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SOMEBODY KILL ME (by Adam Sandler: The Wedding Singer, Volume 1 movie soundtrack)

SUMMARY:                                     RUNNING TIME: 1:52 Min.

It’s the thirteenth track off 1998’s initial Wedding Singer movie soundtrack.  Performed in character by star Adam Sandler, the track includes a dialogue clip intro by Sandler’s ‘Robbie Hart.’  There’s a fast dialogue reply afterwards by co-star Drew Barrymore’s ‘Julia Sullivan.’  Sandler collaborated with Tim Herlihy to co-write the song. 

REVIEW:

As Sandler’s ‘Robbie Hart’ acknowledges, his supposed song (i.e. the melody) is reminiscent of The Cure.  Not surprisingly, Sandler’s vocal talents are wasted on this material that falls far short of good taste. 

Considering how the profanity-laced lyrics spells out the title’s suicidal rant after a romantic rejection, one is hard-pressed to find this parody remotely amusing.  The dreadful “Somebody Kill Me” will likely appeal only to Sandler’s perpetual fanbase.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     1½ Stars

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SHADES OF SENNETT (by Henry Mancini: The Pink Panther movie soundtrack)

SUMMARY:                                   RUNNING TIME: 1:28 Min.

Off 1963’s The Pink Panther film soundtrack, this car chase tune narrates Inspector Clouseau’s hot pursuit of ‘The Phantom,’ as two suspects in matching gorilla suits driving separate cars wildly confound him.  Composer-conductor Henry Mancini titled this ode to live-action cartoons after comedy director Mack Sennett, who is credited with the invention of movie slapstick.  This song is available on the soundtrack’s 1993 CD release.

REVIEW:

Hearing the wacky “Shades of Sennett” will make anybody visualize clowns or fast-paced, anything-goes Hollywood slapstick.  For youngsters, it’s fun just hearing it as silly background noise.  In a contemporary sense, “Shades of Sennett” applies to any harried parent trying to round up his/her kids or even chasing after a mischievous pet.  For that matter, this tune might as well sum up a ridiculously busy day at the office. 

Mancini needs less than ninety seconds to conjure up a timeless bit of comedy magic. “Shades of Sennett” is worth keeping, even just for a good chuckle.     

Note: For a download double-feature, there’s Matthew Harwood’s wonky instrumental mayhem, “Mischief (Harley Quinn’s Theme).” The clownish track appears on 2015’s Infinite Crisis video game soundtrack and 2016’s Music of DC Comics, Volume 2

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         7½ Stars

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Humor (CD's) Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows STAR WARS-Related

YODA (by “Weird Al” Yankovic : Dare to Be Stupid)

SUMMARY:                                            RUNNING TIME: 3:58 Min.

Off his 1985 comedy album, Dare to Be Stupid, “Weird Al” Yankovic parodies The Empire Strikes Back’s Yoda and his mentorship of Jedi Knights.  For this faux soft rock tune, Yankovic lifts the melody from The Kinks’ 1970 song, “Lola.”    

REVIEW:

To Yankovic’s credit, his vocals make good on the wacky lyrics, as best as one could expect.  During a first listening, the melody may be hard to place, no matter how vaguely familiar it sounds.  Even so, it should mildly amuse Star Wars fans of any age.  This overly repetitive novelty tune would make ideal cover material for The Big Bang Theory’s Howard & Raj in their two-man band: Footprints on the Moon.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        6 Stars

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ONE MORE MINUTE (by “Weird Al” Yankovic: Dare to Be Stupid)

SUMMARY:                                   RUNNING TIME: 4:04 Min.

Spoofing classic doo-wop, it’s the fourth track off “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 1985 comedy album, Dare to be Stupid.    

REVIEW:

This amusing homage to old school doo-wop has “Weird Al” Yankovic at the top of his game.  Not only are the lyrics a spot-on romantic parody, the melody is a well-played original.  More so, the quality of Yankovic’s underrated vocals is impressive re: its mock earnestness saying goodbye (or more accurately, good riddance) to an ex-girlfriend.  Reminiscent in spirit to Rick Dees’ “Eat My Shorts,” Yankovic delivers a LOL comedy tune worth re-discovery.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        7 Stars

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SLIME CREATURES FROM OUTER SPACE (by “Weird Al” Yankovic: Dare to Be Stupid)

SUMMARY:                                    RUNNING TIME: 4:23 Min.

