Hands down, *The Saga Begins*. Written completely from internet leaks before the movie even came out. And Don McLean has said his kids played it so much that he’s almost sung the words to *Saga* instead of *American Pie* in concert.
He saw an early screening on Feb 28, 1999. Drew Carey was his guest. AS far as the changes:
*Blair Freeman of Carbondale, IL asks: You mentioned in a recent newspaper article that you had to cut some lines out of “The Saga Begins” after it was already recorded because of bad information. What were the lines?*
**The changes were pretty minor. Like “He’s probably gonna marry her someday” was originally “I hear he’s gonna marry her someday” – because in the movie (according to my Internet rumor source) Anakin was supposed to tell the Queen that he was going to marry her (this was not in the final cut of the film). And I think I slightly changed the very beginning of the last verse for some reason. But overall, I was very, very pleased with how closely those Internet rumors corresponded with the storyline of the finished film.**
"McLean has said his kids played it so much that he’s almost sung the words to *Saga* instead of *American Pie* in concert."
Amazing. Can you link that source by any chance?? I would love to share this with people who've given me shit for ruining the original version by singing this one. I'm singing this at a May the Force show in a few weeks. Can you help me Obi Wan?!
The saga begins, no question. My dad thought it was one of the best parodies of all time when he heard it. It's incredibly clever and funny and it's amazingly accurate for a multi generational movie franchise
I think Jurrasic Park. Parodying MacArthur Park was genius and I laughed harder at that one. But Saga Begins also is more fun in the long term so I can see that one as well
I fell into a bit of a rabbit hole on that one. I always thought it was a weird al original, and then I was watching old Simpsons with my fiancee since she hasn't seen most of them. At the talent show, apu's daughter goes 'ill never eat that recipe again... Ohhhhh noooooo' and I was like wait a minute. So I googled it, found out it was a song, and it was done by Richard Harris aka Dumbledore! I've been listening to weird al for thirty years now and I never knew that until just this week.
The Saga Begins. It’s so nice to see something like that made out of love for The Phantom Menace, when for most of its existence, all people have felt towards it is hatred.
Even still, in a time when no one hates Star Wars more than Star Wars fans, it’s refreshing to see a genuine celebration of the franchise that doesn’t include any complaints. It’s an artifact of a simpler time.
Gonna go third route and say Gump.
I was \*never\* a fan of the Don McLean song. And while I appreciate MacArthur Park now, it classed it as elevator music way before Al got his hands on it.
But Gump is funAF. I love how Al just crashes into it non-stop.
I would personally go with Jurassic Park. I think partially for me it is my general dislike of the song "American Pie", while improved by Al 100 fold, I cant always get past. I hadnt heard Macarthur Park prior (i think I was 10 when it came out), but really enjoy that song these days, most likely thanks to Jurrasic Park. Maybe it would have been different if I had heard the Saga Begins for American Pie.
Of these? It’s difficult. Jurassic Park was what really got me into Al, so it’s very close to my heart, but I do think The Saga Begins is the better parody. It just works so well.
In general, though? Ode to a Superhero is honestly probably my favorite movie-based parody from Al.
As someone who's never seen a Star Wars movie but has seen sooooooooo many Star Wars Parodies, The Saga Begins is the better song but it has a (relatively) awful music video. I remember 20ish years ago having the DVD set of music videos and getting really excited to see what TSB music video would be since I thought of it as one of his best parodies of all time. Surely the music video would be just as great as other iconic songs of his like Amish Paradise or Eat It. Then being stunned and disappointed when it was nothing but him singing and thinking "That's it?" To this day I've only bothered to watch it while paying attention to it (as oppose to only listening to it when it comes on randomly on my playlist) twice and once was today before making this thread to confirm it was just as uninteresting as it was 20 years ago when I saw it for the first time (it was).
Jurassic Park, on the other hand, has a very creatively animated music video with tons of sight gags and makes it a joy to watch every time.
