What Are Words For (9/4)

[Railyn]

I hope I have finally kicked the sinus infection. IT WON'T GO AWAY!! Plus having Monday off has messed me up this whole week. I thought I'd post for Weird Al Wednesday tomorrow, and realized it is Wednesday (well, not anymore).


Anyway, I've been thinking about what song to pick, and I got the answer flipping channels. I have to chuckle at the images this one conjures up of old tv. I can't believe this guy's still around. It's an original song, but styled toward the B-52's.

I give you:

MR. POPEIL
By: Weird Al Yankovic
Album: Weird Al In 3-D
Author: A. Yankovic

NOTE: Lyrics in ITALICS were sung by female "operators".
NOTE: Lyrics UNDERLINED were sung by the "operators" & Al together.


Lyrics:

I need a Vegematic
I need a Pocket Fisherman
I need a handy appliance
That'll scramble an egg while it's still inside its shell

Operators are standing by
How does that make you feel
Help me
Mr. Popeil

I wanna shine some pennies
I wanna mend some leather
I wanna Krazy-Glue my head to the bottom of a big steel girder

Please, no C.O.D.'s
Don't miss out on this deal
Ah, help me
Mr. Popeil

Help me
Mr. Popeil
Mr. Popeil
Mr. Popeil

Woah
It slices, it dices
Look at that tomato
You could even cut a tin can with it
But you wouldn't want to

Mr. Popeil, I'm in trouble
Need your assistance on the double
Oh no, now how am I gonna make
My old vinyl car top look like new
Mr. Popeil
Tell me, what am I supposed to do

Mr. Popeil
Mr. Popeil

Now how much would you pay
But wait, there's more
It's not sold in any store

Now how much would you pay
Don't answer yet
Just look what else you get

Now how much would you pay
If you order today
You get a Ginsu knife and a smokeless Ashtray

Now how much would you pay
Now how much would you pay
Mr. Popeil, Mr. Popeil
Mr. Popeil, Mr. Popeil
Mr. Popeil, Mr. Popeil
Mr. Popeil, Mr. Popeil

Make me buy a Garden Weasel
Make me buy a Bamboo Steamer
Make me take advantage
Of this amazing TV offer
Call our toll-free number
We'll make you such a deal

Aw, help me
Mr. Popeil, I want it
Mr. Popeil, well, I need it
Mr. Popeil, I got to got to got to have it
Mr. Popeil
Mr. Popeil
Hey

My Opinion In A Nutshell: It's a shame this one was written before GLH (hair in a can). They could have had a field day with that one. Al said that it was mainly about the original Mr. Popeil (the current Mr. Popeil's dad). I kind of thought that Mr. Popeil may have not been flattered, but he bragged about it and actually played this song during one of his infomercials.

Favorite Line: "It slices, it dices
Look at that tomato
You could even cut a tin can with it
But you wouldn't want to" - gotta love the Ginsu Knife!

[lora]

These are some of the weirdest lyrics I have ever read in my life! Leave it to Weird Al!

[H2IZCOOL]

I'm familiar with the track. In fact I found it on a cd in my mailbox one day ;D ;D

But I have no idea who Mr. Popeil is. I ssume he is a infomercial guy, but I've never heard of him. So obviously I don't get a lot of the humor here. Generically, it's quite funny, anyway.

[Railyn]

Lora said:

These are some of the weirdest lyrics I have ever read in my life! Leave it to Weird Al!

Yep - they're weird - he has some weirder ones, believe it or not, but I always made fun of those commercials, so I always got a kick out of it.

[Railyn]

H2IZCOOL said:

I'm familiar with the track. In fact I found it on a cd in my mailbox one day ;D ;D

But I have no idea who Mr. Popeil is. I ssume he is a infomercial guy, but I've never heard of him. So obviously I don't get a lot of the humor here. Generically, it's quite funny, anyway.

I'm sure you know who Mr. Popeil is, you just don't realize it. The elder Mr. Popeil invented such wonders as the vegematic, the pocket fisherman, the gunsu knife, the chopomatic - all sold through cheesy commercials on tv under the name "RONCO". Also sold in stores like K-Mart, etc. Then the younger Mr. Popeil took over, and brought you such stuff like the perfect hamburger patty maker, bedazzler, the machine that scrambled eggs while they were still in the shell, buttoneer, Mr. Microphone, the Ronco Record Vacuum, the Ronco smokeless ashtray, and then went to infomercials for such stuff as the Ronco Rotisserie cooker, the Ronco Food Dehydrator, GLH (hair in a spraycan), and one or two others I can't think of right now.

You'll always here "how much would you pay for.........$99? NO!, etc." and "But Wait - if you order today, we'll send you absolutely free........"

[H2IZCOOL]

Railyn said:

I'm sure you know who Mr. Popeil is, you just don't realize it. The elder Mr. Popeil invented such wonders as the vegematic, the pocket fisherman, the gunsu knife, the chopomatic - all sold through cheesy commercials on tv under the name "RONCO". Also sold in stores like K-Mart, etc. Then the younger Mr. Popeil took over, and brought you such stuff like the perfect hamburger patty maker, bedazzler, the machine that scrambled eggs while they were still in the shell, buttoneer, Mr. Microphone, the Ronco Record Vacuum, the Ronco smokeless ashtray, and then went to infomercials for such stuff as the Ronco Rotisserie cooker, the Ronco Food Dehydrator, GLH (hair in a spraycan), and one or two others I can't think of right now.

You'll always here "how much would you pay for.........$99? NO!, etc." and "But Wait - if you order today, we'll send you absolutely free........"

OK! I know RONCO. I just never heard the name Popeil. I just hope no one ever mistakes their hair in a spraycan for a food dehydrator. The results could be catastrophic.

[smittykins--70s pop RULES!]

So the one doing the infomercials now is Popeil Jr.? I swear, if I hear Set it...and forget it! one more time, I'm gonna ...

Remember how those '70s Ronco commercials would always end with that tinkly version of "Deck The Halls"? Makes a great gift!

[SAT-I need more room!!]

smittykins said:

So the one doing the infomercials now is Popeil Jr.? I swear, if I hear Set it...and forget it! one more time, I'm gonna ...

Remember how those '70s Ronco commercials would always end with that tinkly version of "Deck The Halls"? Makes a great gift!

That sounds so familiar-"Set it and forget it". What's it from??

[Railyn]

SAT-The said:

That sounds so familiar-"Set it and forget it". What's it from??

The Ronco Showtime Rotisserie. It's been running in infomercial land for about 5 years now.........

[Railyn]

smittykins said:

So the one doing the infomercials now is Popeil Jr.? I swear, if I hear Set it...and forget it! one more time, I'm gonna ...

Remember how those '70s Ronco commercials would always end with that tinkly version of "Deck The Halls"? Makes a great gift!

Yeah - Al parodies that in his commerical for Spatula City on the most excellent movie UHF.

My favorite was always Mr. Microphone. The kids singing "Convoy". The guys in the car "Hey good lookin - we'll be back to pick you up later!"

[Railyn]

H2IZCOOL said:

I'm familiar with the track. In fact I found it on a cd in my mailbox one day ;D ;D

Wow, whoever did that must be a saint - a credit to humanity - a real angel - salt of the earth.......


I may have to call in my favor one day.......

[smittykins--70s pop RULES!]

SAT-The said:

That sounds so familiar-"Set it and forget it". What's it from??

It's from the Showtime Rotisserie infomercial. (At least it ain't the hair-in-a-can! )