Weird Al Says 'Don't Download This Song'

Kazzahdrane writes "Known geek and comedy singer/songwriter Weird Al Yankovic has released the first song from his new album 'Straight Outta Lynwood' for free on his MySpace page. The track is entitled 'Don't Download This Song' and tells of the dangers of illegally downloading music from filesharing sites." His MySpace page is most excellent. "Hi. Al here. No, really, it's Al. Seriously. What, you don't believe me? Go ahead, check weirdal.com. Hit the MySpace link. See if it brings you right back to this page. Go ahead. I'll wait. See? It's really me. I should point out... this means that conversely, all those other people on MySpace who are claiming to be me or implying that they are me... are definitely NOT me. I'm sure they're very nice people... they're just not 'Weird Al' Yankovic. I assure you."

Comments

E-Card & Video

[eldavojohn]

What a great song. My favorite lyric is:

Don't download this song
Even Lars Ulrich knows it's wrong

Also mentionable is:

Cause you start off stealing songs
Then you're robbing liquor stores
And selling crack and running over school kids with your car!

You can send this song in an e-card at the URL of the song (which also hilariously allows you to download this song). You can also listen to it there for those of you who have a proxy blocking MySpace at work or where ever.

I look forward to the music video that is supposed to air on Yahoo music at 10:00 PM Pacific Time tonight (August 22nd).

Enjoy one of the last artists that is still concerned about his fans and music no matter how hilarious and campy it may be. He has the sense to realize that he's very well off compared to his fans and jokes about solid gold humvees and diamond studded pools.

Re:E-Card & Video

[RonnyJ]

You can send this song in an e-card at the URL of the song [dontdownloadthissong.com] (which also hilariously allows you to download this song).

It's worth noting that it's also better to download the song from http://www.dontdownloadthissong.com/, as opposed to the MySpace linked to in the summary (where the MP3 is 96kbps/22khz, as opposed to 160kbps/44khz).

Re:E-Card & Video

[Mr2001]

Yes, we do. There's a significant difference in quality between properly encoded 96 kbps and 160 kbps; you don't have to be an audiophile to hear it.

Re:E-Card & Video

[DuckDodgers]

I know the comment was made as a joke, but in all seriousness Weird Al is a decent musician.

The lyrics often sound like they came from a couple of bored teenagers, but his music has a wide variety including a lot of original songs that are not simply knockoffs of a specific song. Since You've Been Gone is an original in a barbershop quartet style. Swap a few lyrics, and Germs could seamlessly fit into a Nine Inch Nails album. Hardware Store is a brilliant rock and ska parody with a four part harmony I've wasted an embarassing amount of time listening to.
Good Old Days easy listening.
One More Minute 60s music.
Nature Trail to Hell metal.
Trigger Happy Beach Boys.
You Don't Love Me Anymore soft rock/ love songs.
And of course, an impressive collection of Polkas. Why not enjoy it all with a good sound system?

Re:E-Card & Video

[loquacious d]

I look forward to the music video that is supposed to air on Yahoo music at 10:00 PM Pacific Time tonight (August 22nd).

The music video is by Bill Plympton, one of the grand old indie animators. He did a lot of stuff for MTV back when it was starting out, and you've probably seen his sketchy, hand-drawn Geico commercials. Other famous works: 25 Ways to Quit Smoking, The Tune, Your Face, and Guard Dog (Guard Dog is hilariously cute, by the way, and worth a watch).

I saw a talk Bill gave up in Juneau, Alaska a few weeks ago, and he's a very interesting and talented guy. He showed the Weird Al video and it was well done--the video is better than the song, in my opinion. So yeah, check it out, is my gist, as well as his other stuff--kind of like raunchy animated Far Side, kind of like nothing you've ever seen. A strange man.

Re:E-Card & Video

[EvilSporkMan]

Germs could fit into a Nine Inch Nails album because it's very close to Terrible Lie.

Re:No problem

[Anonymous Coward]

Pfft, yeah. He only has 6 platinum records, and 3 gold. You told him!

Re:Another free song

[RonnyJ]

There's an overview of what happened over 'You're Pitiful' here.

Basically, James Blunt approved the parody, so Weird Al went ahead and did the track, but then James Blunt's record label objected - so Weird Al released it for free on his website.

"I have a long-standing history of respecting artists' wishes," Yankovic writes. "So if James Blunt himself were objecting, I wouldn't even offer my parody for free on my Web site. But since it's a bunch of suits -- who are actually going against their own artist's wishes -- I have absolutely no problem with it."

MC Lars

[unixbum]

I think MC Lars had it better:
Download this song

Re:I bought his last album

[pezpunk]

like the other commenters, i too had no trouble with Poodle Hat.

in addition, as for Al's supposed anti-downloading stance, it should be mentioned that he is in a somewhat unique position: literally hundreds of songs that AREN'T his are constantly attributed to him on file sharing systems, just because they're (ostensibly) "funny". Al maintains a relatively innocent, upbeat personna, but many of the songs misattributed to him are stupid, mean spirited, or far raunchier than anything Al would want to be associated with. it's a significant problem for the guy that goes much deeper than simple lost royalties.

that said, every time i've heard him asked about file sharing, that is how he has framed his response. he doesn't want people to think he wrote "smoke a bowla"

Re:I bought his last album

[RonnyJ]

I'm just wondering where you got this previous 'anti-download' stance of his from? Weird Al does an 'Ask Al' page and here's a quote from 2000 (it's on his website, but it's down at the moment so I can't link):

I have very mixed feelings about [Napster]. On one hand, I'm concerned that the rampant downloading of my copyright-protected material over the Internet is severely eating into my album sales and having a decidedly adverse effect on my career. On the other hand, I can get all the Metallica songs I want for FREE! WOW!!!!!

He's previously said that his biggest problem with internet downloading is that many files on the internet are incorrectly labelled with him as the artist, some of these being much more offensive than his actual material.

Re:Blackened

[Em Adespoton]

Try turning off your flashblocker -- it's played as a flash file, with the actual mp3 being available at http://www.dontdownloadthissong.com/tracks/DDTS.mp 3

Direct Link

[Anonymous Coward]

For those without flash: http://www.dontdownloadthissong.com/tracks/DDTS.mp 3

Re:Isn't it Lynnwood?

[brainboyz]

As stated, Lynwood, CA. Where Weird Al went to highschool, and his parents lived until their recent deaths. Also one-step away from Compton, with about the same reputation: bunch of good for nothing hoodrats trying to be tough and causing problems (as a former resident I can say that with the utmost certainty).

Re:Weird Al vs MC Lars

[Bruitist]

I'm pretty sure he was referring to the rapper, MC Lars

Re:Keanu? Is that you?

[zptao]

Reference to: Bill and Ted's Most Excellent Adventure.

Re:Don't download it off iTunes, anyway...

[geekoid]

yes, it's iTunes fault Wierd Al went in and renogiated his contract so that he got less for digital sales.

Please, Wierd Al should have understood what he was signing. The label is screwing him, not iTunes.

Re:Another free song

[bigbigbison]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish_Paradise