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Internet Leaks
Internet Leaks
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Internet Leaks
The cover of the extended play Internet Leaks, featuring Al Yankovic's face superimposed over a puddle of what appears to be water
EP by
ReleasedAugust 25, 2009
RecordedSeptember 29, 2008
April 21, 2009
GenreComedy, parody
Length19:19
Label
Producer"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic chronology
Straight Outta Lynwood
(2006)
Internet Leaks
(2009)
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
(2009)
Singles from Internet Leaks
  1. "Whatever You Like"
    Released: October 8, 2008
  2. "Craigslist"
    Released: June 16, 2009
  3. "Skipper Dan"
    Released: July 14, 2009
  4. "CNR"
    Released: August 4, 2009
  5. "Ringtone"
    Released: August 25, 2009

Internet Leaks is the second EP released by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. Released digitally on August 25, 2009, its lead single is a parody of "Whatever You Like" by artist T.I. For Yankovic, the EP was an experiment in using the Internet as a way to release music in an efficient and timely manner. As a result, the lead single, "Whatever You Like", references the Great Recession of 2008. The EP also contains style parodies of the Doors, Weezer, the White Stripes, and Queen; all of the songs, except for "Ringtone", had been released as separate digital singles between October 2008 and August 2009, preceding the record's release.

Music videos for the four originals songs were animated and subsequently released by the time the EP was available for download, and a music video for "Whatever You Like" was released on the deluxe edition of Yankovic's 2011 album Alpocalypse. The songs on the album were mostly met with positive critical reception, and many critics were complimentary of Yankovic's style parodies. Upon its release, Internet Leaks charted at number 8 on the Billboard Top Comedy Albums, and on December 2, 2009, the EP was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for the 52nd Grammy Awards. In 2011, all five tracks on this EP were re-released on Yankovic's album Alpocalypse.

Background and recording

[edit]

Following 2006's Straight Outta Lynwood, Yankovic decided to explore digital distribution as a means to promote his music. In late 2008, he announced plans to release a parody of "Whatever You Like" by artist T.I. In October 2008, Yankovic told Billboard that he had come up with the idea two weeks before and that, with the benefit of digital distribution, he would not "have to wait around while my songs get old and dated—[he could] get them out on the Internet almost immediately."[1] The single was recorded on September 29, 2008, and was exclusively uploaded to iTunes on October 8 before it was available to other digital distribution platforms two weeks later.[2]

On April 21, 2009, Yankovic entered the studio to record four original songs: "Craigslist", "Skipper Dan", "CNR", and "Ringtone".[2] The session was produced by Yankovic. Backing him were Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz on drums, Steve Jay on bass, and Jim West on guitar.[3] For "Craigslist", the singer reached out to Ray Manzarek, the former keyboardist for the Doors, in order to properly authenticate the sound of his tribute.[4] Following Manzarek's death on May 20, 2013, Yankovic later uploaded a video of Manzarek recording his part in the studio.[5]

Yankovic first announced the EP on August 20, 2009, although each song but "Ringtone" (which was released on the same day as Internet Leaks) had been made available as singles preceding the release of the EP. All of the songs featured on Internet Leaks were later included on Yankovic's thirteenth studio album, Alpocalypse. The EP was meant as a stop-gap, because he "wanted to make the tracks available so everybody could enjoy them as early as possible."[6]

Composition

[edit]
The album contains a parody of "Whatever You Like" by T.I. (left) and a style parody of the Doors (right, Jim Morrison pictured), among others.

