Music video by "Weird Al" Yankovic performing Skipper Dan. UA-cam view counts pre-VEVO: 13,762 (C) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
I was at a weird Al concert when he actually explained this song. He was on a Disney water ride, and the tour guy was talking about his failed acting career. Weird Al said to himself “that’s a song.” And he went home that day and worked on this song tirelessly. This isn’t a joke, he actually said that.
A billion points for the animator who was able to make Dan's eyes say "I'm dead inside" even though the lower half of his face is smiling for the photos at 3:54. Brilliant and heartbreaking.
+Louie Tremblay Oh, look at me. I'm making people HAPPY! I'm the magical man, from HAPPY LAND, in a gumdrop house on Lollipop Laaaane! ::slams door:: Oh, by the way, I was being SARCASTIC.
This isn't a song about failing. Dan was top of his class and got phenomenal rave reviews. This is a song on how you can do everything right, and still life treats you cruelly and you are forced into indentured servitude in the form of a dead end job.
Story of my life. I even got a $1000 stipend from my school and had work before I finished. But I just decided to quit, go back to school and try my luck doing something else. F**k my old dreams, my work right now is miserable and has been for years.
IT's funny how everyone in the comments thinks this is a song meant to convey that you should study harder. But really it's about how you can know exactly what you want to do as a career, study hard to get there, do everything right and still end up with a bottom of the barrel job wishing you were dead. Weird Al writes the songs about reality. u___u
Just noticed that Dan's coworker Ann is the same actress who starred opposite him in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"-compare the red-haired women at 0:38 and 3:21! Knowing that Dan isn't the only tragically underemployed actor in this story somehow makes it less painful and more painful at the same time.
its intresting to know they both shared the same fate, even in their expressions in that one moment you can tell they both remember when they acted together, now they are here
This has to be one of my favourite Weird Al songs ever. Not only is it a rocking tune, but it just goes to show that Al is capable of more than just making you laugh. This is the man that sang an entire song dedicated to being overweight, so when he tells a genuinely sad story (one that actually happens to real people) it hits you like an armoured truck. :(
Spyrotechnical it also apparently is based on a true story of an actual skipper he met one time who made a passing comment about his failed acting career
A great, original Weird Al song. I've been on the Jungle Cruise a lot, and one time, during the '80s, the tour guide said "What am I doing with my life?" I looked at him, and he showed no sign of having just said that! I felt bad for the guy. I wonder if Al and I were on the same ride? Anybody notice that a fan at the stage door looks like old-school Weird Al?
It's not about what you know, it's who you know. *Especially* in the entertainment/arts field. I feel like that's what separates the Skipper Dans of the world from the talentless but successful stars who've probably never read a word of "the bard" in their lives. Edit: If Skipper Dan had majored in business instead as per the grandfather's advice, he'd be in the same boat probably (pun not intended?). "I'm an associate sales rep in the MLM game, Danny Smith is the name. And I'm roping in 34 folks every month, and every time it's the same. Look at these kitchen knifes the're sharp as a sword, buy one get one free with the purchase of a cutting board...and I die a little inside every time I bring someone into the "team", 'cause I'm working for a pyramid scheme."
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
It's interesting to think that he is still an actor, hiding his pain and his sadness, pretending to be happy and laugh, smile. The hardest thing to act.
I was gonna be an electrical engineer. I studied in my free time, downloaded all kinds of books, got over my hatred of math, even opened a small computer/electronics repair service for a little while to get experience with circuit boards and stuff. All I needed was to go to college, and I'd be gold. Five years later, I'm working at Lowes.
Speaking as somebody who is going to graduate as an electrical engineer this week, most people who want to be engineers don't make it. We lost half of the class in the first year, and quite a few of the rest didn't make it either. I don't know if you flunked out, or if you never managed to get into college, but it's crazy hard to become an engineer. I built robots as a hobby when I was in high school, and I still struggled at times. Whatever your situation is though, don't give up on it. You can make it somehow. Get yourself hired at an engineering company doing something even slightly technical, and they might be willing to pay for you to get some credentials. It happens fairly regularly.
BrenBrenMartin I just never made it to college. It was always "next year". I've turned things around a bit though, and gotten myself in a better financial state. So, with any luck, this year is the actual year I'll break the barrier and go. And since actually going to college was already a big hurdle to get over, I'm sure it's gonna be an absolute bitch when it comes to the work itself. But, I figure what's the worst that could happen? I spend a few extra years retaking a couple classes? I'm twenty six years old, I've still got all the time in the world. I'll take your advice and look into getting a job at an engineering firm. I know of a few around my city. I never tried it, cause I always believed one needed legitimate credentials to be employed doing anything there... but hey, what's the worst that could happen?
***** It's never too late to go to college. Sometimes you need to take a break after years of public school to rediscover that love of learning (I'm a teacher in Canada. I love teaching, but even I recognize it's tough for some(many) and the grind of education (and then staring at another 4-6 years after high school) can wear you down). Even people who know exactly what they want to do and go straight to college work at something for a few years after graduating and it doesn't strike them at all, and go back and change careers. You're no farther behind than the countless people who do that every single year. I'd suggest, if you have the funds and have a uni/college that does it, either auditing a course or two here and there, or just taking a night course to work your way back into the educational mindset. Maybe there's a higher level math refresher course, just to get that stuff back into your head, rather than jumping both feet into a full year off the hop.
Every so often, I hear a Weird Al song and I say, "This is a bop. I wonder what the original song is," and I look it up and am shocked to see that it's just totally original. This is one of them. I can so easily imagine a normal song to this tune.
A lot of his originals are often style parodies , like this is supposed to be a style parody of Weezer is what I’ve heard. I find his vast amount of originals impressive and honestly, I’m so glad when I saw him live that’s really all he played. I love his parodies but getting to experience some of his really good, yet underrated originals was incredible. I kinda wish he played this one at the show I saw but I’m still so grateful for what he did show. Weird Al is a legend and a genius
@@abbyisatabby2681 Yes, but I thought it was more like a They Might Be Giants song, perhaps because TMBG used the same animator in some videos and they have these "sad story told in a funny mode" songs. Anyway, I accept it is Weezer because TMBG's style parody is "Pancreas" and Weezer is the poor man's TMBG ;-)
Al was only 12 years old when he went to high school and graduated as the valedictorion. He was 16 when he went to college and became an architect. Now he's a happily married multi millionaire with a career he created and loves. His entire education had nothing to do with his success.
Dang, this song really HAS hit be hard recently. I spent a long time at university studying very hard playing a delicate balancing act of trying to get top grades and still have a fun and active social life. Yet I managed to come away with a 1st class degree in marine biology three summers ago and I managed to achieve a distinction at Master's level. However, what is my job almost two years later? A barman! Marine biology it turns out is a very hard area of work to get into, like acting is. With minimal experience you are always turned down in favour of "better experienced" candidates, and the only way to gain any experience is by volunteering your time and money for years. Man I feel for Dan so much in this song right now because I'm feeling exactly the same way he is. I should be out there doing what I love -- studying marine animals and aiding in their conservation, but because I don't have enough experience, I'm going to be stuck pulling pints for a long time...
***** I already am a diver (a Divemaster in fact with over 400 logged dives). It has helped improve the number of jobs I can apply for but is still not getting me over the hurdles.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
Great song. I seem to recall that Mr. Yankovic once stated that this song was inspired by a comment like "what have I done with my life?" made a Jungle Cruise Ride tour guide, according to Yankovic probably off-hand. If this is true, then I have to say it is impressive how such a comment can lead to such a great song.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
8 years late, but he did actually say that. I went to his concert in Kansas, and he says a little something before he starts for each song. He said that this song was written after he went on the Jungle Cruise and the skipper made a comment; “What am I even doing with my life?” And he made a couple jokes mentioning his acting career, which caused Al to go home and concoct a backstory about this dude and eventually, write a song about him
Always felt that there was potential here for a cheesy yet enjoyable family film. Skipper Dan is fed up with his life and goes on holiday to Brazil. On the plane he is recognised by young kids who recently went on the ride, and assume he is a real Jungle Guide (yes folks, it's The Three Amigos rehashed). Then the plane goes down in the jungle! Dan and a handful of other survivors, including the kids, are separated from the others and lost in the deepest forest. All the adults are terrified, but not the kids - for they know Dan is with them, and he must be able to find the way out. Slowly Dan realises that he has to keep up the charade to avoid crushing their hopes, and as the film pans out, he realises that he does in fact know a hell of a lot about the jungle due to his job, and eventually turns into the hero that the kids believed he was. Disney's got to make that. Right?
Yeah, I'd totally watch that! (Not being sarcastic, it's a classic concept (person has to become for real what they've only pretended to be). With a good writer and director, and actors who play it without camping it up, it could definitely work.)
It's the only thing we keep hearing... "Make other people happy make other people happy make other people happpy!!!" It IS possible to do that and end up miserable yourself. I KNOW.
I'm glad to see someone on the Internet showing they notice stuff like that! He's done a lot of good style-parody songwriting, since the early days. "Melanie", "Dog Eat Dog', "Dare to be Stupid", "You Don't Love Me Anymore", "Germs", "Bob"... (I actually can't place the performer "Melanie" lampoons, but there's something quite familiar and distinctive to the sound.)
