'Weird Al's Cruel Parody Angered This Singer'

Weird Al Yankovic has long been adored for his quirky parodies and humorous take on pop culture. For over forty years, he has entertained fans without stirring much controversy, often because he makes a point of seeking the original artists permission before releasing his comedic versions. The rare exception to this careful approach was his 1993 parody that upset Billy Ray Cyrus.

During a recent appearance on The Joel Martin Mastery Podcast, Als drummer Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz discussed whether the parody master ever offended other famous musicians. Schwartz revealed, There was one artist that was not happy about Als parody, and that was Billy Ray Cyrus, regarding Achy Breaky Heart.

Unlike most of Yankovics parodies, which often diverge entirely from the original subject, Achy Breaky Song was a direct satire of Cyrus chart-topping hit. The track mercilessly mocks the song, with lyrics portraying a listener pleading with a radio DJ to stop playing it, describing it as nauseating and the most annoying song I know. It even compares hearing it to nails on a chalkboard or a pitchfork in the brain.

Schwartz explained, That was maybe the one song where Al took a poke at the original artist. It was a well-deserved poke. The issue was that Billy didnt write the song, so he wasnt asked for permission. Al obtained approval from the actual songwriter or songwriters, which is why it went ahead.

Indeed, Achy Breaky Heart was written by Don Von Tress, who gave consent for the parody. Despite this, Cyrus himself was displeased. There was nothing he could do about it, Schwartz added. Even if he had made a public complaint, it would have reflected poorly on him.

Its worth noting that Cyrus may have been particularly sensitive because the parodys humorous premisethreatening radio stations to avoid playing the songwas actually inspired by the real-life irritation caused by the original track.

Author: Lucas Grant