Update: After first turning down Weird Al Yankovic's request to parody her song, 'Born This Way,' Lady Gaga has reportedly changed her mind! The New York Times writer who was covering the story now reports he spoke with Yankovic's manager who reveals Gaga has now given permission for his song 'Perform This Way' to be on his album. An update is also expected to be posted on Yankovic's blog.
Lady Gaga takes herself very seriously. So seriously, she has refused Weird Al Yankovic's request to include a parody of her hit single 'Born This Way' on his new album. The New York Times reports that while song parodies are legal under fair-use interpretations of copyright law and he is not required to get her permission, Yankovic, who has famously satirized everyone from Michael Jackson to Madonna, has a personal policy "to get the consent of the original artist before including my parodies on any album."
As with most songs Yankovic parodies, he is actually a fan of 'Born This Way,' which he refers to as "an earnest human rights anthem" in a lengthy post on his blog responding to Gaga's decision. Not wanting his take to seem in poor taste, Yankovic even decided to donate all proceeds from the single's sale to a charity that advocates for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. "Based on my concept, I was reasonably sure that my parody wasn't really going to offend anybody, but I still decided, as an act of good karma, that I would donate all the money from sales of the song and music video to the Human Rights Campaign," he writes.
Listen to Weird Al's take on 'Born This Way,' entitled 'Perform This Way,' below.
Yankovic contacted Gaga's management to seek permission to parody her hit, writing:
I'd like to do a parody of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" called "I Perform This Way." The basic concept is that I, as a Lady Gaga doppelganger of sorts, describe the incredibly extravagant ways in which I perform on stage. Meat dresses and giant eggs would most likely be referenced, but also much more ridiculous made-up examples of bizarre wardrobe and stage production. As with all my parodies, it would be respectful of the artist, while having a bit of fun with her larger-than-life image.
The pop star's camp demanded to hear the song before giving Yankovic the permission he sought (but didn't really legally need) to include the song on his album. On tour in Australia, the 'Eat It' singer drafted the lyrics and presented them to Gaga only to be told again that she wanted to hear the completed track before approving it.
"She actually needs to hear it. Otherwise the answer is no," Yankovic says Gaga's management said in response.
"This was mystifying to me," he writes. "At this point she has the lyrics, and hopefully she is familiar with her own song... and the parody is basically her music ... with my lyrics. It really shouldn't be that hard to decide -- based on having the lyrics right in front of you -- whether or not you'd be 'okay' with a parody. But, alas, we'd been given an ultimatum. If she didn't hear it, she wouldn't approve it."
While Yankovic says he "never" conducts his parodies in this fashion, he decided to go through with recording the song without her approval "because I was really excited about this parody, I decided I would faithfully jump through as many hoops as Gaga deemed necessary."
He delivered the completed track to Gaga, who responded with a resounding "no."
Yankovic says he still doesn't know what problems the pop star had with his song, though he admits, "obviously I take a few jabs at her, but y'know, it's satire -- that's how it's supposed to work."
"A conventional release for the song and video would have also raised a nice chunk of change for the HRC -- an organization which I have to assume Gaga supports," Yankovic writes on his blog. "Hopefully, if fans enjoy hearing the song online, they'll make a donation anyway."
It is rare for an artist to decline Yankovic's offer to lampoon them. Atlantic Records and James Blunt initially gave Yankovic permission to record a parody of 'You're Beautiful' called 'You're Pitiful,' but after hearing the song the record company revoked permission, saying it was "too early" in the singer's career.
He was similarly declined by Yoko Ono. Yankovic approached Paul McCartney in an effort to parody The Beatles song 'Free as a Bird' with 'Gee I'm A Nerd,' but McCartney turned the decision over to Ono, who told Yankovic she didn't feel comfortable with his parodying the song. He still performs 'Gee I'm A Nerd' in concert.
Yankovic also found himself in something of a feud with rapper Coolio following the release of 'Amish Paradise,' a parody of Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise.' The rapper reportedly felt his song was too serious to be satirized. While Yankovic insisted he had been given permission to parody the song by Coolio's record company, the rapper denies giving him the green light. IMDB reports the misunderstanding was likely caused by Yankovic receiving permission from the record label without Coolio's knowledge.
Born this Way is Express yourself copied to the max and the dummies that buy her tunes don't even notice, she knows it's copied, i prefer the original.
I find it so strange how some artist get press by singing about uplifting things and then their are artist like Lady Gaga who need to put down religion and make vulgar videos to get press talking and offend people just to be relevant and be talked about. Lady Gaga is doing the exact same thing Madonna did and acting like it's new just to be in the news. I think she is gross and averrated.