Every time I hear this song, my acting degree gives me a bittersweet dose of memory. Truly amazing insight into how hard dreams die. Only Al could make me smile a little about that.
@@terrybardy2848 funny people like you can always say "move on" as if it was an easy thing to do. yet, there are probably people like me, who's getting a huge existential crisis/depression & seriously think what's the point of life then? isn't it better to just die?
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
@@NikiWonoto26 The only thing worse than death is involuntary death. If there truly is no point to life, then how come we tell of people who clearly had a point, most if not all self-made? Sure, dreams might not come true, and the world's gonna break you if you let it, but so what? Your life didn't have a point from day one, but given a bit of drive and an active goal, the pencil of your life could be sharpened, and now look at it! There's a reason for your existence! This thing wouldn't have happened or existed without you! That's what they mean by 'move on', keep trying to sharpen that pencil even if the tip keeps falling off.
Skipper Dan is probably the anthem for those of us who had a brief shot of small time fame or success then ended up in a dead end job or worse (and yes there is worse things like unemployment). That sentiment of regret and wanting to die is one I understand. Nine years later I'm working as a bus boy at an Italian restaurant working for minimum wage telling the same old jokes. Weirdly enough, I love the job. Been doing the job since Feruary 2022. But there are days I feel like this guy in the video.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
Unemployment is terrible but can be less bitterly mocking; a job that's seriously degrading and you put all your time and effort into is often the type which will not provide much pay to really live on. And some don't provide enough at all, while stillmaking the same demands of you.
This song reminds me of the Star Trek: TNG episode, "Tapestry", where Q gives Picard a look at his life had he not made certain risky and rash decisions and taken chances. At the end of the episode he's wearing a blue uniform with the rank of lieutenant, a person who never stood out or got noticed. He tells Q (I'm paraphrasing here) "I'd rather die than be that man, bereft of passion and imagination". Picard learns how pulling the strings of even a single unpleasant memory could potentially unravel the entire tapestry of your life. Working as a denizen of "the lower decks" was his equivalent of being Skipper Dan on his Jungle Cruise boat. The really gut-punching thing about that episode is that (speaking for myself at least) my reality is that of the guy wearing the blue uniform; there's no waking up and going back to something better and more fulfilling like Picard did at the end of the episode, just what is. Believe me, I've often imagined what might have been had I taken a different path here or there. I will admit that some things beyond my control (such as health problems, which nobody can predict) blindsided me, but even so there were also plenty of bad decisions and priorities that I have to own responsibility for. I still have my ambition to be a published author and have self-published a couple of books (that frankly weren't close to being ready in retrospect). But yeah, I'm hard on myself because I feel like my life to date has never measured up to what I feel it could or should have been. As humans we tend to measure ourselves and our self-worth against an ideal that we strived for. All too often I guess most of us fail to achieve them for one reason or another; like the saying goes in boxing, "Everybody has a plan until they get hit". Not every person can be the equivalent of a Captain Jean-Luc Picard who everyone loves and looks up to; we're not all cut out to be lawyers, doctors, business executives, actors, or whatever other big-money career you can name, and sometimes it honestly comes down to having nothing that matches your field of expertise being available and having to do what you must to live. Countless people right now are flipping burgers, sitting in a cubicle at a call center being routinely cussed out, or working a cash register who have degrees and/or experience that would qualify them for much better careers. There's no shame in working an honest job that helps to pay the bills, but the joy and fulfillment that comes from doing what you really love isn't there. Weird Al nailed that feeling right on the head with this song. Just hang in there and don't give up.
This song reminds me of an interview I recently saw with Steve Burns. He said that he became very depressed doing "Blue's Clues," since it was basically him all alone in front of a green screen, having to interact with things that wouldn't exist until later, when he wanted to do more with his life.
When I saw Weird Al back in June, he was doing a show of just his original songs. I had a blast, but this was the only song I didn't recognize from the set. Now it's definanately in my top 10 Weird Al songs. It just hits in the worst way possible
The comments are even more depressing than the song. I was almost feeling pretty damn good about myself until I read a bunch of stories from people who are probably more talented and dedicated than me and yet are still struggling with disappointment and thwarted ambitions, wondering where it all went wrong. I'm only 20 and I already feel that I've lost somehow.
Choose your career wisely. Don't choose anything that relies on luck (IE: To be an actor, you need to not only be good, but very lucky) Read the job advertisements, look at what qualifications they're after and what they're paying. If you can't decide yet, don't. University before you're completely sure (with realistic ambitions) of what you want to do is an incredibly bad idea. There's nothing wrong with putting off uni for another decade if that's what it takes. And above all, research the field. There's significantly less point in having a degree in a field you'll love if you'll never actually find a job in it than in having a degree in a field that bores you, but will get you a decent job. At least with a boring but well-paid job you can afford hobbies.
Well, think about this! 1. He makes people happy, but he says the same things. Again. And again. And again. He's dead inside. 2. But he can pay rent by not too much, really. 3. Therefore, more people are dying inside.
Ever gone on a tour? Can you name your guide's name? Can you remember their face? I thought not. YOu'd remember them if they were a robot because that would be a bit cool. But a human guide? You'll never think of them again the moment you leave the ride. They are background noise in other's lives.
I think this situation would've happen to some actors even if Obama wasn't in charge. It just shows how uninspired and fickle Hollywood and Broadway are. I mean...you got films like BFG and Finding Dory being overlooked by Michael Bay's onslaught of garbage and special effects
Jakob Lessin David Weaver implied Dan ended up at the Jungle Cruise ride because of Obama's leadership. I was simply telling him that such a thing would've happened anyway, regardless if he were president
On the upside, the redhead at 3:20 is kind of hot... Move together and rent/utilities go down. With the savings you buy some hardware and start producing low-budget one man plays that you can spread on YT and someone will notice you again.
This song absolutely represents the current mood with my own job, so I connect quite a lot with the lyrics. It's also helping to inspire me to fix that
This song makes me really sad for real people like Dan - Al sure wrote evocative lyrics. But with a lot of people now struggling with unemployment, Dan's situation made me think of a couple of lines from a funny film, "Office Space": Peter Gibbons: What if we're still doing this when we're fifty? Samir: It would be nice to have that kind of job security.
To all would be Hollywood and Broadway stars out there: keep in mind that the unemployment rate of the Perfomer's Guilds in both Southern California and New York City hovers around 93 percent. Also, if you take a look at the really "successful" actors in movies and TV today, you will find that: a) they are someone's relative with previous long standing familial connections to show biz; b) they already come from money so they have the luxury of grinding away at thankless, low paying roles without having to worry about a day job; or c) are from another country with different career opportunities than Americans. Not everyone can be Chris Pratt or Jennifer Lawrence, and the next one probably won't be you. Just sayin'
Not to mention to make it in Hollywood itself you have to basically give up your individuality, your religion, convert to Democrat, and/or Scientology, get millions of dollars of plastic surgery, and basically become a clone. Only THEN will they except you! So, in the long run...not worth it.
Or the huge amounts of scandals in the industry around sleeping with directors and producers to get a job. I mean when you look at a lot of young actors and actress's who bring nothing to the table but their looks why do you think they got that job? They can't act, they can't sing, dance or anything old stars used to be able to do. Add to that the horrible burn out rate of young stars.. Seriously look at almost every kid that worked with Disney growing up and what happen to them.
Well yeah there's very very few capital S Stars in the world but that doesn't mean you can't eek out a respectable career as an actor/producer/writer/director/whatever. I know that doesn't sound all that glamorous to most of us but to the type that really loves performing it will still be rewarding to make a living in the entertainment industry. It's easy to point to the most successful and tell people they'll never make it there but there's still plenty of work out there on the margins so if that's your dream and your passion in life go get it because you'll regret it if you never take that leap.
Sadly, its how most professions like that work especially after its been able to have a entrenched sudo-aristocracy. It happened to theatre, it happened to radio, it happened to TV, it happened to movies its happening to the streaming services. Most of Hollywood doesnt hire people for talent but for looks or connections. Chris Pratt as you said got a lucky break with his roll as Andy Dwyer. But its not an issue only present in the actors but directors and writers have the same problem. Most films today are made with the Widest net approach in mind, but time has proven again and again if you try and appease everyone in the end you please no one. A film masterpiece is timeless, this goes for all forms of media and or entertainment. History proves its better to make a media property in true quality rather than mass appeal, here a rather obscure film from the seventies that exemplifies this. And you can watch it for free online, Aces High. I assure you this film will resonate with and leave a deeper impact on you than the modern starwars trilogy, if you want a more modern example take the film 1917, not free but on hulu.
The sad thing is that when he’s getting his picture taken, that’s the closest he’s coming to reliving that feeling he used to get when he was being praised for his acting. Because pictures like that, and the memories they represent, they are going to stick with people for years to come, so as embarrassing as it is, it’s the closest he can get to how he used to felt so long ago, because he’s once again leaving people with a wonderful memory of him. Even if it’s not the memory he wants.
Dylan Give it a decade. See what the ravages of time have in store for you before making such pronouncements. Remember Rule of Acquisition 109: dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.
