Jump to content

Foil (song): Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 19: Line 19:


In a [[plot twist|twist]], the second verse finds Yankovic ranting about [[conspiracy theories]].<ref name="lat"/><ref name="time">{{Cite web | url =http://time.com/2992665/weird-als-parody-of-lordes-royals-is-about-foil/| title =Weird Al’s Parody of Lorde’s "Royals" Is About…Foil| first =Olivia B. | last =Waxman | date = July 16, 2014 | accessdate = July 23, 2014 | publisher = ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''}}</ref> In particular, he notes that the [[New World Order (conspiracy theory)#Illuminati|Illuminati]] are being primed for "world domination" and that shadow organizations are monitoring daily life, and he reinforces the conspiracy theory that the [[Moon landing conspiracy theories|moon landings were fake]].<ref name="bb">{{Cite web | url =http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6157716/weird-al-yankovic-foil-royals-parody| title ='Weird Al' Yankovic, Patton Oswalt Confront the Illuminati in 'Royals' Parody 'Foil' (Watch)
In a [[plot twist|twist]], the second verse finds Yankovic ranting about [[conspiracy theories]].<ref name="lat"/><ref name="time">{{Cite web | url =http://time.com/2992665/weird-als-parody-of-lordes-royals-is-about-foil/| title =Weird Al’s Parody of Lorde’s "Royals" Is About…Foil| first =Olivia B. | last =Waxman | date = July 16, 2014 | accessdate = July 23, 2014 | publisher = ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''}}</ref> In particular, he notes that the [[New World Order (conspiracy theory)#Illuminati|Illuminati]] are being primed for "world domination" and that shadow organizations are monitoring daily life, and he reinforces the conspiracy theory that the [[Moon landing conspiracy theories|moon landings were fake]].<ref name="bb">{{Cite web | url =http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6157716/weird-al-yankovic-foil-royals-parody| title ='Weird Al' Yankovic, Patton Oswalt Confront the Illuminati in 'Royals' Parody 'Foil' (Watch)
| first =Joe| last =Lynch| date = July 16, 2014 | accessdate = July 23, 2014 | publisher = ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''}}</ref> To conclude the song, Yankovic once again reinforces the greatness of aluminum foil, in this scenario putting a hat made of foil atop his head to avoid "thought control rays."<ref name="bb"/>
| first =Joe| last =Lynch| date = July 16, 2014 | accessdate = July 23, 2014 | publisher = ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''}}</ref> To conclude the song, Yankovic once again reinforces the greatness of aluminum foil, in this scenario putting [[tin foil hat|a hat made of foil]] atop his head to avoid "thought control rays."<ref name="bb"/>


The original song's instrumentation is carried over, and the song contains elements of "minimalist electro-pop".<ref name="rs">{{Cite web | url =http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/weird-al-wards-off-illuminati-sandwich-mold-in-lorde-parody-video-20140716| title ='Weird Al' Wards off Illuminati, Sandwich Mold in Lorde Parody Video| first =Ryan| last =Reed| date = July 16, 2014 | accessdate = July 23, 2014 | publisher = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''}}</ref> Kevin O'Keeffe of ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]'' observed that it is the shortest parody on ''Mandatory Fun'' as it omits the bridge and final chorus of the original song.<ref name="Wire">[http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2014/07/ranking-weird-als-new-parodies-who-gets-skewered-best/374466/ Ranking Weird Al’s 'Mandatory Fun' Parodies: Who Gets Skewered Best?]. ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]''. Retrieved on July 15, 2014.</ref>
The original song's instrumentation is carried over, and the song contains elements of "minimalist electro-pop".<ref name="rs">{{Cite web | url =http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/weird-al-wards-off-illuminati-sandwich-mold-in-lorde-parody-video-20140716| title ='Weird Al' Wards off Illuminati, Sandwich Mold in Lorde Parody Video| first =Ryan| last =Reed| date = July 16, 2014 | accessdate = July 23, 2014 | publisher = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''}}</ref> Kevin O'Keeffe of ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]'' observed that it is the shortest parody on ''Mandatory Fun'' as it omits the bridge and final chorus of the original song.<ref name="Wire">[http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2014/07/ranking-weird-als-new-parodies-who-gets-skewered-best/374466/ Ranking Weird Al’s 'Mandatory Fun' Parodies: Who Gets Skewered Best?]. ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]''. Retrieved on July 15, 2014.</ref>

Revision as of 05:10, 2 November 2014

"Foil"
Song

"Foil" is a song by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic from his fourteenth studio album, Mandatory Fun (2014). The song is a parody of the 2013 single "Royals" by Lorde. The song begins as an ode to the multiple uses of aluminum foil for food storage, but takes a darker turn in its second verse, parodying conspiracy theories, the New World Order, and the Illuminati (the narrator avoids annihilation by wearing aluminum foil upon his head).

