Off the Deep End
Encyclopedia
Off the Deep End is the seventh studio album
by "Weird Al" Yankovic
, released in 1992. This album was the first album self-produced by Yankovic, after six albums with Rick Derringer
. Recorded between June 1990 and January 1992, the album was a follow-up to the unsuccessful soundtrack
to Yankovic's 1989 film UHF
. Off the Deep End and its lead single "Smells Like Nirvana
" helped to revitalize Yankovic's career after a lull in the late 80s.
The musical styles on Off the Deep End are built around parodies and pastiches of pop
and rock music
of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the newly arisen grunge
movement. Half of the album is made up of parodies of Nirvana
, MC Hammer
, New Kids on the Block
, Gerardo, and Milli Vanilli
. The other half of the album is original material, featuring many "style parodies," or musical imitations of existing artists. These style parodies include imitations of specific artists like The Beach Boys
, Jan and Dean
and Nick Lowe
and Jonathan Richman.
Off the Deep End was met with mostly positive reviews and peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard 200
. The album also produced one of Yankovic's most famous singles, "Smells Like Nirvana
," a parody of Nirvana's major rock hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit
," which peaked at number thirty-five on the Billboard Hot 100
. This song was Yankovic's second-highest charting single after "Eat It
" was released in 1984. The cover also parodies the cover of Nirvana's album, Nevermind. The original had a naked baby in the water with a dollar bill cast by a fishing rod, Yankovic's replaced the baby with a naked Yankovic, and the dollar bill by a donut
. Off the Deep End was Yankovic's fourth Gold record, and went on to be certified Platinum for sales of over one million copies in the United States. In addition, the album was later nominated for a Grammy Award
for Best Comedy Recording in 1993
.
called UHF
. A satire of the television and film industries, also starring Michael Richards
, Fran Drescher
, and Victoria Jackson
, it brought floundering studio Orion
their highest test scores
since the movie RoboCop
. Although the movie made a little over six million domestically – out of a budget of five million – it was considered unsuccessful.
Yankovic also released a quasi-soundtrack for the film in late 1989, entitled UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack And Other Stuff
, which featured songs (and commercials) from the movie as well as new unrelated studio material from Yankovic. The album failed to be successful, charting at only 146 on The Billboard 200 and quickly falling off. After the release of UHF, Yankovic returned to the studio to record his follow-up album.
. By late 1990 five originals—"Airline Amy," "Trigger Happy", "When I Was Your Age", "You Don't Love Me Anymore", and "Waffle King"—were recorded.
"You Don't Love Anymore" was one of the last original songs recorded during the 1990 sessions. The song is written as a soft acoustic ballad
. However, the lyrics are of a destructive—literally—relationship between Yankovic and an unnamed girl. Although they were formerly in love, the "flames died down" and they are no longer passionate - in fact the girl hates Yankovic to such an extent that she repeatedly attempts to kill him. In 1992, when the album was finally released, Yankovic desired to release the song as a single. His record record label, Scotti Brothers, allowed it under the stipulation that the music video be a parody of another music video. And so "You Don't Love Me Anymore
" was was released to radio on June 19, 1992. While the song was an original composition, the video was a parody of "More Than Words
" by Extreme
. Yankovic later explained that when the song was released, many people erroneously believed it was a parody of "More Than Words", and thus, Yankovic crafted the music video to be a parody of "More Than Words." The single received moderate radio attention, which surprised Yankovic. He later stated, "[Radio stations] usually just go for the parodies."
One of the original songs recorded in the 1990 sessions was "Waffle King." However, when Yankovic resumed recording in 1992, he recorded a new original called "I Was Only Kidding." Originally, "Waffle King" was supposed to appear on Off the Deep End. However, by the time the recording of the parodies for this album began, Al had written all the original songs that were to appear on his next album, Alapalooza
. Because he was concerned that one of the jokes from the song "I Was Only Kidding" might be dated by the time his next album would finally be released—a line that references the movie Wayne's World
: "I really love you – not!"—Yankovic included "I Was Only Kidding" on Off the Deep End in place of "Waffle King". "Waffle King" was instead used as the b-side of the Smells Like Nirvana
single and would later resurface on Alapalooza.
The album also contains a hidden track at the end called "Bite Me." The song appears after 10 minutes of silence following "You Don't Love Me Anymore. According to Yankovic, the song was supposed to "come on [...] and scare you to death" Later pressings of Off the Deep End by Volcano
and pressings outside of the USA took away the hidden track and silence. The track is a nod to Nirvana; certain pressings of Nevermind
featured a hidden track entitled "Endless, Nameless".
