Man's Best Friend: An Alternate 1990s and Beyond

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Ninja2006

Ninja2006

THEKINGFISH217 said:
The Yodel Song
From ALLmanac, the online encyclopedia [1]

“The Yodel Song”
Single by Nirvana
from the album In The Gallows

B-side
  • “Polly”
  • “Stay Away” (European releases only)
Released
  • August 29, 1992
Recorded
  • March 8-April 26, 1992
Studio
  • Smart Studios (Madison, Wisconsin)
Genre
  • Grunge
  • Alternative rock
  • Folk rock
Length
  • 4:08
Label
  • DGC
Songwriter(s)
  • Kurt Cobain
Producer(s)
  • Butch Vig
Nirvana singles chronology
“Lithium” “The Yodel Song” “In Bloom”
(1992) (1992) (1992)

“The Yodel Song” is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It is is the lead single and opening track of the band’s third album In The Gallows (1993), released by DGC Records. It was originally made for the popular animated television series The Ren & Stimpy Show, where the band made a guest appearance in the episode “Yodelin’ Yaks”. Because of this, the song became an unexpected domestic and International success. In the United States, the song spent a record 13 weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, a record broken by Whitney Houston’s 14-week number one hit “I Will Always Love You” a couple months later.[2] “The Yodel Song” is Nirvana’s most successful single to date and is often cited as a defining song of the grunge era.

The music video for this song is a surreal animated sequence by Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi, creator of which “The Yodel Song” was made for. It consists of a mental asylum patient hallucinating about a demented serial killer in a neo noir visual style, with no color in the music video except for blood being red, and numerous graphic content. It takes heavy inspiration from the 1930 Fleischer animated short Swing You Sinners! in addition to the works of Kricfalusi’s mentor Ralph Bakshi such as Fritz the Cat (1972) and Heavy Traffic (1973). It would go on to win the MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video, and is often cited as one of the best and most iconic music videos of the 1990s.[3]

“The Yodel Song” has been included in the Rock in Roll Hall of Fame’s list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll." Additionally, it has been featured on numerous "best of" lists, such as at number 5 on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time," and number 30 on “500 Greatest Songs of All Time." The song has also been included at number 21 on NME's "100 Greatest Singles of All Time" and at number 3 on Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Songs of the 1990s." In 2018, it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Writing and recording
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The origins of “The Yodel Song” date back to sometime in the late 1980s, where Kurt Cobain made a demo recording of the song on a four-track recorder in his apartment. At the time, the song was called “Hate to Feel” and featured different lyrics and a slower tempo. The song was eventually reworked and given its yodeling chorus, which was inspired by Kurt Cobain's love of country music and particularly legendary country singer Jimmie Rodgers, known as the "father of country music," who was famous for his yodeling style.

In late 1991, Kurt Cobain was contacted by Eric Stefani - who at the time was an artist for The Ren & Stimpy Show. Stefani was a huge fan of Nirvana and its music, and wanted to collaborate with the band on an episode of the show. Cobain was initially hesitant, as he feared that the band was selling out by appearing on a cartoon show. However, he eventually agreed to appear on the show after being assured that the episode would feature the band's music in a unique and creative way. After looking for ideas for a song, Cobain eventually rediscovered the demo recording of "Hate to Feel" and reworked it into what would become "The Yodel Song." When Cobain presented the song to fellow bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, they were reportedly surprised by the yodeling chorus. Ghrol remarked that “it sounds like a commercial for chicken pot pie," while Novoselic jokingly suggested that the song be titled "Chicken Pie" instead.

Despite their initial reactions, the band continued to work on the song, refining the lyrics and melody. Cobain would also play a rough version of the song to Eric Stefani and John Kricfalusi himself at the headquarters of Spümcø. Although Stefani was impressed, Kricfalusi was reportedly skeptical, fearing the possibilities of the show becoming commercialized because of the song. Eventually, Kricfalusi allowed the episode to be made, but he himself would not be involved in its making. Despite this, Kricfalusi would erroneously claim shortly after the song’s success that he was responsible for both “Yodelin’ Yaks” and “The Yodel Song”.

“The Yodel Song” was recorded at Smart Studios in the town of Madison, Wisconsin. Producer Butch Vig had suggested that since “The Yodel Song” had heavy folk/country stylings, it would make sense for the band to record it in a more rustic and natural setting, such as a barn or a farm. However, due to logistical issues, the band ended up recording the song at Smart Studios instead. According to Vig, the recording process for the song was relatively smooth, with the band members being increasingly engaged and enthusiastic about the project. Vig also suggested that the band record it with acoustic guitars. However, Cobain insisted on using electric guitars, which resulted in a unique sound for the song. The band also decided to use a more raw, live feel for the recording, which contributed to its distinctive sound.

In later interviews, Cobain said that making the song came at the cost of some relationships, such as with fellow alternative rock singer Courtney Love. In one interview with BBC Radio, Cobain claimed that he “was feeling like [he] was going to develop something special with Love. But in the end… my hands were all tied up, and like… nothing really went anywhere afterwards.” Love would go on to date and later marry Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan in 1993.[4]

Music and Lyrical interpretation[5]
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“The Yodel Song” is a grunge, alternative rock, and hard rock song with folk and country stylings. It was recorded in the original key of G minor and follows a chord progression of Bb5 - G5 - Eb5 - G5 for the verses and Bb5 - G5 - Eb5 - F5 - G5 - Bb5 - C5 for the chorus. The song is written in the time signature of common time, with a ¼ time signature. The guitar riff and solo has also been inspired by a slowed-down version of “Surfin Bird” by The Trashmen (1963).