It’s the seventh track off “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 1985 comedy album, Dare to Be Stupid.  Yankovic also wrote the song.

REVIEW:

Taking delightful jabs at sci-fi/horror movie schlock, “Weird Al” is very much on his game.  The song is probably thirty seconds too long, but the tongue-in-cheek, ‘intergalactic’ sound effects should make anyone chuckle.  Well-played! 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     7½ Stars

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CABLE TV (by “Weird Al” Yankovic: Dare to Be Stupid)

SUMMARY:                                    RUNNING TIME: 3:38 Min.

Spoofing couch potatoes/cable TV addicts, it’s the tenth track off “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 1985 comedy album, Dare to be Stupid.    

REVIEW:

With an upbeat original melody and well-written lyrics, “Weird Al” Yankovic’s sarcastic jibes score multiple times.  Considering the 21st Century dominance of cable TV, this timely LOL track merits a chance with listeners.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        7½ Stars

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TACKY (by “Weird Al” Yankovic: Mandatory Fun)

SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: 2:53 Min.

The song is an obvious spoof of the hit 2013 song, “Happy,” by Pharrell Williams.  It’s the eleventh track off “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 2014 comedy album, Mandatory Fun.    

REVIEW:

Closely replicating the original song’s melody, “Weird Al” Yankovic’s sarcastic jibes win in terms of its well-written lyrics and some fun unpredictability.  Other than a fat-shaming gag, this upbeat song best spells out clichés of a clueless dude living in the 21st Century.  Hearing it once is a hoot, but “Tacky” likely overextends itself by a good minute.  Though Yankovic has devised a go-to parody of “Happy,” this track is probably best being heard only once in a great while.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        6 Stars

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GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE LUNCH (by “Weird Al” Yankovic: Dare to Be Stupid)

SUMMARY:                                  RUNNING TIME: 2:48 Min.

Spoofing Cyndi Lauper’s hit 1983 song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Weird Al” Yankovic plays off the familiar melody.  It’s the eighth track on his 1985 comedy album, Dare to Be Stupid.    

REVIEW:

The only good news that this awful parody is a minute shorter than Lauper’s song.  The bad news, however, is that this spoof is a weak excuse for making stereotypical fat jokes and sexist inferences re: women as perpetually hungry gold-diggers.  Frankly, listening to this obnoxious drivel in its entirety becomes a real chore.  It’s an instance where “Weird Al” might boast some winners on a typical album.  However, the tasteless “Girls Just Want to Have Lunch” would be one of those other remaining tracks giving parodies a bad name.       

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                1½ Stars

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HOOKED ON POLKAS (by “Weird Al” Yankovic: Dare to Be Stupid)

SUMMARY:                    RUNNING TIME: 3:38 Min.

In a medley of familiar 80’s pop/rock hits, it’s the spoofy finale of “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 1985 comedy album, Dare to be Stupid.    

REVIEW:

Its sound effect-laden polka melody is worthy of a cartoon series in the same spirit, like Be Cool, Scooby Doo! and Get a Clue, Scooby-Doo. Undeniably wacky and mostly certainly original, “Hooked on Polkas” is an upbeat gem for listeners who can appreciate a mishmash parody of early-to-mid 80’s radio hits. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:              8 Stars

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LIKE A SURGEON (by “Weird Al” Yankovic: Dare to Be Stupid)

SUMMARY:                                      RUNNING TIME: 3:32 Min.

Spoofing rookie surgeons, “Weird Al” Yankovic plays off the melody from Madonna’s 1984 hit song, “Like a Virgin.” It’s the opener for his 1985 comedy album, Dare to Be Stupid.    

REVIEW:

A combination of “Weird” Al Yankovic’s zany vocals and plenty of ingenious lyrics makes hearing “Like a Surgeon” a guilty pleasure … that is, when it’s heard for the first time.  Yet, once listeners start processing the song’s silly lyrics (not to mention, the use of medical sound effects), poor taste becomes all too evident.  This track is at most a single-listen wonder.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    3 Stars

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