-inspired New Kids on the Block
parody, "The White Stuff
", and the television-infused MC Hammer
parody "I Can't Watch This
" were later released as singles, but were deleted by the record company at the last second. Several cartons of the CDs were discovered by Yankovic and his drummer, Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, and have since become collector's items. "The Plumbing Song," a dual parody of Milli Vanilli
's hit singles "Baby Don't Forget My Number
" and "Blame It on the Rain
" was also recorded. Yankovic later described the parody as "redundant," a reference to lip-synching scandal that effectively destroyed the band.
Yankovic waited for almost two years for the next "big thing" to emerge. "I don't have any really good reason why it took so long other than the fact that I was waiting for Michael Jackson
's new album to come out," Yankovic opined. Unfortunately for Yankovic, the new album hit several snags. On November 26, 1991, Michael Jackson's new album, Dangerous was released. After hearing the hit single "Black or White," Yankovic approached Jackson about a potential parody entitled "Snack All Night." Although Jackson was a big supporter of Yankovic's work, he felt that a parody might damage the song's true message. Jackson told Yankovic that he could, if he wanted to, parody another song off his then recently released album, but just not "Black or White".
Yankovic soon turned his attention in another direction. Guns N' Roses
had just released a version of Wings
's 70's hit "Live and Let Die
". Yankovic approached Paul McCartney
, leader of Wings, about a parody idea entitled "Chicken Pot Pie." Paul McCartney, another supporter of Yankovic's work, earnestly wanted Yankovic to do a parody of one of his songs, but when asked about a parody of "Live and Let Die", he begrudgingly refused, due to the fact that, as a vegetarian, he couldn't condone the eating of animal flesh. Yankovic, a fellow vegetarian, has stated that he respects McCartney's decision.
It was around this time that Nirvana's Nevermind
was making waves in the rock and pop scene. As the popularity of 80's pop gave way to alternative rock
, Yankovic decided it was time to record a parody of the Seattle-based band's huge hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit
". Yankovic later said, "I wanted to make sure that when I came back after that long hiatus, it was with something strong, and it wasn't until Nirvana that I felt I had a real contender." To secure permission for the parody, Yankovic desired to approve it with Kurt Cobain. After learning that Nirvana was to perform on Saturday Night Live
, he called up his UHF co-star, Victoria Jackson
, at the time a regular cast member of the show. Jackson got Cobain on the phone so that Yankovic could make his request. Cobain agreed, although asking if the new parody was "going to be a song about food?" Yankovic responded, "No, it's going to be a song about how no one can understand your lyrics." After receiving permission, Yankovic wrote and recorded "Smells Like Nirvana" January 27, 1992.
In addition to "Smells Like Nirvana," Off the Deep End parodies the famous cover of Nirvana's album Nevermind
, which depicts an infant in the deep end of a pool chasing after a dollar bill on a hook and line. The Off the Deep End cover shows Yankovic in the baby's place apparently chasing after a doughnut
on a string. The CD, liner notes, and artwork continue the parody of Nirvana's album, borrowing the same blue, wave-light graphics from the printed surface of Nevermind
.
After "Smells Like Nirvana," Yankovic recorded "Taco Grande
," a Mexican food-themed parody of Gerardo
's "Rico Suave
." The latter features a cameo appearance from comedian Cheech Marin
. Originally, Yankovic had wanted Marin to rap in Spanish, but it turned out that Marin knew only some basic Spanish. However, a bi-lingual secretary translated what Yankovic wanted him to say from English in to Spanish and Marin read the resulting rap phonetically.
One of the last songs to be recorded for the album was the obligatory polka medley, "Polka Your Eyes Out." Yankovic had already performed the medley at Dr. Demento's 20th Anniversary Special on the Comedy Central
before the album had been released.
The music video for "Smells Like Nirvana", achieved similar praise. Spy Magazine named the video "Video Of The Year" in 1993, Rolling Stone
ranked it as #68 on their list of the Top 100 Videos of All Time, and it was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Performance in 1992. At the 35th Grammy Awards in 1993, Off the Deep End was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
. However, the album lost to Peter Schickele
's Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion
.
at number 12 and the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart at number 35. Both the album and hit single helped propel Yankovic into the 1990s.
Other personnel
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by "Weird Al" Yankovic
"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...
, released in 1992. This album was the first album self-produced by Yankovic, after six albums with Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
. Recorded between June 1990 and January 1992, the album was a follow-up to the unsuccessful soundtrack
UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff
UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff is the sixth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The album featured many music cuts from the film as well as some of the commercials and other parody bits...
to Yankovic's 1989 film UHF
UHF (film)
UHF is a 1989 American comedy film starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, Gedde Watanabe, Billy Barty, Anthony Geary, Emo Philips and Trinidad Silva, in whose memory the film is dedicated.The title refers to Ultra High Frequency...
