What did Weird Al do to deserve this?
The long version is at his blog. The short version: He wanted to do a parody of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” for his new album. He came up with the idea of “I Perform This Way,” a satire of her calculated outrageousness. As is his M.O., he asked her for permission, out of courtesy, rather than to just release it and claim fair use after the fact. She wanted to hear it first. He sent her the lyrics. She wanted to HEAR them, in a finished product. He went through the time and expense to record it, and pledged to send proceeds from the song to the Human Rights Campaign.
She said no.
So it won’t be on the album.
But you can hear it here.
UPDATE: TMZ has an item saying that someone in Lady Gaga’s camp said that she is not trying to block the parody and hasn’t heard it. Damage control? Passing the buck? Sincere? Maybe there’ll be a release after all….
DOUBLE UPDATE: Now Al says he’s heard directly from the Lady herself and she’s giving him the go-ahead. So you can let up on her — it’s all good.
Weird Al is so awesome. He’s the kind of person you just want to stand next to and pray some talent rubs off on you.
I personally can NOT STAND Lady Gag-me. I can not wait until she’s over and done with. I wish Weird Al would have made fun of her more in the song.
I like Gaga. She’s weird and unattractive. And famous. So that’s aces.
Here’s a name barely anyone remembers: Coolio. It’s good that GaGa wants to avoid joining the Weird Al dissing club. Otherwise she would’ve ended up on a where are they now special in five years.
I actually really doubt that. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gaga never even saw the lyrics. Because seriously, who actually needs to hear a parody of their own song? “Oh, I need to know what it sounds like before I sign off on it.” “What it sounds like? It sounds like YOUR DAMN SONG” Her manager sounds like the type of snobby dick who somehow doesn’t even know who Weird Al is.
I would say that Lady Gaga probably thought “who cares about Weird Al” and then when everyone got pissed she tried to save face as fast as possible.
I thought the song was hilarious, another gem from Weird Al! I really don’t see anything wrong with being crazy especially if you get paid the big bucks to be that way. If she wants to ostentatiously parade around dressed up as a pink Narwhal then more power to her! (I guess) I have no qualms with Lady GaGa herself, it’s her music I don’t like…it’s just not my style! ♫♪♫♪
Yeah, darn management.
Weird Als song is definetly as much a trbute as a critique, I can’t see Gaga really being offended by this. Can she cameo in the inevitable vid, pls?
Looks like no Monsters vs. Al-iens after all…
I agree with Ryan above, I know there’s a lot of GaGa hate out there, but any time I’ve heard her interviewed she seems like she has a sense of humor about stuff like this, and haters in general. Glad it was all sorted out! the song is pretty funny
Honestly, more entertaining than Lady GagGag.
Thought it was weird that Gaga said no to this. Didn’t seem like her style. Hooray for the internet and BOOOOOOOOOOOO managers!
Hopefully she got her manager a really nice, shiny sword to throw himself on.
With like…rubies aaaaaand gold aaaaaaand diamonds. Yeaaaaaah. That sounds awesome.
And by tweet I mean blog post that he linked to on his twitter, and by Weird All, I mean Weird Al.
I’ll stop now.
Wait, Weird Al just put out a tweet that apparently Gaga never got the song herself, and her manager rejected it. She’s given Weird All the go-ahead personally.
http://alyankovic.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/gaga-update/
Eddie Izzard reference in there or just a coincidence?
I never thought I’d see the day when I’d respect Chamillionaire more than Lady Gaga, but here it is.
I don’t even care about the (underserved) honor that she evidently doesn’t consider befitting of the SUBSTANTIAL artistic integrity she has nearly as much as I mind that she apparently feels her image/art/whatthefuckever is more important than raising money for a cause she allegedly supports and believes in.
What a berk.
Darnit!
I just found this on Boston.com, and thought I would scoop everyone!! Oh – the pain! Oh the exclamation marks!!!
Seriously, though. Lady Gaga needs to have her stylists fabricate a sense of humor for her.
Yeah, I know – pretty poor, but after reading Lee’s comment I couldn’t think of anything more witty than this.
Weird Al is brilliant and a parody by him is an honor. Did someone not tell Lady Gaga this?
I wasn’t sure there was any way I could like Lady Gaga any less.
Or Weird Al any more.