The first single released from Internet Leaks was, "Whatever You Like" a parody of T.I.'s song of the same name.[1] The song describes a man wooing his girlfriend amid financial hardships.[3] Due to the speed with which Yankovic was able to write and record the parody, the song was more topical than many of Yankovic's other parodies.[1] The song explicitly references the Great Recession, which started in 2008 and worsened in 2009.[3][7]

Following "Whatever You Like", Yankovic released "Craigslist" on June 16, 2009.[2] The song discussing the dealings of the titular website. Musically, the song is inspired by the sound of the Doors. As a "style parody", the song does not take directly from any single Doors song, but Yankovic transposed parts from various songs and combined them into what became "Craigslist". According to NPR, the intro organ riffs are similar to "When the Music's Over", the "snotty barista" section is "a pitch-perfect rip" of the Oedipus complex section from "The End", and there are sections in the guitar solo similar to "Light My Fire".[8]

"Skipper Dan", a style parody of Weezer,[9] was released on July 14, 2009.[2] The song describes a man who has a fine arts degree and dreamed of pursuing an acting career, but is forced to work as a tour guide on the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland. Yankovic later explained in an interview with The A.V. Club that the song was "a bit more poignant [and] bittersweet [...] than what I usually write."[7] He was inspired to write the song after going on a ride on the Disneyland Jungle Cruise with his family. During the cruise, one of the tour guides referred to his failed acting career. Yankovic then noted that "the bells went off in my head, and I thought, 'Well, here's a song right here.'"[10]

On August 4, 2009, Yankovic released "CNR", a pastiche of the musical style of the White Stripes, with Rolling Stone specifically noting the influence of the 2007 single "Icky Thump".[2][9][11] The lyrics are about superhuman feats that Charles Nelson Reilly could accomplish, retold in a style similar to Chuck Norris facts.[11] The final single, "Ringtone", released on August 25, 2009,[2] is a style parody of Queen. Billboard described the song as a cross between "Queen's operatic style [and] a tragic tale of a 'stupid ringtone' driving everyone nuts."[9]

Music videos

[edit]

The first music video released was for the track "Craigslist", directed by Liam Lynch. The budget for the video was much lower than Yankovic's previous live-action video "White & Nerdy" and was shot in Lynch's garage. Yankovic stated that the low budget video "dovetails well" with the concept of the song.[12] The video incorporates similar imagery seen in the Doors' videos, including stock footage and art house effects. Yankovic dressed as Morrison, having to lose some weight to look like the singer at age 24, and performed in front of a green screen to allow effects to be added afterward.[13]

An animated video for "Skipper Dan" was directed by Divya Srinivasan and was released in July 2009.[14][15] In early August of the same year, a video for "CNR", directed and animated by JibJab, was released. The animation used JibJab employees as actors against a green screen. It was interspersed with shots of Yankovic and Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz performing on a White Stripes-inspired red-and-white set, dressed as Jack White and Meg White, respectively.[11][16][17] In a first for any major recording artist, users of Jib-Jab's web site had the option of including themselves in the music video.[18] In mid August, a music video for "Ringtone" was animated by SuperNews!.[19] Finally, a music video for "Whatever You Like" was created by animator Cris Shapan; the video was released in 2011 and appeared on the deluxe edition of Alpocalypse.[3]

Reception

[edit]

The songs on the EP were favorably received. Cat Blackard of Consequence of Sound praised the manner in which "Whatever You Like" was released, noting that it was a "bold move", "a great way to keep up with the times", and that the resulting parody was topical.[20] Matt Wild of the A.V. Club felt that the parody was "funny and pointed", although he noted that by the time of its 2011 re-release, the track was a little dated. Wild also felt that "Skipper Dan" was a stand-out, largely due to the fact that the song was an original written by Yankovic, and as such was not bound to the limits of any original song; Wild also positively complimented the song's darker nature.[7]

The accuracy of the EP's style parodies was also positively critiqued. Andy Chalk of The Escapist magazine wrote that the music style of "Craigslist" was a "dead-on parody of The Doors",[21] and Marc Hirsh of NPR argued that the composition and performance of "Craigslist" is evidence that Yankovic is a "stealth pop musicologist", being able to deconstruct a genre of work and recreate it into something new without it being unrecognizable.[8] Wild wrote that "CNR" and "Ringtone" were both "even more winning" than the parodies found on Alpocalypse.[7] Brian May, guitarist for Queen, felt that Yankovic "perfectly spoofed [the] vocal and guitar harmonies" of his band with "Ringtone".[22]

The record was nominated for Best Comedy Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards.[23]

Track listing

[edit]

Information taken from the liner notes of Alpocalypse.[3]