Easily one of my favourite Weird Al songs. Somehow, the one who's well known as one of the funniest singers of all time made a song that conveys how it feels to not reach where you wanted to be in life, and the fact that almost no one becomes famous, no matter how hard they work
I was in the same boat like Skipper Dan is. I was working in a job that I didn't like and didn't want to be in the first place, and that's on a golf course far away from where I live. I was changing cups on the green(which I hate the most,) raking bunkers, checking garbage, etc. The only thing good about it, that I was on one of those cool riding mowers, cutting tees greens, and fairways while avoiding, and keeping an eye out for golfers that were coming up behind me. This went on until the Parks Department in my county in New Jersey offered me a job at a swim club closer to where i live, and I took it! Now I'm working in a job, close to my home, with better hours, and shorter distances. I even come on my lunch break, or go to some stores or restaurants in my town because I know them all. And the best part is I get to swim in their makeshift lake oriented pool, with beach sand and everything(only I don't surf in it, but I'm okay with it.) The moral of the story is if you to change things in your life, go for it! Don't give up on your hope and dreams, it'll come. You'll see. Between you and me, I wish Weird Al has given Skipper Dan a happier ending to his song. If anybody deserves that kind of ending, it's him.
dog453679 I know how you feel. Even though he's a cartoon, I could really relate and it hit me when he faked the chuckle on the boat, and then he looked down a little sad
This might seem weird, but this song always makes me wish I had stuck with acting. Anyone who's ever been bitten by the acting bug knows that once it gets you, it never really lets go. Dan stuck with it, and he might not be performing on the level he wants to, but he is still acting for a living, every single day. He made it. He got there. Skipper Dan is my hero.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
I think the reason Al sings the sad lyrics so happy is because Dan is pretending to be happy every day but is still sad. The lyrics are so sad but he sings them so happy yet you still feel so sad for skipper Dan. Those are some real quality lyrics right there.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
He succeeded. He is using his acting skills. He would be telling the same jokes and doing the same shows over and over in the roles he would have liked. He is living his dreams. He just doesn't know it.
I know it's been a while, but this video along with many other things convinced me to seriously consider grad school and maybe one day abandon my dead-end job.
"Aw, but don't bother trying to IMDB me; The only place you might _possibly see me_ Is _ridin' my little boat around Adventureland...._ *It ain't exactly what I planned!!"* There's more than disappointment to those lines and how they're sung. There's a quiet yet powerful resentment and anger. Don't you feel like the guy is doing a disgusted, sarcastic bow each time he introduces himself as "Skipper Dan"?
I wonder if this song hits closer to home with Al than he realizes, having had a career of his own repeating jokes and gags that possibly bore him after 30+ years. Maybe the bits about being unsuccessful and unknown don't really apply to Al, but it may also parallel how he's sort of stuck being a professional goofster.
Pretty sure he’s said something along those lines in an interview about the song. Still, he can suck it up as far as I’m concerned. He’s been wildly successful in his career, and if it bothers him that much then he can stop anytime. This is why I don’t really feel sorry for anyone who fails to become famous; Even if they succeed, they end up whining about it anyway, if they don’t go completely insane first.
Something tells me Al loves what he does and it makes him very happy to do so. He probably wouldn't have had a 40 year career and 14 studio albums if he really didn't like what he did.
One of the things that hits me the most about this song is that he did end up being an actor anyway. He's pretending to be happy for the sake of the tourists. It's a tragic irony
***** I'm sure its still a good hobby to have. you can come home from asda with a gauranteed wage and still work on art projects and find clients. sadly ditching the day job will mean a constant struggle to find creative work. (more interesting hopping from client to client but you may find yourself having to eat cheap noodles for dinner)
I can empathize with that one, trying to explain art and technology to people here in Las vegas is like trying to teach spanish to a goat. All people out here care about are bars,gambling and nightclubs. Trust me not a 100 IQ combining the whole city. I wanted a 3D Design or Computer Specialist job out here, but nothing besides Konami and thats just a shitty slot machine branch. I would have started there but they want 3 years gaming experiance and a related degree. So long story, Long. Vegas is no good if your an artist or techie.
Supa Blank I'm a music producer with all the industry standard equipment and knowledge nessicary to do some interesting things. I've soundtracked for small scale computer games/animations, i create stop motions, video presentations, i compose/record/produce music and use this stuff every day but being realistic, i still need a reliable stable source of income. Finding a job certainly isnt easy so im just happy to be employeed! Maybe one day after ive travelled and lived a little, i might find a job more suited to me. theres not much music related work going where i live but like i said, its an amazing hobby! i couldnt imagine life without it :)
When they're young everyone seems to think this sort of thing won't happen to their lives... as if everyone it already _has_ happened to just wasn't trying hard, or interested enough in self-advancement to avoid it. You know... this song has an *incredible* vocal and instrumental melody, which the gloomy lyrics detract from a bit. If you have a complete language barrier, it rocks so hard your speaker turns into a diamond.
Something neat about this It doesn't have to be about acting or theme park work specifically Something about the cadance of the song makes it feel like it could be layered over any sad story of a dead dream and dead end job.
Moral of the story: Always have a backup plan. That way, you only have to work on the Jungle Cruise Ride just to keep yourself supported until you can get a better job, instead of staying there forever.
or, just make best with what youve got. in dan's case, he should incorporate his drama skills either in his cruise rides, or some other job, where he could get noticed and develop regional fame
I feel like this is the song I'll end up singing while at work. I do delivery jobs, and its not glamorous, sure, but it pays plenty and gives me plenty of time to do other things. And the whole "But the years have come and gone, and I'm sorry to say that's not the way that it's all worked out" bit is actually not true in my case. Yeah, my job isn't great. And it bores me to tears every time I go out to work. But now myself and some friends are kickstarting up our own businesses, and I'm back to smiling from ear to ear. Just remember: It might not be great now. But you'll make it work ;)
The night after I took my kids to Disneyland I had a dream that we had ended up on the Jungle Cruise Ride with Al and his family. My kids played with his and we laughed at the old jokes and at the end of the ride Al asked me "So Bill, would you like to go get some lunch, hang out the rest of the day at the park?" I said "Like it? I'd love to!" And Al snapped back "I bet you would!" And then he and his family slipped into one of those employee only doors, lol.
It amazes me how some people who have high degrees from Julliard, Stanford, Harvard and Yale seem to get the worst jobs. Doesn't the business/art/theater/film world realize the kind of talent they're snubbing
I was planning a trip to Disney World in 2020 before the pandemic. I was planning on singing this song on said ride just for laughs. Would have loved it if other Weird Al fans joined in, or even the skipper themselves... stupid virus, wrecker of dreams.
@@theqbash thank you for your sympathy, but i look at it as a chance to save up more money for more fun. Still plan on going in 2022 and trying tompull this off.
I don’t know why, but this is really motivating to listen to. I wanted to be a voice actor in my 20’s but at the beginning of my 30’s I chose to do 2D animation instead because I always had a deep interest in it. I get very nostalgic with this song, about what I thought used to be so important before and seeing myself now doing something I find more meaningful shows that when we think our dreams died, maybe something better comes along the way, even right under our nose the whole time. Don’t give up Skipper Dan ✊
I've been a software engineer and architect for over 30 years working 80-100 hours per week. Looking back, I think I would have been much happier with a 9-5 job being a jungle cruise ride guide.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
Not an actor or a cruise driver but man this song just hits differently now, as an adult with no hope for the future, than it did when it came out when I was like 15.
I planned on publishing my first novel by the time I was 23. Now I'm 27, teaching literature to kids who don't care about literature. This song hits too hard
You know as funny as it may seem, as someone who is trying to break in to a film related artistic career - I would be perfectly happy to play the tour guide for the Jaws ride at Universal studios, it's my favourite film and I love the idea of sharing that with a bunch of people while acting in a Jaws-like adventure - The joy of the people would be my own - Sadly the ride is gone and the dream is dead. Back to trying to be a film director I guess...
A year later, I'm a janitor, I quit university, I tried to achieve my dream and I failed like so many, I'm a hyper depressed alcoholic and I'm only 20 - Little did I know how true this song would ring - Life can take you in many directions and who knows what I'll think of these comments in another year but right now my hopes have all vanished and my dreams have all died and reality has hit me like a tonne of bricks, if anyone reads this who's still full of ambition my advice would be to never give up on what you want to do and who you want to be, it's survival of the fittest and if you find yourself in doubt you'll find it harder and harder to get back on track so keep on fighting or else you'll be drunk at 2:30 in the morning reflecting on your past mistakes and thinking way too hard about the relatability of a comedy song that's hitting way too close too home. It's funny because it's true - Don't let it be true.
If you're only 20 you have plenty of time to start over and get your life back on track. Not to say it'll be easy, but it WILL be worth it. Nobody as young as you are should give up hope.
I'd been on the Jungle Cruise a few times way long ago, and _every_ single time the guide sounded like he absolutely hated his job. Even as a little kid, I couldn't help but wonder why the cruise even needed a live host in the first place. I mean, I could see why the Haunted House needs one, but Jungle Cruise is completely on rails (literally). Why not have a locked-up area in the front of the boat, then have bunch of guides do some recordings and just play one each time? They could make some cock and bull about "security" or "being afraid" as to why they never leave the locked-up area. Anyway, this is why I never rag on pitiful menial workers. Because the vast majority of the time, _they tried, dammit!_
I rode in thinking I'd be an animator just like all the big dogs at Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. I was so sure I'd be able to make the next Spongebob. I didn’t stop drawing for 18 years. Just filed an inquiry to be a dog groomer last night. And as for my major, I'll be lucky if I end up making advertisements for companies I'll probably hate.
