But is getting a portion of your song included in one of his polka medleys sort of being told, "you're not that important"?

How did you draw that conclusion? Al does parodies of whatever are the most popular songs at the time, or fit a certain theme (like the "Hot Rocks Polka" which was all Rolling Stones songs).

[Kerrigan]

If anything, Weird Al's career is not in the best of shape these days.

[olePigeon]

Being parodied and polkaed by Weird Al is a sign you've made it. It wouldn't be funny if you didn't recognize the group/song even when played as Polka.

to Weird Al. He kicks ass.

"It's all about the Pentiums, baby!"

[Rolling Bones]

If you're with Weird Al you are with the terrorists.

Just kidding... Weird Al for PREZ.

[CMYKid]

yeah, I think after the whole finding your parents dead thing I'd have probably just retired from anything resembling an overly public life.

[JoshuaZ]

At least he got married.

I saw him a couple of summers ago at the Minnesota state fair. Still funny as ever.

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

If anything, Weird Al's career is not in the best of shape these days.

Really?

[kellybelly]

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

At least he got married.

He's got a 2yo daughter also.

[Eriamjh]

For someone in the music biz, Weird Al's career should be the envy of every artist. Over 20 years and still going. How many artists can say that?