Lady Gaga Says No To Weird Al Yankovic's 'Born This Way' Parody

By John Mitchell Posted Apr 20th 2011 04:55PM

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.

Tags: Born This Way, Lady Gaga, Wierd Al Yankovic

Comments

(97)

Thursday 21 April

By diplobrat

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Dear Lady Gaga,

Mr. Yankovic is, and will forever be, more of an icon than you can ever dream of. Consider this the highest form of flattery and accept it graciously. It is quite possible that the only rememberance we will have of you in the future is through HIS parodies. And you should be thankful.

By bear

Please Al never attacked a person he only attacked the song, he is actually attacking someone for his enjoyment and the fun... please Al you forget in your old age remember your mama saying if you have nothing nice to say about a person? You did not parody the sony like Amish Paradise, or Eat It... you never once attacked the singer in the song... all these people who say GAGA get a life you should have someone say bad things about you in a paradoy of your song, that is not a parody but a personal attack!!!!

By G-Dog

WOW, this article has it all wrong. Lady Gaga didn't decline the parody, her producer did. She did not even know about it until it was on the news. The producer declined it without her permission. Once she found out about it, she imediately contacted Weird Al and told him he could use it. It will be on his album and he will also make a music video. Lady Gaga strongly reprimanded her producer for it. The person who wrote this article should have looked more into it.

By Floymin

Lady Gaga is a parody of other flamboyant music artists. What's the point of doing a parody of a parody? This song is not quite as funny as the others only because it is redundant.

By er2blu

I'm not sure Lady Gaga could pour piss out of a boot if the directions were written on the heal!!

By mary

I loved it better that Lady GaGa's....

By Angela M. Thomas

Popeater has the story wrong - Lady Gaga hadn't even heard the song when you initially reported that she wasn't giving Weird Al permission, so check your facts. Perez Hilton printed this quote on his blog: the GaGa crew is saying, "There must of been a misunderstanding because [Gaga] is in no way trying to block the release of the parody. She's busy touring and hasn't heard the song yet. Her manager hasn't had a chance to play it for her yet" — adding, "She's a huge Weird Al fan." I guess it's easier for you to make Lady Gaga look bad.

By tim

Weird Al actually sings better than weirder Lady Gag Gag

By brenstar

Weird Al has outdone himself..very funny rendition.

By Terry

Gaga ripped off Madonna, so one good turn deserves another.
Ha ha ga ga!!

After listening to Weird Al's version I give him MORE credit than GA GA.
Ha ha

By DrTCH

Very funny...and about the same as Lady Kaka!!

By MZVIR

The last 20 years or so, I couldn't get how Weird Al parodies garbage?

Friday 22 April

By Cheese Crackers

Actually, she DID approve it... They told him she said no but she had no idea of its existence until after he leaked it on the internet it got to her and she loved it and allowed it to be on his next album. never fear :)

By appylover18

lighten up gaga

Thursday 09 June

By Jasmine

It wasn't one of his most funniest songs BUT then again I didn't get a chance to see the actual video and I just didn't like the beat which was lady gagas original beat. I think Lady gaga's diva behind just needs to shut up and lighten up I never thought of lady gaga as super uptight until now. Dang weird al is a good dude he's going around getting permission when he doesn't even need to get permission and then on top of that was going to donate the funds from the song to a charity that lady gaga is probably for wow lady gaga is just too stuck up and high maintenance for her own good she isn't a legend and everything he said was true.

Update: Yes I know she approved it now so there is no need to reply letting me know this I just found out.

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