No.TitleWriter(s)Parody ofLength
1."Whatever You Like"Clifford Harris Jr., James Scheffer, David Siegel, Alfred Yankovic"Whatever You Like" by T.I.3:41
2."Craigslist"YankovicStyle parody of The Doors4:53
3."Skipper Dan"YankovicStyle parody of Weezer4:01
4."CNR"YankovicStyle parody of The White Stripes3:21
5."Ringtone"YankovicStyle parody of Queen3:25
Total length:19:19

Personnel

[edit]

Information taken from iTunes metadata.[3]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Billboard Top Comedy Albums[24] 8

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Internet Leaks is the second extended play (EP) by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. Released digitally on August 25, 2009, it features five tracks, including the parody "Whatever You Like" of T.I.'s hit song and four original style parodies in the vein of the Doors ("Craigslist"), Weezer ("Skipper Dan"), the White Stripes ("CNR"), and Queen ("Ringtone"). The EP served as an experiment in internet-based music distribution, with individual tracks released online as "leaks" from October 2008 to August 2009 ahead of Yankovic's thirteenth studio album, Alpocalypse (2011), on which all songs later appeared. It peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Top Comedy Albums chart.

Background and development

Conception and inspiration

In late 2008, as the music industry shifted toward digital distribution amid declining physical sales, "Weird Al" Yankovic decided to experiment with releasing music exclusively online to adapt to these trends and maintain timeliness in his parody work. This approach addressed the rapid turnover of popular songs and shortening cultural attention spans, allowing Yankovic to "leak" tracks digitally before a full album, reducing the delay between creation and release that had previously hindered his relevance. The resulting EP, Internet Leaks, served as a bridge to his next studio album, Alpocalypse (2011), compiling five singles originally issued between October 2008 and August 2009, all of which later appeared on the full release. Yankovic's inspirations for the EP drew heavily from viral internet phenomena and everyday digital culture, reflecting his interest in parodying modern online trends rather than solely targeting hit singles. The lead track, "Whatever You Like," was a direct parody of T.I.'s 2008 hit of the same name, written and approved in late 2008 to capitalize on the song's immediate popularity. Other tracks were original compositions styled after classic rock acts, but rooted in web-specific memes: "CNR" exaggerated internet "Chuck Norris facts"—a mid-2000s viral meme portraying the actor as superhuman—by applying similar hyperbolic feats to game show host Charles Nelson Reilly, composed in early 2009. Similarly, "Craigslist," a style parody of The Doors, satirized the quirks of the popular online classifieds site, while "Ringtone" lampooned customizable mobile phone sounds, both finalized in early 2009. One standout original, "Skipper Dan," emerged from a personal experience during a family visit to Disneyland's ride, where a skipper casually mentioned his failed acting aspirations, inspiring Yankovic to craft a bittersweet character study of a washed-up performer trapped in the role. Written and approved in early 2009, the song—a style of —highlighted Yankovic's pivot toward originals when strong parody targets were scarce, allowing him to explore depth tied to pop culture . This focus on internet-inspired themes marked Internet Leaks as Yankovic's deliberate engagement with digital-age humor, building on his prior digital forays like the 2006 iTunes-exclusive "" video to pioneer a hybrid release model.

Recording process

The recording of the tracks for Internet Leaks took place over several months, beginning with the parody "Whatever You Like" in late 2008 and continuing through mid-2009. Specifically, "Whatever You Like," a parody of T.I.'s hit, was recorded on September 29, 2008, marking the first track completed for the EP. Subsequent sessions captured "Craigslist," "Skipper Dan," "CNR," and "Ringtone" on April 21, 2009. Primary recording and mixing occurred at Westlake Audio in Hollywood, , a studio frequently used by Yankovic for its professional facilities and acoustic quality. For the style parody "Craigslist," which emulates the psychedelic rock sound of , keyboards were additionally tracked at Sausalito Sound in , to capture a distinct tonal character. Yankovic collaborated closely with his longstanding core band throughout the process, including guitarist Jim West, who has contributed to every Yankovic album since the 1983 debut, bassist , a fixture since the same project, and drummer/percussionist Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz. For "Craigslist," Doors keyboardist provided additional keyboard parts after Yankovic approached him directly, enhancing the track's authentic Doors-inspired orchestration. A key logistical challenge involved securing permissions from original artists, a practice Yankovic maintains despite not being legally required for parodies under U.S. provisions. This included clearance from for "" and approval from ' representatives for the stylistic elements in "," ensuring smooth adaptation of source material to Yankovic's comedic framework. Adapting these parodies required precise emulation of original styles while integrating humorous lyrics, often necessitating multiple takes to balance technical fidelity with satirical intent. Post-production, including final mixing and mastering, was completed at Westlake Audio by August 2009, aligning with the EP's digital release strategy on August 25.

