I recall Matthew McConaughey once referencing in an interview saying “that if you ever want to know what’s going on in our country, listen to John [Mellencamp].”

I agree.

But today, I’d like to repurpose and append that sentiment. “If you ever want to know what is going on in our country – often the world – and are willing to receive it with clarity guised in gentle laughter, then listen to Weird Al.”

Whenever Al comes out with a new album or track, I add it to a running playlist I’ve maintained for nearly twelve years. Each time, it allows me to revisit the chronicles of the past three decades like those era-in-review shows that run at the closing of such a period. They become snapshots remembering centric topics and landmarks of time and culture.

While the overall quality of the parodies has increased to be less slapstick and near sonic twins of their counterpart, his genius is evident throughout the entire catalog.

As a lyricist myself, I always appreciate Al's ability and more so, standard. It would be tempting to think “I’m making a parody” and not give it the attention of craft that he does. Heck, we only need listen to most other parodies on the Internet to see this principle in action.

Winston Churchill declared "A joke is a very serious thing." Al understands this and like any of the great comic legends – like any genius that honors their gift – uses his own success as the metric by which he needs to expand and refine it. And, he does. It seems that each new album contains another parody that I am floored by at first listen.

Take a moment and find the intelligent and precise expertise in both the theme and words composed for each parody. Party In The USA morphs into Party In The CIA… the association is vivid. And while singing the lyrics with a smile, the truth is that if you just read them in any other context, they would seem like a short story from Tom Clancy. Blurred Lines into Word Crimes is topically relevant, smartly written, and an astounding implementation.

Today I was listening to I Lost On Jeopardy and marveling all over again how clever the words and song itself remain. In fact, most of the albums and individual tracks are like bottles of fine wine that hold their value over time. A body of work that is priceless, and we are all blessed to drink from the collection.

I won’t begin shift my written praise to style parodies and originals expect to say that each band member [Jim, Jon, Steve and Ruben] are incomparable musicians. I often “educate” (sorry Al, they’re bring used for emphasis) people on the brilliance he and the entire band demonstrate. Just ignore the lyrics for a moment and focus on the extraordinary talent required to play (well) and shift from pop, rock, country, blues, polka, big band, hip-hop, new wave, funk, soul, and other genres seamlessly and naturally… in the same set! It is unmatched in my experience. Oh, and how can I forget slack key guitar for Jim. I live in Hawaii and can state without bias that he is truly one of the best I have ever heard.

So, in an industry where even a good artist has a shelf-life of a few albums or years… when at best 1% become successful and even less can sustain their success and consistently increase their skill, abilities and quality of art, Al does. In an industry where fame can cloud and often erode those that receive it, Al seems to be ever more grateful and authentically kind-hearted to everyone. And, he’s been doing it for thirty years!

I repeat… thirty years! Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty; how many musicians can claim thirty years of consistent success in sales and charts? His career has outlasted most of the artists he has parodied. The irony is that many of them gain substantial financial success, live large and do the ‘rock-star fame thing’ only to find Al with similar opportunities, but seemingly always grounded.

Now, I think it’s time I also educate the RIAA; for a moment don’t listen to Al’s words (but just for a moment). Listen to the care, consideration and detail as he actually isn’t making fun of artists, but honoring them by putting so much care into the selection, lyrics and production of a parody.

I offer the quote once again: "A joke is a very serious thing." - Winston Churchill

I’ve never been motivated to create a petition before, but I am now! Let's get Al, Jim, Jon, Steve and Ruben voted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame!