Last week I wrote about how much I like Weird Al, so I feel like it’s my duty to report to you that today his new single, “Whatever You Like,” hit the Internet.
What makes this release especially interesting, to Weird Al historians anyway, is that it’s his first digital-only release. The medium’s immediacy has allowed him, for the first time in a two decade career of releasing novelty hits, to parody a current top 10 song (T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”) and urgent news (the economic crisis). Those concerned Al has lost his edge can rest easy - the song mentions no less than seven types of food (including tater tots in the first line, french fries, Ramen, pie, pork and beans, mac and cheese, and pizza). Al also name checks McDonalds, Burger King, and White Castle.
Weird Al has adapted to the Internet better than any artist his age. His “White & Nerdy” has over 36 million views on YouTube, and is currently the site’s #39 video of all-time. The song was his career peak, going all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 (his previous best - “Eat It” at #12 in 1984). Really, it’s hard to believe Weird Al survived at all - much less thrived - before iTunes and YouTube. I don’t mean to disparage the experience of listening to Alapalooza as an album, but one-at-a-time is a great way to experience Weird Al Yankovic’s somehow still unique career.
UPDATES:
- CORRECTION: Hobart pointed out that the James Blunt parody, “You’re Pitiful,” was actually Al’s his first digital release. While that’s techinically true, keep in mind that “You’re Pitiful,” was supposed to appear on an album until Atlantic Records told Al they were against it (James Blunt was cool, it was the label). So, to clarify, “Whatever You Like,” is Weird Al’s first single written for specifically for the Internet. I’m glad we got that cleared up.
- Somewhat Smarmy brought up the Weird Al interview in this month’s Wired, which makes many of the same points I did, and a bunch of other good ones too. Pat has been telling me I should read this article for weeks, and he was right.
- Amir said I sound like Patrick Bateman in American Pyscho.