Music and style

Composition and production

Internet Leaks features a diverse blend of musical styles across its five tracks, combining hip-hop satire with rock parodies in a runtime of approximately 19 minutes. The EP showcases Yankovic's versatility in emulating contemporary genres while maintaining his signature comedic structure, with production emphasizing clean, polished recordings that highlight both electronic beats and live band elements. Yankovic served as the primary producer, overseeing arrangements that balance parody fidelity to original styles with original compositions designed for humorous delivery. The opening track, "Whatever You Like," is a direct of 's hit of the same name, structured around a trap-influenced hip-hop beat with heavy bass and synth layers to replicate the original's smooth, repetitive flow. The song employs rapid-fire in the verses, building to a chorus with layered vocal harmonies for emphasis, all at a mid-tempo pace to underscore the satirical lyrics on economic hardship. includes programmed drums and keyboard synths for a modern urban feel, with Yankovic handling lead vocals and additional ad-libs to enhance the comedic timing. "" adopts a psychedelic rock style parodying , featuring prominent organ solos and a driving that evokes Jim Morrison-era grooves. The composition centers on a brooding verse-chorus structure with tempo variations from 120 to 140 BPM across sections, incorporating echo effects on vocals and guitar riffs for atmospheric depth. Production techniques include live-recorded keyboards by of for authenticity, blended with Yankovic's multi-tracked singing to create a haunting, narrative-driven soundscape. "Skipper Dan" draws from Weezer's power-pop rock aesthetic, utilizing crunchy guitar riffs, steady drum patterns, and melodic hooks in a straightforward verse-chorus format at around 132 BPM. The track highlights live with electric guitars and bass for an energetic, nostalgic feel, including subtle key shifts from to bridge sections for emotional contrast. Yankovic contributes keyboards and harmonized backups, layering vocals to build intensity in the arrangement. The EP's fourth track, "CNR," functions as a style parody of , built on raw with distorted guitars, pounding drums, and minimal production at 85 BPM. Its structure features fast-paced, syllable-dense verses over a looping , with production focusing on vocal effects like echoes and ad-lib overlaps to satirize celebrity excess. Live drums and guitar provide organic grounding, showcasing Yankovic's prowess and multi-instrumental input. Closing with "Ringtone," the track emulates Queen's theatrical rock through bombastic piano intros, operatic vocal stacks, and tempo shifts from 120 BPM in verses to faster choruses. The arrangement includes key changes for dramatic flair, with rich orchestration via guitars, drums, and synthesized strings for a grand, anthemic quality. Production emphasizes multi-layered harmonies—up to 20 vocal tracks—and live band recording to capture the pompous energy, with Yankovic on lead and backing vocals alongside keyboard flourishes.

