We are teeming with excitement to announce that Nerdist is premiering “Weird Al” Yankovic’s first music video for his #8videos8days project. Feast your eyes on the video for “Tacky,” a wonderfully warped and wacky version of Pharrell’s hyper-bubbly mega-hit, “Happy.”
Featuring guest appearances from comedians Aisha Tyler, Margaret Cho, Eric Stonestreet, Kristen Schaal and Jack Black, the video was shot on location at the historic Palace Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, the same space that was used as Julianne Moore’s apartment in The Big Lebowski.
“We’re going to have some fun today!” Al told us before shooting began. “Thank you, Pharrell; I really appreciate it–you’re a cool guy,” he said as he cracked that famously wide smile.
Throughout the video we are treated to a wonderful deluge of clashing colors, socks-and-sandals, Jack Black’s backwards sequin fanny pack, and dance moves that resemble a fit of ataxia. Every aspect of the video is so tastefully tasteless, that we’re pretty sure tackiness will be the look of the summer.
As thrilled as we are about how big the music video for “Tacky” is, the rest of Weird Al’s album is full of exceedingly catchy parodies that we’re also ecstatic to blast on repeat all summer long. ”I am very proud of it” Al said confidently. “I think its my best album to date.”
We think so too. Our own Chris Hardwick couldn’t contain his joy at working with Al, “Al has ALWAYS been one of my idols. If you had told teenage me that I would one day not only be friends with him but also get to produce a video for him, my young brain wouldn’t have been able to process it. I have watched “Tacky” dozens of times and I can’t stop singing it. I LOVE YOU AL.”
Now all we need is a 24 hour version of “Tacky” so Weird Al can go on a crusade of faux pas around the world.
Head over to weirdal.com now to preorder your copy of Mandatory Fun. Then keep up with #8videos8days all week for more Weird Al greatness.
Christmas week is near and we at the London Guru want to support Ganjo Style to sell over 2000 singles to get Ganjo in The Top 40 UK. Ganjo will be on a radio station tomorrow morning Thursday 1st December talking to an audience of 260,000 people. The new single ”It's Christmas Time Ganjo Style 's FT. Zoe Matthews is set to be a memorable Christmas classic.
To buy the single ”It's Christmas Time Ganjo Style” you can go to
To get in the festive spirit with Ganjo have some fun with his Christmas video
It's Christmas Time Ganjo Style ft Zoe Matthews
PROFILE
The Truly hilarious and brilliant Ganjo (AKA Mark Paul Jones) has worked in the TV, Film and Music Industry for 13 Years. He has worked on Casualty, Eastenders, The Bill, Londons Burning, Spooks, Only Fools And Horses, Fly Boys (with James Franco) and doubled for Ryan Phillippe on (The I Inside 2004) and many more. He created the character (Ganjo) in 2009 and has just finished making a feature film which was shown at the Portobello film festival and the trailer to be shown in New York. He has filmed the character In New York with Chris Moyles, Jack Black Also filmed with James Corden, Ruth Jones, Annette O Toole (Lana Lang, Superman 3 & Martha Kent, Smallville). He has also filmed inside the Pyramids in Egypt and went to the famous Cannes Film Festival. He has also graced the world famous Lamborghini and Playboy Party and Villa Oxygen. He has had over 255,000 hits on Ganjo style TV Channel in 14 weeks. See veetle.com/v/4d2b5a98a9505
Ganjo will also be releasing a song out soon called Access All Areas with a producer Andy Allder (Pink, Cher) and he has Co written a song with Luc Floreani (Kylie Minogue).
I was lucky enough to see Ganjo in action earlier this year when I was invited to the birthday bash of celebrities Liz Fuller (Miss Great Britain) and Kaja Wunder (Model and Bond Girl) at London hotspot AMIKA. He was surrounded by the hottest ladies in the club and he was the life of the soul of the party. A camera crew was following him around all night as he danced, interviewed guests and kept everyone happy. I asked someone who he was and then later checked him out on line. Below is a recent interview with Ganjo
Ganjo at celebrity birthday bash for Liz Fuller and Kaja Wunder
LONDON GURU: What was the inspiration behind the character Ganjo? Is Ganjo a made up character or an alter ego?
