#TheWeirdAlChallenge for Charities
#TheWeirdAlChallenge for Charities
Why this petition matters
I believe it is one of the highest musical honors to have Weird Al Yankovic parody an artist’s song. What if we could get those same artists to perform or lip-sync his parody of their song? They could perform it live, release it on the web, set up an event, etc... However, to make a REAL change, we ask them to promise to do it once donation total they establish beforehand is met and donated to the charity of their choosing.
Almost four years ago, I was in-between jobs and the creative juices were flowing. Weird Al Yankovic, a favorite musician of mine since childhood, had released ‘Mandatory Fun’. It was his first number #1 on the Billboard charts, and ultimately won him his 4th Grammy. An amazing feat for a album in the comedy genre. Through some happen-chance discussions overheard, a ‘few’ drinks, and my semi-humorous wit, I started a campaign/petition to have Al to perform at the half-time of Super Bowl XLIX on Change.org (LINK). While it never came to fruition, I was blown away by the support and recognition it received. Over 125K voiced their backing, as did several media outlets and fellow entertainers. Simply put, it was amazing. My girlfriend (now wife) was initially critical of my venture, stating that I was only using the platform for personal purposes, rather than using the platform to make a “real change” as others have done. While I was initially still happy with the idea and attention it received, her view stuck with me after all the years. Coincidentally, I now find myself again in-between jobs, and Weird Al just released a new fantastic single, ‘The Hamilton Polka’. I was in the midst of driving from Colorado back to Seattle, and after listening to that single, I started streaming some of his classic songs. Then the idea hits me… Let's ask the artists, entertainers, and fans to perform his parodies for charitable donations.
I call this: #TheWeirdAlChallenge
Thus, I have tweeted several of the artists he has parodied, and asked the following question:
How many likes/retweets and donations (please state the amount and charity of your choice) would it take for you to perform _______, Weird Al’s parody of your song _____ ?
Below are links to every one of the tweets for you, the fans, to do help make this change a reality. And if I have missed anyone, or there are other artists, entertainers, or fans who would like to participate, regardless of the parody (ie. The cast of Silicon Valley singing “It’s All About the Pentiums”, Chris Pratt rocking “Jurassic Park", or Jack Black belting out “Another One Rides the Bus”), please feel free to message them, me and/or leave a comment.
Let’s make a real change by donating and celebrate Weird Al!!
As a famous John Mayer parody might go...
So we keep donating (donating)
Donating for Weird Al and Change
We keep donating (donating)
Donating for Weird Al and Change…
*Sorry, I will leave the parodies to Al….
Cheers, ragonk, and much love!
Ed Ball
Twitter: @odceddie
ARTIST (or Entertainer)/TWITTER HANDLE (Song & parody in tweet link)
Aerosmith @Aerosmith https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970755024685944832
Will Arrnett @arnettwill https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970755941401485312
Avril Lavigne @AvrilLavigne https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970756130170273793
Backstreet Boys @backstreetboys https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970756278904500224
Barenaked Ladies @barenakedladies https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970756453379194882
Ben Folds @BenFolds https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970756715783139328
Billy Idol @BillyIdol https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970756878954250240
Billy Joel @billyjoel https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970757026815987712
Billy Ray Cyrus @billyraycyrus https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970757197104742400
B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars @bobatl @BrunoMars https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970757432497459200
Bryan Cranston @BryanCranston https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970757678103318528
Cake @CAKEMUSIC https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970757811247357952
Chamillionaire @chamillionaire https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970757971360690176
Red Hot Chili Peppers @ChiliPeppers https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970758100952084481
Coolio @Coolio https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970758213388836864
Crash Test Dummies @CTDBrad https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970758366803804161
Cyndi Lauper @cyndilauper https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970758567073521664
Diddy @Diddy https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970758726192779264
Don McLean @donmcleanonline https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970758887832895489
Eminem @Eminem https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970761348794671104
Fall Out Boy @falloutboy https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970761483469516800
Green Day @GreenDay https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970761613119647744
Mark Hamill @HamillHimself https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970761815608016896
Huey Lewis @Huey_Lewis_News https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970761959367786497
Iggy Azalea @IGGYAZALEA https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970762093849862144
Imagine Dragons @Imaginedragons https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970762222132543488
James Taylor @JamesTaylor_com https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970762443675787264
Joan Jett @joanjett https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970762552752750592
John Mellencamp @johnmellencamp https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970763167084105728
KISS @KISSOnline https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970763470747574272
The Knack @Knackrophilia
Lady Gaga @ladygaga https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970763859668516864
Lorde @lorde https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970763964362637312
Los Lobos @LosLobosBand https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970764068737789952
Madonna @Madonna https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970764177160617984
Dire Straits @MarkKnopfler https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970764405028790272
Maroon 5 @maroon5 https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970764563997081605
MC Hammer @MCHammer https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970764681068535808
Cherry Poppin' Daddies @mclgdrnk https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970764798110527488
Men Without Hats @MenWithoutHats1 https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970764915739738112
Metallica @Metallica https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970765118245019648
Miley Cyrus @MileyCyrus https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970765236729872384
Nelly @Nelly_Mo https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970765355294507008
Nine Inch Nails @nineinchnails https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970765475943624705
Nirvana @Nirvana https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970765942928982017
New Kids on the Block @NKOTB https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970766157866196992
Sting @OfficialSting https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970766261956194304
TLC @OfficialTLC https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970766369548509184
Offspring @offspring https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970766523911487489
Eddie Vedder @PearlJam https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970766745915936768
Pharrell Williams @Pharrell https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970766908143280133
Chris Pratt @prattprattpratt https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970767414181810176
Queen @QueenWillRock https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970767519316242432
Tone Lōc @RapperToneLoc https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970767634038865921
Tenacious D @RealTenaciousD https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970767769594617856
Reel Big Fish @ReelBigFish https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970767950696267776
R. Kelly @rkelly https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970768053112733696
Robin Thicke @robinthicke https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970768148508024832
Fine Young Cannibals @rolandleegift https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970768268704153600
Soul Asylum @soulasylum https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970768373159047168
Bruce Springsteen @springsteen https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970768565002428416
Stevie Nicks @StevieNicks https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970768746372481025
Taylor Hicks @TaylorHicks https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970768848864473088
Taylor Swift @taylorswift13 https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970768946574999552
Gerardo @TheRealGerardo https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970769046613278720
Presidents of the United States of America @therealpusa https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970769153266130949
Jack White @thirdmanrecords https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970769342869643264
Thomas Dolby @ThomasDolby https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970769531298709504
Tiffany @tiffanytunes https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970769654804180992
T.I. @Tip https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970769794243768320
They Might Be Giants @tmbg https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970770011517206528
Toni Basil @Toni_Basil https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970770113266774016
U2 @U2 https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970770263171219456
Usher @Usher https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970770395182784512
Van Halen @VanHalen https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970770555933634560
Weezer @Weezer https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970770720841060352
Ziggy Marley @ziggymarley https://twitter.com/odceddie/status/970770867239071744