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Music
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The Parody King vs. The Purple One: The Time Prince Banned 'Weird Al' From Making Eye Contact
For decades, "Weird Al" Yankovic, known for his respectful approach of seeking permission for parodies, was consistently denied by Prince. This culminated in a bizarre incident where Prince's team sent a telegram demanding Al not even make eye contact with him at an awards show.
For over four decades, "Weird Al" Yankovic has been the undisputed king of musical parody. His success is built not just on clever wordplay and accordion skills, but also on a foundation of professional courtesy. While U.S. fair use laws often protect parody, Al has famously made it his personal policy to always get permission from the original artist before releasing a track. Most artists, from Michael Jackson ("Eat It") to Coolio ("Amish Paradise"), have been thrilled. But there was one legendary artist who consistently, and emphatically, said no: Prince.
The Artist Who Always Said No
Throughout his career, Weird Al approached Prince's camp multiple times with parody ideas for some of his biggest hits. He envisioned turning "Let's Go Crazy" into a song about the Amish, an idea he'd later apply to Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise." He pitched a parody of "Kiss" that would have been titled "TSS," a reference to toxic shock syndrome. Other ideas included turning "1999" into "1990-something" or "When Doves Cry" into "When Pigeons Cry."
Each time, the answer was a swift and firm rejection. Prince was famously protective of his work and his image, rarely licensing his music for any purpose, let alone a comedic take. While Al respected the decision, the rejections became a running theme in his career, a notable exception in a sea of approvals.
The Telegram Incident
The strange dynamic between the two artists reached its peak one year at the American Music Awards. Al learned that he and Prince had been assigned seats in the same row. For anyone else, this might be an exciting opportunity, but for Al, it was potentially awkward. The situation took a turn for the surreal when Al received a message before the show.
It wasn't a friendly note or a formal letter. It was a telegram, delivered from Prince's management, with a very specific, and very cold, instruction. In a 2016 interview with Vulture, Al recounted the message:
"I got a telegram from his lawyer. I think this was before the American Music Awards, and we were sitting in the same row, and I got a telegram that said, ‘You are not to make eye contact with Prince.’"
The demand was clear: do not look at him. Al, ever the professional, complied. He spent the evening actively avoiding any glance in Prince's direction, a bizarre and isolating experience that has since become a legendary piece of music industry lore.
A Matter of Artistic Control
While the story sounds harsh, it's a perfect encapsulation of Prince's artistic philosophy. He maintained an iron grip on his creative output, viewing his music as sacred. For him, a parody wasn't an homage; it was a potential dilution of his carefully crafted brand. He wasn't alone in his refusals—Paul McCartney, for instance, declined a parody of "Live and Let Die" called "Chicken Pot Pie" due to his vegetarianism—but no artist was as consistently and icily opposed as Prince.
Despite the years of rejection and the infamous telegram, Weird Al has never spoken ill of Prince. He has consistently expressed his admiration for the artist's genius and respected his right to say no. The story remains a fascinating clash between two utterly unique icons: one who built a career on respectfully borrowing from others, and another who built a career on fiercely protecting what was his.