Surf rock music as a whole became a large influence on the song. Guitarist Dave Grohl claimed that he would spend countless hours listening to surf music in between recording sessions - to “become one with the surfer mind.” Cobain himself would cite “Miserlou” by Dick Dale (1962) and “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath (1970) as the main inspiration for the guitar solo and outro to the song - specifically the outro, in which the guitar riff speeds up rapidly. Grohl largely achieved the outro through fingerpicking the guitar and feeding it back through two Big Muff effects pedals - with one gradually phased in via a wah-wah pedal.

The lyrics are considered better to understand by listeners compared to previous Nirvana songs such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are” - as Cobain’s lyrics are considered more breathy and pronounced. The song tells the story of a shadowy figure that deceives others with a friendly outward appearance, before kidnapping, torturing and murdering them. At the same time, the chorus indicates that the speaker is being “haunted” by the entity’s yodeling which is “ringing in his ear”. This interpretation is further reinforced by the first and last verses. In the first verse, the speaker hears a melody “so dark and free” that echoes through his “troubled mind”. In the last verse, the speaker cries out that “the struggle never ends” to “keep the voices at bay” and “live another day”.

“The Yodel Song” has prominent themes of schizophrenia, psychosis, paranoia, murder, and kidnapping. The lyrics convey a man who is suffering from delusions and schizophrenia hallucinations of a rabid killer that seeks out torture and murder. Because the killer is thought to be a yodeler, the killer is assumed to be a figure of Alpine folklore. According to bassist Krist Novoselic, the band was prominently inspired by the folklore figures of Krampus and Perchten - both of which are more often than not portrayed as one.

Release, Reception, and live performances
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Initially, a week before its release as a single - the song appeared on the Ren & Stimpy episode “Yodelin’ Yaks”. Due to a leak by Rolling Stone, the episode was hyped up to the point where it was watched by 15.4 million viewers. Upon the release of “The Yodel Song” on August 29, 1992, the single immediately soared to success - reaching the number #1 position on the US Billboard Hot 100 just two weeks after release.

“The Yodel Song” received widespread critical acclaim for its chorus, energy, and blend of different genres. Many critics praised the song for its unique yodeling chorus, which was seen as an unexpected and creative element in a grunge song. The song was also noted for its heavy guitar riffs and driving rhythm section, which were typical of Nirvana's signature sound.

The song would stay on the US Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks, breaking a record previously held by Elvis Presley with his 1956 hit song "Heartbreak Hotel". "The Yodel Song" also topped charts in several other countries and helped cement Nirvana's place as one of the most influential and popular bands of the early 1990s. The song's success was a major factor in the massive popularity of Nirvana's second album, "Nevermind", which has since been recognized as a landmark album in the history of rock music.

The song would become a staple of the band’s live performances, with notable performances including their iconic MTV Unplugged in New York session in 1993, where the band delivered an acoustic rendition of the song that showcased their versatility as musicians. Other notable live performances of "The Yodel Song" include their appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1993 and their performance at the Reading Festival in England in 1992, which has been hailed as one of the greatest live performances in rock history.[6]

Legacy
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“The Yodel Song” remains not only one of Nirvana’s best songs, but also one of the greatest rock songs of all time. It was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" and has been covered by numerous artists over the years. In 2002, MTV unveiled a list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s" and "The Yodel Song" ranked at number three, behind only "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana and "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "The Yodel Song" at number 22 on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time," calling it "a reminder that pop can still be primal and cathartic." The magazine also noted that the song's success "was a statement of purpose from a band who had no time for the trappings of rock stardom, but whose raw power couldn't be ignored."

The enduring popularity and influence of "The Yodel Song" is a testament to Nirvana's impact on the music world and their ability to push boundaries and defy expectations. The song's unique blend of grunge, punk, and country elements, combined with Kurt Cobain's raw and emotional vocals, continues to resonate with audiences decades after its initial release.

The song's enduring popularity has made it a fan favorite and a staple of classic rock radio stations. Its iconic opening guitar riff and yodeling chorus have become instantly recognizable to music fans around the world. The song's success also helped to cement Nirvana's status as one of the defining bands of the 1990s and an inspiration to countless musicians who followed in their wake.

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[1] BTW, if you’re wondering what this is, it’s an alternate equivalent to Wikipedia. I’m just pointing that out, because to put it as vaguely as possible - the history of the internet ITTL is gonna be completely different from OTL.

[2] IOTL, the song that actually was #1 for 12-13 weeks was “End of the Road” by Boys II Men. I think that “The Yodel Song” would sound arguably more unique compared to the former song - which is your fairly standard 90s R&B song. Given that “End of the Road” was the breakthrough song for Boys II Men, it’s plausible that with that song being overshadowed by “The Yodel Song” after a couple of weeks they are a much less successful band.

[3] I did not have time to give the music video its own section, but I think that I will add it later on as I have done so with past posts where I slightly fix them. But rather than using the part of Yodelin’ Yaks where the song plays, an original music video is created by John Kricfalusi. Yodelin’ Yaks had the song abridged.

[4] Yep. You heard that right. Kurt Cobain never marries Courtney Love due to their relationship faltering with Kurt tied up with the R&S crossover. Love also at one point dated Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, so I assume that she gives him another try. Let’s just hope Corgan isn’t as messed up as Cobain is and can handle her. Depends on whether I retcon this part or not honestly.

[5] Take this whole section with a grain of salt, as music theory is not exactly my strong suit. If all else fails, then here is OTL’s Yodel Song in terms of melody:

[6] ITTL, the first live performance of “The Yodel Song” is at the band’s performance at the annual Reading Festival in Reading, England - which is regarded as one of Nirvana’s best live performances.
Click to expand...
Nivek said:
No Frances bean Cobain either,that was another big influence on Kurt too.( Ie renegotiate nirvana residuals to save money for her future)
Click to expand...
THEKINGFISH217 said:
And with her never being born after the POD, who’s to say that at some point - no one from OTL is born after a certain point.

