Even Worse (Which is Good): Velvet Elvis

We're joined by Detroit music scene fixture and all-around groovy guy Scotty Hagen to dive into one of our favorite Weird Al originals, "Velvet Elvis." We talk about how Al perfectly captures the sound of The Police while spinning an earnest story about a guy who's completely devoted to a velvet painting of Elvis Presley. Along the way, we explore why style parodies became such an important part of Al's catalog, what makes kitsch culture so enduring, and why this delightfully ridiculous song works as well as it does.

We also discuss the phenomenon of velvet Elvis paintings, the psychology of collecting, and the stories we attach to the things we treasure. From favorite lyrics and musical deep dives to nostalgia, fandom, and whether Weird Al collectors are really all that different from the song's narrator, this episode celebrates one of Even Worse's most overlooked gems with plenty of laughs along the way.

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