Down the Rabbit Hole with Weird Al
Perhaps you’ve seen some of the interconnections that surfaced when Weird Al Yankovic produced a brilliant parody of Robin Thicke’s saucy song, but the further back you go, the more fun it gets. Each step back adds to the fun.
Weird Al’s “Word Crimes” would have been spectacular in any event, at least for the language purists among us, dealing with all sorts of grammatical and usage blunders which resonate like nails on a blackboard for those of us old enough to remember blackboards.
But, of course, “Word Crimes” parodied the Robin Thicke song “Blurred Lines,” which was variously praised and reviled for its theme and R-rated video.
Thicke, in turn, was accused by Marvin Gaye’s estate of plagiarizing Gaye’s anthemic “Got to Give It Up,” a huge hit from 1977’s Live at the London Palladium. Thicke certainly borrowed heavily from Gaye’s disco tune but didn’t really rise to the level of plagiarism. (The courts ruled differently.)
Marvin’s album track is 12 minutes long. It’s clear to anyone listening, however, that this song wasn’t from that live recording; it is a studio track with club crowd sounds dubbed in. He did that at the urging to record a disco tune.
Two things about that. First, it follows a long line of songs asking women to give it, including Johnny Taylor’s “Disco Lady” and even the Isley Brothers’ “Live It Up.” And how about those canned club sounds?
If you’re looking for the worst crowd sounds on top of one of the greatest party albums of all time, look no further than The Kingsmen in Person Featuring Louie, Louie. And first, get past “Louie, Louie,” the first track. Regardless of how iconic it has become, it is one of the least important tracks on this incredible non-stop party. “Mojo Workout,” “Fever,” and “Money” are straight money, and the band’s rendition of “Night Train” is on steroids.
The Weird Al rabbit hole — able to leap five decades in a single bound!