Wonder how that would effect Kurt’s relations with Dave and Krist if that didn’t happen.
Click to expand...
Nivek said:
That's normal(I took the concept, anyone, a year after the POD is fully butterflied away, some might be a little different, the nature vs nurture debate) and everything 3 years after the POD might not be the same as OTL Anymore, too.



Depending on what you think, that might have been The First Seed to the Foo Fighters, ie Dave thinking of a post-nirvana and Kurt future. OTL also make it easier for Dave post Kurt Suicide, ITTL Foo Fighters might be fully butterfly away
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Pyro said:
I have only gotten through two post, but this TL has earned a watch from me. Keep up the good work!
Click to expand...
Very nice!
 
Ninja2006

Ninja2006

THEKINGFISH217 said:
Did we meet?

I have only really begun to use the site back in September, so have we meet before?
Click to expand...
This is @Pyro. He's made a Marvel TL that seems to be dead.

The Iron Age of Comics: Jim Shooter's Return to Marvel

I had read that Jim Shooter’s bid for Marvel Comics was actually the second highest bid when New World Productions sold the company. A businessman named Ron Perelman put in a higher bid, but that died with him in the automobile accident that claimed his life. How different would have Marvel been...
www.alternatehistory.com

Check it out!
 
THE KINGFISH

THE KINGFISH

Otakuninja2006 said:
This is @Pyro. He's made a Marvel TL that seems to be dead.

The Iron Age of Comics: Jim Shooter's Return to Marvel

I had read that Jim Shooter’s bid for Marvel Comics was actually the second highest bid when New World Productions sold the company. A businessman named Ron Perelman put in a higher bid, but that died with him in the automobile accident that claimed his life. How different would have Marvel been...
www.alternatehistory.com

Check it out!
Click to expand...
Oh OK! I’ll check it out!

But probably later, as right now I am on break at work.
 
CrashBandicam

CrashBandicam

THEKINGFISH217 said:
Yodelin’ Yaks
From ALLmanac, the online encyclopedia

“Yodelin’ Yaks”
The Ren & Stimpy Show episode

Episode no.
  • Season 2
  • Episode 2b
Directed by
  • Bob Camp
Written by[1]
  • Eric Stefani
  • Vincent Waller (script doctoring)
  • Richard Pursel (script doctoring)
Featured music
  • “The Yodel Song” - by Nirvana
Original air date
  • August 22, 1992[2]
Guest appearances
  • Kurt Cobain as Yander the Yak
  • Dave Grohl as Rex the Minion
  • Krist Novoselic as Pex the Minion
Episode chronology
Previous <-
  • “Ren’s Toothache”
Next ->
  • “Out West”

“Yodelin’ Yaks” is the second episode of the second season of the American animated television series The Ren & Stimpy Show. It originally aired on Nickelodeon in the United States on August 22, 1992. In the episode, Ren and Stimpy seek to hike up the Swiss Alps in order to seek the mystical “Golden Cheese of Montaine”[3], but require the help of Yander the Yak (voiced by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain), and his minions Rex (voiced by Dave Grohl) and Pex (voiced by Krist Novoselic). After facing hardship after hardship, Yander gets the idea to give all of them his special soup - causing them to eventually power through.

Directed by Bob Camp, this episode was the first to be written by Eric Stefani - who would later go on to become the one of the main writers and eventually show runner in 1994. Unlike most episodes of Ren & Stimpy made before 1994, John Kricfalusi refused to be involved in the making of this episode outside of voicing Ren - but allowed it to be produced due to his personal admiration of Stefani’s talent. The episode makes prominent use of the song “The Yodel Song” by Nirvana - of which the episode was written around. Future collaborations with Nirvana would result in what is now known as the “Yak Trilogy” - each episode of which has a song that would later appear on Nirvana’s 1993 album In The Gallows.

“Yodelin’ Yaks” received critical acclaim from critics who praised Cobain’s guest performance, the gags, the music, and the psychedelic sequence - the latter of which was favorably compared to other such animated sequences including those from Dumbo, Yellow Submarine, Fantastic Planet, Heavy Metal, and Pink Floyd - The Wall. Fans of the show also claim that the episode “saved” Ren & Stimpy, as series creator John Krickfalusi was nearly terminated by Nickelodeon until the executives changed their mind after the success of “Yodelin’ Yaks”. The episode’s accompanying song - “The Yodel Song” - achieved domestic and international success. It would spend a record 13 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100, and become the sixth most successful song of the decade 1990-1999 according to Billboard magazine[4].

Plot
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The episode opens at the base of Mount Pilatus in Switzerland - with Ren and Stimpy sitting in their log cabin planning their next adventure. They are both looking over a map of the mountain in search of the mystical "Golden Cheese of Montaine" - accompanied by a grotesque close-up of each other’s eyes watering. However, they soon realize they are ill-prepared for the treacherous terrain and extreme weather conditions, as they have accidentally eaten all their cheese rations. They then fall into childish bickering as a bathos to the previous seriousness. However, Stimpy knows someone who can help with their mission. He picks up the “cheese phone” - a crude contraption consisting of blocks of cheese duck-taped to a landline phone - and contacts a being called “Yander the Yak.”

