Should you’re a reader of Basically Pop you very probably know that our MO is to assist the completely different, the underrated, and the impartial artists who won’t get as a lot protection as we expect they need to. We’ve been doing this for almost 10 years now, and over time we’ve expanded from simply masking music and musical artists, to books, movie, television reveals, and way of life.
At this time I deliver to you an interview with what have to be probably the most area of interest content material we’ve ever lined – and but, it nonetheless very a lot suits with our mission to deliver to the forefront those that should be seen and heard.
Tight and Nerdy are a burlesque troupe like no different. They’re the one ones who dance solely to the music of “Bizarre Al” Yankovic. That may seem to be a reasonably far-out idea, however when you consider it, it’s excellent. Al’s songs (each his parodies and originals) are various each lyrically and musically, and I imply, come on…the person additionally performs polkas on an accordion. What’s to not love?
Now the group are the topic of an upcoming movie, ‘Showgals’, which tells the story of discovering your home in a chaotic world and redefining what it means to ”belong”. That’s simply one of many the reason why they’re the best match for Basically Pop.
‘Showgals’ covers these performers and others as they navigate their method by way of a world stacked in opposition to them. With themes of feminine empowerment, gender inequality and physique positivity, this can be a movie aimed squarely at these of us who’ve ever felt powerless, lonely or bullied just because we’re unable to cover that we‘re completely different. And it’s all wrapped up in large personalities, over-the-top costumes, and unforgettable performances set to a few of Bizarre Al’s most memorable tunes.
In fact, a narrative like this might not be full with out listening to from the person himself, “Bizarre Al” Yankovic, who has spent his 40-plus 12 months profession demonstrating to misfits in all places that weirdness must be celebrated.
SHOWGALS: The Film (A Documentary) by Jeff Nucera — Kickstarter
Take a look at our interview with co-producers and administrators, Jeff Nucera and Jonathan Ruane, in addition to a few of the Tight & Nerdy Showgals themselves – founder Pickles Kintaro, Odessa Lil, and Mistress Marla Spankx, and when you’re finished studying (or earlier than in order for you), head over to the hyperlink for his or her Kickstarter and assist get this unbelievable movie out within the public sphere, the place it deserves to be seen. You don’t must pledge a lot in any respect – you can also make your individual donation or give as little as $5 – however irrespective of how giant or how small, all of it helps.
EP: Jeff and Jonathan, You’ve made a movie a couple of troupe of burlesque artists who carry out to the music of “Bizarre Al” Yankovic. Why?
JEFF: Why, certainly? The concept of creating a movie a couple of group of people that have bonded over their love of Bizarre Al is endlessly thrilling for me, particularly since that’s how I met so a lot of my associates!
JONATHAN: When Jeff advised me in regards to the concept of creating a documentary a couple of burlesque troupe that takes their garments off to Bizarre Al songs…I instantly was on board. It’s an insane concept that appeals to each fiber of my being. After which, after we went to San Francisco to interview the performers for the primary time a couple of weeks later, it grew to become clear to each of us that this was a bunch of ladies that we needed to spend all of our time with. I’ve been working in documentary movie/tv for over twenty years and I instantly acknowledged that the “Tight & Nerdy” crew had been/are extremely compelling documentary topics.
JEFF: As we acquired to know the “Tight & Nerdy” troupe, we slowly realized that their story is sort of like all of our tales. That is truly greater than a story about Bizarre Al-themed Burlesque – it’s actually about discovering your home in a chaotic world. It’s a movie for anybody who was bullied or felt ‘lower than’ as a result of they had been completely different – and the way Bizarre Al grew to become a beacon of hope for thus many people by demonstrating that it’s okay to not slot in.
EP: What’s the background of “Tight & Nerdy”? How did the group come collectively, and the way way back?
PICKLES: Just a little over a decade in the past, I used to be a child burlesquer. The group I carried out with put in a name for present themes and I prompt an all Bizarre Al present and was promptly advised NO! So I made a decision that the world wanted to see burlesque finished to the music of Bizarre Al and put collectively a few of my most favourite folks and pitched it to a different producer and he stated “…okay…?”
