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

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

David Gray

David GraySongwriter Interviews

David Gray explains the significance of the word "Babylon," and talks about how songs are a form of active imagination, with lyrics that reveal what's inside us.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.