Today I am thankful for the Weird Al Effect.
What is the weird Al effect?
Well....
That is when you are singing to original songs on the radio....
but Weird Al lyrics cross your lips.
It's when....
becomes
When you hear Coolio,...
and you sing about Mennonites.
When we hear someone croon about being horny
and we celebrate those sizzling cunning linguists.
Weird Al even sings about the nerds....like me.
There is a Libertarian lawyer I truly respect.
He gives speeches with the intent of helping people know their rights during traffic stops. He's a great speaker and has a way of drawing the audience into the discussion.
He always cites Jay Z. When he talks about cops trying to catch us riding dirty, I always have to cover my mouth so I don't ruin his speech with my horrid singing.
Sigh.....
Although a true Trekie may like other Captains like Archer, Pike, Janeway or Sisko. Sisko's my favorite. He's a badass. He can sing. Have you ever heard Shatner sing?
Well...I think Shatner's a better singer than I.
I always wanted to be a badass who could sing. Alas....we cannot have everything.
********
Speaking of singing.....
In the early eighties, Denver Trekkies sang mutilated Christmas Carols during their conventions. We rewrote the lyrics, Dr. Demento style, to honor our favorite Sci Fi mythology.
The Christmas Carols were a warm up. We'd always wind up singing the Monty Python Lumberjack song....often.
You know the one....
I was eight years old when the tradition started. I stopped attending the meetings and conventions when I was fourteen.
Two really cute boys wanted me to go hang out with them to learn Klingon. I decided against it. This would turn out to be the worse decision of my life.
I thought it would make more sense to learn something useful.......like Spanish. I had three years of Spanish in college. Do you know what language would have landed me a counseling internship?
Klingonese.
They needed someone who understood Trek culture and could speak Klingon to visit with a patient at a local psych ward. It could have been the perfect opportunity.
Yeah....
now I counsel people to pursue their interests because it may lead them to some unseen wonder.
Wow....
******
I last heard these songs in 1984. I barely remember them. They do sneak out of my mouth when I'm singing to Christmas carols in public.
Yesterday, while Christmas shopping I heard "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman."
You know the one......
This melody was used to sing about Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (the original movie - where Spock gets radiation poisoning due to fixing the warp drive that had become misaligned).
I don't remember the full song...but apparently my subconscious mind does.
I found myself perusing designer dresses and belting out
"He wandered in to fix the warp, where humans do not go...
leaving fans filled with sadness and woe."
Ooops....
Christmas is going to get incredibly interesting if I'm ever diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
******
We had a song about Yoda, too. I can't remember it. Any attempt at recollection only brings me back to Weird Al.
I love Weird Al. When I was a kid, he was my rock star. I saved up to be one of one hundred or so people at a concert he had in 1984. His posters were all over my wall.
Yeah....I'm weird. I've always been weird.
Life is more fun when you're weird.
Sometimes, if we express our weirdness and follow our interests, we come up with a unique set of skills and abilities that can enhance our careers.
I probably should learn Klingonsese. I actually had a co-worker I'm trying to train say that he did not want to talk to customers today because he only spoke Klingon. He sells Medicare plans. He'd better talk to customers today. Business will dry up in just a few days.
I wonder what would have happened if I bellowed "PAHTAK!" at the fellow.
My boss may have Googled it. She would not have approved.
It would be fitting.
Love ya lots,
S.