Craigslist (song)
Encyclopedia
"Craigslist" is the name of a song and single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
. It is a style parody of The Doors
, and contains lyrics inspired by postings at the online classified advertising service
, Craigslist
. Yankovic described the idea of the song coming about thinking how it would be "anachronistically weird" for Jim Morrison
to scream about Craigslist. Yankovic opted to use Craigslist as an example of something big in both the popular culture and his own life, and spent time exploring its listings to compose the lyrics. The song was released shortly after the closure of the Michael John Anderson
case, aka the Craigslist Killer
, a factor Yankovic considered "unfortunate timing".
Former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek
was brought on board to recreate the music style for the song.
The single was the first of four new singles that were being released as part of the Internet Leaks
EP. Craigslist was released digitally on June 16, 2009.
. As a "style parody", the song does not take directly from any single Doors song; but Weird Al transposed parts from various songs and fused them into what became "Craigslist". The intro guitar and organ riffs are similar to "Soul Kitchen
" and "When the Music's Over
", while the verses sound like "Twentieth Century Fox". And, there are discrete sections in the guitar solo similar to "When the Music's Over
", "The End
" and "Light My Fire
". And the "snotty barista" section is a softer parody of the Oedipus complex
from "The End
". While being played live, Weird Al sometimes changes the lyrics from San Vicente Boulevard to a street in the city that he's playing at. For example, at his October 6th show in Clearwater, Florida, he said "...at the Starbucks on McMullen Boulevard...".
, after being asked how he felt about the song, responded, "The thing's pretty funny!
and was released on the same day as the single, though AOL previewed the video a day before. The budget for the video was much lower than Yankovic's "White & Nerdy
" and was shot in Lynch's garage. Yankovic stated that the low budget video "dovetails well" with the concept of the song. The video incorporates similar imagery seen in The Doors' videos, including stock footage and art house effects. Yankovic dressed as Morrison, having to lose some weight to look like the singer at age 24, and performed in front of a green screen
to allow effects to be added afterward.
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
. It is a style parody of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, and contains lyrics inspired by postings at the online classified advertising service
Classified advertising
Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...
, Craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
. Yankovic described the idea of the song coming about thinking how it would be "anachronistically weird" for Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
to scream about Craigslist. Yankovic opted to use Craigslist as an example of something big in both the popular culture and his own life, and spent time exploring its listings to compose the lyrics. The song was released shortly after the closure of the Michael John Anderson
Michael John Anderson
Michael John Anderson is an American, formerly a resident of Savage, Minnesota, who in 2009 was convicted of having murdered Katherine Ann Olson in October 2007. Because Anderson met Olson through Craigslist, a popular classified advertising website, the media dubbed him a Craigslist Killer, a...
case, aka the Craigslist Killer
Craigslist Killer
Craigslist Killer is a name given by the media to individuals who were accused of murdering their victims after meeting the victims through Craigslist, a popular classified advertising website...
, a factor Yankovic considered "unfortunate timing".
Former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek
Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
was brought on board to recreate the music style for the song.
The single was the first of four new singles that were being released as part of the Internet Leaks
Internet Leaks
Internet Leaks is the third EP from "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released digitally on August 25, 2009, although all of the songs were initially released as separate digital singles between October 2008 and August 2009...
EP. Craigslist was released digitally on June 16, 2009.
Composition
The various parts of the song were taken from various Doors songs, particularly from their first, self-titled albumThe Doors (album)
The Doors is the debut album by the American rock band The Doors, recorded in August 1966 and released in January 1967. It was originally released in significantly different stereo and mono mixes...
. As a "style parody", the song does not take directly from any single Doors song; but Weird Al transposed parts from various songs and fused them into what became "Craigslist". The intro guitar and organ riffs are similar to "Soul Kitchen
The Doors (album)
The Doors is the debut album by the American rock band The Doors, recorded in August 1966 and released in January 1967. It was originally released in significantly different stereo and mono mixes...
" and "When the Music's Over
When the Music's Over
"When the Music's Over" is a song by American rock band The Doors, featured on their 1967 album Strange Days. The song, at almost eleven minutes long, is their third longest recorded song, behind "The End", at 11:42, and "Celebration of the Lizard", at 17:01...
", while the verses sound like "Twentieth Century Fox". And, there are discrete sections in the guitar solo similar to "When the Music's Over
When the Music's Over
"When the Music's Over" is a song by American rock band The Doors, featured on their 1967 album Strange Days. The song, at almost eleven minutes long, is their third longest recorded song, behind "The End", at 11:42, and "Celebration of the Lizard", at 17:01...
", "The End
The End (The Doors song)
"The End" is a song by The Doors. Originally written by Jim Morrison as a song about breaking up with girlfriend Mary Werbelow, it evolved through months of performances at Los Angeles' Whisky a Go Go into a nearly 12-minute opus on their self-titled album. The band would perform the song to close...
" and "Light My Fire
Light My Fire
"Light My Fire" is a song by The Doors which was recorded in August 1966 and released the first week of January 1967 on the Doors' debut album. Released as a single in April, it spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and one week on the Cash Box Top 100, nearly a year after...
". And the "snotty barista" section is a softer parody of the Oedipus complex
Oedipus complex
In psychoanalytic theory, the term Oedipus complex denotes the emotions and ideas that the mind keeps in the unconscious, via dynamic repression, that concentrate upon a boy’s desire to sexually possess his mother, and kill his father...
from "The End
The End (The Doors song)
"The End" is a song by The Doors. Originally written by Jim Morrison as a song about breaking up with girlfriend Mary Werbelow, it evolved through months of performances at Los Angeles' Whisky a Go Go into a nearly 12-minute opus on their self-titled album. The band would perform the song to close...
". While being played live, Weird Al sometimes changes the lyrics from San Vicente Boulevard to a street in the city that he's playing at. For example, at his October 6th show in Clearwater, Florida, he said "...at the Starbucks on McMullen Boulevard...".
Reception
The music style of "Craigslist" has been considered to be a "dead-on parody of The Doors". Marc Hirsh of NPR noted that the composition and performance of "Craigslist" helps to make Yankovic a "Stealth Pop Musicologist", able to deconstruct a genre of work and recreate it into something new without being unrecognizable. Craigslist founder Craig NewmarkCraig Newmark
Craig Alexander Newmark is an Internet entrepreneur best known for being the founder of the San Francisco-based international website Craigslist.-Biography:...
, after being asked how he felt about the song, responded, "The thing's pretty funny!
Music video
The song has an associated video produced by Liam LynchLiam Lynch (musician)
Liam Lynch is a musician, puppeteer, writer and director. He co-created, co-wrote, played the music for, directed, and produced MTV's Sifl and Olly Show....
and was released on the same day as the single, though AOL previewed the video a day before. The budget for the video was much lower than Yankovic's "White & Nerdy
White & Nerdy
"White & Nerdy" is the second single from "Weird Al" Yankovic's album Straight Outta Lynwood, which was released on September 26, 2006. It parodies the song "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone...
" and was shot in Lynch's garage. Yankovic stated that the low budget video "dovetails well" with the concept of the song. The video incorporates similar imagery seen in The Doors' videos, including stock footage and art house effects. Yankovic dressed as Morrison, having to lose some weight to look like the singer at age 24, and performed in front of a green screen
Green Screen
The Green Screen international wildlife film festival is held annually in Eckernförde, Germany. The festival shows full-length and short nature documentaries about animals in their natural habitat. It is the only festival of its kind in Germany...
to allow effects to be added afterward.