This shows a whole new dimension of what kind of musician that Weird Al is......yes, he's known for laughs, but this shows that he can empathize with the less fortunate. Keeps his feet on the earth and not let his head get in the clouds.....
I know people have thrown the animation a few bones in this comment section, but what I really want to praise is how smooth alot of the transitions are between shots.
This song kinda reminds me of a situation I'm in. I've always wanted to be a writer. I love writing, even though I know I can refine my style to always make it better. But, I made sure to graduate with a Computer Science degree, rather than go for an English major. So I just keep writing as a hobby and work in IT to keep food on the table.
Did that turn out pretty well then? I've also thought about writing (have written now and then, over 200-300 pages), but am majoring in Computer Science as well.
It's working well so far. I've worked my way into a few periodicals, and have written some more stories and poetry. I write tabletop campaigns for the local game shop, and I work at a computer shop to keep the bills paid. Your job doesn't HAVE to stop your dreams, if it's easy enough.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned. There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally. Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
+Kirk Hitchen in fact, there is a hint in the song that points to the fact that he is talking about the Disneyland CA version. "Look at those hippos wiggling their ears, just like they've done for the last 50 years." Disneyland California is the only Disney park that's been open for (now more than) 50 years.
![Nuts [YTP] | A Moana parody](/img/n.gif)
I was at a weird Al concert when he actually explained this song. He was on a Disney water ride, and the tour guy was talking about his failed acting career. Weird Al said to himself “that’s a song.” And he went home that day and worked on this song tirelessly. This isn’t a joke, he actually said that.
Yeah. Was at that concert yesterday in Missouri. Glad I could see him in person. :)
@@Aidan-fw1xr I agree. Being in the room as the man brings enlightenment.
Yes!! Lol, he also told us the story at the Dallas concert
He played it last night and gave the backstory. The whole show was incredible.
@@ptkelly80 I guess he did to every concert, which I assumed he would. It’s nice to see him still going even at 62.
I once asked a Jungle Cruise Skipper if he’d heard the song. He pointed out where one of their life preservers is labeled Skipper Dan. 😄
The Jungle Cruise sank today. Skipper Dan finally got his revenge.
Dan was on the Jungle Cruise as it happened
@@ruler_of_everything a true captain goes down with the ship
@@ruler_of_everything gave his life to destroy the cruise
Finally Snapped!! Probably shot a hole in the floor of the boat himself!!
That was in Disney _world_, doesn't count.
A billion points for the animator who was able to make Dan's eyes say "I'm dead inside" even though the lower half of his face is smiling for the photos at 3:54. Brilliant and heartbreaking.
I thought it was a literal writing "i'm dead inside" spent like 10 minutes trying to find it
Divya is a genius at this sort of thing. She has absolutely mastered facial expressions
Everyone always says "Hi, Skipper Dan!" but never "How's Skipper Dan?"
You don't know how deep and aware this statement is!
Yeah...real f-ing mystical.
It looks like Skipper Dan made a lot of people happy, every day. I wish he realized that.
+Mitchcraft Studios That's the fake smile of a broken man.
+Louie Tremblay Making everyone happy except himself. Not much satisfaction in that.
+Louie Tremblay Oh, look at me. I'm making people HAPPY! I'm the magical man, from HAPPY LAND, in a gumdrop house on Lollipop Laaaane! ::slams door::
Oh, by the way, I was being SARCASTIC.
I honestly feel both are valid interpretations. Which one you decide to go with is what says a lot about you.
This is a good point. The difference between having a dream vs. a purpose.
This isn't a song about failing. Dan was top of his class and got phenomenal rave reviews. This is a song on how you can do everything right, and still life treats you cruelly and you are forced into indentured servitude in the form of a dead end job.
Story of my life. I even got a $1000 stipend from my school and had work before I finished. But I just decided to quit, go back to school and try my luck doing something else. F**k my old dreams, my work right now is miserable and has been for years.
Really an indictment of capitalism if you think about it.
Don't give up Dan, Alan Rickman only broke into acting at the age of 46. You can take on different roles as you get older.
im sure Dan took your comment to his heart
Like he could work on the Haunted Mansion ride?
Good guy Simon. D:
"just like they've done for the last 50 years" implies that he's been working at the jungle cruise ride for more than 50 years
@@LemonBattery I think that was a joke, so if it means anything it means that then hippos themselves are at least 50 years old.
IT's funny how everyone in the comments thinks this is a song meant to convey that you should study harder. But really it's about how you can know exactly what you want to do as a career, study hard to get there, do everything right and still end up with a bottom of the barrel job wishing you were dead. Weird Al writes the songs about reality. u___u
It's not just art school grads, a science grad I knew works as a plasterer now, it's just a tough market these days.
My question is...why, I thought the business world was looking for the best of the best
Having standards, or worse yet, scruples, is a major impediment to job security.
It's not looking for the best. Just the one that conform to their world views or their sons.
Writes songs about reality?...
Complicated Song
CNR
Albuquerque
Fat
Trash Day
Everything You Know is Wrong
Just noticed that Dan's coworker Ann is the same actress who starred opposite him in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"-compare the red-haired women at 0:38 and 3:21!
Knowing that Dan isn't the only tragically underemployed actor in this story somehow makes it less painful and more painful at the same time.
Ohh her name is Ann? Why is that amazing to me..
@@methodius1318 ...no? It says ANN in big red letters
its intresting to know they both shared the same fate, even in their expressions in that one moment you can tell they both remember when they acted together, now they are here
I bet’cha one of them got the other the gig at Adventureland
@@somoneelse3488 I think it would be more fun if they were hired separately and reconnected in the cafeteria or something.
"You too, huh?"
"Yup."
This has to be one of my favourite Weird Al songs ever. Not only is it a rocking tune, but it just goes to show that Al is capable of more than just making you laugh. This is the man that sang an entire song dedicated to being overweight, so when he tells a genuinely sad story (one that actually happens to real people) it hits you like an armoured truck. :(
+BendyPenguin64 two songs about being overweight)
+Ilya Smirnov What was the second one?
+Atomic Robo Tesla GRAPE FRUIT DIET
DIET!!!!!!
Kirk Hitchen Thanks! :)
Spyrotechnical it also apparently is based on a true story of an actual skipper he met one time who made a passing comment about his failed acting career
This made me realize how depressing some people's jobs can be.
35 and a cart pusher for walmart... lol yeah
As a former jungle cruise skipper. Great Job just to mich sun not enough money lol
26 here and I'm a trucker but I'm not giving up on my dream!
But I do love how the video finds the silver lining and shows the positive of it :D
yep, why im always polite in front of cash registers
I just realized the female tour guide was his co-star in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
Holy... You're right! I didn't even noticed that until you pointed it out to me.
Holy crap, good eye.
Wonder if it's symbolic that he had something and totally overlooked what they could have had?
@@FurlowT probably not, they were just showing that most acting careers fail.
Good catch, bruh!
A great, original Weird Al song. I've been on the Jungle Cruise a lot, and one time, during the '80s, the tour guide said "What am I doing with my life?" I looked at him, and he showed no sign of having just said that! I felt bad for the guy. I wonder if Al and I were on the same ride? Anybody notice that a fan at the stage door looks like old-school Weird Al?
WeAreAllOne ExceptForThatGuy Yeah i did notice 80’s Al, they also hid him in Another Tattoo
@@Beansman-gp3ws which one is 80's al?
Maybe he was referencing the song?
@@Graceclaw time paradox
From what I've heard, a lot of Skippers relate to this song, so it's probably a pretty common sentiment.
It's not about what you know, it's who you know. *Especially* in the entertainment/arts field. I feel like that's what separates the Skipper Dans of the world from the talentless but successful stars who've probably never read a word of "the bard" in their lives.
Edit: If Skipper Dan had majored in business instead as per the grandfather's advice, he'd be in the same boat probably (pun not intended?). "I'm an associate sales rep in the MLM game, Danny Smith is the name. And I'm roping in 34 folks every month, and every time it's the same. Look at these kitchen knifes the're sharp as a sword, buy one get one free with the purchase of a cutting board...and I die a little inside every time I bring someone into the "team", 'cause I'm working for a pyramid scheme."
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
As a former Cast member at disney, this was our anthem when it came out.
The most unrealistic part is that he can afford to pay the rent on Disney parks pay
Especially in LA
Anaheim is expensive
It's interesting to think that he is still an actor, hiding his pain and his sadness, pretending to be happy and laugh, smile. The hardest thing to act.
+Aaron Korba Good point. "All the world is a stage" and all that.
***** Maybe I am a bit to morbid or sad, but hey it is just a thought provoking conversation.
Let that sink in..
Ridi, Pagliaccio, and all that
He’s also pretending to be a tour guide in the jungle
I was gonna be an electrical engineer. I studied in my free time, downloaded all kinds of books, got over my hatred of math, even opened a small computer/electronics repair service for a little while to get experience with circuit boards and stuff. All I needed was to go to college, and I'd be gold.
