Lady Gaga shuts down Weird Al, and many tears are shed all across the internet. 
In Al’s own words:
I wrote and recorded what I thought was going to be the first single off of my new album: a parody of “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga called “Perform This Way.” But after hearing it, Lady Gaga decided not to give me permission to release the song, so… it won’t be coming out commercially anytime in the near future. Sorry.
For the whole story, check out Weird Al’s personal blog and have yourself a good ol’ fashioned rage.
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Nothing new that Al got the kibosh from the Gaga. He’s had lots of songs slapped down. He doesn’t NEED to ask permission for a parody. He can even release it. Anyone can make a parody and post it on YouTube.
But to get paid for it, he needs to get their permission that he can re-write it. That make him a co-author of the new song. He frequently performs unapproved parodies in concert. He just can’t make an commercial money off them.
What is so crazy about THIS case, is that she wanted to hear the final product before giving the go-ahead, which is something no other artist has wanted. They usually either hear the concept (like Nirvana, who only realized they were a success when Al asked them) or see the lyrics. Al wrote, recorded, and mixed the WHOLE thing, before she decided to say no. She wasted his time or he took a gamble. Either way, we get the song for free. He can’t sell so he just released it on the intartoobs, like the rest of us would do.
Yeah, AL!
“He doesn’t NEED to ask permission for a parody.”
No, he doesn’t. Though, he makes a point not to release a song if he doesn’t have the artist’s blessing.
“She wasted his time or he took a gamble.”
The former. When he pitched the concept to Gaga’s handlers (which in her case seems more appropriate than usual) they said they wanted more information. So he wrote the lyrics and sent Gaga’s handlers a copy. They said they wanted to hear the whole song. So, Al recorded this and sent it to Gaga’s handlers. They said no. So, rather than let that go to waste, Al has released this on Youtube and will be offering it as a free mp3 download from hi website in the near future.
“But to get paid for it, he needs to get their permission that he can re-write it. That make him a co-author of the new song. He frequently performs unapproved parodies in concert. He just can’t make an commercial money off them.”
This isn’t true. Fair Use laws allow a parody to be sold commercially.
True. It’s just a personal policy of his that he doesn’t release songs on albums without permission.
here is a link to the wording of the actual song: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000107—-000-.html
because of items 3 & 4, how much of it he’s using and the fact that the parody will have an effect on the market value of the song (though it would probably be a positive one) Gaga could go after Weird Al for copyright infringement. He’s better off playing it safe.
Well it’s a moot point now. According to the his info on this video on YouTube, Lady Gaga has approved of the song and he’s going to release it.
Song not on record ==> no video
Maybe she waited to hear it because once she heard it, she realised it’s better than hers so didn’t want it released :L
That’s definitely it.
I think Lady Gaga is paranoid somehow. It’s a new thought process I’m still trying to work through, but after reading the blog and thinking of a few other instances of people making fun of her style in front of her, I think she’s paranoid.
I’m glad to know she doesn’t take herself too seriously, now. That update was a real relief.
Wired Al is a musician.
Lady GagMe is an alien.
It’s a cool parody, but I prefer the one Key of Awesome made.
Wow, I’m really disappointed in Gaga. Artists can be overly protective of their work, understandably so, but it was utterly unfair to ask Al to RECORD the song before she would consider approving it. Seriously, Gaga, when Weird Al wants to parody one of your songs, it just means more people will listen to your music! Sheesh.
That’s so true. If Weird Al does a parody of your song, it’s most likely because you’re a famous, popular artist who makes a sh*t load of money. His parodies are like compliments!
How strange. I wish there could be some detail given as to WHY she turned it down.
Probably because it makes fun of her performance “style,” and she takes herself too seriously.
But that’s just my guess.
Yea seriously. It’s considered an honor for Weird Al to parody your song. And he isn’t making fun of her; just stating all the weird stuff she does because she “performs that way”. I think it’s real d!ck of her to not approve it b/c the money earned from this will go to HRC; she’s a gay-rights activist!!! Even if you hate, just approve it so money can be given to a good charity
I just read on Weird Al’s blog that it was her MANAGERS that disproved it. Lady Gaga never heard about it till after it was announced. She loved it and now it will be on his album. Thank you Lord; I knew she wasn’t a b!tch like Madonna, but cool like MJ
Say what you will of MJ but he loved all of Weird Al’s parodies.
W.A. Continues to be an amazing and awesome person and performer… ‘Lady (and I use the term loosely) Gaga’ just dropped several notches from “talent under a freak show” to “talent under an empty head”.
Download song, spread anyway. Mock Gaga mercilessly at all opportunities.
Now, if only we could break into her sound system and play this at her next concert… bwa-ha-ha-ha-haaaaa.
Well, since it apparently was her manager, I take it back.
Fire manager.
Well that’s just disappointing. I wish she’d justified it; the parody is very well-written and MUCH more good-natured than, for example, the one by Key of Awesome.
Why am I not surprised that original musicians are okay with Weird Al parodies of their songs, but someone who ripped off her schtick from Madonna and Peaches won’t allow it?
As if I needed another reason to dislike Lady Gag.
Gaga got in touch with Al. Apparently, her manager lied and said she’d disapproved when in fact he’d never even forwarded it to her and made the decision on his own. Gaga not only gives her consent for the parody, but apparently she actually loves it.
More here: http://alyankovic.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/gaga-update/
It’s odd that she would make that move as the more people that hear Weird AL parody her song…the more people that want to hear her original version…maybe even people like me who have NEVER heard a Lady Gaga song. BTW you’re nobody til Weird Al does you, so to speak!
UPDATE: Apparently, Gaga’s manager never even let her hear the parody. She LOVES it, and has given her official approval. You know what that means… VIDEO!
Hell, if I was a singer, having Wierd Al want to play with MY song would have me doing backflips while singing the macarena. All I would have to do is think of who else has had them. Queen, Jackson, Madonna. Yeesh the list doth go on and on!
does lady gaga NOT like human rights? and besides….ITS GOD dMN WEIRD AL!! IF HE DID ONE OF MY SONGS I’D S**T MYSELF!!! calm yourself lady gaga
Lady Gaga needs to stop taking herself seriously, no one else does.
Meh.. I was expecting something totally different.. I mean it’s all about lady gaga.. other songs he’s done in the past is about something completely unrelated.. like Fat, or Amish Paradise.. lol or even white and nerdy…
Little dissapointed. Sounds like a fanboy song.
haters are everywhere.
I wonder where I can get a straight jacket sewn from gold lame? Might be kinda cute for a Lady Gaga costume for Halloween…
excuse me, who farted ?
Allen :-p
As someone already said, Lady GaGa never heard it, her manager just disapproved it. Once she heard it she called Weird Al himself and said to do it, she loved it.