Weird Al Wednesday – 4.30.25

Hey! Welcome back to Weird Al Wednesday
featuring the comedic genius of Al Yankovic.
“Say, Al! I heard that Lady Gaga taught you
some of her dance moves. How about showing us?

This Grammy-nominated video almost never was thanks to the legendary Weird Al/Lady Gaga Controversy. When Al asked Gaga’s management team for permission to do a parody of “Born This Way”, he was told Gaga said “no”. However, her management never even bothered to ask her and when Lady Gaga got wind of it, she fired them and gave Al the ok to make his parody. In fact, Lady Gaga later said being parodied by Al Yankovic was a “rite of passage” for her musical career and considered the song “very empowering”. And, as Al had said all along, all proceeds from the song and its video have been donated to the Human Rights Campaign. To get the effect in the video, Al’s head was superimposed on the bodies of a female dancer and a contortionist using CGI. This is the first time Al has played a woman in one of his videos and the second appearance by a Madonna impersonator (previously seen in “Like A Surgeon”).

This is “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga

LYRICS

It doesn’t matter if you love him, or capital “H-I-M” (M, M, M)
Just put your paws up
‘Cause you were born this way, baby

My mama told me when I was young
“We are all born superstars”
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
“There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are”
She said, “‘Cause He made you perfect, babe”
“So hold your head up, girl, and you’ll go far
Listen to me when I say”

I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself, and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way (Born this way)

Ooh, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way (Born this way)
Ooh, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Right track, baby
I was born this way

Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be (Don’t be, don’t be)

Give yourself prudence and love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M, hey, hey, hey
I love my life, I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (Same DNA)

I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself, and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way (Born this way)

Ooh, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way (Born this way)
Ooh, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Right track, baby
I was born this way

(Way) Don’t be, don’t be
(Way) Church

Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Whether you’re broke or evergreen
You’re black, white, beige, cholo descent
You’re Lebanese, you’re orient
Whether life’s disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
‘Cause baby, you were born this way

No matter gay, straight, or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white, or beige
Chola or orient made
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave!

I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself, and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way, yeah

Ooh, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way (Born this way)
Ooh, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way, hey
Same DNA, but born this way (Hey, hey, hey)
Same DNA, but born this way (Hey, hey, hey)

Writer(s): Fernando Garibay/Jeppe Laursen/Paul Blair/Stefani Germanotta

This is “Perform This Way” by Weird Al

LYRICS

My mama told me when I was hatched
Act like a superstar
Save your allowance, buy a bubble dress
And someday you will go far
Now on red carpets, well, I’m hard to miss
The press follows everywhere I go
I’ll poke your eye out with a dress like this
Back off and enjoy the show

I’m sure my critics will say it’s a grotesque display
Well, they can bite me, baby, I perform this way
I might be wearin’ Swiss cheese or maybe covered with bees
It doesn’t mean I’m crazy, I perform this way (-form this way)

Uh my little monsters pay
Lots ’cause I perform this way
Baby, I perform this way (-form this way)
Uh don’t worry, I’m okay
Hey I just perform this way
I’m not crazy, I perform this way

I’ll be a troll or evil queen
I’ll be a human jelly bean
‘Cause every day is Halloween
(For me)

I’m so completely original
My new look is all the rage
I’ll wrap my small intestines ’round my neck
And set fire to myself on stage
I’ll wear a porcupine on my head
On a W-H-I-M (hey, hey, hey)
And for no reason now I’ll sing in French
Excusez-moi, Qui a pété? (Express yourself)

Got my straight jacket today, it’s made of gold lamé
No, not because I’m crazy, I perform this way
I strap prime rib to my feet, cover myself with raw meat
I’ll bet you’ve never seen a skirt steak worn this way

Don’t be offended when you see
My latest pop monstrosity
I’m strange, weird, shocking, odd, bizarre
I’m Frankenstein, I’m Avatar
There’s nothing too embarrassing
I’ll honestly do anything
But wear white after Labor Day
‘Cause baby, I perform this way

Hope you won’t think it’s cliché if I go nude today
Don’t call the cops now, baby, I perform this way
No reason I should regret all the attention I get
I’m not completely crazy, I perform this way, yeah

I perform this way hey, I perform this way hey
I’m always deviating from the norm this way hey
I perform this way hey, I perform this way hey
I’m really not insane, I just perform this way hey

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Stefani Germanotta/Paul Edward Blair/Fernando Garibay/Weird Al Yancovic/Jeppe Breum Laursen
Perform This Way lyrics © Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp., Sony/atv Tunes Llc, Sony/atv Songs Llc, Garibay Music Publishing, House Of Gaga Publishing Inc

Thank for joining me this week and every week as we celebrate the weirdness that is Weird Al Yankovic. Honestly, I haven’t had this much fun since last Wednesday!

And remember what I like to say …. It’s good to laugh!

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section, et. al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.