Five years later, I'm working at Lowes.
Speaking as somebody who is going to graduate as an electrical engineer this week, most people who want to be engineers don't make it. We lost half of the class in the first year, and quite a few of the rest didn't make it either. I don't know if you flunked out, or if you never managed to get into college, but it's crazy hard to become an engineer. I built robots as a hobby when I was in high school, and I still struggled at times.
Whatever your situation is though, don't give up on it. You can make it somehow. Get yourself hired at an engineering company doing something even slightly technical, and they might be willing to pay for you to get some credentials. It happens fairly regularly.
BrenBrenMartin
I just never made it to college. It was always "next year".
I've turned things around a bit though, and gotten myself in a better financial state. So, with any luck, this year is the actual year I'll break the barrier and go. And since actually going to college was already a big hurdle to get over, I'm sure it's gonna be an absolute bitch when it comes to the work itself. But, I figure what's the worst that could happen? I spend a few extra years retaking a couple classes? I'm twenty six years old, I've still got all the time in the world.
I'll take your advice and look into getting a job at an engineering firm. I know of a few around my city. I never tried it, cause I always believed one needed legitimate credentials to be employed doing anything there... but hey, what's the worst that could happen?
All they can do is say no.
***** It's never too late to go to college. Sometimes you need to take a break after years of public school to rediscover that love of learning (I'm a teacher in Canada. I love teaching, but even I recognize it's tough for some(many) and the grind of education (and then staring at another 4-6 years after high school) can wear you down). Even people who know exactly what they want to do and go straight to college work at something for a few years after graduating and it doesn't strike them at all, and go back and change careers. You're no farther behind than the countless people who do that every single year. I'd suggest, if you have the funds and have a uni/college that does it, either auditing a course or two here and there, or just taking a night course to work your way back into the educational mindset. Maybe there's a higher level math refresher course, just to get that stuff back into your head, rather than jumping both feet into a full year off the hop.
BE THANKFUL YOU HAVE A JOB!
Every so often, I hear a Weird Al song and I say, "This is a bop. I wonder what the original song is," and I look it up and am shocked to see that it's just totally original. This is one of them. I can so easily imagine a normal song to this tune.
A lot of his originals are often style parodies , like this is supposed to be a style parody of Weezer is what I’ve heard. I find his vast amount of originals impressive and honestly, I’m so glad when I saw him live that’s really all he played. I love his parodies but getting to experience some of his really good, yet underrated originals was incredible. I kinda wish he played this one at the show I saw but I’m still so grateful for what he did show. Weird Al is a legend and a genius
@@abbyisatabby2681 Couldn't agree more
@@abbyisatabby2681 Yes, but I thought it was more like a They Might Be Giants song, perhaps because TMBG used the same animator in some videos and they have these "sad story told in a funny mode" songs.
Anyway, I accept it is Weezer because TMBG's style parody is "Pancreas" and Weezer is the poor man's TMBG ;-)
@ I heard that "Pancreas" was a style parody of Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys
@@paulardoin Yes, you are right. The They Might Be Giants parody is "Everything you know is wrong". I got them mixed up in my mind.
Thanks.
Al was only 12 years old when he went to high school and graduated as the valedictorion. He was 16 when he went to college and became an architect.
Now he's a happily married multi millionaire with a career he created and loves. His entire education had nothing to do with his success.
Dang, this song really HAS hit be hard recently. I spent a long time at university studying very hard playing a delicate balancing act of trying to get top grades and still have a fun and active social life. Yet I managed to come away with a 1st class degree in marine biology three summers ago and I managed to achieve a distinction at Master's level. However, what is my job almost two years later? A barman! Marine biology it turns out is a very hard area of work to get into, like acting is. With minimal experience you are always turned down in favour of "better experienced" candidates, and the only way to gain any experience is by volunteering your time and money for years. Man I feel for Dan so much in this song right now because I'm feeling exactly the same way he is. I should be out there doing what I love -- studying marine animals and aiding in their conservation, but because I don't have enough experience, I'm going to be stuck pulling pints for a long time...
Komic Klepto But... tending bar is a pretty good job.
Cruxador It can be, but on Saturday nights it's horrendous
***** I already am a diver (a Divemaster in fact with over 400 logged dives). It has helped improve the number of jobs I can apply for but is still not getting me over the hurdles.
Well six months on from this comment and things have improved thankfully :D
+Komic Klepto Glad to hear it! I hope your experience helps reassure other people in a similar situation!
Squidward’s life story in song form (except he wanted to be an artist and wound up working at a fast food joint).
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
Great song.
I seem to recall that Mr. Yankovic once stated that this song was inspired by a comment like "what have I done with my life?" made a Jungle Cruise Ride tour guide, according to Yankovic probably off-hand. If this is true, then I have to say it is impressive how such a comment can lead to such a great song.
Yeah, it's amazing what can spark inspiration.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
8 years late, but he did actually say that. I went to his concert in Kansas, and he says a little something before he starts for each song. He said that this song was written after he went on the Jungle Cruise and the skipper made a comment; “What am I even doing with my life?” And he made a couple jokes mentioning his acting career, which caused Al to go home and concoct a backstory about this dude and eventually, write a song about him
Always felt that there was potential here for a cheesy yet enjoyable family film. Skipper Dan is fed up with his life and goes on holiday to Brazil. On the plane he is recognised by young kids who recently went on the ride, and assume he is a real Jungle Guide (yes folks, it's The Three Amigos rehashed).
Then the plane goes down in the jungle! Dan and a handful of other survivors, including the kids, are separated from the others and lost in the deepest forest. All the adults are terrified, but not the kids - for they know Dan is with them, and he must be able to find the way out. Slowly Dan realises that he has to keep up the charade to avoid crushing their hopes, and as the film pans out, he realises that he does in fact know a hell of a lot about the jungle due to his job, and eventually turns into the hero that the kids believed he was.
Disney's got to make that. Right?
Wow that sounds like an amazing film!
Yeah, I'd totally watch that! (Not being sarcastic, it's a classic concept (person has to become for real what they've only pretended to be). With a good writer and director, and actors who play it without camping it up, it could definitely work.)
I'd be first in line to see that movie if it became a real thing.
Anyone here know how to make a movie...?
Three Amigos meets Galaxy Quest. It could totally work.
It's a little ironic, because despite his lowly, depressing job he's still enriching peoples lives with his talent.
+tf td There's more to life than making other people happy. There's also making yourself happy.
+Sharon Molloy Reverse that...that's not how life works.
It's the only thing we keep hearing... "Make other people happy make other people happy make other people happpy!!!" It IS possible to do that and end up miserable yourself. I KNOW.
I agree. But that's just coming from a guy who actually likes the jungle cruise.
@@sharonmolloy3732 life isn't really about being happy, it's about being strong
Huge fan of Weezer, and this style parody is absolute spot on! I cannot listen enough to this.
I'm glad to see someone on the Internet showing they notice stuff like that!
He's done a lot of good style-parody songwriting, since the early days. "Melanie", "Dog Eat Dog', "Dare to be Stupid", "You Don't Love Me Anymore", "Germs", "Bob"...
(I actually can't place the performer "Melanie" lampoons, but there's something quite familiar and distinctive to the sound.)
I love me some weezer but let’s be honest. This song is better than anything they’ve put out in the last 20 years haha
@@danielpursino2020 nah, the White Album and OK Human exist
I love Weezer but outside of the parallels to Pork and Beans I don't really hear too much similarities
thought it was dixie xhicks at first--earl
Every time I hear this song, my acting degree gives me a bittersweet dose of memory. Truly amazing insight into how hard dreams die. Only Al could make me smile a little about that.
weird al really knows how to make you feel bad with an upbeat tune
Dakota Merriman ikr
Now my dreams are all vanquished
And my hopes have all died
And I'm Workin on the jungle cruise ride
Just like Jim Croce with Workin’ At The Car Wash Blues 😔
No way! This song makes me happy, because of the tune(or melody, or whatever!)!
I guess this songs lesson: Dreams don't always come true
Ironic for a song about a ride at Disneyland
Quite true. So your dreams do not come true. You deal with it and move on.
@@terrybardy2848 funny people like you can always say "move on" as if it was an easy thing to do. yet, there are probably people like me, who's getting a huge existential crisis/depression & seriously think what's the point of life then? isn't it better to just die?
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
@@NikiWonoto26 The only thing worse than death is involuntary death. If there truly is no point to life, then how come we tell of people who clearly had a point, most if not all self-made? Sure, dreams might not come true, and the world's gonna break you if you let it, but so what? Your life didn't have a point from day one, but given a bit of drive and an active goal, the pencil of your life could be sharpened, and now look at it! There's a reason for your existence! This thing wouldn't have happened or existed without you! That's what they mean by 'move on', keep trying to sharpen that pencil even if the tip keeps falling off.
Skipper Dan is probably the anthem for those of us who had a brief shot of small time fame or success then ended up in a dead end job or worse (and yes there is worse things like unemployment). That sentiment of regret and wanting to die is one I understand.
Nine years later I'm working as a bus boy at an Italian restaurant working for minimum wage telling the same old jokes. Weirdly enough, I love the job. Been doing the job since Feruary 2022. But there are days I feel like this guy in the video.
The high school quarterback who's the most popular guy at his school and then he graduates ...