Parodies and themes

The EP Internet Leaks centers on satirical commentary targeting the peculiarities of online culture, rampant , and the fleeting nature of celebrity in the digital era. Yankovic employs his signature parody techniques—, hyperbolic exaggeration, and timely references to emerging phenomena—to dissect how amplifies everyday absurdities. For instance, the track "Whatever You Like," a direct of T.I.'s 2008 hit of the same name, reimagines the original's boasts of lavish spending as a frantic ode to bargain-hunting on the classifieds site, with lyrics touting deals like "four-dollar socks" and "two bucks for a clock" to mock the obsessive fueled by online marketplaces. In "," styled after The Doors' (e.g., "Soul Kitchen"), Yankovic shifts focus to the bizarre world of online classifieds, portraying a frantic search through odd postings that evokes the brooding atmosphere of Jim Morrison's era. Similarly, "Skipper Dan," styled after Weezer's power-pop rock, portrays the disillusionment of aspiring entertainers trapped in service jobs, depicting a former reduced to piloting Disneyland's boats while dreaming of Broadway glory; the song's upbeat yet melancholic hooks underscore themes of unfulfilled ambition in an industry dominated by viral fame and digital distractions. "CNR" adopts the raw of ' "Fell in Love with a Girl," transforming it into a frenzied tribute to the late Charles Nelson , exaggerating his flamboyant persona through absurd feats like "standing eight feet tall" to satirize celebrity idolization and the bizarre legacies preserved in online trivia and memes. Yankovic's approach draws on 2008–2009 trends, incorporating references to platforms like and to highlight the era's shift toward user-generated commerce and ephemeral digital interactions. The original track "Ringtone," emulating Queen's theatrical pomp, lampoons the intrusion of technology into personal life, depicting a tormented by a neighbor's blaring customizable phone alert that escalates to domestic chaos, thereby critiquing the commodification of and the annoyances of constant connectivity. Overarching these parodies is the EP's meta-commentary on digital dissemination itself; by deliberately "leaking" tracks online ahead of official release, Yankovic ironically embraces the culture his work often lampoons, positioning the project as an experiment in rapid, fan-driven distribution that mirrors the uncontrolled spread of content in the age.

Release and promotion

Digital distribution strategy

Internet Leaks was released on August 25, 2009, exclusively through digital platforms including , Amazon MP3, , and Rhapsody. This marked Yankovic's first major release available solely as a digital download, bypassing traditional physical formats entirely. The strategy stemmed from the broader decline in physical sales during the late , prompting Yankovic to adapt to by testing fan engagement through shorter, more frequent releases without tying them directly to a full at launch. By issuing the EP as a collection of previously released singles, Yankovic aimed to maintain visibility and generate buzz in an era where pop culture references quickly dated, allowing for timelier distribution of material. Promotion involved staggered single releases beginning with the "Whatever You Like" parody in October 2008, followed by "Craigslist" in June 2009, "Skipper Dan" in July 2009, "CNR" in early August 2009, and "Ringtone" later that month, culminating in the full EP. Teasers and announcements were shared via Yankovic's official website and social platforms like to build anticipation among fans. The EP was affordably priced for the complete digital download and later integrated into bundles, such as free upgrades to the 2011 full-length album for prior digital purchasers, as well as merchandise offerings during the accompanying tour. This approach foreshadowed Yankovic's shift toward predominantly digital rollouts, influencing the single-by-single promotion of .

Singles and music videos

The EP Internet Leaks featured a series of digitally released singles, beginning with the parody "Whatever You Like" (of 's 2008 hit), which was issued as a standalone track on October 8, 2008, ahead of the EP's full rollout. This was followed by four original songs released as promotional singles to build anticipation: "Craigslist" on June 16, 2009; "Skipper Dan" on July 14, 2009; "CNR" as the lead single on August 4, 2009; and "Ringtone" on August 25, 2009, coinciding with the EP's digital launch. These releases eschewed traditional radio promotion in favor of online platforms like and Amazon , emphasizing direct-to-fan . Accompanying music videos were created for the four original tracks, adopting a low-budget, web-optimized aesthetic designed for quick viral spread on platforms like . The "Craigslist" video, directed by Liam Lynch and released on June 15, 2009, presents Yankovic as a Jim Morrison-esque figure navigating hallucinatory vignettes inspired by bizarre online classified ads. "Skipper Dan," an animated short directed by Divya Srinivasan and premiered on July 14, 2009, illustrates the song's story of an aspiring actor reduced to guiding boat tours at , blending melancholy narrative with cartoonish humor. The "CNR" video, an by founders Evan Spiridellis and Gregg Spiridellis, debuted on August 4, 2009, depicting Yankovic in exaggerated, consumerist escapades that homage actor while mimicking the raw energy of . Similarly, the "Ringtone" video, directed by Josh Faure-Brac and Dustin McLean with from SuperNews!, was released on November 14, 2009, and satirizes public irritation from intrusive sounds through chaotic, illustrated crowd scenes. No video was produced for "Whatever You Like" at the time of its initial release, though a live-action clip directed by Cris Shapan appeared in 2011. These videos were subsequently uploaded to Yankovic's official YouTube channel, where they amassed millions of collective views by 2010, which helped drive streams and downloads of the EP.