. Off the Deep End and its lead single "Smells Like Nirvana
Smells Like Nirvana
"Smells Like Nirvana" is a parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" written and performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It helped to reenergize Yankovic's career, and Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain considered the parody a sign that they had "made it" as a band...
" helped to revitalize Yankovic's career after a lull in the late 80s.
The musical styles on Off the Deep End are built around parodies and pastiches of pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the newly arisen grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
movement. Half of the album is made up of parodies of Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
, New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
, Gerardo, and Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most...
. The other half of the album is original material, featuring many "style parodies," or musical imitations of existing artists. These style parodies include imitations of specific artists like The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, Jan and Dean
Jan and Dean
Jan and Dean were a rock and roll duo, popular from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence...
and Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
and Jonathan Richman.
Off the Deep End was met with mostly positive reviews and peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The album also produced one of Yankovic's most famous singles, "Smells Like Nirvana
Smells Like Nirvana
"Smells Like Nirvana" is a parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" written and performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It helped to reenergize Yankovic's career, and Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain considered the parody a sign that they had "made it" as a band...
," a parody of Nirvana's major rock hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit
Smells Like Teen Spirit
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, Nevermind , released on DGC Records...
," which peaked at number thirty-five on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. This song was Yankovic's second-highest charting single after "Eat It
Eat It
"Eat It" is a hit single by parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the song "Beat It" by pop star Michael Jackson. The single reached #1 in Australia, and it was his highest-charting U.S. single on the Billboard Hot 100 at #12 until "White & Nerdy" peaked at #9 in October 2006...
" was released in 1984. The cover also parodies the cover of Nirvana's album, Nevermind. The original had a naked baby in the water with a dollar bill cast by a fishing rod, Yankovic's replaced the baby with a naked Yankovic, and the dollar bill by a donut
DONUT
DONUT was an experiment at Fermilab dedicated to the search for tau neutrino interactions. Even though the detector operated only during a few months in the summer of 1997, it was largely successful. By detecting the tau neutrino, it confirmed the existence of the last lepton predicted by the...
. Off the Deep End was Yankovic's fourth Gold record, and went on to be certified Platinum for sales of over one million copies in the United States. In addition, the album was later nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Comedy Recording in 1993
Grammy Awards of 1993
The 35th Grammy Awards were held in 1993. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Eric Clapton was the night's big winner, winning 6 awards including Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
.
Background
In 1989, Yankovic starred in a full-length feature film, co-written by himself and manager Jay Levey, and filmed in Tulsa, OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
called UHF
UHF (film)
UHF is a 1989 American comedy film starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, Gedde Watanabe, Billy Barty, Anthony Geary, Emo Philips and Trinidad Silva, in whose memory the film is dedicated.The title refers to Ultra High Frequency...
. A satire of the television and film industries, also starring Michael Richards
Michael Richards
Michael Anthony Richards is an American actor, comedian, writer and television producer, best known for his portrayal of the eccentric Cosmo Kramer on the television sitcom Seinfeld....
, Fran Drescher
Fran Drescher
Francine Joy "Fran" Drescher is an American film and television actress, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer, author, singer, talk show host, political lobbyist and health activist...
, and Victoria Jackson
Victoria Jackson
Victoria Jackson is an American comedian, actress, satirist and singer best known as a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992....
, it brought floundering studio Orion
Orion Pictures
Orion Pictures Corporation was an American independent production company that produced movies from 1978 until 1998. It was formed in 1978 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and three former top-level executives of United Artists. Although it was never a large motion picture producer, Orion...
their highest test scores
Test screening
A test screening is a preview screening of a movie or television show before its general release in order to gauge audience reaction. Preview audiences are selected from a cross-section of the population, and are usually asked to complete a questionnaire or provide feedback in some form. Harold...
since the movie RoboCop
RoboCop
RoboCop is a 1987 American science fiction-action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Set in a crime-ridden Detroit, Michigan in the near future, RoboCop centers on a police officer who is brutally murdered and subsequently re-created as a super-human cyborg known as "RoboCop"...
. Although the movie made a little over six million domestically – out of a budget of five million – it was considered unsuccessful.
Yankovic also released a quasi-soundtrack for the film in late 1989, entitled UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack And Other Stuff
UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff
UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff is the sixth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The album featured many music cuts from the film as well as some of the commercials and other parody bits...
, which featured songs (and commercials) from the movie as well as new unrelated studio material from Yankovic. The album failed to be successful, charting at only 146 on The Billboard 200 and quickly falling off. After the release of UHF, Yankovic returned to the studio to record his follow-up album.
