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1988 was a make-or-break time for Mr. Yankovic. After two straight chart-ranking albums of “In 3-D” and “Dare to Be Stupid”, Al seemed to be on a hot streak. Only problem was that “Polka Party” crashed that streak, and then some. Not only was that album not certified ‘Platinum’, but was nowhere near the popularity of the prior works.
Enter “Even Worse”.
The cover in and of itself is a take-off of Michael Jackson’s “Bad”, but it mixes imitation of art and life with the appropriately philosophical ‘Even Worse’.
The big question here however is this: Will this album live up to its anticipatory lethargy, or will it be less painful than having a tooth pulled? Hey, I want this album to be good too, just that there isn’t lots of positive vibes here. So without further ado, HERE WE GO!!!!
1. “Fat”: One of those songs that is made even more legendary with the music video.
It’s a parody of “Bad” by Michael Jackson, which in this case is the title track of that particular album. As noted, the music video is even a spin-off of THAT video!
The premise of the song is really really simple. It’s about Al being fat and the stereotypes that go along with it. “The word is out, better treat me right, ‘cause I’m king, of cellulite!”
Speaking of the video again, apparently it took Al about three hours of makeup before shooting began to get that ‘fat’ look. Even if the shoot lasts just a few days, that’s more time spent on makeup than on actual shooting!
2. “Stuck in a Closet With Vanna White”: In terms of subjects to base a song off of, well, this is a HOT one .
A true original, the song is pretty much about Al going to a shrink. Of course, Al tells the doctor REALLY out-there dreams, all of course tie in together with the title of the song.
Surprisingly, the track has got a really good rock sound behind it, an uncommon trait to most of Al’s originals.
Back to the original theme of the song, it would not be surprising however if this character was put in a straight-jacket and shipped off the nearest whacko basket. He might need some therapy…
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - Stuck In A Closet With Vanna White lyrics
3. “(This Song's Just) Six Words Long”: This song is a parody of George Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set on You”.
However, the song is beyond a parody: It’s about as Gorilla Monsoon would call it, “A Pearl Harbor job,” on the original lyrics. Apparently, they’re sparse, and Al hammers that home.
This would be amongst the first times Al would attack a song from its foundation, and certainly not the last. There are more famous ones down the line, but this one is no slouch either.
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - (This Song's Just) Six Words Long lyrics
4. “You Make Me”: Doing a little bit of research, this song is a lyrical original, but a style parody of Oingo Boingo.
Al’s character is the song is deeply disturbed character. Disturbed enough where the weirdness of people around him dictate his own behavior. There are plenty of examples in the lyrics.
Compared to the finale track of this album, it’s not as good as that one, but it’s definitely a unique sound nonetheless. Al was always known as an eclectic songwriter, and this is amongst the reasons why.
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - You Make Me lyrics
5. “I Think I'm a Clone Now”: This is a parody, this time of “I Think I’m Alone Now” by Tiffany.
Al usually takes his lyrical parodies a full 180 of the original, and this is no different. This one revolves around Al being a clone of someone else!
There are many odd examples of this “clone”, like being at home while also being out of town, being his own best friend, etcetera.
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - I Think I'm A Clone Now lyrics
6. “Lasagna”: A parody of "La Bamba", a popular folk song in Mexico most popularly adapted by Richie Valens.
It’s mainly about an Italian family, and their love of foods, the gargantuan serving sizes that go along with it.
With an accordion doing most of the work, a rare feat following the first album, the song’s rhythm feels like something that should have been featured in a comedy version of “The Godfather”. Sunday gravy will never be the same again!
Words to live by kids, “Capisce paisan, Capisce paisan!”
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - Lasagna lyrics
7. “Melanie”: A true original, this song is about a stalker following around his title-track neighbor.
There are a lot of lyrics in the song for four minutes, and they get quite uncomfortable very fast. Notice how I wrote how Al’s character in the song is a stalker. Geez, he looks in her window washing herself in the shower with soap! Eeck!
Wanna now determination? He tattoos her name on his forehead and jumps out the window because she doesn’t want him. Eh, I don’t blame her.
I’m surprised there wasn’t a rape attempt somewhere in there. Very disturbing song to listen to quite frankly, however that’s an endearing trait and not a slight.
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - Melanie lyrics
8. "Alimony": This song is not only a parody of the lyrics, but the STYLE as well! It’s a parody of “Mony Mony” by Billy Idol, but the LIVE version and not the studio version! You know what this song beat out to be #1 on the charts? “I Think I’m Alone Now”, and therefore, I think is the first time where Al parodied TWO #1 songs in the same album!
Long story short, this song was featured in my Top 10 list a while back, so here is the transcript of that:
While it’s a parody, it reflects nothing of the track its life owes its existence to. “Mony Mony” by Billy Idol was a track made almost exclusively for clubs, “Alimony” is a sad tale about a man getting everything yanked off his back because of a divorce. Keep in mind, Al didn’t get married FOR THE FIRST TIME until a decade or so later, so this song was pretty much made for fun. “Workin’ three jobs just to stay in debt now.” That’s probably the least of his worries, as his car, and even his toothbrush are taken because of said “divorce”. A genuine Al torture song, but not in terms in gore and literal guts, but of hardship and figurative guts. The literal guts would be in the form of “Good Old Days” from the same album.
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - Alimony lyrics
9. “Velvet Elvis”: While it’s an original in the lyrical sense, it is a style parody of ‘The Police’.
An underrated tune, it’s really an ode to a picture of Velvet Elvis. Worth more to him than a Rembrandt or Van Gogh, Al’s life will never be the same again because of this image in his life.
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - Velvet Elvis lyrics
10. “Twister”: Short entry here, it’s a style parody of The Beastie Boys, and a ode to the game of Twister. Most of the lyrics talk about the different color combos, made from MB. Seriously, it’s only one minute long!
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - Twister lyrics
11. “Good Old Days”: Capping this album is an unprecedented THIRD style parody in a row. The object of humor this time is of James Taylor, and the folk themes that man brings.
However, I don’t think Taylor would ever become a psychopath like Al’s character did here.
In an ode of nostalgia, this song deals with, well, good old days. Whether it deals with apple pies being made, or torturing rats with a hacksaw, it seems like it’s being told from a prison cell point of view. He evens disfigures his old girlfriend Michelle, which may have been the crush Al needed before “Melanie”. The whole song sounds like that motto, “It’s the quiet ones you have to watch!”
Lyrics | Weird Al Yankovic lyrics - Good Old Days lyrics
Conclusion: This album is of false advertising. However, it’s the false advertising that actually works in Al’s favor.
After the bummer of PP (get it, because the album was pissy….) Even Worse is an album that while you can say ‘EW’ at a lot, can’t help but deny that it’s a refreshing album.
Three albums in three years would burn out even the best of musicians, and Al knew this early enough so he wouldn’t do that again. The result here is a good set list that goes everywhere in theme, lyric, parody, style, and rhythm. Recommended definitely, even though it’s not the best of his works.
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