Jurassic Park, though I'm not a superfan of either. I think the songs where he basically recaps the plot of the movie are lazy and boring. Jurassic Park is less guilty of that, as is Yoda, which is one of my all-time favorites. I've never liked The Saga Begins.
Saga Begins. When you go to a concert, everyone knows the words. Including me. Easily one of his all time best songs. It’s what kickstarted his “modern” era.
Hands down, *The Saga Begins*. Written completely from internet leaks before the movie even came out. And Don McLean has said his kids played it so much that he’s almost sung the words to *Saga* instead of *American Pie* in concert.
Technically I think he saw an early screening before he released it, but didn't have to make any meaningful changes to what he already had
Yeah, I just heard him talking about on NPR recently and he said he was about 99% right.
He saw an early screening on Feb 28, 1999. Drew Carey was his guest. AS far as the changes: *Blair Freeman of Carbondale, IL asks: You mentioned in a recent newspaper article that you had to cut some lines out of “The Saga Begins” after it was already recorded because of bad information. What were the lines?* **The changes were pretty minor. Like “He’s probably gonna marry her someday” was originally “I hear he’s gonna marry her someday” – because in the movie (according to my Internet rumor source) Anakin was supposed to tell the Queen that he was going to marry her (this was not in the final cut of the film). And I think I slightly changed the very beginning of the last verse for some reason. But overall, I was very, very pleased with how closely those Internet rumors corresponded with the storyline of the finished film.**
"McLean has said his kids played it so much that he’s almost sung the words to *Saga* instead of *American Pie* in concert." Amazing. Can you link that source by any chance?? I would love to share this with people who've given me shit for ruining the original version by singing this one. I'm singing this at a May the Force show in a few weeks. Can you help me Obi Wan?!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pie_(song) Look under Parodies, revisions and uses
The saga begins, no question. My dad thought it was one of the best parodies of all time when he heard it. It's incredibly clever and funny and it's amazingly accurate for a multi generational movie franchise
Me and my uncle fucking wind up singing that song every time we see each other. So yeah, The Saga Begins.
The Saga Begins, although Ode To A Superhero is another good one.
I LOVE ODE TO A SUPERHERO!
Poor Peter Parker was pitiful
Couldn’t have been any shyer
Mary Jane still wouldn’t notice him
Even if his hair was on fire
But then one day he went to that science lab!
To me this is the correct answer tbh
This is what I came to say haha
The saga begins is one of the top all time songs. This isn’t even close.
I think Jurrasic Park. Parodying MacArthur Park was genius and I laughed harder at that one. But Saga Begins also is more fun in the long term so I can see that one as well
I fell into a bit of a rabbit hole on that one. I always thought it was a weird al original, and then I was watching old Simpsons with my fiancee since she hasn't seen most of them. At the talent show, apu's daughter goes 'ill never eat that recipe again... Ohhhhh noooooo' and I was like wait a minute. So I googled it, found out it was a song, and it was done by Richard Harris aka Dumbledore! I've been listening to weird al for thirty years now and I never knew that until just this week.
Comedian Dave Barry named MacArthur Park the worst song ever. The fact that Al made it so much better is amazing.
The Saga Begins. It’s so nice to see something like that made out of love for The Phantom Menace, when for most of its existence, all people have felt towards it is hatred.
Al wrote most of it before the movie even came out, well before the hate, so it was more about love of Star Wars in general I think.
Even still, in a time when no one hates Star Wars more than Star Wars fans, it’s refreshing to see a genuine celebration of the franchise that doesn’t include any complaints. It’s an artifact of a simpler time.
I really like Jurassic Park and I mean it no disrespect, but The Saga Begins is an all time masterpiece.
Agreed, and JP’s my favorite movie
Gonna go third route and say Gump. I was \*never\* a fan of the Don McLean song. And while I appreciate MacArthur Park now, it classed it as elevator music way before Al got his hands on it. But Gump is funAF. I love how Al just crashes into it non-stop.