Plenty of of us doubted that anybody would present up, however we proved all of them flawed by drawing a document crowd on a Monday evening!
EP: Does every performer have a selected Bizarre Al music they carry out to, or does it change over time?
PICKLES: All of us have our signature acts, the acts that stick and are tried and true. My signature act is ‘Amish Paradise’, however I’ve additionally carried out to ‘I Need a New Duck’, ‘CNR’, and a really badly finished, ‘Like a Surgeon’.
EP: Can any Bizarre Al music be used for burlesque, or are there some which might be too quick, too lengthy, or too tough to choreograph and so forth?
PICKLES: I feel virtually any Bizarre Al music may very well be used, however we’ve got realized some vital classes alongside the best way. I would want to know the intention about performing to ‘FAT’. I don’t need to see anybody in a fats go well with on my stage… ever. I didn’t suppose ‘Trapped within the Drive Through’ was doable after which Nikita Bitch Mission knocked it out of the park – with hand puppets no much less! I’d pay actual cash to see somebody do ‘Albuquerque’ or ‘Six Phrases Lengthy’!
ODESSA LIL: Track alternative is barely restricted to a performer’s inventive imaginative and prescient. A music I could also be baffled by may very well be one other performer’s signature act. Personally, I like Al’s polka medleys (‘The Sizzling Rocks Polka’, ‘The Different Polka’, ‘The Hamilton Polka’, and so forth), however I’d by no means try to choreograph an act to any of them for concern of coronary heart assault or spontaneous combustion.
EP: Equally, what’s everybody’s (together with Jeff & Jonathan) favorite Bizarre Al music, not only for performing to, and why?
PICKLES: I actually actually love ‘One Extra Minute’. I feel it’s a reasonably excellent love music. I really feel so unhealthy for my fiance.
ODESSA LIL: I truly do carry out to a few of my favourite Al songs: Bob’, ‘Rocky Street’, ‘The Brady Bunch’. However there are such a lot of extra favourites! ‘Dare to be Silly’ is unquestionably in my high 5 and may very well be an act coming quickly.
I’m actually keen on ‘Bob’ and ‘Dare to be Silly’ as a result of they aren’t actual parodies however somewhat songs written within the very-recognizable type of Bob Dylan and Devo, respectively. It reveals that Al isn’t only a one-trick pony. He’s a many-trick pony.
MISTRESS MARLA SPANKX: ‘One other One Rides The Bus’ has at all times been a favorite of mine. Since we’ve been performing collectively, I’ve actually loved watching folks dance to ‘Trapped within the Drive Through’.
JONATHAN: I used to be a fan of Bizarre Al from his ‘Eat It’ days, however the album that basically unlocked his enchantment to me was ‘Off the Deep Finish‘. As a young person, I’d hearken to it on a loop on my Walkman whereas mowing the garden…so ‘Smells Like Nirvana’ will at all times have probably the most particular place in my coronary heart.
JEFF: It’s laborious for me to slender it down, however ‘Largest Ball of Twine in Minnesota’ is simply so nice. It’s an unique music that tells the story of a household highway journey to one of many silliest locations one can consider, nevertheless it means a lot to all of them. I simply love the emotion Al brings to the saga. The music is iconic amongst Al’s followers, and we even went to see THE Twine Ball through the filming of our documentary. It was fairly astounding.
EP: Jeff and Jonathan, you’ve each been concerned within the leisure enterprise for a few years now, what’s your connection to “Bizarre Al” Yankovic?
JEFF: I’ve been a Bizarre Al fan since childhood, when my older brothers used to sing ‘One other One Rides The Bus’. Whereas in faculty within the 90s, Al’s drummer Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz emailed me considering I used to be another person, and it was the largest mistake he ever made as a result of I mainly have by no means stopped bothering him.