Moments later, the door of the cabin flies open - flattening Ren into a pancake the process - having been kicked open by a yodeling, anthropomorphic yak called Yander the Yak (guest voiced by Kurt Cobain). After having nearly set Ren on fire by cooking him as a pancake, the two ask who Yander is and if he is coming to help the two. Yander introduces himself as an adventurous, easy-going Yak who made the move to go his own way after a tragic past. That tragic past is getting his horns stuck in a fence and being laughed at by other animals, much to Ren’s mockery. He gives the two various essentials for their hike above Mount Pilatus, such as a toaster, a telephone, and a lawnmower. He then summons his two minions (“OH MERRY ME-EN!”) Rex and Pex, two stockier, enthusiastic and hyper-aggressive Yaks who always repeat the phrase "Yakety Yak, don't talk back!" With that, the group leave to begin the ascent.[5]

At the start of the trail, the gang runs into a roving band of rabid squirrels. While they escape mostly unscathed, Ren is mauled by them - much to the dismay of Rex and Pex who say "Yakety Yak, don't talk back!" Other obstacles the gang face include anthropomorphic Swiss army knives which peel Ren’s skin off, Cuckoo Land - a forest filled with cuckoo clocks that aggressively peck on Ren, and a giant chocolate bunny that chews Ren up and spits him out. Every time he gets hurt, Ren sarcastically claims he is fine (“Yeah, I AM FINE YOU EEDIOT!!”). Eventually, the gang reach a wooden bridge where the other side is guarded by moldy cheese monsters. Ren falls into a mental breakdown - unable to hide his emotions at the sight of another potential obstacle. Yander notices this and tries to comfort Ren by giving the entire gang samples of his family soup. However, upon drinking this soup, all of them begin to hallucinate and feel a rush of energy as Yander the Yak begins to sing (“The Yodel Song'' is what he sings). The world around them becomes filled with distorted cuckoo clocks, melting cheese, and marching color-changing wolves.[6]

The five of them rush across the bridge, and begin to beat and tear at the cheese guards, but the most violent out of all of them is Ren. Wielding a sharp stick in hand, Ren maniacally beats up each of the cheese guards with a rush of fury - spouting military drill commands at them and ripping them to shreds with his own teeth.[7] After he is finished, Ren becomes overjoyed that there are no more obstacles left (“STIMPY! I AM… SEEEEEETHING WITH ENERGY THROUGH MY VEINS!!!”). The gang open the cave to reveal the Golden Cheese - only to discover that it is all moldy and stale after centuries of sitting out in the open. However, Yander insists that the two eat the cheese to satisfy the journey, and the two reluctantly consume it. The episode ends with Ren and Stimpy becoming very sick and vomiting off-screen as an iris slowly circles on Rex and Pex, who say for the last time: “Yakety Yak, don’t talk back!”

Production
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Writer Eric Stefani joined Spümcø in the summer of 1991, after graduating Sheridan College with a degree in Film and Animation. From there, he became a staff member on the seminal 90s cartoon The Ren & Stimpy Show. Having participated in a band with his friends and sister a few years earlier, Stefani got the idea of having Nirvana in an episode of the show. Stefani would invite Kurt Cobain to the offices of Spümcø in early 1992, where he would perform a song in front of Stefani and series creator John Kricfalusi. The song that would become “The Yodel Song” consisted of prominent use of yodeling and lyrics about hallucinations of a wretched serial killer. Kricfalusi was skeptical that the idea would fit with the tone and humor of the show. However, he also respected Stefani’s wild drawing abilities and talent in humor. As such, Kricfalusi allowed the episode to be made, but under the condition that he not be involved in its production - sans voicing Ren.

Early drafts of “Yodelin’ Yaks” involved a different storyline, in which Ren and Stimpy discover a yak ranch and get involved in a musical number with the yaks. However, this was rejected for not being bizarre or funny enough. Writer Vincent Waller suggested bringing the recurring character George Liquor - a patriotic, conservative father figure whom Kricfalusi loved to use - to be voiced by Cobain. Said plot was to feature the character adopting Ren and Stimpy and raising them to be “real men.”[8] However, other writers such as Jim Gomez and Bill Wray felt that the character of George Liquor did not match Cobain’s anti-establishment persona, and did not wish to further anger Nickelodeon executives, and this plot was thrown out. Eventually, the team settled on crafting an original character based off of Cobain’s real life personality. This yielded Yander the Yak - a neurotic, free-spirited and adventurous Yak with a history of tragedy. Additionally, the writers noticed the recurring presence of Swiss culture and yodeling previously seen in episodes such as "The Boy Who Cried Rat” and “Stimpy’s Invention”. As such, it was decided to set the episode in Switzerland, and would involve magical cheese as a MacGuffin for the episode. The final shape of the plot was beginning to form from there.

As this episode was produced with little involvement from John Kricfalusi, the episode lacked many of the production issues caused by Kricfalusi’s perfectionism at the time.[9] Consequently, production of this episode was relatively easy and speedy. Staff working on Ren & Stimpy would later speak positively of Stefani’s ability to balance the show’s well-known edginess and style with making the show’s production more efficient. In a 2000 interview, Bob Camp - who directed this episode in particular - would claim that Stefani “had a great sense of humor and was a really fast worker. He had a lot of ideas and was great at getting the team excited about a new project. He was a big part of what made the show so successful.” The episode would wrap production by July 1992, and would be submitted to Nickelodeon executives on time.

Reception
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Weeks before the episode aired, music magazine Rolling Stone leaked an article detailing the upcoming appearance of Nirvana on the show, including information about the character they would be voicing and the general plot of the episode. The leak created significant buzz and anticipation for the episode among both Ren & Stimpy fans and Nirvana fans. In response, Nickelodeon significantly raised the promotion of the episode, and it was heavily promoted on the channel in the weeks leading up to its airdate. When "Yodelin' Yaks" finally aired on August 22, 1992, it was watched by an estimated 15.4 million viewers, which was a record-breaking number for the show and one of the highest-rated episodes in the history of Nickelodeon.

