Good News

As all close followers of Weird Al Yankovic know, he has been on the outs with superstar rapster Coolio ever since the “great one” recorded the heartfelt hit “Amish Paradise.” Sampling the tune of the hip hop artist’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” Mr. Weird tells a moving tale of a humble Mennonite family. W.A.Y. chronicles the struggles of living a faithful life in the 20th century. With hope though, the family portrayed holds onto the possibility of being able to party like it’s 1699. It’s a revealing story of honesty. Even though the family falls short of living a perfect life (they haven’t paid the phone bill in 300 years), they live a life of forgiveness and restraint. During the humiliation of being kicked in the butt, the father of the family models the Sermon on the Mount by turning the other cheek.

It’s a song definitely worth listening to. I would link you to the lyrics, but the words removed from the music are not quite as powerful. So go out and buy the CD or drop by my house and I’ll let you listen to my iPod.

Oh yeah, the good news. It’s not just that there is a wonderful song out there, as good as that is. The hip hoper and the parody king have resolved their years-long squabble. This morning’s Minneapolis StarTribune newspaper even had a picture of the two hugging in reconciliation. How’s that for something to sing about?