and, my "Holy Grail" parody, "Uneasy Rider" - masochists apply here:

I was takin' a trip out to L.A.
Toolin' along in my Chevrolet
Tokin' on a number and diggin' on the radio

Just as I crossed the Mississippi line
I heard that highway start to whine
And I knew that left rear tire was about to go.

Well, the spare was flat and I got uptight
'Cause there wasn't a fillin' station in sight
So I just limped on down the shoulder on the rim

I went as far as I could and when I stopped the car
It was right in front of this little bar
Kind of redneck lookin' joint, called the Dew Drop Inn.

Well, I stuffed my hair up under my hat
And told the bartender that I had a flat
And would he be kind enough to give me change for a one

There was one thing I was sure proud to see
There wasn't a soul in the place, 'cept for him and me
And he just looked disgusted and pointed toward the telephone.

I called up the station down the road a ways
And he said he wasn't very busy today
And he could have somebody there in just 'bout ten minutes or so

He said now you just stay right where you're at
And I didn't bother tellin' the durn fool that
I sure as hell didn't have anyplace else to go.

I just ordered up a beer and sat down at the bar
When some guy walked in and said; "Who owns this car?
With the peace sign, the mag wheels and four on the floor?"

Well, he looked at me and I damn near died
And I decided that I'd just wait outside
So I layed a dollar on the bar and headed for the door.

Just when I thought I'd get outta there with my skin
These five big dudes come strollin' in
With this one old drunk chick and some fella with green teeth

And I was almost to the door when the biggest one
Said; "You tip your hat to this lady, son."
And when I did all that hair fell out from underneath.

Now the last thing I wanted was to get into a fight
In Jackson, Mississippi on a Saturday night
'Specially when there was three of them and only one of me

They all started laughin' and I felt kinda sick
And I knew I'd better think of somethin' pretty quick
So I just reached out and kicked old green-teeth right in the knee.

He let out a yell that'd curl your hair
But before he could move, I grabbed me a chair
And said; "Watch him folks, 'cause he's a thouroughly dangerous man."

"Well, you may not know it, but this man's a spy
He's an undercover agent for the FBI
And he's been sent down here to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan."

He was still bent over, holdin' on to his knee
But everyone else was lookin' and listenin' to me
And I layed it on thicker and heavier as I went

I said; "Would you beleive this man has gone as far
As tearin' Wallace stickers off the bumpers of cars
And he voted for George McGovern for president."

"He's a friend of them long-haired, hippie type, pinko fags
I betcha he's even got a Commie flag
Tacked up on the wall, inside of his garage

He's a snake in the grass, I tell ya guys
He may look dumb, but that's just a disguise
He's a mastermind in the ways of espionage."

They all started lookin' real suspicious at him
And he jumped up an' said; "Now, just wait a minute, Jim
You know he's lyin' I've been livin' here all of my life."

"I'm a faithfull follower of Brother John Birch
And I belong to the Antioch Baptist Church
And I ain't even got a garage, you can call home and ask my wife."

Then he started sayin' somethin' 'bout the way I was dressed
But I didn't wait around to hear the rest
I was too busy movin' and hopin' I didn't run outta luck

And when I hit the ground, I was makin' tracks
And they were just takin' my car down off the jacks
So I threw the man a twenty an' jumped in an' fired that mother up.

Mario Andretti woulda sure been proud
Of the way I was movin' when I passed that crowd
Comin' out the door and headin' toward me in a trot

And I guess I should-a gone ahead and run
But somehow I couldn't resist the fun
Of chasin' them all just once around the parkin' lot.

Well, they're headin' for their car, but I hit the gas
And spun around and headed them off at the pass
I was slingin' gravel and puttin' a ton of dust in the air

Ha Ha, well, I had 'em all out there steppin' and fetchin'
Like their heads were on fire and their asses was catchin'
But I figured I oughta go ahead an split before the cops got there.

When I hit the road I was really wheelin'
Had gravel flyin' and rubber squeelin'
And I didn't slow down 'til I was almost to Arkansas

Well, I think I'm gonna re-route my trip
I wonder if anybody'd think I'd flipped
If I went to L.A. - via Omaha.

The video doesn't do it justice, but the song can be heard here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEDoeX7lTS0

Always a favourite topic of mine...here is my take on Red Ant Jack's "Big 14", with a few I think should be added:

American Pie: Yet to do this one- it's becoming an albatross around my neck. I'm SURE I'll come up with a good idea sooner or later...

TWOT Edmund Fitzgerald: I actually didn't find this too hard to write once I had the idea. Fairly steady meter and long lines give you plenty to work with

Blinded By The Light: Nasty, nasty, NASTY! SO hard to parody, with crazy internal rhymes, and that whole verse where you have basically one rhyme repeated 20+ times. Hats off to anyone who even has a go at this one.