Basically in May 2009 I used to work for a sound Company rees sound Systems in Carmarthen and we were doing a Gig in Aberystwyth. When we went for food dinner time I was in the van and at the end of Aberystwyth Near the front the van was turning round and I seen a wig in a Gutter. I shouted stop the van and he wouldn’t stop so I pulled the handbrake up as he was going to pull off and I jumped out and grabbed the wig and put it on my head. After playing with the insulating tape that same day from work and I had bought a pair of Aviator glasses from Ebay. It came to me a Spanish type of character. His (Ganjo’s) father played the guitar and his mother played the banjo so I called him Ganjo and his surname was Style because he was full of it so his name became GANJO STYLE.
WATCH OUT! Ganjo's about!
LONDON GURU: What did your family and close friends think when you first came up with Ganjo?
Well my parents were not too happy because I had also been working at Virgin and British airways building seats for their planes and I was taking home around £1200 a week and I had given it up to go for my dream. Most people in the beginning wanted me to change the tape and put a real moustache on him and I tried it but it made Ganjo look fake. So I stuck with the tape.
LONDON GURU: Sacha Baron Cohen as an actor is famously elusive but has been quoted as being more comfortable talking to the media and public in the guise of his over the top characters as he can retreat behind their personas. Do you feel the same when you put on the Ganjo persona?
No I am fine I will talk to anyone as myself to be honest but when I do put that wig and glasses and tape on then something does happen, whether it be like a mask or even the character. I feel like I can get away with much more and I Do. The Character Ganjo style has got me to places I could have only dreamed of before but I have been in the Bat Mobile, up in a helicopter over Manhattan (New York), inside the Pyramids in Egypt and even in the Back To The future Car and much much more.
Ganjo with pageant queens
Ganjo "Flex"
Ganjo at the Pyramids, Egypt
Ganjo at Festival of Stars (Talent Search)
LONDON GURU: Do people usually meet you or invite you to an event as Mark Paul Jones and you turn up as Ganjo or is this Ganjo the one they expect to turn up?
I am lucky in a way I have worked in the industry for 13 years so some times I get invited as myself to judge things like Miss Great Britain or Miss Universe Wales then I take Ganjo with me and film him there also. And some times I get invited as Ganjo to mad events like The Lamborghini and Playboy Party in Cannes. So I think the character is getting me access to places and between the two they help each other if you know what I mean {laugher}. Even though the two are the same person. Very mad but it is working! But now more and more people know the character plus celebrities so Ganjo is getting asked far more than me.
Ganjo at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival for Sky News, Ganjo style & Mark hedley, Mark Robinson & Luc floreani and friends are all
Lamborghini and Playboy Party @ Villa Oxygen
LONDON GURU: What was your first event as Ganjo and how did it come about?
First ever thing was after I had found the wig in the gutter and created the name. We were working and doing the sound for Cerys Matthews (Welsh singer/songwriter) and I had asked her if I could interview her as Ganjo and she said yes. And at that point I Knew I was on to something.
LONDON GURU: Does Ganjo have any skills such as dancing, singing, magic, DJ-ing? What should people expect when Ganjo comes to an event?
Yes Ganjo can dance and sing. He has a song out for Christmas called It's Christmas Time Ganjo Style's FT. Zoe Matthews. We recorded it in 2010 and I had asked Zoe if she was interested and she said yes and we are re releasing it this Christmas and it is on I-tunes and Amazon to buy. Plus Ganjo has just finished recording another track which is not out yet called “Access All Areas” with a Producer Andy Allder who has worked with Pink and Cher and I co-wrote the song with Luc Floreani who has written with Kylie Minogue.
If Ganjo came to your event then you could expect to have a good time and see people pull all their barriers down in their lives and have a good time Ganjo Styleeeeee.
The making of Video for "Its Christmas Time Ganjo Style" ft Zoe Matthews
The making of Video for "Its Christmas Time Ganjo Style" ft Zoe Matthews
LONDON GURU: Now that Ganjo is known around the world do you sometimes spend a whole day (or days) as Ganjo or is that just an “act” you put on just specially for events you attend?
No I do not walk round in the house as Ganjo {laughter} That would be mad. But if I go to an event I wait for the correct time then we get the camera Crrew out and start interviewing people and help people promote whatever they are up to.
LONDON GURU: What has been the highlight so far for Ganjo?
MMMMh meeting Jack Black on the Gullivers Travel set, helicopter ride over New York and Pyramids in Egypt, Lamborghini and Playboy Party at Cannes Film Festival working along side Liz fuller with Miss Great Britain and meeting loads of models because he is a ladies man Ganjo calls them his Ganjetta's . Bit like Benny Hill had his, Kenny Everett had his and Bruce Forsythe had his Dolly Dealers.