“Yodelin’ Yaks” received critical acclaim for its humor, unique storyline, and the guest appearance of Nirvana. The episode was also praised for its psychedelic sequence when “The Yodel Song” is performed, with its trippy visuals and off-beat humor. Some critics noted that the episode was a departure from the typical Ren & Stimpy formula, but still maintained the show's signature irreverence and subversive humor. The accompanying song - “The Yodel Song” - would become an international sensation, and topped music charts for weeks in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.[10]

Despite the episode’s rave reviews, it was not without controversy. Several parental and watchdog groups complained that the episode was glorifying drug use, due to the psychedelic sequence in “The Yodel Song” and the appearance of Nirvana, who were known for their drug use. Televangelist Pat Robertson even criticized the episode on his show, The 700 Club, calling it “sick” and “a violation of everything that’s good and decent. Mr. Kricfalusi ought to be an agent of Lucifer, using his sick depravity to bring us further down the path of Sodom and Gomorrah!” Additionally, then-Vice President Dan Quayle criticized the show in a speech, saying that it was "indoctrinating our children with hedonism and extreme violence."

Meanwhile, some claimed that the episode was an example of Nirvana selling out by appearing on a children’s television show. Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine called Cobain a “sleazy shitlib who thinks he is rebelling against the system, but is nothing more than a new wave band marketed towards angsty 14-year-olds.” However, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain defended the band’s decision to appear on the show, stating that they did it for fun and to reach a different audience. He also noted that he was a fan of Ren & Stimpy and appreciated the show’s irreverent humor. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam also came to Nirvana’s defense, stating that it was ridiculous to accuse them of selling out, and that it was just a fun opportunity for the band to try something new. Another defense came from Mark Arm of Mudhoney, who praised Nirvana for using their fame to introduce their fans to underground culture and subversive art. He also criticized the notion that appearing on a children’s show was selling out, arguing that it was important for artists to spread their message by reaching different audiences and breaking down barriers between different forms of media.[11]

Legacy
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Years later, “Yodelin’ Yaks” remains a watershed moment in not only both the history of Ren & Stimpy and Nirvana, but 90s culture in general. Yander the Yak would go on to appear in two more episodes, all of which would constitute the “Yak Trilogy”, further solidifying the character’s place in Ren & Stimpy lore. All three parts of the “Yak Trilogy” have been considered some of the greatest and most memorable episodes of the show, and are often cited by fans as some of their favorites. The success of “Yodelin’ Yaks” also paved the way for more guest appearances on Ren & Stimpy, including appearances by musicians such as Ween, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and They Might Be Giants, as well as actors such as Will Smith and Jerry Seinfeld.

Animation historians credit the episode to having “saved” Ren & Stimpy from cancellation, as at the time - John Kricfalusi was on the verge of being fired by Nickelodeon. Due to the roaring success of “Yodelin’ Yaks”, as well as Nintendo seeking licensing for a Ren & Stimpy game, Nickelodeon decided to keep the show on the air.

“Yodelin’ Yaks” is remembered as a unique moment in Nirvana’s career, as it allowed the band to showcase their humorous side and reach a younger audience. The episode also came at a time when Nirvana was at the height of their fame, and many fans saw their appearance on the show as a symbol of their cultural influence. All songs made for the “Yak Trilogy” would become the leading singles for Nirvana’s 1993 album In The Gallows, alongside a cover of David Bowie’s 1970 single "The Man Who Sold the World”.[12] The album was a critical and commercial success, and is widely regarded as an improvement over Nirvana's previous album, Nevermind.

In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked “Yodelin’ Yaks” fifth in their list of “The 50 Most Important Moments in Music History”. TV Guide ranked “Yodelin’ Yaks” as one of “The Top 100 Greatest Television Episodes of All Time” in 2003, and Entertainment Weekly listed it as one of “The Top 25 Television Moments that Defined the 1990s” in 2007. As of January 2023, OmniCritic ranks “Yodelin’ Yaks” with a rating of 9.2 out of 10, the highest ever rating for any episode of The Ren & Stimpy Show on the site.[13]

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[1] Since this episode is Eric Stefani’s first writing credit, both Kricfalusi and Nickelodeon executives insisted on giving Stefani “assistant writers”.

[2] IOTL, this was the planned air date for “Man’s Best Friend” - the infamous banned episode of the show.

[3] Having owned the DVD box sets of most of the show, I noticed that a lot of episodes feature recurring jokes and gags around cheese and yodeling. So, I decided to run with it.

[4] IOTL, that distinction went to “End of the Road” by Boys II Men, but I will elaborate more on that in the next post.

[5] Again, having binge watched the entire first season of the show in preparation for this timeline, I think this fits the randomness and surreal humor of the show.

[6] Basically, imagine the “Pink Elephants” sequence from Dumbo and the paintings of Salvador Dali mixed together.

[7] Similar to the climax of a certain episode, but I personally think that since the guards are made of cheese - and not real human flesh like George Liquor - the censors would let it pass.

[8] Essentially, the plot of that certain banned episode….

[9] I’ve said this before, but IOTL this was a huge problem that contributed to the show’s downfall. Anyone who didn’t meet his insane standards was fired/not hired, and those that did often found their work torn up for not meeting expectations. Historian Jerry Beck distinctly remembers visiting Spümcø and discovering that Kricfalusi was so obsessed with finding the right color for the present Stimpy was giving to Ren that the walls were lined with over 50 different cels of the same present in different colors. What makes it even sadder is that Kricfalusi ended up choosing one of the initial choices. Yeah, talk about perfectionism….

[10] I’ve figured that the song would be very successful in a lot of European countries, since of course it features yodeling. Also, aiming for diverse audiences (read: non-white) was generally not important as in 1992, mainstream society was still predominantly white in culture. But again, that will be discussed in the next post

[11] Since Ren & Stimpy was also a form of countercultural media, and the fact that Nickelodeon was a lot less corporate and mainstream before SpongeBob, I don’t think rock listeners - especially in a time where “selling out” was a bad thing - would be too up in arms about such a thing happening.

