I can't believe Weird Al or someone similar missed the opportunity

[CorporalCaptain]

A filksing is done in a circle at conventions [...] but that's not the only way that filking itself is done.

[...]

So you're right to say that filk isn't only parody. Some of it's based on history, and some is based on science.

Thank you.

One of my current efforts is about comets and another is about the Rovers on Mars. The latter is to the tune of "Whistling Gypsy Rover" and the former is an original melody I composed.

Sounds interesting.

 

[Cryogenator]

*There's a song about fandom and conventions that has a chorus that goes:

"I go for parties in the hallways
And for torrid, brief affairs,
For smoffing in the Con-suite
And for filking on the stairs!"

Where's the full song?

 

[Timewalker]

If you can get your hands on one of the very elusive copies of The Westerfilk Collection, that's where you'd probably find it. I don't have a copy, and unfortunately I don't remember the full song. The people who organized the filking circles I was part of had a pile of books that they let us use. They wouldn't let us borrow them, nor were they ever offered for sale.

And please be aware that filkbooks are expensive. Among print 'zines, some of them are crazy expensive.

That said, I do have some. I could check to see if it might have been reprinted in one that I do have.

As I recall, this is one of the songs that's about fandom itself, and the singer is wondering why they keep going to conventions. The song dates back decades, and there are some things that are part of modern fandom that weren't part of it back then.

For instance, we didn't do "cosplay." That term didn't exist back then. If people wore costumes throughout the day, they were "hall costumes." If they chose to enter the costume competition that was held on Saturday night, that was their Bacchanal costume (or so we called it in this regions; some of these things vary by region).

Even the melodies of some of the filksongs varied by region. There was one year when Poul Anderson and his wife, Karen, were the Guests of Honor. Karen Anderson joined us for the Saturday night filking, and sang some songs we'd never heard of, and one other song that had a very different melody here than the one they sang in filking circles in California (I'm in Central Alberta, in Canada).

 

[Cryogenator]

I found the first and second editions and more on the Internet Archive.

There are also a couple original print copies on eBay right now for $40.

 

[Timewalker]

Ah, that's good. I never seem to have much luck finding decently-priced ones. Mind you, I'm Canadian and eBay operates in USD. Our exchange rate is horrible.

EDIT: I'll take a good, leisurely stroll through these.

There are also at least two volumes I know of, of the SCA filkbook called The Elf Hill Times Songbook. I had those, once upon a time, but am not sure if they survived my multiple moves over the years.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I'm not speaking for Weird Al, I've no idea what his thoughts on the subject are, even if I did, I don't think I'd do that, and I'm not speaking for anyone else.

But if it were I making the decision of whether to produce and publish a parody of "We Are the World," I'd pass.

Why? Because there are some songs whose message shouldn't be interfered with in any way, or corrupted if you will. This is one of them. It appears that the humanitarian efforts, which were the whole reason for the song in the first place, were and continue to be successful and have saved many lives, not only in Africa but in the USA.

Just speaking for myself, I don't see anything to be made fun of here. And I'm not trying to be a killjoy. I'm not speaking for Weird Al, but I am saying that I think it's possible that not wanting to be thought of as someone who interferes with this kind of charity might have something to do with not producing a parody of it.

We Are The World was corrupted some 40 years ago, in a very Demented way.

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[Moonglum]

That's filking crazy!

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Filk music is a genre that includes more than just Star Trek.

Yes. Many, many years ago, All Saints' Episcopal Church of Palo Alto, CA had a retirement celebration for their long-time organist (whose one published recording was what led me there in the first place, on a Spring vacation, my first visit of many). And near the end of the service, the choir had prepared a sort of a filk psalm, celebrating her time with them. I still have it, somewhere in my archives; it included the couplet,

She has played the Mighty Flentrop both profound and sweet
She has played it with ten fingers and two feet

But to get back on-topic, <borg>MUSIC IS FUTILE. MELODY IS IRRELEVANT. YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED.</borg>

(Hmm. If Yankovic could get a certain Muppet to quote Lily Sloane's line on the video . . . .)

Did you know, BTW, that Yankovic collaborated with synthesist/composer Wendy Carlos on a CD? It was a riotously funny version of Peter and the Wolf, followed by Wendy's own sequel to Carnival of the Animals.

 

[Timewalker]

I did not know that. TIL.

I am very familiar with playing with 10 fingers and 2 feet. It annoyed the hell of out the saleswoman at the shoe store, the time I bought shoes for my first organ recital. I'd seen the perfect pair in the window, so I went in, pointed to the shoes, and said, "Size 7." The whole thing took 5 minutes and she didn't get a chance to upsell me or talk me into any accessories. And the recital went well.