Madonna’s hit classic “Like a Virgin” is recognizable across the country as an absolutely essential part of 80s music. This song, released by one of the most prolific singers of the time, is a song which many people cherish and view as a classic example of American music. Its simultaneously risky lyrics and melodious tunes make for a song that has stood the test of time and which has transcended the generational divide. However, the cover I am discussing here is not necessarily a tribute to Madonna’s undying legacy, so much as it is a parody. “Weird Al” Yankovic, who is widely regarded as one of the more successful cover artists, responded to this emotional and sensual song with something that was more or less the complete opposite. In his cover “Like a Surgeon,” he took this classic and branded it with his own irreverent aesthetic and his sense of humor. This has a lot in common with the various versions of “September,” in that the two interpretations elicited completely different emotional responses. While Taylor Swift’s version was melancholic and pensive, the version by Earth, Wind, and Fire was jovial and lively. Even though neither version was meant to be humorous, the similarities lie in the fact that the two songs lead to emotions which are on opposite sides of the emotional spectrum. In much the same way, while Madonna’s rendition is emotive and serious, Weird Al’s version is considerably more lighthearted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=notKtAgfwDA