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Upon its release, Internet Leaks received generally positive critical reception for its humorous take on contemporary internet culture and parodies, with reviewers highlighting its timeliness in 2009 amid the rise of online memes and digital sharing. The EP's five tracks were praised for their style parodies and originality, though some critics pointed to its brief runtime—approximately 18 minutes—as a limitation that left listeners wanting more material. Tracks like "CNR" drew comments, with appreciation for the clever White Stripes-style homage to the late actor . The EP earned a for Best Comedy Album at the in 2010, underscoring its recognition among industry peers and drawing comparisons to Yankovic's prior Grammy-winning work like Running with Scissors (1999). Critics noted the EP's prescient commentary on web phenomena, such as online classifieds in "" and viral ringtones, positioning it as an early encapsulation of digital-age absurdities.

Commercial performance and impact

Internet Leaks achieved notable commercial success as a digital-only release, debuting exclusively on on August 25, 2009, which allowed Yankovic to experiment with direct-to-fan distribution amid the rise of online music platforms. The EP's strong initial performance led to a Grammy Award nomination for Best Comedy Album at the in 2010, highlighting its impact within the genre. This nomination underscored the EP's viability as a preview for Yankovic's upcoming full-length , demonstrating how digital exclusivity could drive and recognition without traditional physical sales. The EP peaked at number 8 on the Top Comedy Albums chart in 2009. This performance reflected Yankovic's adaptability to the shifting music landscape, where digital downloads became a key metric for success in niche genres like . In terms of legacy, all five tracks from Internet Leaks were reincorporated into Yankovic's thirteenth studio , , released on June 21, 2011, allowing the material to reach a broader through conventional distribution. The EP's innovative "leak" approach—releasing songs and videos online ahead of a full —influenced Yankovic's later digital strategies, most notably in the promotion of his 2014 , where he simultaneously dropped eight music videos to capitalize on viral internet sharing. This tactic helped debut at number 1 on the , marking a career milestone. The EP also played a significant role in sustaining Yankovic's relevance within 2000s , where parody content thrived on platforms like , fostering fan-driven virality and discussions about the role of in . As of November 2025, streams of Internet Leaks tracks on had collectively surpassed 18 million. These developments affirmed the EP's enduring influence on in the streaming era, building on its initial critical praise for innovative online engagement.

Track listing and credits

Track listing

The Internet Leaks EP consists of five tracks, all produced by "Weird Al" Yankovic and released exclusively as a digital download on , 2009, with no physical editions available until the tracks were included on the 2011 album .
No.TitleDurationWriter(s)Producer
1"Whatever You Like" (parody of "Whatever You Like" by T.I.)3:42Lyrics: "Weird Al" Yankovic
Composers: Clifford Harris, , David Siegel
"Weird Al" Yankovic
2""4:53"Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
3"Skipper Dan"4:01"Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
4"CNR"3:21"Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
5"Ringtone"3:25"Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
International versions of the EP are identical to the original release, with no bonus tracks or alternate editions.

Personnel

"Weird Al" Yankovic performed vocals, , keyboards, and on all tracks of the Internet Leaks EP. His longtime backing band contributed to the recordings, with Jim "Kimo" West on guitar, on bass and mandolin, Rubén Valtierra on keyboards, and Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz on drums. Guest musicians included backing vocals by Angie Jaree, David Joyce, Lisa Popeil, and Monique Donnelly. The production team consisted of engineer Tony Papa and mixer David Leonard. Additional credits went to art director Megan Foley. The EP featured no external songwriters beyond the parodies, with all original compositions by Yankovic.

References

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