Comedic singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic will release a single and music video based on Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" after initial reports that Gaga rejected a request from Yankovic to parody her song.
Yankovic made a name for himself after releasing songs and music videos parodying Queen, Michael Jackson, and Madonna in the 1980s. For his next album, slated for release this summer, Yankovic planned to release a single and music video based on Gaga's "Born This Way" titled "Perform This Way." The song is a take on her ostentatious presence and outlandish style, on- and offstage.
Yankovic posted the song on his YouTube account Wednesday, with an account on his blog about the runaround he received from the Gaga team. Hours later, he posted an update, saying the pop star had not actually heard the song. Instead, it was revealed that her manager did not pass the information along and rejected the song on her behalf. However, Gaga approved the song Wednesday, and her manager apologized.
Some of the lyrics include:
"I'm sure my critics will say it's a grotesque display
Well, they can bite me, baby -- I perform this way
I might be wearin' Swiss cheese or maybe covered with bees
It doesn't mean I'm crazy -- I perform this way"
Typically, Yankovic asks artists for permission to record a satiric version of their original songs and sometimes even collaborates with the artists. However, Yankovic said on his website Wednesday, that he was asked to pitch the song to Gaga's team three times, which even resulted in him recording a version of the song for her to approve before proceeding to put the song on the album. He added that the proceeds from the song would go to the Human Rights Campaign.
Yankovic wrote after learning that Gaga was a fan and liked his song, "I'm thrilled on many levels to hear this, because 1) I truly respect and admire Gaga as an artist and it pained me to think of her as having less than a great sense of humor, and 2) it means I GET TO PUT OUT MY ALBUM!"
Listen to "Perform This Way" below:
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