I wanted to put up a Weird Al song, but I couldn’t really decide which one. Weird Al is unique amongst many artists in that his work has been consistently amazing; so it wasn’t as if I had to choose from a specific period. I eventually decided upon this song because it was really what got me into Weird Al and it remains one of my favorite of his songs.
I think the brilliance of this song is how it manages to stick to the material of the original song but not use it as a crutch. I’m pretty sure he used the same beat, which I really enjoyed. It seems that in satire the musical elements of the song wouldn’t hold up to its humorous elements. This isn’t true when it comes to this song and Weird Al’s repertoire in general. He is a talented musician who makes his songs satirical stabs at other songs. And if you’re high, you’d enjoy both how great of a song it is and also how preposterous the lyrics are. The thing is though: I think this song’s lyrics are better than the original, Gangsta Paradise.
One of the main aspects of this song that I find hilarious is the fact that the Amish communities in Pennsylvania are compared to the gangs that populate rural areas. At the end of the day, I guess both are gangs with their own rules, customs and modus operandi. This song applies the violent nature of gangs’ self portrayal to the peaceful, boring lifestyle of the Amish communities. Finally, the overall geekiness he employs adds charm to this already fantastically done and hilarious song.
The music video is amazing too.
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