Weird Al Yankovic is going to be playing in Daytona Beach April 28. I knew this, I've got 3rd row tickets for me and my boys.
Our newspaper's music reviewer is swamped and trying to clear his workload before he goes on vacation. An offer came in yestreday afternoon for a ten-minute Weird Al phone interview, and since he knew I was a fan and had written about Al before he asked if I wanted to do the article. I accused him of sloughing his work off on me and getting fawning gratitude on top of it, he just smiled and said "Win-win."
Armed with a phone number and the secret access code (which you can't have, nyah) I called and talked to Al, stammering like a schoolgirl the whole time. My coworkers loved this, because I don't get giddy. I just don't. Usually.
Al was courteous, funny, and great to talk to. I even got him to laugh a few times. Life is good.
CB: After years of love songs that (with maybe one exception) have been, let's say, bitter or maniacal, now you release a song about a sleazy make-out artist and suddenly you're married. Is there a connection?
AL: (laughs) Well, in a way I felt like I had more license to do a song like that now because when I was single people might think, "oh, was this autobiographical, is he really like that?" And in a way, and this is kind of an odd comparison, but I kinda feel like Howard Stern when he was married, he kind of had license to be really creepy on the air because people knew that deep down, "oh, he's a family man, he loves his wife, he's got kids, you know, this is just kinda like, his schtick." So I kinda felt like, you know, now that I'm happily married, and all that, that I can be creepier. (laughs)
CB: Well, good for you!
AL: (laughs)
[ April 01, 2004, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Chris Bridges ]
Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
*jealous*
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
God, no way, who knows what he's carrying.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Transcribed the tape, and I've had some personal revelations.
-- I sound hideous on tape. - From now on, when doing a phone interview, read the questions out loud to someone else first to see where you're going to hang or stutter. -- Avoid fanboy gushing (I was good, I waited 'til my questions were done and I still had a minute left, but geez, I sounded like a stalker). -- Forget about a radio career. I talk fast anyway, and apparently when I'm nervous I move into auctioneer speed. Oy.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Oh my! I will have to tell my daughter! She has been playing his CD every single night lately -- driving me to the point of battiness. Expecially his song Everything You Know is Wrong is played incessantly.
(personally, I like Gump and the Amish song best.)
He came through here less than a year ago, but we didn't have money for tickets at that time.
You are going to link us to your review article when you finish it, aren't you?
Farmgirl
Posted by T. Analog Kid (Member # 381) on :
*high fives CB*
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
I am not even worthy to post aon the thread of someone who talked to AL!
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Of course I'll link to it! My ill-mannered gloating wouldn't be complete otherwise!
There may have been one or two people who managed to get within 300 feet of me yesterday without hearing about this, but it wasn't from lack of trying. I'm subtle, I are.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Well, the only Graemlins that show contact are the kissing and hugging ones.
Assume I pasted an icon with one smiley touching the other with a finger.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
OMG!!!
... Wait. He's married!?! My dreams, all shattered.
I want to touch you, Chris!!! But my arms are too short to reach from MN to FL... Damn... Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Married with a two-year-old daughter. The mind boggles.
The very pregnant lady on the cover of "Poodle Hat" is the lucky Mrs. Al.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
(obsessed now) Must go see her. Is she prettier than me? (distress)
No, I'm just joking! But I bow and kiss your feet for your luck at getting to speak to The Man himself. I want to see a transcript of the complete interview. Heck! Make it downloadable! Pweeze?
I wonder how adorable his baby is! Curly hair is SOOOO cute. Posted by Alucard... (Member # 4924) on :
Rock on Chris!
I must find my Wierd Al Cassette Tape Collection now...It's right next to my Devo 8-track collection if that helps...
Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
My favorite Weird Al love song is "One More Minute."
I'd rather --- spend eternity Eating shards of broken glass Then spend --- one more minute --- wii-ith you Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Chris, that question you posted was probably the most insightful thing he's heard during an interview in years.
Good job!
Did you do this question:
Q: Al, you're known for your lyrics, of course, but I'm curious, how do you come up with your melodies?
Posted by Anthro (Member # 6087) on :
Oooh, you had the honor of speaking to the great one whom we all worship and hold dear?
Behold, as the Prophet of the Al one steps into our midst! Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Wow, I knew he was married, but I didn't know that he had embarked into the great adventure of parenthood! I wonder what sort of a father he makes?
Ryoko, here is the best picture of Suzanne I could find.
[ April 02, 2004, 11:53 PM: Message edited by: beverly ]
Posted by AeroB1033 (Member # 6375) on :
I've been to an Al concert. He puts on a great live show. Grats on meeting him, seems like a great guy from everything I've seen Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
I watched a televised Weird Al show and was struck that the audience was sitting down. Some part of me finds this contrary to what a rock show is all about (parodied or not.)
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
So, what yer saying is that there is a certain lay-about mentality overcomming?
Posted by Eljin (Member # 6354) on :
reminds me of a funny story. A friend of mine and his dad were sitting at home. There was a picture of weird al on the table (magazine or Cd or something, I'm not sure). The dad said, "hey, that's al yankovic". My friend said "yeah, weird al". Dad: "They still call him that? How do you know who he is?"
Turns out, the dad knew him in college, and had no clue that he was famous now or anything.
Posted by Rhaegar The Fool (Member # 5811) on :
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
I'm not a huge fan or Weird Al. But can I still touch you? Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
quote: There may have been one or two people who managed to get within 300 feet of me yesterday without hearing about this, but it wasn't from lack of trying. I'm subtle, I are.
Count me as one of the envious.
So, did you go through the pretense of trying to find a wedge into the conversation to bring this up with people? Or did you just barge in with the news? I always like hearing about how other people negotiate tricky social situations.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I'm not the "waiting for a pretense" sort. Any kind of opening would do.
"Hey Chris, what's up?" "I get to interview Weird Al!"
"Mornin', Chris. Is it supposed to rain tomorrow?" "Doesn't matter, I'll be interviewing Weird Al!"
"I can't hold on to this rope any longer! Help! Grab my hand!" "Sorry, got to go interview Weird Al!"
I managed to work it in.
[ April 03, 2004, 08:04 PM: Message edited by: Chris Bridges ]
Posted by Sal (Member # 3758) on :
Wow, people do the craziest things to get touched, really.
![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I'm subtle, I are.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)