[12] This is of course a part of Nirvana’s famous MTV Unplugged performance. Once again, we will discuss that later.

[13] OmniCritic is basically TTL's version of IMDb or Metacritic. Expect the history of the internet to be completely different from OTL. IOTL's IMDb, the highest rated episode of Ren & Stimpy is “Black Hole/Stimpy’s Invention”. More specifically the latter half of the episode, what with the whole “Happy Happy, Joy Joy” dance.
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Does the episode's success mean that The Ren & Stimpy Show lasts longer than OTL? And did The Yodel Song chart in Japan as well?
 

Nivek

THEKINGFISH217 said:
We will see about that. I just don’t want to spoil.

It’s most popular in Western countries - particularly in Central European countries such as Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland unsurprisingly.
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Another thing i realized, without Love and Frances...Kurt's Depression could be far worse and Yodel song success could backfire, he could accelerate his OTL Suicide...
 
THE KINGFISH

THE KINGFISH

Nivek said:
Another thing i realized, without Love and Frances...Kurt's Depression could be far worse and Yodel song success could backfire, he could accelerate his OTL Suicide...
Click to expand...
Well, he continues to make collaborations with Eric and John, so that could speed up his demise by about 6-8 months earlier.

However, remember that Eric himself dealt with suicide with his one of his bandmates taking his own life. And that was OTL, as in before the POD. So, it’s possible that Eric might help him fix himself.

Another thing is that a slightly earlier or later suicide attempt has the potential to either fail or be thwarted by someone close to Cobain - either one of his bandmates or someone from Spümcø.

Also, it’s possible that Kurt could marry a more stable, possibly unknown person that prefers to stay out of the public eye. Thus the relationship drama could be avoided and Kurt gets another stabilizing influence.

I don’t mean to railroad against your changes, I just think that having something deviate from OTL’s outcome would make for a more interesting story. Next part will come tonight, and will be about the Philips CD-i.
 
Yodel Boys (Philips CD-i video game)
  • Index
    • THE KINGFISH

    THE KINGFISH

    "Prepare yourself, weasels! Ron and Stanley are coming for the Cheddar of Life! Yodela - HE - HOO!!" - Ron the Dalmatian, opening cutscene of Yodel Boys


    "Ha - hoo - hee! Is that the best you can do, you tubby rat? Time to send you rolling!" - Stanley the Cat, whacking weasels on various levels


    "Odela - odela - eee - aah!! Step right up, folks! Feast your eyes on the wondrous treasures of Roxy Rat's Radically Ridiculous Rarities Emporium! Guaranteed to blow your mind, whiskers, and tail!" - Roxy Rat, to the player after entering his shop


    "DIE, you fiendish fool! Taste the wrath of my ferocious fangs and the fury of a thousand yodeling weasels! Yah-hoo, Yah-hah!!!" - Freddy the Ferret, upon the start of the final boss level of Yodel Boys


    Yodel Boys
    From ALLmanac, the online encyclopedia

    Yodel Boys

    Developer(s)
    • Animation Magic
    Publisher(s)
    • Philips Interactive Media
    Director(s)
    • Dale DeSharone
    Producer(s)
    • Dale DeSharone
    Designer(s)
    • Dale DeSharone
    • Rob Dunlavey
    • Stephen Radosh
    Programmer(s)
    • Linde Dynneson
    • John O’Brien
    • John Wheeler
    Artist(s)
    • Tom Curry
    • Max Stienmetz
    • Mirena Kim
    Writer(s)
    • Jonathan Merritt
    Composer(s)
    • Tony Trippi
    Platform(s)
    • Philips CD-i
    Release
    • NA: September 16, 1992
    • EU: November 18, 1992 (planned, canceled)
    Genre(s)
    • Puzzle game
    Mode(s)
    • Single-player
    • Multiplayer
    Yodel Boys is a puzzle video game developed by Animation Magic and published by Philips Interactive Media for the Philips CD-i on September 16, 1992. Players control the characters of Ron - a gruff, arrogant Dalmatian with a heart of gold, and Stanley - a black Siamese cat with an optimistic outlook on life, in their adventures to seize the “Cheddar of Life” above the mountain of Matterhorn.[1] The game’s objective is to guide the aforementioned characters to defeat the Yodeling Weasels that live in the mountain’s caves in a Whac-A-Mole style gameplay, defeating each boss - a “fat rat” - off the side of a cliff before defeating the final boss - Freddy the Ferret - at the peak of the mountain.

    The game is primarily based on Nirvana’s “The Yodel Song”, and loosely based on “Yodelin’ Yaks” - an episode of the Nickelodeon cartoon The Ren & Stimpy Show. Development began after executives of Philips’ subsidiary, PolyGram, discovered the recording sessions of “The Yodel Song”. While Philips gained licensing rights to use the song, they were unable to get the rights to the Ren & Stimpy characters from either Viacom or Spümcø. The game would ultimately be plagued by numerous problems during production. These included Philips pushing for a tight 10-week deadline, the technical limitations of the CD-i players, and translation issues between the Russian staff and the American managers of Animation Magic.