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
Unemployment is terrible but can be less bitterly mocking; a job that's seriously degrading and you put all your time and effort into is often the type which will not provide much pay to really live on. And some don't provide enough at all, while stillmaking the same demands of you.
Yup
@@henrysokol3466 You clearly haven't been unemployed, or at least not for very long.
This song reminds me of the Star Trek: TNG episode, "Tapestry", where Q gives Picard a look at his life had he not made certain risky and rash decisions and taken chances. At the end of the episode he's wearing a blue uniform with the rank of lieutenant, a person who never stood out or got noticed. He tells Q (I'm paraphrasing here) "I'd rather die than be that man, bereft of passion and imagination". Picard learns how pulling the strings of even a single unpleasant memory could potentially unravel the entire tapestry of your life. Working as a denizen of "the lower decks" was his equivalent of being Skipper Dan on his Jungle Cruise boat.
The really gut-punching thing about that episode is that (speaking for myself at least) my reality is that of the guy wearing the blue uniform; there's no waking up and going back to something better and more fulfilling like Picard did at the end of the episode, just what is. Believe me, I've often imagined what might have been had I taken a different path here or there. I will admit that some things beyond my control (such as health problems, which nobody can predict) blindsided me, but even so there were also plenty of bad decisions and priorities that I have to own responsibility for. I still have my ambition to be a published author and have self-published a couple of books (that frankly weren't close to being ready in retrospect). But yeah, I'm hard on myself because I feel like my life to date has never measured up to what I feel it could or should have been.
As humans we tend to measure ourselves and our self-worth against an ideal that we strived for. All too often I guess most of us fail to achieve them for one reason or another; like the saying goes in boxing, "Everybody has a plan until they get hit". Not every person can be the equivalent of a Captain Jean-Luc Picard who everyone loves and looks up to; we're not all cut out to be lawyers, doctors, business executives, actors, or whatever other big-money career you can name, and sometimes it honestly comes down to having nothing that matches your field of expertise being available and having to do what you must to live. Countless people right now are flipping burgers, sitting in a cubicle at a call center being routinely cussed out, or working a cash register who have degrees and/or experience that would qualify them for much better careers. There's no shame in working an honest job that helps to pay the bills, but the joy and fulfillment that comes from doing what you really love isn't there. Weird Al nailed that feeling right on the head with this song.
Just hang in there and don't give up.
unless you are an attractive woman, then you can only fail upwards
For some of us, Blue Shirt Picard would be a major step up in life.
This song reminds me of an interview I recently saw with Steve Burns. He said that he became very depressed doing "Blue's Clues," since it was basically him all alone in front of a green screen, having to interact with things that wouldn't exist until later, when he wanted to do more with his life.
LOW-ER DECKS! LOW-ER DECKS!
When I saw Weird Al back in June, he was doing a show of just his original songs. I had a blast, but this was the only song I didn't recognize from the set. Now it's definanately in my top 10 Weird Al songs. It just hits in the worst way possible
skipper dan, you don't have it that bad.
1. you make people happy
2. you get the rent
3. you have a co worker who understands you perfectly
The comments are even more depressing than the song. I was almost feeling pretty damn good about myself until I read a bunch of stories from people who are probably more talented and dedicated than me and yet are still struggling with disappointment and thwarted ambitions, wondering where it all went wrong. I'm only 20 and I already feel that I've lost somehow.
Choose your career wisely. Don't choose anything that relies on luck (IE: To be an actor, you need to not only be good, but very lucky)
Read the job advertisements, look at what qualifications they're after and what they're paying.
If you can't decide yet, don't. University before you're completely sure (with realistic ambitions) of what you want to do is an incredibly bad idea. There's nothing wrong with putting off uni for another decade if that's what it takes.
And above all, research the field. There's significantly less point in having a degree in a field you'll love if you'll never actually find a job in it than in having a degree in a field that bores you, but will get you a decent job. At least with a boring but well-paid job you can afford hobbies.
At least you're not black (probably). You've already lost as soon as you're born, if you're not white.
Nudedragon No, you haven't. It's nonsense to think that.
It depends on what you want to do in life, not your skin colour.
Being black can be an impediment in some situations.
Accepting defeat from the moment you're born is a right killer though.
Don't fret, and always please yourself without being an asshole. The world doesn't really give a shit what you do as long as you're civil.
I really feel sorry for Dan. =(
He dreamed for something bigger but then turns into a person who isn't noticed at all, except for the tourists.
well, it's not THAT bad
1. he make people happy
2. he can atleast pay rent
3. he has a female co worker who understands him perfectly.
Doesn't seem that bad of a job to me, neither.
Well, think about this!
1. He makes people happy, but he says the same things. Again. And again. And again. He's dead inside.
2. But he can pay rent by not too much, really.
3. Therefore, more people are dying inside.
And after he retired, he can go to Paradise Fall in a house with Baloons
Ever gone on a tour? Can you name your guide's name? Can you remember their face? I thought not. YOu'd remember them if they were a robot because that would be a bit cool. But a human guide? You'll never think of them again the moment you leave the ride. They are background noise in other's lives.
I think this is the only Weird Al song to actually make me sad. Damn.
I think this situation would've happen to some actors even if Obama wasn't in charge.
It just shows how uninspired and fickle Hollywood and Broadway are. I mean...you got films like BFG and Finding Dory being overlooked by Michael Bay's onslaught of garbage and special effects
+sadlobster1 what are you even talking about
Jakob Lessin
David Weaver implied Dan ended up at the Jungle Cruise ride because of Obama's leadership.
I was simply telling him that such a thing would've happened anyway, regardless if he were president
It was a joke. Many people use that phrase when something goes wrong.
BFG isn't even that good.
Is the redhead that works at the Jungle Cruise ride and mimes shooting herself supposed to be the actress at 0:40?
Probably.
I would think so.. at least she seems to be drawn similar enough
On the upside, the redhead at 3:20 is kind of hot... Move together and rent/utilities go down. With the savings you buy some hardware and start producing low-budget one man plays that you can spread on YT and someone will notice you again.
+Alexandru Ionescu Neat optimism.
+Alexandru Ionescu She was his co-star in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, so he could make them two person plays even.
she looks like Dana scully
This man is a thinker :)
Yeah, it's actually his long-lost sister. But he won't find that out until the baby is born. And she dies of cancer. Sucks.
Don't worry Skipper Dan, it will all change when The Rock plays you in the Movies!
I know it's supposed to sound like Weezer, but I still hear Jonathan Coulton.
Same here!
I’ve never cried from existential dread because of a “Weird Al” song before, but here we are. ;_;
This song absolutely represents the current mood with my own job, so I connect quite a lot with the lyrics. It's also helping to inspire me to fix that
This song makes me really sad for real people like Dan - Al sure wrote evocative lyrics. But with a lot of people now struggling with unemployment, Dan's situation made me think of a couple of lines from a funny film, "Office Space":
Peter Gibbons: What if we're still doing this when we're fifty?
Samir: It would be nice to have that kind of job security.
To all would be Hollywood and Broadway stars out there: keep in mind that the unemployment rate of the Perfomer's Guilds in both Southern California and New York City hovers around 93 percent. Also, if you take a look at the really "successful" actors in movies and TV today, you will find that: a) they are someone's relative with previous long standing familial connections to show biz; b) they already come from money so they have the luxury of grinding away at thankless, low paying roles without having to worry about a day job; or c) are from another country with different career opportunities than Americans. Not everyone can be Chris Pratt or Jennifer Lawrence, and the next one probably won't be you. Just sayin'
Not to mention to make it in Hollywood itself you have to basically give up your individuality, your religion, convert to Democrat, and/or Scientology, get millions of dollars of plastic surgery, and basically become a clone. Only THEN will they except you! So, in the long run...not worth it.
Or the huge amounts of scandals in the industry around sleeping with directors and producers to get a job. I mean when you look at a lot of young actors and actress's who bring nothing to the table but their looks why do you think they got that job? They can't act, they can't sing, dance or anything old stars used to be able to do. Add to that the horrible burn out rate of young stars.. Seriously look at almost every kid that worked with Disney growing up and what happen to them.
I'd be satisfied with just Off-Broadway if I became an actor.
Well yeah there's very very few capital S Stars in the world but that doesn't mean you can't eek out a respectable career as an actor/producer/writer/director/whatever. I know that doesn't sound all that glamorous to most of us but to the type that really loves performing it will still be rewarding to make a living in the entertainment industry. It's easy to point to the most successful and tell people they'll never make it there but there's still plenty of work out there on the margins so if that's your dream and your passion in life go get it because you'll regret it if you never take that leap.
Sadly, its how most professions like that work especially after its been able to have a entrenched sudo-aristocracy. It happened to theatre, it happened to radio, it happened to TV, it happened to movies its happening to the streaming services.
Most of Hollywood doesnt hire people for talent but for looks or connections. Chris Pratt as you said got a lucky break with his roll as Andy Dwyer. But its not an issue only present in the actors but directors and writers have the same problem.
Most films today are made with the Widest net approach in mind, but time has proven again and again if you try and appease everyone in the end you please no one.
A film masterpiece is timeless, this goes for all forms of media and or entertainment. History proves its better to make a media property in true quality rather than mass appeal, here a rather obscure film from the seventies that exemplifies this. And you can watch it for free online, Aces High. I assure you this film will resonate with and leave a deeper impact on you than the modern starwars trilogy, if you want a more modern example take the film 1917, not free but on hulu.
Divya Srinivasan animated this!!! She's made a lot of music videos for They might be giants :]
that’s exactly what I was thinking when I saw this, I was like “woah wait that’s the tmbg mv animator”
Does anyone else think that the families that get on the boat look like the vintage Fisher Price Little People?
Yes
Yes
When it comes to UA-cam advertisement's, Im *Skipper* Dan.
The Gecko Squad Haha!
That Guy...Brian
If you don't get the joke, pay attention to the word *_Skipper_*
That Guy...Brian You're kidding right now, right?
That Guy...Brian Oh, one more thing.
Chuck E Cheese*
That Guy...Brian Okay.
whenever I listen to this, I find myself wondering how the actual Skipper Dan that Al based this song on is doing these days
yeah i know right, hes prolly retired, hope hes found peace in life.
The sad thing is that when he’s getting his picture taken, that’s the closest he’s coming to reliving that feeling he used to get when he was being praised for his acting. Because pictures like that, and the memories they represent, they are going to stick with people for years to come, so as embarrassing as it is, it’s the closest he can get to how he used to felt so long ago, because he’s once again leaving people with a wonderful memory of him. Even if it’s not the memory he wants.
You know you're mature when you truly truly understand the meaning of this song.
yeah, this song hits harder at 30 than it did at 20, that's for sure.
@@chrisreeves4110 Wait till you see how it hits at 50.....
This is like every actors worst nightmare XD
No you won't
di Caprio will be there soon
Lol ya
This most actors' reality
Dylan Give it a decade. See what the ravages of time have in store for you before making such pronouncements.
Remember Rule of Acquisition 109: dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.
Easily one of my favourite Weird Al songs. Somehow, the one who's well known as one of the funniest singers of all time made a song that conveys how it feels to not reach where you wanted to be in life, and the fact that almost no one becomes famous, no matter how hard they work
Three years ago, this song hit me way too hard. So I started to change things in my life. And trust me, it's working.
I was in the same boat like Skipper Dan is. I was working in a job that I didn't like and didn't want to be in the first place, and that's on a golf course far away from where I live. I was changing cups on the green(which I hate the most,) raking bunkers, checking garbage, etc. The only thing good about it, that I was on one of those cool riding mowers, cutting tees greens, and fairways while avoiding, and keeping an eye out for golfers that were coming up behind me. This went on until the Parks Department in my county in New Jersey offered me a job at a swim club closer to where i live, and I took it!
Now I'm working in a job, close to my home, with better hours, and shorter distances. I even come on my lunch break, or go to some stores or restaurants in my town because I know them all. And the best part is I get to swim in their makeshift lake oriented pool, with beach sand and everything(only I don't surf in it, but I'm okay with it.)
The moral of the story is if you to change things in your life, go for it! Don't give up on your hope and dreams, it'll come. You'll see.
Between you and me, I wish Weird Al has given Skipper Dan a happier ending to his song. If anybody deserves that kind of ending, it's him.
dog453679 I know how you feel. Even though he's a cartoon, I could really relate and it hit me when he faked the chuckle on the boat, and then he looked down a little sad
dog453679 "I was in the same boat like Skipper Dan is."
I see what you did there
+dog453679 yeah i hoped that skipper dan would fall in love with the female tour guide and that he would be happy.
+Alexandru Ionescu i cry ere tim
First thing I did once I finished binging all of Weezer’s discography was listen to this song. Al did a great job imitating their style.
Al, what do you mean by "I never written a serious song"? cause this hell sure is.
This might seem weird, but this song always makes me wish I had stuck with acting. Anyone who's ever been bitten by the acting bug knows that once it gets you, it never really lets go. Dan stuck with it, and he might not be performing on the level he wants to, but he is still acting for a living, every single day. He made it. He got there.
Skipper Dan is my hero.
Interesting perspective.
The grass is always greener isn't it?
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
I think the reason Al sings the sad lyrics so happy is because Dan is pretending to be happy every day but is still sad.
The lyrics are so sad but he sings them so happy yet you still feel so sad for skipper Dan. Those are some real quality lyrics right there.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
He succeeded. He is using his acting skills. He would be telling the same jokes and doing the same shows over and over in the roles he would have liked. He is living his dreams. He just doesn't know it.
This is Rather Realistic. I know a few people who went into acting only to be stuck at Disneyland. Great job, Al!
This is also the actuality of someone else being a Disney cast member.
Imagine a guy that gets a doctorate in physics, yet winds up flipping burgers. Thats Dan.
I can almost feel his soul crying in this song.
I think I just stumbled on a video that has finally convinced me to do my homework.
+xygomorphic44 LOL
Didn't help Dan any!
I know it's been a while, but this video along with many other things convinced me to seriously consider grad school and maybe one day abandon my dead-end job.
fuck u (edit: all) subscribe to me
+Sky Larker
Depressing
As a wannabe actor, this song hurts. Yet it's hilarious.
"Aw, but don't bother trying to IMDB me;
The only place you might _possibly see me_
Is _ridin' my little boat around Adventureland...._
*It ain't exactly what I planned!!"*
There's more than disappointment to those lines and how they're sung. There's a quiet yet powerful resentment and anger. Don't you feel like the guy is doing a disgusted, sarcastic bow each time he introduces himself as "Skipper Dan"?
Wannabe artist here
I wonder if this song hits closer to home with Al than he realizes, having had a career of his own repeating jokes and gags that possibly bore him after 30+ years.
Maybe the bits about being unsuccessful and unknown don't really apply to Al, but it may also parallel how he's sort of stuck being a professional goofster.
I've wondered this as well.
Actually no. He still loves what he does and if you look carefully you can see it on his face.
Pretty sure he’s said something along those lines in an interview about the song. Still, he can suck it up as far as I’m concerned. He’s been wildly successful in his career, and if it bothers him that much then he can stop anytime. This is why I don’t really feel sorry for anyone who fails to become famous; Even if they succeed, they end up whining about it anyway, if they don’t go completely insane first.
Fourth Grade Security Risk he likes having his job
Something tells me Al loves what he does and it makes him very happy to do so. He probably wouldn't have had a 40 year career and 14 studio albums if he really didn't like what he did.
Who else came here after the new Jungle Cruise trailer?
there needs to be a throwaway gag involving a character named Skipper Dan
Who else was upset that the main character in Disney’s Jungle Cruise movie WASN’T named Dan?!
A song brought to us by a performer who has a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture.
One of the things that hits me the most about this song is that he did end up being an actor anyway. He's pretending to be happy for the sake of the tourists. It's a tragic irony
That hits a chord! Triple distinction diplomas and a university degree and I'm working at B&M bargain store! xD
*****
life is just typical! still, im happy to at least have a job! its so hard to find work but i'm sure its better than being on the dole ^_^
I blame the totallity of the US government, and pretty much any other faction of greedy, power hungry, limp d*cks.
*****
I'm sure its still a good hobby to have. you can come home from asda with a gauranteed wage and still work on art projects and find clients. sadly ditching the day job will mean a constant struggle to find creative work. (more interesting hopping from client to client but you may find yourself having to eat cheap noodles for dinner)
I can empathize with that one, trying to explain art and technology to people here in Las vegas is like trying to teach spanish to a goat.
All people out here care about are bars,gambling and nightclubs. Trust me not a 100 IQ combining the whole city.
I wanted a 3D Design or Computer Specialist job out here, but nothing besides Konami
and thats just a shitty slot machine branch.
I would have started there but they want 3 years gaming experiance and a related degree.
So long story, Long. Vegas is no good if your an artist or techie.
Supa Blank I'm a music producer with all the industry standard equipment and knowledge nessicary to do some interesting things. I've soundtracked for small scale computer games/animations, i create stop motions, video presentations, i compose/record/produce music and use this stuff every day but being realistic, i still need a reliable stable source of income. Finding a job certainly isnt easy so im just happy to be employeed! Maybe one day after ive travelled and lived a little, i might find a job more suited to me. theres not much music related work going where i live but like i said, its an amazing hobby! i couldnt imagine life without it :)
When they're young everyone seems to think this sort of thing won't happen to their lives... as if everyone it already _has_ happened to just wasn't trying hard, or interested enough in self-advancement to avoid it.
You know... this song has an *incredible* vocal and instrumental melody, which the gloomy lyrics detract from a bit. If you have a complete language barrier, it rocks so hard your speaker turns into a diamond.
Something neat about this
It doesn't have to be about acting or theme park work specifically
Something about the cadance of the song makes it feel like it could be layered over any sad story of a dead dream and dead end job.
Moral of the story: Always have a backup plan. That way, you only have to work on the Jungle Cruise Ride just to keep yourself supported until you can get a better job, instead of staying there forever.
yea thats why I have male prostitute as my backup
Especially when your dream is that unrealistic :/
What if the Jungle Cruise ride is your Plan A?
or, just make best with what youve got. in dan's case, he should incorporate his drama skills either in his cruise rides, or some other job, where he could get noticed and develop regional fame
I feel like this is the song I'll end up singing while at work. I do delivery jobs, and its not glamorous, sure, but it pays plenty and gives me plenty of time to do other things. And the whole "But the years have come and gone, and I'm sorry to say that's not the way that it's all worked out" bit is actually not true in my case. Yeah, my job isn't great. And it bores me to tears every time I go out to work. But now myself and some friends are kickstarting up our own businesses, and I'm back to smiling from ear to ear.
