Parody In Popular Music

There are many reasons why people would rather listen to song parodies rather than their original counterparts. Song parodies give people who are either not informed on current mainstream music, or people who do not enjoy trending popular songs ways to enjoy the music without the original artist and lyrics, while also giving the audience that enjoys the original versions a humorous alternative. Musical artists create song parodies because they are not meant to be taken as a genuine piece of work that they take solemnly. The most famous parody creator of today is Weird Al Yankovic, Weird Al creates parodies that are made to confront and celebrate the anxieties of pop culture that some people face today.
Generally speaking, most mainstream songs
After being questioned about making fun of people, Ana Gasteyer stated “I’d like to say that parody is a celebration of a person’s specific characteristics, as opposed to mockery. That’s what I’d like to say”(Fox). Gasteyer knows that parodies are made all in good fun and are not meant to disrespect or mock the original artist or their work. Yankovic has claimed that he has no intention of creating “serious” music because parodies are meant for poking fun rather than having a serious meaning. Yankovic stated, “There’s enough people that do unfunny music. I’ll leave the serious stuff to Paris Hilton and Kevin Federline.” Weird Al makes parodies because they are not meant to be serious “work of arts” that have deep meanings like songs he has parodied such as Green Day’s “American Idiot”, am song about politics, propaganda, their views for why you should not vote for George Bush, and how the media controls what Americans see and “How” Americans should view certain events, especially after 9/11. Weird Al turned the song “American Idiot” into his parody version “Canadian Idiot”.” Canadian Idiot” uses satirical lyrics to change the song from political views to humorous as he sings about Canadian Stereotypes ranging from small, frivolous things like how they pronounce the letter Z as “zed” instead
He created parodies because he thought he would never be able to be cool and serious like the artists that create mainstream music that is featured on the top 100 billboard. His parodies give people who connect with the lyrics something to laugh at and embrace. When people thought of nerd culture during the time when “Ridin’” came out, they thought of the type of person from “White and Nerdy” that wears glasses, is good at school, has no friends, and gets bullied. Today, being smart and being a “nerd” is not considered bad, but is something that is praised by people, because people know that they are professional, get their work done, and will do something great with their lives. Being “nerdy” has progressed over the years from being something that can ruin someone’s social life, to being a badge of pride in yourself, with help from a song parody, and people realize that. Parodies give people ways to enjoy music differently. If you do not connect with the meaning from the original version, when you listen to a parodied version of the original, you can get a good laugh from it, or you might find yourself connecting with a parody version more. People who are out of the loop and do not keep up with mainstream music, can listen to the parodies and enjoy them from a