What Are Words For? (7/9)

[Railyn]

Welcome to Weird-Al Wednesday (by popular request)! ;D

Saturday's the big day! Getting way excited!

Anyway, I decided to go back to the beginning. This was the first Al song I heard, and it started it all for me. It was performed in Dr. Demento's studio (thank goodness it was being recorded) on an evening when Jon "Bermuda" Swartz was also visiting. He provided percussion for the song by beating on Al's accordion case, and the rest is history. If you truly listen to the song, it has no instrumentation except for accordion, "case beating", and some funky noises taht this guy made with his hands. He's been Al's drummer ever since, and in fact, he's had the same band since the beginning that he has now.

One of Al's finest parodies, and appreciated by anyone who's had to endure this legal torture:

ANOTHER ONE RIDES THE BUS
Parody of Another One Bites The Dust by Queen
By: Weird Al Yankovic
Album: Weird Al Yankovic
Author: A. Yankovic

Ridin' in a bus down the boulevard
And the place was pretty packed
Couldn't find a seat so I had to stand
With the perverts in the back
It was smellin' like a locker room
There was junk all over the floor
We're already packed in like sardines
But we're stoppin' to pick up more
Look out

Another one rides the bus
Another one rides the bus
And another comes on
And another comes on
Another one rides the bus
Hey
He's gonna sit by you
Another one rides the bus

There's a suitcase pokin' me in the ribs
There's an elbow in my ear
There's a smelly old bum standin' next to me
Hasn't showered in a year
Well, I think I'm missin' a contact lens
I think my wallet's gone
And I think this bus is stoppin' again
To let a couple more freaks get on
Look out

Another one rides the bus
Another one rides the bus
And another comes on
And another comes on
Another one rides the bus
Hey
He's gonna sit by you
Another one rides the bus

Yeah

Another one rides the bus
Another one rides the bus, ow
Another one rides the bus, hey, hey
Another one rides the bus, hey

The window doesn't open, and the fan is broke
And my face is turnin' blue
I haven't been in a crowd like this
Since I went to see The Who
Well, I should've got off a couple miles ago
But I couldn't get to the door
There isn't any room for me to breathe
Now we're gonna pick up more, yeah

Another one rides the bus
Another one rides the bus
And another comes on
And another comes on
Another one rides the bus
Hey
He's gonna sit by you
Another one rides the bus

My Opinion In A Nutshell: Although "My Bologna" was Al's first single, this one was the first one to grab my attention and turn me into the Al freak you know and love today.

Favorite Line: "Couldn't find a seat, so I had to stand with the perverts in the back".

[H2IZCOOL]

This is a great parody! I think for a parody to be great it has to:
1. Be a parody of something familiar
2. Have a key line that SOUNDS a lot like the original (BITES the DUST and RIDES the BUS fits the bill)
and maybe most important
3. Still be topical. This song hits home for a lot of people riding crowded buses or (like me) subways.

You're right about the accordian. I never realized that before.

Love Weird Al Wednesdays!

[Dawn]

I heard this song for the first time when I watched VH-1's Behind the Music profile on Al. It's very catchy, and sounds great with just the accordion. Al's lyrics paint a vivid picture of this frustrating yet humorous situation. His writing is always very witty and entertaining.

[Railyn]

H2IZCOOL said:

This is a great parody! I think for a parody to be great it has to:
1. Be a parody of something familiar
2. Have a key line that SOUNDS a lot like the original (BITES the DUST and RIDES the BUS fits the bill)
and maybe most important
3. Still be topical. This song hits home for a lot of people riding crowded buses or (like me) subways.

You're right about the accordian. I never realized that before.

Love Weird Al Wednesdays!

My husband loves this one because he had to ride the citybus to school and he said it was just like this.....

[Railyn]

Dawn said:

I heard this song for the first time when I watched VH-1's Behind the Music profile on Al. It's very catchy, and sounds great with just the accordion. Al's lyrics paint a vivid picture of this frustrating yet humorous situation. His writing is always very witty and entertaining.

I have got to get you some Al cd's..........