Originals
On June 6, 1990, recording for Off the Deep End officially began, with "Airline Amy". These recording sessions marked the first time Yankovic self-produced his songs, after six albums with Rick DerringerRick Derringer
Rick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
. By late 1990 five originals—"Airline Amy," "Trigger Happy", "When I Was Your Age", "You Don't Love Me Anymore", and "Waffle King"—were recorded.
"You Don't Love Anymore" was one of the last original songs recorded during the 1990 sessions. The song is written as a soft acoustic ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
. However, the lyrics are of a destructive—literally—relationship between Yankovic and an unnamed girl. Although they were formerly in love, the "flames died down" and they are no longer passionate - in fact the girl hates Yankovic to such an extent that she repeatedly attempts to kill him. In 1992, when the album was finally released, Yankovic desired to release the song as a single. His record record label, Scotti Brothers, allowed it under the stipulation that the music video be a parody of another music video. And so "You Don't Love Me Anymore
You Don't Love Me Anymore
-Cassette single:The following tracks are on the commercial cassette single:# "You Don't Love Me Anymore" – 4:01# "I Was Only Kidding" – 3:31The promo CD single only contains "You Don't Love Me Anymore".-Lyrics:...
" was was released to radio on June 19, 1992. While the song was an original composition, the video was a parody of "More Than Words
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
" by Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
. Yankovic later explained that when the song was released, many people erroneously believed it was a parody of "More Than Words", and thus, Yankovic crafted the music video to be a parody of "More Than Words." The single received moderate radio attention, which surprised Yankovic. He later stated, "[Radio stations] usually just go for the parodies."
One of the original songs recorded in the 1990 sessions was "Waffle King." However, when Yankovic resumed recording in 1992, he recorded a new original called "I Was Only Kidding." Originally, "Waffle King" was supposed to appear on Off the Deep End. However, by the time the recording of the parodies for this album began, Al had written all the original songs that were to appear on his next album, Alapalooza
Alapalooza
Alapalooza is the eighth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1993. The cover sleeve is a spoof on the movie poster of the hit movie Jurassic Park. The name is a parody of the music festival Lollapalooza....
. Because he was concerned that one of the jokes from the song "I Was Only Kidding" might be dated by the time his next album would finally be released—a line that references the movie Wayne's World
Wayne's World
Wayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...
: "I really love you – not!"—Yankovic included "I Was Only Kidding" on Off the Deep End in place of "Waffle King". "Waffle King" was instead used as the b-side of the Smells Like Nirvana
Smells Like Nirvana
"Smells Like Nirvana" is a parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" written and performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It helped to reenergize Yankovic's career, and Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain considered the parody a sign that they had "made it" as a band...
single and would later resurface on Alapalooza.
The album also contains a hidden track at the end called "Bite Me." The song appears after 10 minutes of silence following "You Don't Love Me Anymore. According to Yankovic, the song was supposed to "come on [...] and scare you to death" Later pressings of Off the Deep End by Volcano
Volcano Records
Volcano Entertainment is an American rock record label founded in 1996 best known for reissuing albums by Scotti Brothers Records and releasing albums by Tool, 311, Survivor and "Weird Al" Yankovic...
and pressings outside of the USA took away the hidden track and silence. The track is a nod to Nirvana; certain pressings of Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
featured a hidden track entitled "Endless, Nameless".
Parodies and polka
After recording the first batch of originals in 1990, Yankovic switched to the parodies. At the time, only three parodies had been envisioned. Two of them, the cookieOreo
Oreo is a trademark for a popular sandwich cookie by the Nabisco Division of Kraft Foods. The current design consists of a sweet, white filling commonly referred to as 'cream' or 'creme', sandwiched between two circular chocolate or golden cookie pieces....
-inspired New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
parody, "The White Stuff
The White Stuff
"The White Stuff" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of " The Right Stuff" by New Kids on the Block, and a tribute to Oreo cookies...
", and the television-infused MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
parody "I Can't Watch This
I Can't Watch This
"I Can't Watch This" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer. The lyrics indicate the singer is watching an exceptionally bad TV program...
" were later released as singles, but were deleted by the record company at the last second. Several cartons of the CDs were discovered by Yankovic and his drummer, Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, and have since become collector's items. "The Plumbing Song," a dual parody of Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most...
's hit singles "Baby Don't Forget My Number
Baby Don't Forget My Number
"Baby Don't Forget My Number" is a song by Milli Vanilli and the second U.S single release from their album Girl You Know It's True. It became the first of their three number one hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989.-Track listings:7"-Single...
" and "Blame It on the Rain
Blame It on the Rain
"Blame It on the Rain" is a song recorded by Milli Vanilli and written by hitmaker Diane Warren. Released during the summer of 1989, it became their last Billboard Hot 100 number one hit before their scandal broke out. The club mix version of the song was included on the "All or Nothing "Blame It...