Just remember: It might not be great now. But you'll make it work ;)
I can very easily relate to this song. Just replace jungle cruise ride with McDonald's and acting school with art school.
The night after I took my kids to Disneyland I had a dream that we had ended up on the Jungle Cruise Ride with Al and his family. My kids played with his and we laughed at the old jokes and at the end of the ride Al asked me "So Bill, would you like to go get some lunch, hang out the rest of the day at the park?" I said "Like it? I'd love to!" And Al snapped back "I bet you would!" And then he and his family slipped into one of those employee only doors, lol.
It amazes me how some people who have high degrees from Julliard, Stanford, Harvard and Yale seem to get the worst jobs.
Doesn't the business/art/theater/film world realize the kind of talent they're snubbing
Simple, they refused to give up their individuality, become a Democrat, or convert to Scientology!
I was planning a trip to Disney World in 2020 before the pandemic. I was planning on singing this song on said ride just for laughs. Would have loved it if other Weird Al fans joined in, or even the skipper themselves... stupid virus, wrecker of dreams.
Sorry about that
@@theqbash thank you for your sympathy, but i look at it as a chance to save up more money for more fun. Still plan on going in 2022 and trying tompull this off.
They say he's still working there, to this very day.
This is one of the most upbeat depressing songs I have ever heard
I don’t know why, but this is really motivating to listen to. I wanted to be a voice actor in my 20’s but at the beginning of my 30’s I chose to do 2D animation instead because I always had a deep interest in it. I get very nostalgic with this song, about what I thought used to be so important before and seeing myself now doing something I find more meaningful shows that when we think our dreams died, maybe something better comes along the way, even right under our nose the whole time. Don’t give up Skipper Dan ✊
I've been a software engineer and architect for over 30 years working 80-100 hours per week. Looking back, I think I would have been much happier with a 9-5 job being a jungle cruise ride guide.
It;s like what Teddy Roosevelt said; "the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing"
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
Not an actor or a cruise driver but man this song just hits differently now, as an adult with no hope for the future, than it did when it came out when I was like 15.
I feel your pain, man... Saw this song when I was 11 & it just makes me sad now.
I planned on publishing my first novel by the time I was 23. Now I'm 27, teaching literature to kids who don't care about literature. This song hits too hard
At 15??! Dude, don’t give up hope; it will get better. Your whole future isn’t determined by your teenage years.
@@stevebazin127keep working on it, mate. I’m sure when it’s fully done, it will be worth the wait.
@@NKript well i'm 30 now lol
I'm sure the actress at 00:35 is the same co worker at 03:30.
But, doing the same play on Broadway 8 times a week is just as mind-crushingly dull & repetitive as operating the Jungle Cruise Ride.
I think there's a lesson here :)
I'm hoping this is in the end credits of jungle cruise 🤞
Sadly, it isn't in the movie at all.
@@marktheroux9465 😭
@@marktheroux9465 oh come on Disney! Such a missed opportunity.
Don't worry Skipper Dan, you ARE famous. Millions of people are now singing about you.
You know as funny as it may seem, as someone who is trying to break in to a film related artistic career - I would be perfectly happy to play the tour guide for the Jaws ride at Universal studios, it's my favourite film and I love the idea of sharing that with a bunch of people while acting in a Jaws-like adventure - The joy of the people would be my own - Sadly the ride is gone and the dream is dead.
Back to trying to be a film director I guess...
A year later, I'm a janitor, I quit university, I tried to achieve my dream and I failed like so many, I'm a hyper depressed alcoholic and I'm only 20 - Little did I know how true this song would ring - Life can take you in many directions and who knows what I'll think of these comments in another year but right now my hopes have all vanished and my dreams have all died and reality has hit me like a tonne of bricks, if anyone reads this who's still full of ambition my advice would be to never give up on what you want to do and who you want to be, it's survival of the fittest and if you find yourself in doubt you'll find it harder and harder to get back on track so keep on fighting or else you'll be drunk at 2:30 in the morning reflecting on your past mistakes and thinking way too hard about the relatability of a comedy song that's hitting way too close too home.
It's funny because it's true - Don't let it be true.
Wow, that sucks dude. Keep going, and maybe you'll find something good one day.
If you're only 20 you have plenty of time to start over and get your life back on track. Not to say it'll be easy, but it WILL be worth it. Nobody as young as you are should give up hope.
I'd been on the Jungle Cruise a few times way long ago, and _every_ single time the guide sounded like he absolutely hated his job. Even as a little kid, I couldn't help but wonder why the cruise even needed a live host in the first place. I mean, I could see why the Haunted House needs one, but Jungle Cruise is completely on rails (literally). Why not have a locked-up area in the front of the boat, then have bunch of guides do some recordings and just play one each time? They could make some cock and bull about "security" or "being afraid" as to why they never leave the locked-up area.
Anyway, this is why I never rag on pitiful menial workers. Because the vast majority of the time, _they tried, dammit!_
+hawaiidkw I know someone who worked at Disney and they always said that the Jungle Cruise was one of the most sought after jobs
Why
I rode in thinking I'd be an animator just like all the big dogs at Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. I was so sure I'd be able to make the next Spongebob. I didn’t stop drawing for 18 years.
Just filed an inquiry to be a dog groomer last night. And as for my major, I'll be lucky if I end up making advertisements for companies I'll probably hate.
This shows a whole new dimension of what kind of musician that Weird Al is......yes, he's known for laughs, but this shows that he can empathize with the less fortunate. Keeps his feet on the earth and not let his head get in the clouds.....
I know people have thrown the animation a few bones in this comment section, but what I really want to praise is how smooth alot of the transitions are between shots.
Big fan of Diviya Y., the animator. She's also done at least three music videos for They Might Be Giants.
Saddest song ever. :(
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gibberish abelhawk just tell me why chelsea wrote some gibberish.
I have no idea.
I like how he actually became an actor, making people laugh and smile, but he just doesn't realize it.
I say buck up Dan; Alan Rickman didn't get into Hollywood until he was nearly 50.
I will try to hang in there.
This song kinda reminds me of a situation I'm in. I've always wanted to be a writer. I love writing, even though I know I can refine my style to always make it better. But, I made sure to graduate with a Computer Science degree, rather than go for an English major. So I just keep writing as a hobby and work in IT to keep food on the table.
Did that turn out pretty well then? I've also thought about writing (have written now and then, over 200-300 pages), but am majoring in Computer Science as well.
It's working well so far. I've worked my way into a few periodicals, and have written some more stories and poetry. I write tabletop campaigns for the local game shop, and I work at a computer shop to keep the bills paid. Your job doesn't HAVE to stop your dreams, if it's easy enough.
How's it going? Still dreaming? I think the lesson of Skipper Dan is to realize life is so much more than your career.
There are a few important messages of this song. One of those messages is that making it as an actor or any job in the entertainment industry is highly dependant on luck. Another message is that even if you know exactly what you want to do and exactly what you want to get out of life, it won’t always turn out how you planned.
There is another message, one that Weird Al may not have even intended, this message was conveyed accidentally.
Your happiness lies in your hands. No matter how bad your situation is, you can nearly always put a positive spin on it. You could look at your current situation and say that you dislike your job. You could remind yourself about what high school you dreamed of that ultimately never actually happened. It would be much better to think about how lucky you are to be alive, every day above ground is a good day. You are lucky to have a job and a livelihood at all. Many people are unemployed. There exist people who deal with harassment perpetrated by their boss or coworkers. Having to do a job that you don’t enjoy is bad, but is it as bad as being harassed? Be thankful to have a roof over your head, many people are homeless. Be thankful to live in an era where the standard of living for a poor American is better than that of a King in midevil times.
Couldn't he just act in local plays when he wasn't working for Disney?
ComedianBobFarrell Living in LA is expensive as hell. Gotta have a job to pay the bills bruh.
+Chris Schlosser *orlando
unless theres a jungle cruise at disneyland that i am unaware of
+Kirk Hitchen Yes there is.
+Kirk Hitchen the Jungle Cruise originated in Disneyland.
+Kirk Hitchen in fact, there is a hint in the song that points to the fact that he is talking about the Disneyland CA version. "Look at those hippos wiggling their ears, just like they've done for the last 50 years." Disneyland California is the only Disney park that's been open for (now more than) 50 years.
I know the snakes at 3:37 are supposed to be sticking their tongues out, but it just looks like they have sad cat faces and now I can't unsee.
+rahzark the one in the middle has a face that looks a little like a uterus
rahzark I
thanks for ruining it for us!
Yup, you spread it around and now all of us can't unsee it.
I couldn't tell if all three of them were backwards or just the middle one
That moment when you listen to that and think "well, that's my future in a nutshell".
Notice how the other Jungle Cruise captain is a redhead named "Molly"... Anyone else see the shout-out to Ms. Ringwald? ;D
This song is not all sad because Skipper Dan later released a line of fish tank decorations called Diver Dan and became a successful business man.