Jerry Springer (song)
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| “Jerry Springer” | ||
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| Song by "Weird Al" Yankovic | ||
| Album | Running with Scissors | |
| Released | June 29, 1999 | |
| Genre | Comedy/Rock | |
| Length | 2:46 | |
| Label | Volcano | |
| Writer | "Weird Al" Yankovic | |
| Producer | "Weird Al" Yankovic | |
| Running with Scissors track listing | ||
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"Jerry Springer" is a 1999 song written by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The song is a parody of Barenaked Ladies' 1998 hit song "One Week". Released on Yankovic's 10th studio album Running with Scissors, the song describes the narrators obsession with watching The Jerry Springer Show and explains some of the inane titles, events, and absurdities that happen on the show, such as fights, cursing, married couples cheating, and how it's very addicting. Jerry Springer, the lyrics tell us, "puts the 'sin' in syndication."
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[edit] Intermission Dialogue
During a "musical intermission" of the song, a man and woman (Yankovic and voice actress Tress MacNeille) speak out a dialogue that would likely be found on the show:
- Man: "Baby, I've been sleeping with your sister."
- Woman: (gasps) "Which one?"
- M: "All of them."
- W: (gasps) "Well, I've been sleeping with your best friend Jake."
- M: "Yeah? W-well, me too! (woman gasps) And, I've been sleeping with your dog Woofie (dog barks)!"
- W: "Woofie, you b--ch! (A bleep is played while the woman says 'bitch', but the word can still be heard very clearly) Well, I'm also sleeping with your pet goat! (Goat bleats)"
- M: "That goat doesn't love you!"
For Yankovic's 1999 "Touring With Scissors" tour, a short music video segment was shot with MacNeille and Yankovic on a set resembling that of "The Jerry Springer Show." The video, featuring the two acting out the argument, was played during the "musical intermission" of the song in concert and can be seen on the "Weird Al" Yankovic Live! concert video and DVD.
[edit] Music Video
Originally Al had wanted to make a music video that featured Jerry Springer himself. Al and his record label sent him a rough mix of the song while the studio was finishing up Running with Scissors. Yankovic explained that, "Before Jerry Springer had heard the song, he seemed excited about the prospect of being in a Weird Al video, but after hearing the lyrics, he balked, saying that the song was just too 'negative' towards the show, and that he didn't want to associate himself with it. Oh well."
[edit] Notes
- During the 'Sin' in 'Syndication' line, a faint voice in the background can be heard saying "Brain cells gone, Brain cells gone…" This mirrors the original song's harmonization of "dans la maison."
- When played live in concert the song is noticeably longer than the album version. The song also begins with an added musical "intro". Yankovic stated these changes were necessary because singing the song live is "Hard to do that fast."
- This is the one Yankovic song to contain any profanity. Profanity in the song includes "slut", "ho", and "bitch", although the latter is partially bleeped.