The song's music video stars Yankovic as the host of a cooking program, and features cameo appearances from Patton Oswalt, Tom Lennon, and Robert Ben Garant.

Background and composition

The song parodies "Royals" by Lorde, pictured here in September 2013.

The song opens with Yankovic lamenting that he cannot finish food at restaurants, opting for a doggy bag from the waiter to take it home.[1] The song's first verse and chorus find the narrator expanding upon the usage of aluminum foil for food storage purposes: "That kind of wrap is just the best / to keep your sandwich nice and fresh."[2] Yankovic deems it better than what he feels as inferior food storage options, among them "baggies, glass jars, [and] Tupperware containers."[3]

In a twist, the second verse finds Yankovic ranting about conspiracy theories.[1][2] In particular, he notes that the Illuminati are being primed for "world domination" and that shadow organizations are monitoring daily life, and he reinforces the conspiracy theory that the moon landings were fake.[4] To conclude the song, Yankovic once again reinforces the greatness of aluminum foil, in this scenario putting a hat made of foil atop his head to avoid "thought control rays."[4]

The original song's instrumentation is carried over, and the song contains elements of "minimalist electro-pop".[5] Kevin O'Keeffe of The Wire observed that it is the shortest parody on Mandatory Fun as it omits the bridge and final chorus of the original song.[6]

Music video

The music video for "Foil" was released as the third of a series of eight videos produced for Mandatory Fun on July 16, 2014 through CollegeHumor's YouTube channel.[4][5] In the video, Yankovic carries his brown paper doggy bag out of a restaurant and onto the set of a cooking program titled Now We're Cookin'!.[1] Yankovic's role is that of what Slate Magazine described as an "infomercial huckster."[3] Throughout the sequence, he spoofs Lorde's "on-camera intensity"; MTV also observed that the video highlights the similarity between Yankovic and Lorde's hair styles.[7] Patton Oswalt appears as the director for Now We're Cookin'!,[1] and "watches in horror" as Yankovic begins his monologue on conspiracy theories.[4] As stock footage of rotating Illuminati logos plays on screens behind Yankovic, the set changes to a dark red color to match the sinister tone of the lyrics.[1] By the song's final chorus, two men in black suits (portrayed by Tom Lennon and Robert Ben Garant) drag him off the set.[1] As Yankovic is taken away, the director peels his face off, revealing the face of an alien-like lizard.

"Foil" was the most successful video from Mandatory Fun, attracting 11 million views in five days.[8]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times deemed the song a highlight of Mandatory Fun.[1] Consequence of Sound called it one of the album's "essential tracks," comparing it to past food-related parodies by Yankovic.[9] Billboard wrote that while both "Tacky" and "Foil" could have been "one-joke affairs," they were both successful, noting, "Lorde should feel honored: on Mandatory Fun, "Royals" is the only tune Yankovic re-imagines as a song about food."[10] Paste considered "Foil" to be less clever than the other parodies on the record.[11]

Weekly chart positions

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Comedy Digital Tracks (Billboard)[12] 3

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Roberts, Randall (July 16, 2014). "Weird Al Yankovic fears conspiracies in his new Lorde parody, 'Foil'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 23, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b Waxman, Olivia B. (July 16, 2014). "Weird Al's Parody of Lorde's "Royals" Is About…Foil". Time. Retrieved July 23, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b Anderson, L.V. (July 16, 2014). "Weird Al's Latest Video Is a Lorde Parody About "Foil"". Slate Magazine. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d Lynch, Joe (July 16, 2014). "'Weird Al' Yankovic, Patton Oswalt Confront the Illuminati in 'Royals' Parody 'Foil' (Watch)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b Reed, Ryan (July 16, 2014). "'Weird Al' Wards off Illuminati, Sandwich Mold in Lorde Parody Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 23, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Ranking Weird Al’s 'Mandatory Fun' Parodies: Who Gets Skewered Best?. The Wire. Retrieved on July 15, 2014.
  7. ^ Ehrlich, Breanna (July 16, 2014). "Weird Al — Lorde's Hair Twin — Takes On 'Royals' With 'Foil'". MTV News. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  8. ^ Gallo, Phil (July 23, 2014). "'Weird Al' Yankovic on His No. 1 Album, and Only Releasing Singles From Now On: 'I'd Still Do Videos for Them'". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Melis, Matt. ""Weird Al" Yankovic – Mandatory Fun | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  10. ^ Kenneth Partridge (July 15, 2014). "'Weird Al' Yankovic's 'Mandatory Fun': Track-by-Track Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  11. ^ Morgan, Chris (July 15, 2014). "Weird Al Yankovic Review: Mandatory Fun". Paste. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  12. ^ "Comedy Digital Tracks: August 2, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Foil_(song)&oldid=632103597"