If you grew up on the radio in the 1980s, you knew two versions of a Michael Jackson hit. There was the real one, and then there was the goofy one by “Weird Al” Yankovic, the comedian who turns chart-topping songs into funny spoofs about food and everyday life.
Here’s the thing most people never knew. Al didn’t just make those spoofs and hope nobody minded. He asked Michael first.
It started back in 1984 with “Eat It,” Al’s take on “Beat It.” Michael returned the phone calls, said he loved the idea, and gave his blessing. The song reached No. 12 and won Al a Grammy. There’s even a contract out there with both names on it.
Al: “There’s a contract somewhere that has his signature next to mine, proving that we are the co-writers of ‘Eat It,’ which is surrealistic in and of itself.”
So when Al saw the “Bad” video on TV a few years later, he knew exactly who to call.
This clip is Al himself telling the whole story of how “Fat” was born, and it’s funnier than you’d expect.
Weird Al tells how “Fat” came to be
The idea hit him fast. Watching that subway video, Al pictured a very different star stuck in the same turnstiles.
“As I was watching the video, I just imagined an 800-pound version of myself trying to get through the turnstiles on a subway, and I thought before the video was over, okay, I am doing this. I have to do this.”
But a parody that size needed a big set. And that’s where Michael did the thing few stars would ever do for a comedian.
He lent Al his subway set.
The elaborate station that had been built for Michael’s video was still standing on a soundstage in Culver City, California. It hadn’t been taken apart yet. So Michael let Al film “Fat” right there, on his set.
Al remembered it this way: “Thankfully, Michael Jackson let me use his subway set, which had not been struck yet; it was still on a soundstage in Culver City.”
Years later, looking back, Al put it simply. “He not only returned our phone calls, but he approved it. He thought it was a funny idea. Then when we did the second parody, ‘Fat,’ he was nice enough to let us use his subway set for the video, so he’s always been very supportive.”
“Fat” came out in April 1988 and went on to win the Grammy for Best Concept Music Video. Not bad for a joke.
The two men didn’t actually meet face to face until later, backstage, where Al handed Michael a gold record. If you want to hear what that meeting was like, Al describes it here, and his words are perfect.
Weird Al on finally meeting Michael in person
And if you need a laugh tonight, the “Fat” video itself still holds up, shot on the very set Michael handed over.
The full “Fat” music video
It says a lot about Michael that he found the whole thing funny instead of being offended. He could have guarded his image and said no. He chose to be in on the joke.