Whatever You Like ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)

Last updated
"Whatever You Like"
Wylmed.jpg
Single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
from the album Internet Leaks and Alpocalypse
ReleasedOctober 8, 2008
RecordedSeptember 29, 2008 [1]
Genre Comedy hip hop
Length3:41 (album version)
3:43 (single version)
Label Volcano
Songwriter(s) Clifford Harris, James Scheffer, David Siegel, "Weird Al" Yankovic
Producer(s) "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic singles chronology
"Canadian Idiot"
(2006)
"Whatever You Like"
(2008)
"Craigslist"
(2009)
Music video
”Whatever You Like” on YouTube

"Whatever You Like" is a song and single by "Weird Al" Yankovic, the first song from the digital EP Internet Leaks and was later released on his thirteenth studio album Alpocalypse . It is a direct parody of the song of the same name by T.I. As with T.I.'s song, Yankovic's lyrics describe a man wooing a girlfriend with gifts that she may want; however, in light of recent economic problems, these are inexpensive or economical options, such as clipping coupons or going out to dinner at Burger King or McDonald's.

Contents

"Whatever You Like" is the only Yankovic parody to have exactly the same title as the original it parodies. Yankovic commented that thanks to a rapid approval from T.I. he was able to write, record and upload the song to iTunes within two weeks and while the original song was still at No. 1 (it was there for 5 weeks).

Release

In late 2008 Yankovic started to explore the digital distribution of his songs. On October 7, 2008, Yankovic planned to release a parody of "Whatever You Like" from artist T.I., which Yankovic said he had come up with two weeks before. Yankovic said that the benefit of digital distribution is that "I do not have to wait around while my songs get old and dated—I can get them out on the Internet almost immediately." [2] On October 7, 2008, the planned release date, an unexpected error left "Whatever You Like" out of the iTunes new release list. Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, Yankovic's drummer and webmaster, posted this message: "Apparently there was a glitch at iTunes last night and Al's new single—'Whatever You Like'—did not debut with the rest of the new releases. We're being told that they're working on the problem and (hopefully!!) it will be up later today." [3] The song then became available.

In May 2009, "Whatever You Like" was retroactively dubbed the first track of Internet Leaks , an EP consisting of a series of digitally distributed songs by Yankovic. [4]

Music video

A music video was created by animator Cris Shapan. The video was featured on the deluxe edition of Alpocalypse.

Chart positions

During its first week of release, "Whatever You Like" reached #4 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Chart. [5] The song has also garnered over 13 million listens on YouTube [6] as of April 2012, and over 2.6 million listens on MySpace. [7]

Chart (2008–10)Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard )4
US Comedy Digital Tracks ( Billboard ) [8] 11

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Poodle Hat</i> 2003 studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Poodle Hat is the eleventh studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on May 20, 2003. It was the fifth studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on the album are built around parodies and pastiches of pop of the early-2000s. The album's lead single, "Couch Potato", is a parody of "Lose Yourself" by Eminem. The single failed to chart, although the album's song "eBay" eventually peaked at 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles in 2007.

<i>UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff</i> 1989 studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic

UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff is the sixth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on July 18, 1989. The album is the final of Yankovic's to be produced by former McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Recorded between December 1988 and May 1989, the album served as the official soundtrack to the 1989 film of the same name, although the original score by John Du Prez is omitted. The album's lead single was the titular "UHF", although it was not a hit and did not chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Saga Begins</span> Song by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"The Saga Begins" is a parody song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It parodies "American Pie" by Don McLean, with lyrics that humorously summarize the plot of the film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace through the point of view of Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the film's protagonists.

"Yoda" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic from his third album, Dare to Be Stupid (1985). It is a parody of the song "Lola" by the Kinks. Inspired by the events of the movie The Empire Strikes Back, the song is told from the point of view of Jedi-in-training Luke Skywalker and concerns his dealings with Master Yoda on the planet Dagobah. The song was initially written and recorded in 1980, during the original release of The Empire Strikes Back and achieved success on The Dr. Demento Show; however, securing permission from both Star Wars creator George Lucas and "Lola" songwriter Ray Davies delayed the physical release of the song for about five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Pitiful</span> 2006 song performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"You're Pitiful" is a parody of the James Blunt song "You're Beautiful" written and recorded by American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released exclusively online on June 7, 2006. In it, Yankovic chides a 42-year-old man who lives a pitiful existence. It was originally intended as the lead single of his twelfth studio album, Straight Outta Lynwood.

<i>Straight Outta Lynwood</i> 2006 studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Straight Outta Lynwood is the twelfth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on September 26, 2006, the title drawing inspiration from hip hop group N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton. It was the sixth studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on the album are built around parodies and pastiches of pop and rock music of the mid-2000s. The album's lead single, "White & Nerdy", is a parody of Chamillionaire's hit single "Ridin'". The single debuted at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #9 the following week; "Canadian Idiot", a parody of Green Day's "American Idiot", also charted, peaking at #82.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White & Nerdy</span> 2006 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"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. The song both satirizes and celebrates nerd culture, as recited by the subject, who cannot "roll with the gangstas" because he is "just too white and nerdy". It includes many references to activities stereotypically associated with nerds and white people, such as collecting comic books and action figures, editing Wikipedia and playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Idiot</span> 2006 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Canadian Idiot" is a song by American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on 26 September 2006 from his album Straight Outta Lynwood. It is a parody of Green Day's song "American Idiot".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">"Weird Al" Yankovic discography</span> List of works by Weird Al Yankovic