Major General's Song: A lot of people shy away from this one, but I've done it twice, and found the experiences enjoyable. Like TWOTEF, lots to work with

Bo Rhap: Another stinker- has been done so many times, and quite restricted in what you can do rhyme-wise

Supercali: Everyone MUST do this one! Not too hard, once you've got your theme. Straightforward meter, fun to sing along with....

Be Our Guest: Pretty tricky in places, but fun to do. If you get it right, sure to be a successful parody.

Under The Sea: Haven't cracked this one yet. Looks like fun, but going to be hard topping the great parodies already produced

Smells Like Teen Spirit: MUCH harder to do than you'd expect. Short lines are a byatch, and good ideas are hard to come by.

Lose Yourself: I am SO afraid of hip-hop, I've shied away from this.

Hello Muddah: This one wrote itself once I had my story. Pretty straightforward, and instantly recognisable

Stairway: For some reason, I've never really considered doing this. Must get my thinking cap on...

Battle Hymn Of The Republic: Loved parodying this! Another parody that seemed to write itself. I have a fondness for OS's with long lines and bouncy, steady meter.

I'm not sure I agree with you, Jack, about "A Boy Named Sue"...it's probably because I'm not overfamiliar with the song. In terms of country, I'd probably plump for "I've Been Everywhere" to go on the list (I haven't done that one either!)

Three other OS's I think MUST go on the list:

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover: Just because coming up with an original idea, and good names, is SO difficult now

We Didn't Start The Fire: Because making a list parody funny is REALLY hard

One Week: The OS is pretty incomprehensible, frantically fast, and quite surreal. Try doing that in a parody! (It's The End Of The World As We Know It is of a similar vein, but less well known)


Well, that's my two pennies' worth....it would be interesting to hear what other writers think.....K

Hip Hop is my archille's heel also, I record mine of course which is what makes that so hard, although Destiny's Child is giving me good warm ups with Bootylicious and Say My Name, which aren't too terribly hard but they are kind of steps towards being able to do rap/hip hop parodies. . .Smells Like teen Spirit--that's why Weird Al is the All Mighty King of Parodies. . .HILARIOUS. . .only Al--I hope someday to write like him. 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - considered by many to the equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel


"Many" here meaning "Phil Alexander."

Supercal is a song with (in economic terms) a high Return On Investment. Well-known songs with steady, singalong meters are the easiest ones for casual readers to appreciate. The time investment into parodying those, therefore, yields a higher reader response than parodying, say, a less-than-universally-recognized rap song with a meter that's all over the map. I haven't tried them yet, but I would guess that "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Hello Muddah" have a high ROI too.

And "Be Our Guest" is, IMHO, the single best vehicle for good parodists to put their talents on flashy display.

xoxox
Spaff

I'm still on my "Project 2", I've written hundreds of parodies in my many books during late hotel shifts, slow pool store shifts, late nights that I just couldn't sleep and sometimes because I was angry, I'm picking which ones to do in each project, while I've already got P2 completely panned out, I think for P3 I'm going to take on some even bigger challenges. . .I'm going to try some of the ones mentioned here but I make no promises, the only one I have parodied in the past was "Under the Sea" and I was a kid so that parody will NEVER get posted as is unless I come up with a completely new idea.  Also I did write out the chorus once to It's the End of the World as We Know It, but never attempted such an insane parody. . .My hardest to date was the one I just did, Crazy In Love, and it was a mind blowing expierence to try to parody the rap section of that song. . .Beyonce's part was fairly easy. . .But I think to really be accepted and earn my place here I have to successfully write and record at least one song from this list.

Here's the Traditional Top Hits.... (And which ones I've done)

1. American Pie    (Done x2)
2. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Done x1)
3. The Major-Modern General's Song (Done x2)
4. Be Our Guest (Done x1)
5. Bohemian Rhapsody (Done x1)
6. Blinded By The Light
7. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
8. My Favorite Things (Done x2)
9. 50 Ways To Lose Your Lover
10. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
11. Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Done x2)
12. My Way
13. Hello Muddah, Hello Fuddah
14. Smells Like Teen Spirit

Hmm... looks like I'm missing 11 and 13, and quite a few of those are ones I've done more times than I care to think about.  Which one's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", anyway? And kudos to anyone who's done American Pie twice (it's bad enough once)


"Many" here meaning "Phil Alexander."

I think I might have said something along those lines :)

Red Ant - Uneasy Rider/Breakdown those look like serious b*****ds to do... must have a look for the OSs, as I can never resist a challenge ;)

Which one's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", anyway?

The one with the "I walk alone" pre-chorus.