    As the game was made to capitalize on the success of Nirvana’s hit song “The Yodel Song”, Philips made a huge marketing campaign around the game, using the game’s combination of full motion video (FMV) cutscenes and actual use of “The Yodel Song” as selling points to the game. Despite this, Yodel Boys became a huge critical and commercial flop. It was widely panned for its uninspired gameplay, dull graphics, long loading times, characters, plot, music (a 12-second, continuous, low-quality loop of “The Yodel Song”), and disjointed animation of the cutscenes. The latter of which have been particularly lambasted as “hilariously awful” and “laughable”, and range from its poor-quality color palette to its confusing framing to its wonky movement. The game is often regarded as one of the worst video games of all time, as well as one of the biggest commercial failures in video game history. It has been frequently referenced in popular culture as a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing trends in the business world. Furthermore, the game has been cited as one of the number one reasons for the discontinuation of the CD-i format and players two months after its release, and Philips teaming up to develop the SNES-CD with Nintendo. The SNES-CD in contrast - would go on to become a commercial success.[2]

    In the modern day, the infamy of Yodel Boys has led it to develop a cult following for its “so bad, it’s good” status. Its aforementioned animated cutscenes have been the subject of online funnies and PUUTube videos. These include Ron saying “That guy sucked!”, Roxy Rat showing off his shop items, and Freddy the Ferret saying “DIE YOU FIENDISH FOOL!!!”.

    Gameplay[3]

    Yodel Boys is a single-screen puzzle video game where players control two unique characters, Ron and Stanley, as they embark on a quest to seize the legendary "Cheddar of Life" atop the majestic Matterhorn mountain. Ron, a gruff yet kind-hearted Dalmatian, and Stanley, an optimistic black Siamese cat, face numerous challenges on their journey.

    The objective of the game is to guide Ron and Stanley in their mission to defeat the mischievous Yodeling Weasels that inhabit the mountain's treacherous caves. The gameplay takes inspiration from the Whac-A-Mole concept, requiring players to skillfully smack the emerging weasels to defeat them. As players progress, they encounter a series of boss battles against "fat rats," formidable foes that must be defeated by knocking them off the cliff's edge.

    The ultimate challenge awaits at the peak of the mountain, where the players confront the final boss, Freddy the Ferret. This showdown tests the players' skills and strategy as they try to outmaneuver Freddy and emerge victorious.

    Throughout the game, players can switch between controlling Ron and Stanley, each character possessing unique abilities that aid them in their quest. Ron's gruff demeanor hides his kind nature, allowing him to use his strength and agility to overcome obstacles. Stanley's optimistic outlook on life grants him the ability to perform nimble maneuvers and solve puzzles with his feline agility. As players progress, they unlock power-ups and upgrades that enhance their characters' abilities, making them more formidable against the weasels and bosses.

    Plot

    In the picturesque land of Cheesetopia, Ron, a gruff yet kind-hearted Dalmatian, and Stanley, an optimistic black Siamese cat, live peacefully. One day, they hear tales of a legendary artifact known as the "Cheddar of Life," said to grant unimaginable powers to those who possess it. Fueled by curiosity and a desire to bring prosperity to their beloved Cheesetopia, Ron and Stanley embark on an epic adventure to seize the Cheddar of Life.

    Their quest takes them to the majestic Matterhorn mountain, home to a mischievous clan of Yodeling Weasels. These cunning weasels have guarded the Cheddar of Life for generations, using their yodeling prowess to ward off intruders. Ron and Stanley must navigate treacherous caves and overcome perilous obstacles to reach the heart of the mountain.

    As they delve deeper into the caves, Ron and Stanley encounter a series of boss battles against "fat rats," ferocious rodents who serve as the weasels' henchmen. Using their combined strength, agility, and clever tactics, the duo must defeat each boss and knock them off the cliffs to their cheesy demise.

    But the final challenge awaits at the peak of the Matterhorn, where they confront Freddy the Ferret, the cunning and malevolent mastermind behind the weasels' reign. Freddy, consumed by his thirst for power, has hatched a plan to harness the Cheddar of Life's energy to conquer Cheesetopia and plunge it into eternal darkness.

    Only through the skill, determination, and unwavering commitment to the cause of all things cheesy can players guide Ron and Stanley to their destined triumph, seizing the Cheddar of Life and restoring equilibrium to Cheesetopia in the enthralling narrative of Yodel Boys.

    Development

    Philips had developed the “Compact Disc-Interactive” (CD-i) format as early as 1984. The format was capable of playing a mix of audio, video, computer data, and messages - allowing for an (at the time) immersive interactive experience for potential consumers. The CD-i format was first unveiled at Microsoft’s CD-ROM Conference in Seattle in March 1986. The CD-i was given the Green Book specification, which defines its required hardware as needing a Motorola 68000 processor and a CD-RTOS operating system. While Philips had designed this system as capable of playing interactive media, the CD-i would be ill-equipped to play conventional video games.

    In 1989, Nintendo and Sony had agreed to develop a CD-ROM based add-on for the Super NES (which would eventually become the SNES-CD), allowing for full motion video (FMV) and larger games. However, Nintendo later switched to Philips in 1991, with Sony going on to develop the PlayStation instead. By early 1992, the prospects of the SNES-CD became bleak - likely due to the poor reception of the Sega CD, and Philips had also developed their own CD-i players for games. As Nintendo was considering scrapping the project altogether, they agreed to license out their properties - namely Zelda and Mario - for Philips to develop on its CD-i console.[4] However, some unexpected circumstances amongst Philips executives would radically change the development of the games.

    In the spring of 1992, Philips CEO Jan Timmer was negotiating with MCA for the sale of Geffen Records to its entertainment division PolyGram, when he caught wind of the recording sessions of what would become Nirvana’s 1992 hit “The Yodel Song”. Timmer learned that “The Yodel Song” was to be written for an episode of The Ren & Stimpy Show - which at the time was extremely popular amongst young & adult audiences alike. Knowing the popularity of both Nirvana and Ren & Stimpy, he believed that a game featuring the song would help promote the CD-i players. He also noted that the CD-i was capable of playing “The Yodel Song” itself. Thus, Philips executives agreed to pressure its game department to develop a game based on “The Yodel Song”. After brief negotiations, Philips would secure rights to the song from MCA in May 1992.

