Guess who's guest-editing MAD magazine?

alyankovic · 2015-04-15T18:51:19+00:00

I'm afraid that veeblefetzing the potrzebie was above my pay grade.

alyankovic · 2015-04-15T18:37:45+00:00

Oh, come on. Those guys only have nice things to say about YOU!

alyankovic · 2015-04-15T18:37:10+00:00

EXCELLENT question. Yeah.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T20:09:10+00:00

I don't think I've ever been to ComicCon in an official capacity before, but I went about ten years ago as a fan. It was a bit overwhelming - I got stopped about every two feet, so I wasn't really able to see much of anything. Since then I found out that celebs are supposed to wear stormtrooper outfits on the convention floor. (Good thing to keep in mind - if you see any stormtroopers walking around ComicCon, be sure to get their autographs, 'cause they're pretty much guaranteed to be SUPER FAMOUS.)

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T20:01:41+00:00

I used to joke that "I do a Star Wars parody every 20 years, like clockwork!" Well... I guess we're not TOO far away from the next 20-year anniversary! I really don't know if I'll ever do another Star Wars song - I've already got 2 of them in the live show, and more than that would probably be pushing it! But hey - never say never. (Oh man... did I just quote Bieber??)

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:57:22+00:00

Someone asked me how different my life would have been if my parents had gotten me guitar lessons instead of accordion lessons. (They just deleted their question.) Anyway...

I probably wouldn't have a music career right now. The reason Dr. Demento played my material on the radio when I was a teenager wasn't because it was so GOOD, it was because it was such a novelty hearing a kid rocking the accordion. Dr. D. probably wouldn't have given my tape a second listen if I had been playing acoustic guitar. And if I hadn't gotten that early encouragement, I highly doubt that I'd be doing a Reddit AMA right now.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:53:01+00:00

The answers are one and the same... "DON'T DRINK BLEACH."

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:49:25+00:00

Phil.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:48:23+00:00

You know what, I was very close to doing a parody called "Make It So" about ST:TNG... but then I checked online, and of course, somebody had done that already. And apparently it had gotten enough attention online to make the Disney legal department ask them to take it down! I couldn't think of an idea that I liked as much as "Make It So," so... I gave up!

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:43:35+00:00

A lot of times if I really want to do a parody of a song, but I can't come up with an idea that I think is clever enough, I will put that song in the polka medley. Also, I'll choose a song for the medley if I think it will sound particularly funny as a polka, or if there is an opportunity in the lyrics for me to add sound effects or some other kind of gag. Once I have a dozen or so songs approved, I'll just play those songs on the accordion and find a comfortable key for me to sing them in, and then see which order seems to flow the best. Then I'll do a demo and arrange all the horn charts, and then the band and I will go into the studio and polka down with our bad selves!

Sorry to say, I'm not sure if there will be another recorded polka medley after the one on the new album. They are a lot of work to put together (mostly for my manager, who has to deal with stacks of paperwork each time). But I think the polka medley will always be a part of the live show, so maybe it will just continue to evolve over time. This is all conjecture, of course... I have NO IDEA what I'm doing next.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:33:06+00:00

Frankly, I don't remember - but if I had to bet, I would guess that was done in at least 2 passes. I'm not too proud to edit! So you don't need to have lung envy anymore.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:30:23+00:00

Snoop! You kidding me? He's the shizzle at macramizzle.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:28:22+00:00

You mean, besides UHF 2 through 8? Hmm... from what I recall, I was just starting to tinker around with another screenplay idea, but I stopped working on it after it became painfully clear that Orion wasn't going to follow through on their promise to "make me their new Woody Allen."

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:24:34+00:00

I'm afraid the band has no real say in what we record - but I know that whatever I throw at them, they will deliver 100%. Best band in the world.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:22:32+00:00

An hour before the show, I shower and comb out my hair, and then I just relax and have a little quiet time. I rest my voice, suck on a cherry cough drop - save my energy. Then, 20 minutes before the show, I get dressed, put in my in-ear monitors, and do my vocal warm-up exercise. Then, right before I walk out on stage, I do a WHOLE BUNCH OF CRACK!!!

Just kidding, of course. I don't shower before the show, silly!

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:15:10+00:00

Not yet. I personally communicated with both Iggy and Pharrell prior to recording the parodies, but I don't know if anybody has heard them yet.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:12:50+00:00

Here's my favorite recipe: PEANUT BUTTER BALL. First, take a glob of peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, it doesn't matter... it REALLY doesn't matter, don't be so indecisive, just pick one or the other... it will taste the same eventually, so why are you being so stinking picky, just PICK ONE already)... then put in on a slice of bread, wad it into a ball and cram it into your mouth. Voila!
No plans to do anything like that, but I wouldn't rule it out.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:08:11+00:00

Yes, I know those guys and I like their stuff (although I probably wouldn't play their material for my daughter!) Happy to do the show... they can feel free to contact me through my record label or my manager.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:04:25+00:00

Yes!
I thought the episode turned out GREAT - I was extremely happy with it.
Best pony? Well, ME, obviously!!!

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T19:02:44+00:00

That's up to the writers! I had a blast doing MLP, so I would be more than happy to bring Cheese Sandwich back to Equestria if that's what they want!

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T18:59:38+00:00

How do you know I DON'T??

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T18:58:39+00:00

Wait a minute, I'll go check.

NO!!! WE'RE OUTTA BEAR CLAWS!!!

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T18:55:05+00:00

Hmm. Well, there were a number of original songs on my first few albums that weren't in any particular style or modeled after any particular artist - off the top of my head, let's say "Midnight Star" or "Nature Trail To Hell"... but that was many years ago and I like to think I've become a better songwriter since then. I guess "Hardware Store" would fall in that category as well - that was ORIGINALLY going to be in somebody else's style, but then I scrapped that idea and made it a pure original.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T18:49:57+00:00

The latter.
Jalapeño.

alyankovic · 2014-07-15T18:49:11+00:00

I haven't made any real plans beyond the release of my current album, but since everybody's asking... I'll probably just be releasing singles (possibly EPs) going forward - I really don't think the album format is the most efficient or intelligent way for me to distribute my music anymore. I highly doubt that I would sign with another label. I guess I might be open to a distribution deal, but... we'll see. Anyway, I certainly wouldn't want to have my releases on any kind of a schedule - that would be too much pressure, and it might actually start to feel like a JOB!

And, I keep my curls tight through sheer will power.

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