There are few things the Gnome likes better than a good medley. Which is why he lunged when the new “Weird Al” Yankovic masterpiece found its way into the cottage. And oh, delight of delights, this one not only includes the Medley to End All Medleys, it features Seattle references!
Al cranks up the accordion for a delectable tune, which he apparently wrote all by himself, called “My Baby’s in Love with Eddie Vedder.” Proving that his wit’s as razor-clam sharp as ever, Al turns tantalizing phrases like, “My girl can’t get enough of his sullen demeanor/Like he’s some big tortured genius and I’m some kinda wiener.”
But wait, there’s more. The Medley to End All Medleys, the ingeniously titled “Polka Power!” starts with a coupla lines from the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” before cleverly converting into Harvey Danger‘s “Flagpole Sitta,” or at least the chorus of the homeboys’ hit. The medley then speeds off to cover “Ghetto Supastar,” “Walkin’ on the Sun,” “Tubthumping,” “Semi-Charmed Life,” “Mmmbop,” “Sex and Candy,” “Closing Time,” and several other tunes destined to pop up in a few years on late-night TV Smashes of the Late ’90s compilations (send $19.95 plus $4 shipping and handling to the Gnome, care of his Swiss bank account!).
Little Gay Al’s Medley didn’t really end all medleys, as it wasn’t the only kooky compendium of abbreviated versions of once-popular songs that your dutiful and diminutive columnist encountered in his travels this week. The Gnome’s love of Marlboro’s rich, smooth-flavored tobacco products brought him to the Fenix last Thursday, where 200 Marlboro Miles got him and a lovely Gnomette into an exclusive Marlboro party featuring an unannounced performance by Los Lobos! The boys seemed more interested in the tequila shots handed to them between songs by a helpful onstage assistant than they did in playing music, but they did manage to squeeze out a few preview tunes from their long-in-coming and soon-to-be-released record. Mostly, though, the nonsmoking sextet entertained a semi-sparse crowd by granting requests and playing a classic-rock medley! My pal Louie Perez started the run by hamming it up on Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” then led the crew through a silly Allmann Brothers song, then revved up a quick jam on a theme from Neil Young‘s “Down By the River,” before reeling in the Hendrix hometown crowd with “Are You Experienced?” Is the Gnome experienced, Louie? You betcha!
Turn state’s evidence at metrognome@ seattleweekly.com.