Red Ant - Uneasy Rider/Breakdown those look like serious b*****ds to do... must have a look for the OSs, as I can never resist a challenge ;)


I scrapped one Uneasy Rider parody after getting 9 verses in, and have another which is half-complete... I started it in February. That song is probably harder than most of Eminem's material.

There is a video link on the first page for Uneasy Rider.

Breakdown and Locomotive are on Use Your Illusion 2. I haven't really had any crackin' ideas for those yet.

Any of those three is a challenge; hats off to you if you parody any one of them (or all 3  ;)).

"Many" here meaning "Phil Alexander."



Ah, my mistake.



Well-known songs with steady, singalong meters are the easiest ones for casual readers to appreciate.



That's an interesting observation, Spaff. I'm not sure what you mean by "casual reader" though. I'd guess that ~85% of the comments I get are from fellow parodists, many of whom seem to put in as much time reading/commenting on parodies as they do writing them - I don't consider them "casual readers."

But yes, I'll agree it's easier to appreciate a Supercali... parody than a rap parody if the reader is only vaguely familiar with either OS; it's easier to remember Supercali... from hearing it once than it is for a rap song.


And "Be Our Guest" is, IMHO, the single best vehicle for good parodists to put their talents on flashy display.


Agreed.

Speaking of
a less-than-universally-recognized rap song with a meter that's all over the map., I present an old school rap that is pretty darned hard.

Tone Loc's "On Fire (remix)" from 1989:

This jam I created
Will leave you devastated
And when I'm finished rockin you will appreciate it
The structure of this rhyme will reign supreme
To have a cut like this is a MC's dream
You first heard this cut, you thought it was irreceptible
Now you're groovin to it, that makes it acceptable
Party people, listen to my word
The note on the door said 'do not disturb'
While I create the jam to take you little bit higher
Don't get close, this cut is on fire

Causin much damage like a nuclear war
You know what time it is, I'm always reachin for more
To turn the party out my rhymes are always suitable
Considered very healthy like a sauna, therapeutical
Owner of the mic, yeah, L-o-c
Never spent a day in college, got many degrees
Not fully educated
But dedicated
Until this jam I was extremely underrated
Now I'm rockin parties from sea to sea
Talkin 'bout everything from a to z
Some say my style is laxadasical
Now you hear the music and you say, "That's the way to go"
A show, a gig, it has signs to picket
Now I'm rockin stronger and you want free tickets
You once-a-month rapper, you're weak and you've shown it
Don't waste my time, I need an opponent
Not only will I dog you but I make you retire
Don't get close, this cut is on fire

Last time you heard my voice you claimed it was obnoxious
Your foot started tappin, it was in your self-conscience
I know it's hard to believe a million sold
Everytime I start bustin, you lose control
My verbal coalition is a little outrageous
Like a plague (plague), my rap is contagious
Causin much grief, no sympathy for pain
Hard beats and fresh lyrics is what I attain
You can take this brand new style of hip-hop
Cold put it at the bottom, it will reach the top
Because the rhyme is so def, you stand in amazement
Time's up, I got another engagement
Rhymes never empty, I keep them replenished
The crowd skeezer-teaser until they're finished
Smoke from the cut, you better put on your glasses
Guaranteed to knock you all on your asses
And ashes to ashes, and dust to dust
Like on the back of the dollar it says 'In God We Trust'
The smoke-filled room make the suckers perspire
Don't get close, this cut is on fire

Can you dig it?
We gon' blow the house up in smoke
With the MC Tone Loc
You guessed it, baby

I was born and raised on the West Coast
Tone-Loc, the master, the host
The O.G. town I represent
Well, I'm the mayor, governor and president
L.A. - where it's sunny all year
The first city to bust the Fila gear
L.A. Sergio Tacchini
Venice Beach, home of the fit bikini
From Compton, Watts to Pasadena
If you don't see a fly girl it's a misdemeanor
The town to astound, city by the shore
Our posse's in the house and we're coolin' hardcore
You never seen a MC with such style and finesse
Wearin hella silk shirts and pants by Guess
You can search the universe, but you never will find
Another MC with a style like mine
Cause if you do, we'll battle to hell
And your head'll be cracked like the Liberty Bell
Like a sculpture and a statue I'm pittoresque
Hardcore lover, rhymer with the beat that's def
Yo, don't worry, cause I be back
You won't look at the bottom, be at the top of the stack
Believe what I say, I'm not known as a liar
Don't get close, this cut is on fire

And you know that
'89 is mine
Any MC like this you will find hard to find
You know what I'm sayin?
I'm 'bout to check outta here
Tone-Loc
Remember that, aight?
It's time for the wild thing
See ya later
I'm gone

***************************************

This song turned me onto the rap genre, and is also an AmiRight virgin with 0 entries.