The discography of American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor and parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic consists of fourteen studio albums, one soundtrack album, nine compilation albums, eleven video albums, two extended plays, two box sets, forty-six singles and fifty-four music videos. Since the debut of his first comedy song in 1976, he has sold more than 12 million albums—more than any other comedy act in history—recorded more than 150 parody and original songs, and performed more than 1,000 live shows. His works have earned him five Grammy Awards among sixteen nominations, along with several gold and platinum record certifications in the United States. Yankovic's first single, "My Bologna", was released in 1979, and he made his chart debut two years later with his second single, "Another One Rides the Bus", which peaked at number four on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. His self-titled debut studio album was released on Scotti Brothers Records on May 3, 1983, peaking at number 16 on the US Billboard 200 and being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Ricky", the album's third single, became his first single to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 64.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whatever You Like</span> 2008 single by T.I.

"Whatever You Like" is a song by the American rapper T.I., released as the lead single from his sixth studio album, Paper Trail (2008). The song was written by T.I. and David Siegel, alongside the song's producer Jim Jonsin. "Whatever You Like" served as the third single from Paper Trail in the United Kingdom with a release date of June 1, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">"Weird Al" Yankovic</span> American comedy musician (born 1959)

Alfred MatthewYankovic, known professionally as "Weird Al" Yankovic or simply Weird Al, is an American musician best known for creating comedy songs that make light of pop culture and often parody specific songs by contemporary musicians. He also performs original songs that are style pastiches of the work of other acts, as well as polka medleys of several popular songs, most of which feature his trademark accordion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craigslist (song)</span> "Weird Al" Yankovic song

"Craigslist" is a song by American musician "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, a factor Yankovic considered "unfortunate timing".

<i>Internet Leaks</i> 2009 EP by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Internet Leaks is the second EP released by American comedy musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. Released digitally on August 25, 2009, its lead single is a parody of "Whatever You Like" by artist T.I. For Yankovic, the EP was an experiment in using the Internet as a way to release music in an efficient and timely manner. As a result, the lead single, "Whatever You Like", references the Great Recession of 2008. The EP also contains style parodies of the Doors, Weezer, the White Stripes, and Queen; all of the songs, except for "Ringtone", had been released as separate digital singles between October 2008 and August 2009, preceding the record's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perform This Way</span> Song by Weird Al Yankovic from Alpocalypse

"Perform This Way" is a song parody by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic of "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga. The lyrics are told from the point of view of Gaga and describe her performance style and fashion sense. The song is the sixth single from Yankovic's 2011 album Alpocalypse, and all the proceeds were donated to the Human Rights Campaign charity. Gaga herself has praised the work and has additionally described herself as a "Weird Al" fan. The song entered and peaked at number six on the Comedy Digital Tracks chart of Billboard, remaining for a total of eight weeks.

<i>Alpocalypse</i> 2011 studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Alpocalypse is the thirteenth studio album by American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 21, 2011. It was the seventh studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on the album are built around parodies and pastiches of pop and rock music of the late 2000s and early 2010s. The album's first single, "Whatever You Like", was released almost two and a half years prior to the release of the album, and the single peaked at number 104 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's final single, "Perform This Way", was released digitally on April 25, 2011, but failed to chart.

<i>Mandatory Fun</i> 2014 studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Mandatory Fun is the fourteenth and most recent studio album by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. The self-produced album was released by RCA Records in the United States on July 15, 2014. Yankovic had previously released Alpocalypse in 2011 and was touring in support of it when he first spoke of his next record. When he began to work on Mandatory Fun, Yankovic found himself listening to older acts, many of which he stylistically spoofed on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Word Crimes</span> 2013 song by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Word Crimes" is a song by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic from his fourteenth studio album, Mandatory Fun (2014). The song is a parody of the 2013 single "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke, featuring Pharrell Williams and T.I. The song spoofs misuse of proper English grammar and usage, reflecting Yankovic's own rigor for proper syntax and semantics. Yankovic chose a topic that would be distinct from those used in many pre-existing parodies, and that would avoid the misogyny issues that had arisen from the source material.

"Handy" is a song by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic from his fourteenth studio album, Mandatory Fun (2014). The song is a parody of the 2014 single "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea, featuring Charli XCX. Yankovic met Azalea in person for permission to spoof the song, and he completed his track shortly before the album was mastered and released. "Handy" focuses on a character who brags about his abilities regarding various handyman tasks. The music video was released on July 17, 2014 and features Yankovic assuming the character portrayed in the song. "Handy" received a mixed response from music critics.

References

  1. ""Weird Al" Yankovic: Recording Dates". weirdal.com. 2008-10-07. Archived from the original on 2010-07-09. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  2. Vreval, Jeff (2008-10-06). "Weird Al Goes Digital With T.I. Cover". Billboard . Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  3. "The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site". weirdal.com. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  4. "The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site". weirdal.com. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  5. "Weird Al Yankovic – Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  6. YouTube - "Weird Al" Yankovic
  7. MySpace - "Weird Al" Yankovic
  8. "Comedy Digital Tracks: January 23, 2010". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2014.