" was also recorded. Yankovic later described the parody as "redundant," a reference to lip-synching scandal that effectively destroyed the band.
Yankovic waited for almost two years for the next "big thing" to emerge. "I don't have any really good reason why it took so long other than the fact that I was waiting for Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's new album to come out," Yankovic opined. Unfortunately for Yankovic, the new album hit several snags. On November 26, 1991, Michael Jackson's new album, Dangerous was released. After hearing the hit single "Black or White," Yankovic approached Jackson about a potential parody entitled "Snack All Night." Although Jackson was a big supporter of Yankovic's work, he felt that a parody might damage the song's true message. Jackson told Yankovic that he could, if he wanted to, parody another song off his then recently released album, but just not "Black or White".
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
had just released a version of Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
's 70's hit "Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die (song)
"Live and Let Die" is the main theme song of the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die and was performed by Paul McCartney & Wings for the movie soundtrack and appears on the soundtrack album. The song was one of Wings' most successful singles, and the most successful Bond theme to that point...
". Yankovic approached Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, leader of Wings, about a parody idea entitled "Chicken Pot Pie." Paul McCartney, another supporter of Yankovic's work, earnestly wanted Yankovic to do a parody of one of his songs, but when asked about a parody of "Live and Let Die", he begrudgingly refused, due to the fact that, as a vegetarian, he couldn't condone the eating of animal flesh. Yankovic, a fellow vegetarian, has stated that he respects McCartney's decision.
It was around this time that Nirvana's Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
was making waves in the rock and pop scene. As the popularity of 80's pop gave way to alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, Yankovic decided it was time to record a parody of the Seattle-based band's huge hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit
Smells Like Teen Spirit
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, Nevermind , released on DGC Records...
". Yankovic later said, "I wanted to make sure that when I came back after that long hiatus, it was with something strong, and it wasn't until Nirvana that I felt I had a real contender." To secure permission for the parody, Yankovic desired to approve it with Kurt Cobain. After learning that Nirvana was to perform on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, he called up his UHF co-star, Victoria Jackson
Victoria Jackson
Victoria Jackson is an American comedian, actress, satirist and singer best known as a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992....
, at the time a regular cast member of the show. Jackson got Cobain on the phone so that Yankovic could make his request. Cobain agreed, although asking if the new parody was "going to be a song about food?" Yankovic responded, "No, it's going to be a song about how no one can understand your lyrics." After receiving permission, Yankovic wrote and recorded "Smells Like Nirvana" January 27, 1992.
In addition to "Smells Like Nirvana," Off the Deep End parodies the famous cover of Nirvana's album Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
, which depicts an infant in the deep end of a pool chasing after a dollar bill on a hook and line. The Off the Deep End cover shows Yankovic in the baby's place apparently chasing after a doughnut
Doughnut
A doughnut or donut is a fried dough food and is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets...
on a string. The CD, liner notes, and artwork continue the parody of Nirvana's album, borrowing the same blue, wave-light graphics from the printed surface of Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
.
After "Smells Like Nirvana," Yankovic recorded "Taco Grande
Taco Grande
"Taco Grande" is a parody of Gerardo's song "Rico Suave" written by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is about the narrator's cravings for Mexican food and his visit to a fictional Mexican restaurant...
," a Mexican food-themed parody of Gerardo
Gerardo
Gerardo Mejía , better known as simply Gerardo, is a Latin rapper and singer who later became a recording industry executive. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he has based his career in Los Angeles, California since his family moved to Glendale, California, when he was 12 years old. He became known for...
's "Rico Suave
Rico Suave (song)
"Rico Suave" is a 1990 single by Ecuadorian rapper and singer Gerardo. It appeared on his 1991 album Mo' Ritmo. The track peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on April 13, 1991, and reached #2 on the Hot Rap Singles chart a week earlier...
." The latter features a cameo appearance from comedian Cheech Marin
Cheech Marin
Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
. Originally, Yankovic had wanted Marin to rap in Spanish, but it turned out that Marin knew only some basic Spanish. However, a bi-lingual secretary translated what Yankovic wanted him to say from English in to Spanish and Marin read the resulting rap phonetically.
One of the last songs to be recorded for the album was the obligatory polka medley, "Polka Your Eyes Out." Yankovic had already performed the medley at Dr. Demento's 20th Anniversary Special on the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
before the album had been released.
