It's All About the Pentiums

Keith Calder writes "Weird Al's new video is going to be viewable online today at 3:30 PM (edt) after its debut on MTV's Total Request Live. The song is "It's All About the Pentiums", and has a lot of funny net-references. Probably the closest thing to a nerd song that MTV will ever play. The website is thepentiums.com (will launch later today). It's apparantly done by the same team that did sagabegins.com. "

Comments

thepentiums.com

[keith]

Hey, I'm Keith (one of the designers of the sites). I figured I should answer some questions.

1) We had to do streaming because we don't have rights to let people download the original song (puffy's)

2) I don't think Al uses Linux, but we do (but who cares?)

3) I don't think Al reads Slashdot, but we do. (but who cares?)

4) The site is obviously a parody of intel.com

5) Sorry about the slow server, we'll try to fix.

6) If you like it, _please_ buy the CD or at least vote for the video at Total Request Live.

I can try to answer any questions or whatever.

- keith

Weird Al is a nerd

[HoserHead]

Weird Al is surprisingly clued in. A couple of choice phrases from "It's all about the Pentiums":

"I never feed trolls and I don't read spam"
"You've gotta be the dumbest newbie I've ever seen"
"And posting "Me too!" like some brain-dead AOL-er"
"You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total-loser" (it would have been better had he spelled it "luser" but I digress)

I was really surprised to hear it. I love the song - in fact the whole album is really good, particularly the track right before "It's all about the Pentiums, "Your Horoscope for Today" - it made me laugh out loud - and it's definitely a worthwhile album to buy.

(PS: I have written to him on his website to ask if he reads Slashdot - still waiting on a response ;)

Re:Quick question

[cpt kangarooski]

Hell yeah you have the right to tape it off of TV. So sayeth the Supreme Court (Sony Corporation of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.).

The thing is, you can't use it for any purpose which would damage the commercial interest of the copyright holder. Generally this means that if you tape something you aren't allowed to sell or rent it. But free, home viewing is okay.

Ehn

[cpt kangarooski]

I love Al. I think Al is the best thing since Twinkie Wiener sandwiches. But Al is not quite so funny as he used to be. "Running With Scissors" is probably the first album of his that I wish I hadn't bought. About the only good songs on there are "Jerry Springer," "Germs," and "Your Horoscope for Today."

I dunno... maybe so much music is crap nowadays that any parody Al does will be dragged down. But I'll still wish we had the Al of "Dog Eat Dog" or "Yoda" back.

(And what's up with the new look? I didn't even recognize him at first!)

Dig past the superficial humor.

[Mr Z]

*sigh* Yet another person who regrets his childhood rather than revelling in it. Bad memories, eh? I bet coworkers don't bother passing around the joke sheets to you, fearing you'll grumble something about "having work to do, don't have time for such nonesense." Remember that when you have a major coronary due to cumulative stress at the age of 45.

I'm quite happy to proudly proclaim my allegiance to Weird Al. While songs such as Albuquerque are little more than a (fun) stage for really bizarre jokes, songs such as Germs have more subtle messages interleaved in the obvious humor. Even his polkas and their arrangements make a message, at least about the songs being paranoid. (For instance, how about Intergalactic and Ray of Light in Polka Power?)

I have to admit, I personally treat Dare To Be Stupid as a personal anthem of sorts, for two reasons: For one, it savagely pokes fun at the commercialism and common sensibility of our day (eg. "Buy some sensible shoes and a Chevrolet", or perhaps "It's like they say you gotta buy one if you wanna get one free."). For another thing, the title says it all -- you don't always have to be smart, at least not in the conventional sense. You should dare to be stupid, which I interpret to mean (according to the subtle sarcasm of the song) challenge the norms. Dare To Be Stupid presents a very deep, right-brain-centric message that also permeates his work. Anyone who deeply appreciates Dave Barry's or Michael Abrash's works should be able to see this nearly immediately.

And on a separate note...

• I have way to much class to let this thread linger.
  Come over here and pull on my finger...

--Joe

(With apologies to Weird Al on the paraphrased lyrics.)

--

paranoid -> parodied

[Mr Z]

I said:

at least about the songs being paranoid

s/paranoid/parodied/g

Duh.

--Joe

--

"Weird Al" still rocks my boat.

[Mr Z]

While the "Eddie Vedder" song isn't exactly as masterful as, say, Dare To Be Stupid, you've gotta admit that Albuquerque is one of Al's greatest accomplishments on Running With Scissors .

--Joe

PS. There's a data track too...

--

Re:Weird Al is a talentless and unfunny Jar Jar ty

[Mr Z]

I suggest you take the cotton out of your ears and listen a little closer... After all, what's so formulaic about dental hygentists with spatulas tatooed on their arms, alongside a BIG BOWL OF SOUR KRAUT?

--Joe

--

Re:Weird Al is a talentless and unfunny Jar Jar ty

[remande]

Actually, he is able to write music. Usually, he will parody a particular song. Sometimes, he will parody a particular artist or style. On this album, it's "Germs"; his best artist-parody is "Dare to be Stupid". Mark Mothersbaugh reportedly wishes that Devo could sound like that (see Al's VH1 story), and there is a good part of the population that thinks that it is a Devo song.

Al also does some of his own composition without a net, besides the polka tunes. Things like "You Don't Love Me Anymore" or the last track on this album (I don't have the title on me--the sauerkraut one). They just don't turn into signals.

Great parody!

[DanJose52]

I wonder how many slashdotters have heard the original, though? If you go out looking for the mp3 of it(for evaluation purposes only!) make sure you get the "Puff Daddy featuring Mase, Notorious BIG, and The Family - All About The Benjamins(Rock Remix)" make sure it's the rock remix, or you'll be confused!


Dan "white boy that likes rap" Turk

Re:Quick question

[John Fulmer]

As a matter of fact, you do. It's called fair-use.


Supreme Court case "Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.", 464 U.S. 417 (1984):


"The Court held that even unauthorized copying of television broadcasts may not be infringing, and embarked on a fair use analysis. Concerning the first factor, the purpose and character of the use, the Court stated: "If [home video recorders]
were used to make copies for a commercial or profitmaking purpose, such use would presumptively be unfair." Id. at 449. The Court found the "contrary presumption" appropriate, however, since the evidence demonstrated thattimeshifting for home use was a noncommercial, nonprofit activity. Also significant was the nature of the work; timeshifting "merely enables a viewer to see ... a work which he had been invited to witness in its entirety free of charge ... " Id. Accordingly, the fact that the work was reproduced in its entirety "does not have its ordinary effect of militating against a fair use finding." Id. at 450."

As long as you don't sell it or use it in some commerical activity, it's okay.

jf