Ganjo with Stephen Nicholas
Ganjo with Phillip Olivier
Ganjo at a celebrity event
Ganjo at Miss Great Britain pageants
LONDON GURU: You have met so many A-List celebrities as Ryan Phillipe, Annette O’toole, Chris Moyles etc as Mark Paul Jones and as Ganjo, who has been your favourite celebrity so far and why?
Very Hard There are 3 if I am allowed - Simon Cowell, Jack Black and Chris Moyles.
Simon Cowell gave me 2 minutes of his time to listen to me, Jack Black because he is one of my idols, and Chris Moyles because I was with him from 8pm in New York till about 6am in Times Square and I did not pay for one single drink all night he looked after about 10 of us and he would not even let me buy him a drink. He looked after us all and made us all welcome all night and we had a blast. And Him and Ganjo got on Great.
Ganjo with Radio 1 superstar DJ Chris Moyles
LONDON GURU: I saw a promo online about the Ganjo documentary style film showing all the places he has travelled to globally and people he has met. Tell us more how this film came into production and what is the premise?
I started shooting the film and spent £10,000 on it and went around the world and filmed loads of Celebrities then January this year I had edited the whole film and was ready to start getting it out there and my computer had a virus. The file was so big I could not save it but I still have all the footage so I have to re edit it again which may take a couple of months as I have been so busy with the character.
Ganjo the official film teaser (with Jack Black)
LONDON GURU: Is Ganjo very competitive. I have heard that Ganjo is going for a Guiness World Record? Is that true
Yes Ganjo is looking at pulling it off in December 2011, hopefully in Cardiff. Guiness World Record's have had a meeting in London and also one in New York so they are behind me with this. Also I have approached Wrigley's and they are saying thay are going to Sponsor me. Basically the record attempt is
Most people blowing a chewing gum bubble simultaneously – the current world record is 304 people.
So the aim is to get between 350 and 500 people arranged appropriately to create the word G A N J O whilst standing and blowing chewing gum bubbles and see if we can pull it off. But Ganjo is not really competitive he just wants to try out new things and see how far you can actually go with them. To join the world record breaking event "Ganjo Style" go to the facebook page
Ganjo the ladies man with a bevvy of beauties
LONDON GURU: To keep Ganjo interesting you have had to be very creative and do various projects on the go, is there a line that you won’t cross with Ganjo or will you continue to push the boundaries?
I will go as far as I can to be honest but the lines are no swearing and nothing too dangerous. Anything else goes.
LONDON GURU: Despite your very hectic schedule you find time to give back through various charity events. What charities do you support?
I will Support any charities really. I have been asked to turn up as Ganjo to a few charity events such as Beat Cymru (Beating Eating Disorders) linked with Miss Universe Wales, One Goal Foundation with Chantelle Tagoe, Project Waterfall linked with Coffee Week in London, Etseth with Jamie Denyer who was on BBC and Sky TV and Project Postcode linked with Winston Ellis from Pirattes Of The Carribean and many more.
Ganjo with Jamie at BBC Wales Sky 991 7pm 4th Aug 2011
LONDON GURU: So what can else we expect from Ganjo in the near future?
We are working on another song at the moment, plus am thinking about making a film in Thailand Ganjo style next year plus maybe try and take over the Red Carpet at Cannes film Festival plus going to the Monaco F1 Grand Prix and maybe having a go at Los Angeles (Hollywood) plus much much more.
The Access All Areas Show ganjo style we have just finished making with the soundtrack to the song we made
LONDON GURU: You seem to be living your dream and indeed your feature film promo starts with words of encouragement to anyone who has a dream, so what words of advice would you give to anyone who wants to pursue theirs?
No matter how BIG or SMALL your hope, dream or goal is, anything is possible you just need to believe and you will achieve no matter what hurdles you have in front of you, you can rise above it all. Go for it you have nothing to lose. For it is better to have tried than to never have tried at all.
LONDON GURU: Well Christmas and New Year is just round the corner so if our readers have an event that needs lots of Ganjo Style what can they expect from you? How can they get in touch to book you?
Lots of fun and laughs wrriigghhhhttttttt. Ganjo Style. You can contact me on mail@ganjostyle.co.uk Be The Future.
Ganjo Style Celebrity Special
Ganjo meets January Rees, Britain's Got More Talent 2009
Ganjo meets Ricky Groves (soap star) and Amy Carrier (Miss Great Britain)
Ganjo at the VIP room and Fashion TV show in Cannes Film Festival