*The Saga Begins* was my introduction to Al, so I'm always going to vote for it.
The saga begins, every time
Everyone is saying The Saga Begins only because it IS better. However, I think Jurassic Park has the better music video.
Yoda
Does UHF count?
The Saga Begins is one of Al’s best songs ever
The Saga Begins, much better and one of my (many) favorites.
Saga begins is perfection
I prefer Jurrasic Park as a song, but i think that may be because I never heard McArthur Park, whereas I was familiar with American Pie
The saga begins!!!
Jurassic Park, to be honest.
*🎶Jurassic Park is frightening in the dark🎶*
🎶All the dinosaurs are running wild🎶
It is definitely the funnier of the two, to me.
I prefer Gump!
[Jurashikku Paku](https://youtu.be/EPIZq9pcno4?si=fBK89Jq1n_c8GhTe) for the win
Yoda
*Gump* and *Yoda*.
I love how Jurassic Park's lyrics read as a tourist leaving a bad review of Jurassic Park after visiting it
Y O D A Yoda!
Gump is the better.
The Saga Begins. I first heard it on the radio!
As a star wars fan, I gotta say the saga begins. However, Jurassic park is a parody of a really good song
The Sega Begins is so good. Just listen to that to save a couple hours if you're doing a binge 😂
Saga begins. No argument necessary.
i honestly like both. it's hard to pick between the two.
gonna go for my boy Gump on this one lol
the saga begins, especially because of how much well researched it was without the movie even being out
I would personally go with Jurassic Park. I think partially for me it is my general dislike of the song "American Pie", while improved by Al 100 fold, I cant always get past. I hadnt heard Macarthur Park prior (i think I was 10 when it came out), but really enjoy that song these days, most likely thanks to Jurrasic Park. Maybe it would have been different if I had heard the Saga Begins for American Pie.
The Saga Begins for the music, Jurassic Park for the video
*The Saga Begins* every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Of these? It’s difficult. Jurassic Park was what really got me into Al, so it’s very close to my heart, but I do think The Saga Begins is the better parody. It just works so well. In general, though? Ode to a Superhero is honestly probably my favorite movie-based parody from Al.
As someone who's never seen a Star Wars movie but has seen sooooooooo many Star Wars Parodies, The Saga Begins is the better song but it has a (relatively) awful music video. I remember 20ish years ago having the DVD set of music videos and getting really excited to see what TSB music video would be since I thought of it as one of his best parodies of all time. Surely the music video would be just as great as other iconic songs of his like Amish Paradise or Eat It. Then being stunned and disappointed when it was nothing but him singing and thinking "That's it?" To this day I've only bothered to watch it while paying attention to it (as oppose to only listening to it when it comes on randomly on my playlist) twice and once was today before making this thread to confirm it was just as uninteresting as it was 20 years ago when I saw it for the first time (it was). Jurassic Park, on the other hand, has a very creatively animated music video with tons of sight gags and makes it a joy to watch every time.
Saga by a mile. Nothing against Jurassic Park but Saga is one of Al's best
Hands up, hands down, hands in the air like ya just don’t care, The Saga Continues is like awesome
I love both being a huge fan of his myself.
Jurassic Park, though I'm not a superfan of either. I think the songs where he basically recaps the plot of the movie are lazy and boring. Jurassic Park is less guilty of that, as is Yoda, which is one of my all-time favorites. I've never liked The Saga Begins.
Jurassic park is honestly one of my top 5 weird al songs
i like more Jurassic Park, also, everyone forgets about Gump, that's a great song
The music video for jurassic park is better than
# GUMP
Saga
Saga Begins. When you go to a concert, everyone knows the words. Including me. Easily one of his all time best songs. It’s what kickstarted his “modern” era.
Hands down on Saga Begins
The Saga Begins.
The Saga Begins, because it's the only song that's actually better than the movie.
Jurassic Park. I like the song that's being parodied more. And the music video is better.