Like a Surgeon ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)

Not to be confused with Like a Surgeon (Ciara song).
"Like a Surgeon"
"Weird Al" Yankovic dressed as a surgeon holding a chainsaw in his hand, flanked by a woman dressed like Madonna and wearing sunglasses, also in surgeon's uniform.
Single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
from the album Dare to Be Stupid
B-side "Slime Creatures from Outer Space"
Released June 4, 1985
Format
Recorded February 21, 1985
Genre Pop, comedy
Length 3:27
Label Scotti Brothers
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Rick Derringer
"Weird Al" Yankovic singles chronology
"This Is the Life"
(1984)		 "Like a Surgeon"
(1985)		 "I Want a New Duck"
(1985)

"Like a Surgeon" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Like a Virgin" by Madonna.

Writing and development

Although Yankovic refuses to use parody ideas from other people, Madonna is partly responsible for "Like a Surgeon". Madonna asked one of her friends how long it would take until Yankovic satirized her song "Like a Virgin" as "Like a Surgeon". This friend was a mutual friend of Al's manager, Jay Levey. When word got back to Yankovic, he decided it was a good idea and wrote the song. This is the only known time that Yankovic has obtained a parody idea directly from the original artist.[1]

The creation of the song was parodied in the show How I Met Your Mother. In one episode, lead character Ted Mosby gave "Weird Al" the idea to the song after sending him a fan letter when he was 8 years old.[2]

Music video

The music video, which takes place in a hospital, can be considered an extension of the parody. Several features of "Like a Virgin"'s promotional video — famously set in Venice - are mimicked: shots of Yankovic singing on a moving gurney are substituted for footage of Madonna on a canal boat, and both videos feature a lion at the beginning.

The video also includes the famous PA announcement from The Three Stooges, "Paging Dr. Howard , Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard" at the beginning.

Live performances

For the 1990 Blond Ambition Tour, Madonna re-invented "Like a Virgin" with a middle-eastern arrangement and risqué, and ultimately infamous, choreography. Yankovic ultimately decided to parody her performance (a bit less risqué): when played live in concert, the song features Yankovic rolling around on a hospital bed that is placed in the middle of the stage while keyboardist Rubén Valtierra belly dances next to him. This version of "Like a Surgeon," often called the "Like a Surgeon (Truth or Dare Version)" was performed in concert by Yankovic for a few tours.

Track listing and formats

  1. "Like a Surgeon" – 3:27
  2. "King of Suede" – 4:12
  1. "Like a Surgeon" – 3:27
  2. "Girls Just Wanna Have Lunch" – 4:21
  1. "Like a Surgeon" – 3:27
  2. "Slime Creatures from Outer Space" – 4:23

Chart

Chart (1985) Peak
Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 47

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.al-oholicsanonymous.com/faq/#madonna
  2. ↑ Noretta
  3. ↑ Like a Surgeon (7" Single Liner Notes). "Weird Al" Yankovic. United States: Scotti Brothers Records. 1985. ZS4 04937.
  4. ↑ Like a Surgeon (12" Vinyl Single Liner Notes). "Weird Al" Yankovic. Mexico: Epic Records. 1985. SCL 45058.
  5. ↑ Like a Surgeon (12" Single Liner Notes). "Weird Al" Yankovic. Germany: Scotti Brothers Records. 1985. 120-14-014.
  6. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ↑ "Weird Al Yankovic – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Weird Al Yankovic. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
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