    For production, Philips would contract various independent studios to produce the graphics and cutscenes for the game. Philips insisted that the development studios utilize all aspects of the CD-i’s capabilities, including FMV, high-resolution graphics, and CD-quality music. Because the system had not been designed as a dedicated video game console, there were several technical limitations, such as unresponsive controls (especially for the standard infrared controller), and numerous problems in streaming audio, memory, disc access, and graphics.

    Additionally, while Philips had the rights to use “The Yodel Song”, both Viacom and Spümcø refused to license the Ren and Stimpy characters to Philips. As such, Dale DeSharone of Animation Magic would help develop low-budget look-alikes - yielding the characters of Ron the Dalmation and Stanley the Siamese Cat. Another thing that was a hurdle was Philips providing a budget of only $500,000 - as well as a deadline of only 3 months. To ease production hurdles and to improve production efficiency, Animation Magic partially outsourced production of the game to its newly opened Russian division in Saint Petersburg - a move made possible by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent economic shock therapy by Boris Yeltsin. This too, would result in troubles for the company - as translation issues between the American programmers and Russian animators caused problems for transitions to animated cutscenes as well as the animated cutscenes themselves.[5]

    Reception and legacy

    In the lead-up to the game’s official release, Philips pursued a massive marketing campaign - helped by the hype surrounding the Ren & Stimpy episode “Yodelin’ Yaks” and “The Yodel Song” with it. Philips touted the use of the song as the primary selling point for the game, along with its animated cutscenes. As part of the campaign, Philips unveiled an array of promotional materials, from promotional posters adorning city streets to news reports that showcased the game's gameplay mechanics and visual story.

    While reviews for “Yodelin’ Yaks” and “The Yodel Song” were largely positive, reviews for Yodel Boys were very negative. While the cutscenes received praise, complaints focused on the gameplay mechanics, level design, and overall lack of depth and challenge. Despite the initial excitement generated by the marketing campaign, players found themselves disappointed by what they perceived as a lackluster gaming experience. Critics and gamers alike criticized the game's Whac-A-Mole style gameplay, deeming it repetitive and lacking in strategic depth. The levels were seen as uninspired, with limited variation and a lack of engaging challenges to keep players invested. The gameplay progression felt linear and predictable, failing to offer the sense of exploration and discovery that players had hoped for.

    Yodel Boys was met with initial commercial success, and sold 1.5 million copies by the end of September. However, by October - over 600,000 copies had been returned, with grandparents and parents citing complaints from their children regarding the game's lackluster gameplay experience. The negative word-of-mouth spread rapidly, leading to a significant decline in sales and a tarnished reputation for the game. Philips, faced with the backlash, acknowledged the concerns raised by players and critics and issued a public statement expressing regret for not meeting the high expectations set by the marketing campaign. They pledged to take player feedback into account and work towards improving the gameplay mechanics and level design in future games. Ultimately, the game’s poor reputation led to a steep drop in sales for the Philips CD-i console and games, eventually leading to the console being pulled from markets in November. All unsold CD-i games - especially copies of Yodel Boys - were recalled from stores and thrown into scrap as waste.

    In the years since Yodel Boys was released, the game has been universally panned by critics and is frequently considered to be one of the worst video games ever made. Its cutscenes in particular have received scathing reviews in retrospective criticism, with critics and players alike taking aim at its disjointed animation, poor quality color and lack of narrative cohesion. The characters of Ron the Dalmation and Stanley the Cat have been chastised for their unfunny and bizarre dialogue, failing to resonate with players or add any depth to the game's narrative. The marketing campaign's emphasis on the use of the song and animated cutscenes proved to be a misguided strategy, as the only use of the song is a continuous, poorly compressed audio loop of the song’s chorus that plays throughout the gameplay levels. In 1997, Yodel Boys was ranked at the top spot of Electronic Gaming Monthly’s “Top 50 Worst Video Games Ever”. In 2003, the magazine GamingPro included Yodel Boys in their list of "The 10 Most Disappointing Games of All Time." In 2014, the online consite GSE ranked Yodel Boys in 10th place of their list “The Top 20 Worst Video Games of All Time”. The animated cutscenes have gained notoriety in online funnies and PUUTube videos on the consite UTube in the 2010s, with Roxy Rat and Freddy the Ferret gaining the most infamy.[6]


    [1] Sound familiar? Yeah, they’re basically legally-safe knockoffs of Ren & Stimpy.

    [2] Philips was the partner Nintendo chose for the SNES-CD add-on after Sony, as Sony basically tried to cheat them out of the contract with unfavorable terms. However, Philips kept dragging their feet in order to get their own pseudo-console off the ground. Here, with the CD-i bombing so horribly early on and costing a massive amount of money and public relations, Philips has no choice but to commit fully to the SNES-CD.

    [3] Basically, it’s similar to OTL’s Hotel Mario, except instead of closing doors and stomping on enemies, it’s whacking weasels back into holes in the mountain.

    [4] This was one of the main problems that killed the SNES-CD IOTL. Nintendo always saw themselves as the more high-quality version of Sega and wanted to stray from their mistakes. Philips meanwhile took advantage of the contract IOTL to create Mario and Zelda games for the CD-i.

    [5] This is OTL. Animation Magic used the dirt cheap labor prices in post-Soviet Russia to cut down on production costs. Animation quality suffered as a result. Oh, and expect Russia to be politically different ITTL.

    [6] Much like OTL’s Hotel Mario, Link: The Faces of Evil, and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, Yodel Boys becomes memed (called funnies ITTL) on for its ridiculous animation quality.
     
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