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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
A thought provoking analysis of the work of one of the funniest guys anywhere.
Me, I love a good overthink. But the writing style encouraged by academia can be so unpleasant. Still, the interview info was quite good.
I was expecting this to be a biography but it wasn't. It was more about Weird Al's music than it was his life. I found it really interesting and I learned quite a few things I did not know.
The book describes explaining a joke as being like dissecting a frog - you learn a lot, but the frog dies. Then it proceeds to due exactly that for a good portion of it (though the author owns up to this near the end).
Overall I'd say it's a worthwhile read if you're a Weird Al fan (and I am!) or interested in learning about the song-writing process.
The book describes explaining a joke as being like dissecting a frog - you learn a lot, but the frog dies. Then it proceeds to due exactly that for a good portion of it (though the author owns up to this near the end).
Overall I'd say it's a worthwhile read if you're a Weird Al fan (and I am!) or interested in learning about the song-writing process.
funny
informative
medium-paced
I loved this. I love that Weird Al was critiqued academically. Hirsch had me with at her first quote, from philosopher Roland Barthes and her using it to segue immediately into a discussion of food and how food is a way to enter into parodic territory ("eg "Eat It, "Fat," "Taco Grande").
I enjoyed thinking about parody and its purpose, the hallmarks of parody and how it differs from mockery, the intersection between humor and seriousness, the necessity of relevance, the staying power of fame, what it means to be "big enough to be parodied by Weird Al," and learning all the ways that Weird Al has permeated our culture. (For example, I've gotta rewatch the Weird Al episode of "30 Rock", in which Al parodies a song Jenna sings, and then she re-parodies it back...) I like that the public-facing visage of Weird Al as an all-around good and well-meaning celebrity seems to be the truth (even if he's self-effacing, saying he'd like to be remembered for his nice shoes).
I loved how academic this was. Indeed, when listening to "Perform This Way" or "Drivin' a Truck," I don't *think* about the gender implications, but I know that a big trucker in a pink angora sweater and high heels is funny because it subverts our expectations. Similarly, the interrogation of insider/outsider status, like with "White n Nerdy" or "Amish Paradise". And I like that Hirsch took those themes apart and in doing so elevated Weird Al's work.
Sometimes the writing felt frenetic; Hirsch would toss out a lyric as evidence of a certain broader cultural critique from one song, and then another song, without going into a deep dive on the mechanics or the work a particular song was doing. As the book progressed and she dealt with meatier topics represented in a single song, her arguments became more cogent.
But, overall, delightful. And I loved getting a glimpse into the details of Weird Al's life and cultural relevance.
I wanted to finish it but it’s not a good time for me. I will say it’s a little dense and a bit too scholar or academic like.
Some of this is on me, as I picked this up without realizing it was a sort of treatise on parody. It got pretty dry, but there was enough there to keep me in it.
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
After reading this book, I have a new found respect for 'Weird Al'. He is truly an extremely talented individual. This book takes a 'seriously' (I should say a more scholarly) look at his parodies. I really enjoyed reading this book and when a song is mentioned (the original, the parody, or his original) I would say: "Alexa, play Word Crimes" or "Alexa, play Sports Song" and listen to what is being described. What a fun time!
I cannot emphasize how much I loved this book. As a long time Weird Al fan, I never thought much about the lyrical content as a child. After seeing him on his last tour and being much older, I began to really think about Weird Al means to our culture and how he's an amazing bridge into serious topics. I always appreciated how he was used as introduction to comedy to younger audiences without being inappropriate (especially important for stricter households). This book really helped me think more about his music and what these topics means. While he does say "oh hey its all for jokes, that's the main priority" we must admit...its not alllllllll jokes. Al still wrote the lyrics and for young minds listening to the these songs, these impressions are still important to positively shaping their ideas of gender and race and furthering their minds to think deeper about certain topics if they choose so.
There's a lot more seriousness and conversations stemming from his lyrics than I previous thought. I loved how this book took the analysis of his lyrics and important topics like gender, race and celebrity culture. There is JUST SO MUCH. I really enjoyed Hirsch's writing, her many citations throughout the book and how Hirsch explored what parody is and the topics of comedy. The most scholarly approach on Weird Al and Hirsch really nailed it. Even I've had people who don't listen to Weird Al, reading this book! Highly recommend this book to any music listener who just likes to enjoy conversations in regard to music in general. And since it's Weird Al, it's ultimately just WAAAYYY better.
There's a lot more seriousness and conversations stemming from his lyrics than I previous thought. I loved how this book took the analysis of his lyrics and important topics like gender, race and celebrity culture. There is JUST SO MUCH. I really enjoyed Hirsch's writing, her many citations throughout the book and how Hirsch explored what parody is and the topics of comedy. The most scholarly approach on Weird Al and Hirsch really nailed it. Even I've had people who don't listen to Weird Al, reading this book! Highly recommend this book to any music listener who just likes to enjoy conversations in regard to music in general. And since it's Weird Al, it's ultimately just WAAAYYY better.