After 1989's UHF, Yankovic returned to the studio to record his new album. On June 6, recording officially began, with Airline Amy. After the five originals ("Airline Amy", "Trigger Happy", "When I Was Your Age", "You Don't Love Me Anymore", and "Waffle King"[1]) were done Yankovic switched to the parody. At the time, only three parodies had been envisioned ("The White Stuff", "I Can't Watch This", and "The Plumbing Song"[1]). After waiting for about a year for the "next big thing" to come out, Yankovic went on a slight hiatus in order to find the right lead off parody/single. By late 1991, Nirvana's Nevermind was making waves in the grunge scene. As the popularity of 80's pop gave way to alternative rock, Yankovic decided it was time to record a parody of the Seattle-based bands hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Off the Deep End was released April 1992, and up to that point, was Yankovic best selling album.
Refused parodies
Yankovic had two parody ideas that were refused. They include:
A parody of Michael Jackson's hit "Black or White" entitled Snack All Night. Although Jackson was a big supporter of Yankovic's work, he felt that a parody might damage the songs true message[2]. Jackson told Yankovic that he could, if he wanted to, parody another song off his new album, but just not "Black or White"[2]. Yankovic later settled on a Nirvana parody. Yankovic, has, however, performed the song live in concert.
A parody of Paul McCartney's 80's hit "Live and Let Die" entitled Chicken Pot Pie (As covered by Guns N' Roses). Paul McCartney, another supporter of Yankovic's work, earnestly wanted Yankovic to do a parody of one of his songs, but when asked about a parody of "Live and Let Die", he begrudgingly refused, due to the fact that, as a vegetarian, he couldn't condone the eating of animal flesh. Yankovic, a fellow vegetarian, has stated that he respects McCartney's decision.
About a narrator's visit to a fictional Mexican restaurant. Cheech Marin does a brief Spanish monologue in the song.
9
"Airline Amy"
3:50
Original
About an airline stewardess the singer adores. He sees signs of affection in her actions, when she is really just doing the expected duties of her job.
About a girlfriend who did numerous exaggerated and mostly deadly things to the singer and his obliviousness to their extent. The music video is also a parody of "More Than Words" by Extreme.
Six seconds of cacophony, played after ten minutes of silence between this track and "You Don't Love Me Anymore." Later CD pressings by Volcano omit the track and silence.
Overdubs: Marlene Aragon, Edith Fore, Neil Ross, Beau Weaver
Miscellaneous
Polka Your Eyes Out is the only polka medley to date which appears on one of Al's greatest hits albums. It is also the polka medley with the most songs included in it.
When "Bite Me" is slowed down about 800%, there is a hidden song inserted backwards. This was discovered in 2004, and the song was determined in 2006 to be "Tears Of The Earth" by David Hallyday, which was also released under the Scotti Bros. label.
The album cover (as well as the liner photos) is a parody of the famous Kirk Weddle photograph of infant Spencer Elden for Nirvana's album Nevermind. Yankovic even went so far as to employ Weddle himself for the photo shoot.