Female GAG and yucko ono, MR. Yankovic doesn't NEED your permission. He does it as a professional COURTESY. Both of these NO TALENT - HACKS should be PROUD to have Weird Al do thier music. What they are afraid of is, Al will do thier songs BETTER than THEM!!!!! AND HE DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lady Gaga is a parody of herself now - she just doesn't get it though. Whatever satirical bite this Yankovic parody has, Lady Gaga will manage to squeeze the life out of it with her self-important music royalty-like approval. Lady Gaga looks like a person with no sense of humor who believes her own publicity.
She is worried about this but said nothing last week when some crazy chick in Oklahoma killed her 15 year old relative's family cat so she could smear it's blood on herself before going to Lady Gaga's concert the chick wanted to parody the 2009 MTV awards to be just like Lady Gaga who showed up smeared in fake blood.
That weirdo should be happy that Weird Al wants to make a parody from her song! Who does she think she is? She's just a flash in the pan freak that has a few hit songs. I say Weird Al should be able to do ANY SONG HE WANTS! They always turn out to be hilairious! Besides, if Lady DUM DUM doesn't say yes it's already a done deal. We've all hear it now and it's great! We love the parody! GO WEIRD AL!!!!!
DIANE- GET A LIFE. YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE RELIGIOUS FREAKS THAT PICKET FUNERALS. OPEN YOUR BIBLE. PEOPLE ARE BORN THE WAY THEY ARE. GET OUT OF YOUR DOUBLEWIDE AND GO OUT IN THE WORLD AND ATTEMPT TO DO GOOD, NOT SPIT VENOM YOUR WHOLE EXISTANCE
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Born this Way is Express yourself copied to the max and the dummies that buy her tunes don't even notice, she knows it's copied, i prefer the original.
Reply
I find it so strange how some artist get press by singing about uplifting things and then their are artist like Lady Gaga who need to put down religion and make vulgar videos to get press talking and offend people just to be relevant and be talked about. Lady Gaga is doing the exact same thing Madonna did and acting like it's new just to be in the news. I think she is gross and averrated.
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How do you do a parody of a parody?
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Female GAG and yucko ono, MR. Yankovic doesn't NEED your permission. He does it as a professional COURTESY. Both of these NO TALENT - HACKS should be PROUD to have Weird Al do thier music. What they are afraid of is, Al will do thier songs BETTER than THEM!!!!! AND HE DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Lady Gaga is a parody of herself now - she just doesn't get it though. Whatever satirical bite this Yankovic parody has, Lady Gaga will manage to squeeze the life out of it with her self-important music royalty-like approval. Lady Gaga looks like a person with no sense of humor who believes her own publicity.
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I'm sorry...but I actually thought that was laugh out loud funny. Good job Al..or is it Weird?
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He really needs to ask Madonna since thats who lady dip stick took it from!!!!!
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She is worried about this but said nothing last week when some crazy chick in Oklahoma killed her 15 year old relative's family cat so she could smear it's blood on herself before going to Lady Gaga's concert the chick wanted to parody the 2009 MTV awards to be just like Lady Gaga who showed up smeared in fake blood.
Reply
That weirdo should be happy that Weird Al wants to make a parody from her song! Who does she think she is? She's just a flash in the pan freak that has a few hit songs. I say Weird Al should be able to do ANY SONG HE WANTS! They always turn out to be hilairious! Besides, if Lady DUM DUM doesn't say yes it's already a done deal. We've all hear it now and it's great! We love the parody! GO WEIRD AL!!!!!
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Gagging on GAGA....... She protests to much. Quit reading your press clippings GAGA.
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They look like they could be brother and sister...or brother and brother.
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Are they related?
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Weird Al is a no talent ...who rides on other people success.....for his profit....
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Weird Al did a good job with it. She has no sense of humor. How many Michael Jackson songs did he parody.
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Ya gotta love Wierd Al. Satire to the max and right on point. GaGa takes herself seriously? Really?
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DIANE- GET A LIFE. YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE RELIGIOUS FREAKS THAT PICKET FUNERALS. OPEN YOUR BIBLE. PEOPLE ARE BORN THE WAY THEY ARE. GET OUT OF YOUR DOUBLEWIDE AND GO OUT IN THE WORLD AND ATTEMPT TO DO GOOD, NOT SPIT VENOM YOUR WHOLE EXISTANCE
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it was approved and it is gonna be in his album
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I thought it was funny. It got more and more bizarre as the song went on.
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Wait one cotton picking minute....doesn't Madonna have to OK it as well?
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hay al! you have done it again!!
she is a FREAK.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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