Critical reception
Critical response to Off the Deep End was generally positive. Many critics praised not only Yankovic's parodies, but also his originals. Barry Weber, of Allmusic, wrote, "In addition to re-establishing his satirical craftsmanship, Deep End showcases some of Yankovic's best originals ever; "Trigger Happy," "When I Was Your Age," and "You Don't Love Me Anymore" prove to be the album's greatest songs." Christopher Thelen, of the Daily Vault, wrote, "In fact, it's strange to admit, but the originals on Off The Deep End actually are, at times, stronger than the parodies." In The Rolling Stone Album Guide, Off the Deep End was awarded 3.5 stars out of 5, describing the album as averaging between good and excellent. In addition, Off the Deep End was also named the Best Selling Comedy Recording in 1992 by NARM.The music video for "Smells Like Nirvana", achieved similar praise. Spy Magazine named the video "Video Of The Year" in 1993, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked it as #68 on their list of the Top 100 Videos of All Time, and it was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Performance in 1992. At the 35th Grammy Awards in 1993, Off the Deep End was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
The Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album was awarded from yearly 1959 to 1993 and then from 2004 to present day. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award over this time:*From 1959 to 1967 it was Best Comedy Performance...
. However, the album lost to Peter Schickele
Peter Schickele
Johann Peter Schickele is an American composer, musical educator, and parodist. He is best known for his comedy music albums featuring his music that he presents as music written by the fictional composer P. D. Q...
's Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion
Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion
Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion was released in 1992 by Telarc Records. The album contains one piece by Professor Peter Schickele writing under his own name and several pieces by him as P. D. Q. Bach....
.
Commercial performance
Off the Deep End was released April 1992, and up to that point, became Yankovic's best selling album. On June 17, 1992, Off the Deep End was certified gold. On January 25, 2006, the album was certified platinum. The album's lead-off single, "Smells Like Nirvana" was a hit on the Billboard Hot 100, charting at number 35. It also charted on Hot 100 Singles SalesHot 100 Singles Sales
The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the...
at number 12 and the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart at number 35. Both the album and hit single helped propel Yankovic into the 1990s.
Track listing
- "Smells Like NirvanaSmells Like Nirvana"Smells Like Nirvana" is a parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" written and performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It helped to reenergize Yankovic's career, and Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain considered the parody a sign that they had "made it" as a band...
" (orig. Kurt CobainKurt CobainKurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
, Dave GrohlDave GrohlDavid Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, Krist NovoselicKrist NovoselicKrist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
, arr. "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" YankovicAlfred 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...
) – 3:42- Parody of "Smells Like Teen SpiritSmells Like Teen Spirit"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, Nevermind , released on DGC Records...
" by NirvanaNirvana (band)Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
- Parody of "Smells Like Teen Spirit
- "Trigger Happy" (Yankovic) – 3:46
- Style parody of The Beach BoysThe Beach BoysThe Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
and Jan & Dean
- Style parody of The Beach Boys
- "I Can't Watch ThisI Can't Watch This"I Can't Watch This" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer. The lyrics indicate the singer is watching an exceptionally bad TV program...
" (orig. MC HammerMC HammerStanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
, Rick JamesRick JamesJames Ambrose Johnson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. James was a popular performer in the late 1970s and 1980s, scoring four number-one hits on the U.S. R&B charts performing in the genres of funk and R&B...
, Alonzo Miller, arr. Yankovic) – 3:31- Parody of "U Can't Touch ThisU Can't Touch This"U Can't Touch This" is MC Hammer's 1990 super hit signature song, from his album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. The album sold more than 10 million copies, due primarily to this single, and gaining multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA, and other Recording Industries.Rick James sued Hammer...
" by MC HammerMC HammerStanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
- Parody of "U Can't Touch This
- "Polka Your Eyes Out" (Polka medley, arr. Yankovic) – 3:50
- A polka medley including the following songs:
- "Cradle of LoveCradle of Love"Cradle of Love" is a rock song written by Billy Idol and David Werner for Idol's 1990 fourth studio album Charmed Life. The song is the album's sixth track, and was released as its first single. The song became one of Idol's biggest hits in the United States, where it reached #2 on the Billboard...
" by Billy IdolBilly IdolWilliam Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X... - "Tom's DinerTom's Diner"Tom's Diner" is an a cappella pop song written in 1981 by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. It was first released as a track on the January 1984 issue of Fast Folk Musical Magazine. When first featured on one of her own studio albums, it appeared as the first track of her Solitude Standing...
" by Suzanne VegaSuzanne VegaSuzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"... - "Love ShackLove Shack"Love Shack" is a single by rock band The B-52's. Originally released in 1989 from their album Cosmic Thing, the single was the band's biggest hit song and first million-copy seller...
