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‘Weird Al’ Enlists Jack Black, Aisha Tyler for Pharrell Parody ‘Tacky’

Margaret Cho, Kristen Schaal and Eric Stonestreet also help Yankovic send up pop smash “Happy”

Jul 15, 2014

Weird Al” Yankovic writing a parody version of Pharrell’s ubiquitous smash “Happy” is inevitable in all the most amazing ways ”“ and now the world’s leading purveyor of pop silliness has done just that with “Tacky,” a hilarious cut from his 14th studio LP, Mandatory Fun. Nerdist premiered the song’s cameo-laden video, which features Yankovic and comedy friends Jack Black, Margaret Cho, Aisha Tyler and Kristen Schaal and Modern Family‘s Eric Stonestreet grooving through Los Angeles’ Palace Theatre (the same setting for Julianne Moore’s apartment in The Big Lebowski).

“Weird Al” is in fine form throughout the track, showcasing his smooth falsetto on lines that demonstrate the various ways a person can be tacky in the 21st century: from taking a coupon book on a date to Instagramming pictures of your meals to owning a YOLO license plate to twerking in line at the DMV. “Are you pregnant, girl, or just really fat?” Yankovic sings at one point, mimicking Pharrell’s smooth delivery, as the music follows the smooth jazz-funk flow of the original.

“Can’t nothin’ bring me shame,” our tacky hero croons in the signature clapped breakdown. It’s hard to pick the song’s best line, but a good vote would be “Got my new résumé ”“ it’s printed in Comic Sans” or “Live-tweet a funeral, take selfies with the deceased.”

Mandatory Fun, out July 15th (and available now for pre-order at iTunes), also features parodies of Lorde’s “Royals,” Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive,” Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” (of course) and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy,” alongside “style parodies” of the Pixies and Cat Stevens. As Stereogum notes, the album is Yankovic’s final release in his current contract with RCA; the parody master recently told The New York Post that he’s interested in self-releasing future material, saying, “The album format doesn’t seem to be the best for my stuff.”

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