Quickly after shifting to Los Angeles in 1999, I used to be employed to type by way of Bizarre Al’s fan mail, and have been working in numerous capacities ever since. I’ve run Bizarre Al museums, been on an album cowl and even in some crowd scenes in his latest film ‘WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY‘. However the factor I’m most happy with surviving is writing greater than 5,000 Al trivia questions for the ‘Bizarre Al Jeopardy’ VIP expertise for his 2018 & 2022 live performance excursions.
JONATHAN: After assembly Jeff in 2002, his love of Bizarre Al was contagious and I’ve been alongside for the experience ever since.
EP: You’ve a Kickstarter to lift funds to get the movie finalised, how can folks assist with that?
JONATHAN: We have now been funding the documentary filming on our personal since 2017, however now it’s time for us to complete placing the movie collectively in what is usually the costliest a part of the documentary course of: post-production. We’re elevating cash to pay for an editor to edit the movie, in addition to all the funds we have to make the movie look and sound as wonderful as doable. Any little bit helps and even for those who can’t contribute, spreading the phrase about this movie and about our kickstarter is at all times appreciated.
JEFF: BareToBeStupid.com has all the data it’s good to again our movie!
EP: What’s the ultimate date to affix the Kickstarter, and what occurs for those who don’t elevate all the cash in time?
JONATHAN: The Kickstarter ends on Friday, March tenth at 10pm PST! And if we don’t elevate all the cash in time, we will probably be very very very unhappy…
JEFF: Sure. VERY unhappy. Very x 27.
JONATHAN: …however we’re dedicated to ending this movie it doesn’t matter what. With out the Kickstarter funds, the whole means of ending the movie will simply take a lot a lot for much longer…and we expect the world must see this movie as quickly as doable.
EP: What’s it about “Bizarre Al” Yankovic that folks discover so interesting in spite of everything these years?
PICKLES: It’s not simply that he’s a supremely proficient musician, however he is among the uncommon celebrities that hasn’t upset us in his private life. He’s good to his followers and spreads pleasure to the world. We’d like extra of that.
ODESSA LIL: Al has critical endurance in our hearts and imaginations as a result of he’s shamelessly himself, and that features his dedication to being “bizarre,” which is one way or the other suddenly each edgy and healthful. He’s the everlasting outsider but in addition a pressure of positivity.
He’s additionally a comedic perfectionist, and that makes his lyrics water-tight and indestructible.
If Jesus died for folks’s sins, then Al is bizarre for folks’s proper to be nerdy. Perhaps I’ve thought of this an excessive amount of.
JEFF: I used to be simply gonna say his hair, however I feel Odessa’s principle might be extra appropriate.
EP: What’s subsequent for Tight & Nerdy? The place can folks discover out extra about you?
PICKLES: Baretobestupid.com and Showgalsthemovie.com! The pandemic put a grinding halt on our touring and performing however who is aware of what the long run will deliver!
ODESSA LIL: They’ll discover an terrible lot extra about us by watching this documentary! Fund it at baretobestupid.com.
EP: Lastly, what query do you would like somebody would ask you in an interview, however no one ever does?
PICKLES: Oooh, good query! We had been on the highway for nearly a decade, so it will be good to be requested about my favourite tour reminiscence – however then I must choose one and I’ve so many!
JONATHAN: I’ve a query for Jeff…
What’s the one music within the Bizarre Al canon that you just want extra folks knew about and why?
JEFF: Gah! ALL OF THEM! BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL PERFECT! But when I’ve to select, I’d must say so far as parodies go, I feel ‘FOIL’ is basically nice. It’s on his final album, and it begins off as a traditional Bizarre Al food-based music parody, after which simply goes off the rails in a extremely intelligent method. It virtually felt like a solution to everybody who ever dismissed him as only a man who sings meals songs. For Al’s originals, ‘One among These Days’ is a favorite of mine as a result of it’s simply absurd and great. The narrator sings a couple of collection of unlucky occasions akin to waking up late for work, hair catching fireplace and nuclear annihilation – however they one way or the other all carry the identical weight to them, and it’s so nice.
Watch the proof of idea video (not a trailer!) for ‘Showgals’ beneath, and (please please please) assist their Kickstarter right here. You could find out extra about every little thing on-line on Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Fb.