" by The B-52'sThe B-52'sThe B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar... - "Clarinet Polka" (Public domainPublic domainWorks are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
) - "Pump Up the JamPump Up the Jam"Pump Up the Jam" is the opening track on Technotronic's album Pump Up the Jam: The Album. The song was a worldwide hit, reaching number two in the United Kingdom in 1989. The song was also a landmark release for the Belgian EBM – and New Beat – influenced house music. It was able to tackle the...
" by TechnotronicTechnotronicTechnotronic is a Belgian studio-based music project formed in 1988 by Jo Bogaert , who had already made his musical mark in the beginning of the 1980s as a part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various New Beat projects, including The Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo... - "Losing My ReligionLosing My Religion"Losing My Religion" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. The song was released as the first single from the group's 1991 album Out of Time. Based around a mandolin riff, "Losing My Religion" was an unlikely hit for the group, garnering heavy airplay on radio as well as on MTV due...
" by R.E.M.R.E.M.R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's... - "Unbelievable" by EMFEMF (band)EMF were an indie dance band from the United Kingdom. The band, from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, came to prominence at the beginning of the 1990s. During its initial eight year run , EMF had released three studio albums and had gone on hiatus and reformed twice...
- "Do Me!Do Me!"Do Me!" is a song by hip hop/R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe. The song was released in 1990 as the second single from the group's multi-platinum debut album, Poison. A remix is included on the group's WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album, released in 1991....
" by Bell Biv DeVoeBell Biv DeVoeBell Biv DeVoe is an American R&B musical group which branched off from New Edition. It consists of three of New Edition's previous members, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe... - "Enter SandmanEnter Sandman"Enter Sandman" is a 1991 song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the first single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich...
" by MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ... - "The Humpty DanceThe Humpty Dance"The Humpty Dance" is a 1990 hip hop song by Digital Underground, which was featured on their debut album Sex Packets. The single climbed all the way to #11 on the pop charts, #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart...
" by Digital UndergroundDigital UndergroundDigital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour.... - "Cherry PieCherry Pie (Warrant song)"Cherry Pie" is a song by the American glam metal band Warrant. "Cherry Pie" is the titular track from Warrant's album Cherry Pie, and both were released in 1990.-Background:...
" by WarrantWarrant (American band)Warrant is an American heavy metal band from Hollywood, California, that experienced success from 1989-1996 with five albums reaching international sales of over 10 million. The band first came into the national spotlight with their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, and one of its... - "Miss You MuchMiss You Much"Miss You Much" is the lead single from American R&B and pop singer Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 . The song was written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.-Song information:...
" by Janet JacksonJanet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years... - "I Touch MyselfI Touch Myself"I Touch Myself" is a 1990 single by the Australian rock band Divinyls. The song was written by Divinyls bandmembers Christina Amphlett and Mark McEntee and professional songwriters Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg for the band's self-titled album...
" by DivinylsDivinylsDivinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying... - "Dr. FeelgoodDr. Feelgood (song)"Dr. Feelgood" is a song by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It was released as the first single and is the title track to their fifth album. Although it is the title track, some versions of the album do not include it, such as the Korean edition...
" by Mötley CrüeMötley CrüeMötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil... - "Ice Ice BabyIce Ice Baby"Ice Ice Baby" is a hip hop song written by American rapper Vanilla Ice and DJ Earthquake. The song samples the bassline of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, who did not initially receive songwriting credit or royalties until after it had become a hit...
" by Vanilla IceVanilla IceRobert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality... - "Ear Booker PolkaW.A.Y. Moby Polka"W.A.Y. Moby Polka", previously known as "The Ear Booker Polka" and "The Poodle Hat Polka", refers to a portion or portions of music written by "Weird Al" Yankovic and featured in each of his polka medleys...
" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Cradle of Love
- A polka medley including the following songs:
- "I Was Only Kidding" (Yankovic) – 3:31
- Style parody of singer-songwriter Tonio KTonio KTonio K. is an American singer/songwriter who has released eight albums. His songs have been recorded by Al Green, Aaron Neville, Burt Bacharach, Bonnie Raitt, Chicago, Wynonna Judd and Vanessa Williams...
- Style parody of singer-songwriter Tonio K
- "The White StuffThe White Stuff"The White Stuff" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of " The Right Stuff" by New Kids on the Block, and a tribute to Oreo cookies...
" (orig. Maurice StarrMaurice StarrMaurice Starr is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Starr, originally from Florida, moved to Boston with his brother Michael in the early 1970s. After moving to Boston he recorded two unsuccessful R&B albums, Flaming Starr and Spacey Lady...
, arr. Yankovic) – 2:43- Parody of "You Got It (The Right Stuff)You Got It (The Right Stuff)"You Got It " is a 1988 single from New Kids on the Block. The lead vocals were sung by Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg. The second single from the group's second album Hangin' Tough, it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in early 1989, while topping the UK charts in November 1989...
