Album: Mandatory Fun (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a parody of Pharrell Williams' "Happy," an upbeat anthem from Despicable Me 2 that topped charts around the world in 2013, including the US Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and the UK Singles Chart.
  • Al took aim at two other Pharrell-produced hits on this album: Robin Thicke's controversial "Blurred Lines" (as "Word Crimes") and Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" in his "NOW That's What I Call Polka!" medley. It wasn't an easy sell, at first. The ever-scrupulous comedian was having trouble getting through the throng of executives in Pharrell's camp to get the singer's permission, so he craftily obtained his personal email address to send a direct message. Al told Billboard: "He sent me a very sweet email back immediately saying he'd be honored. I was just blown away. He was just the sweetest guy."
  • The song's lyrics list all the ways Al is tacky, from his questionable attire - "wearing stripes with plaid" and "lovely pink sequined Crocs" - to his cheap behavior - "we can go to see a show, but I'll make ya pay."
  • The music video features several comedians, including Aisha Tyler, Margaret Cho and Jack Black, badly lip-synching to Al's vocals while showcasing even worse dance moves. Al insists the entire video was filmed in one long shot: "While it looks like there MIGHT have been an edit somewhere, I absolutely guarantee you, that was all done in ONE CONTINUOUS SHOT. That was a bit of a challenge for me, because I start the video on a 5th floor fire escape, and I reappear on street level wearing completely different clothes. That means - for EVERY TAKE - as soon as the camera was off me I had to run down 5 flights of stairs WHILE CHANGING MY CLOTHES so I could be on camera again at the end. Definitely got my workout THAT day!"
  • What does the "Tacky" video have in common with The Big Lebowski? Both were filmed at the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles. The 1998 movie used the venue as Maude Lebowski's (Julianne Moore) apartment.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.