" by New Kids on the BlockNew Kids on the BlockNew Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
- Parody of "You Got It (The Right Stuff)
- "When I Was Your Age" (Yankovic) – 4:35
- Original
- "Taco GrandeTaco Grande"Taco Grande" is a parody of Gerardo's song "Rico Suave" written by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is about the narrator's cravings for Mexican food and his visit to a fictional Mexican restaurant...
" (orig. Christian Carlos Warren, Gerardo Mejia, Alberto Slezynger, and Rosa Soy, arr. Yankovic) – 3:44- Parody of "Rico SuaveRico Suave (song)"Rico Suave" is a 1990 single by Ecuadorian rapper and singer Gerardo. It appeared on his 1991 album Mo' Ritmo. The track peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on April 13, 1991, and reached #2 on the Hot Rap Singles chart a week earlier...
" by GerardoGerardoGerardo Mejía , better known as simply Gerardo, is a Latin rapper and singer who later became a recording industry executive. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he has based his career in Los Angeles, California since his family moved to Glendale, California, when he was 12 years old. He became known for...
- Parody of "Rico Suave
- "Airline Amy" (Yankovic) – 3:50
- Style parody of Nick LoweNick LoweNicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
and Jonathan Richman
- Style parody of Nick Lowe
- "The Plumbing Song" (orig. Frank Farian, B. Nail, Diane Warren, arr. Yankovic) – 4:08
- Parody of "Baby Don't Forget My NumberBaby Don't Forget My Number"Baby Don't Forget My Number" is a song by Milli Vanilli and the second U.S single release from their album Girl You Know It's True. It became the first of their three number one hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989.-Track listings:7"-Single...
" and "Blame It on the RainBlame It on the Rain"Blame It on the Rain" is a song recorded by Milli Vanilli and written by hitmaker Diane Warren. Released during the summer of 1989, it became their last Billboard Hot 100 number one hit before their scandal broke out. The club mix version of the song was included on the "All or Nothing "Blame It...
" by Milli VanilliMilli VanilliMilli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most...
- Parody of "Baby Don't Forget My Number
- "You Don't Love Me AnymoreYou Don't Love Me Anymore-Cassette single:The following tracks are on the commercial cassette single:# "You Don't Love Me Anymore" – 4:01# "I Was Only Kidding" – 3:31The promo CD single only contains "You Don't Love Me Anymore".-Lyrics:...
" (Yankovic) – 4:00- Original
- "Bite Me" (Yankovic) – 0:06
- Inspired by Nirvana's hidden track on NevermindNevermindNevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
, "Endless, Nameless"
- Inspired by Nirvana's hidden track on Nevermind
Credits and personnel
Band members and production- "Weird" Al Yankovic – accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, background vocals, producer, arranger - Tony Papa - engineer
- Marlene Aragon - overdubs
- Edith Fore - overdubs
- Neil Ross - overdubs
- Beau Weaver - overdubs
- Steve JaySteve JayEugene Stephen "Steve" Jay is a bass guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic.Jay was born in Florida. He auditioned for Yankovic after answering an ad in the newspaper, and the two have worked together ever since...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, background vocals - Jon "Bermuda" SchwartzJon Schwartz (drummer)Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz is a drummer best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. The two met while recording "Another One Rides the Bus" at the Dr. Demento show on September 14, 1980...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Jim WestJim West (guitarist)James "Jim" "Kimo" West is a guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. West auditioned for Yankovic, after being introduced by Steve Jay, and the two have worked together ever since...
– banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, background vocals
Other personnel
- Brad Buxer – synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Alisa Curran – background vocals, "The Plumbing Song"
- Jim Haas – background vocals, "Trigger Happy"
- Tommy Johnson – tubaTubaThe tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
- Jon Joyce – background vocals, "Trigger Happy"
- Warren Luening – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
– vocals on "Taco Grande" - Gene Morford – background vocals, "Trigger Happy"
- Peggy Newman – background vocals, "The Plumbing Song"
- Joel Peskin – clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
- Carmen Twillie – background vocals
- Julia Waters, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters – background vocals
- Jerry Whitman – background vocals, "Trigger Happy"
- Natasha Neece - background vocals, "The Plumbing Song"
- Samantha Kaye - background vocals, "The Plumbing Song"
Charts
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
17 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
UK Top 40 |
||
| 1992 | "Smells Like Nirvana Smells Like Nirvana "Smells Like Nirvana" is a parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" written and performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It helped to reenergize Yankovic's career, and Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain considered the parody a sign that they had "made it" as a band... " |
35 | 58 |