Local Alabama parody videos have over 85,000 views
Two locals have made a YouTube presence for themselves with videos parodying traditional songs with Alabama football lyrics.
Dawn Estes of Falkville and Michael Mason of Hartselle have collaborated on three videos, with the most watched video having over 85,000 views on YouTube.
Estes, Falkville’s town clerk, said she began writing the first song lyrics after the Iron Bowl game in November.
“I was riding the car, and I just started writing some lyrics down,” Estes said. “I have always playfully associated song lyrics with my thoughts, and the Amari Copper song came to me. The song ‘That’s Amari’ has the same music as Dean Martin’s ‘That’s Amore.’”
Their other videos are titled “His Name is Blake” parodied after The Monkees “I’m a Believer” and “City of Champions” parodied after “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Mason, a traveling evangelist and former pastor at Trinity Baptist church, is the singer in each video. He said he sings often, but had never done anything like this before. Estes wanted him to perform the song since she knew he was an avid Alabama fan and a talented singer.
“I called Michael because I had heard him sing before, and knew he would be great,” Estes said. “I’m not a singer, so I stick to writing the lyrics.”
Mason said he got involved because he thought it would be fun.
“I really didn’t know what she wanted, but it sounded like fun, so I agreed to sing for it,” Mason said. “I found karaoke versions of the songs on YouTube and sang to those in the videos.”
Mason also has experience writing with two self-published spiritual books and a third one in the works.
Estes said she had help writing the songs from a friend who blogs, Amy Garnett, and her brother-in-law Mike Tamberlin who used to write for the Birmingham News and now writes for Alabama Power.
Estes said she had always wanted to write a book, but she lacked the confidence to start a project like that.
“I would love to write a book, but I don’t have confidence in my writing,” Estes said. “This is the first creative thing like this I have finished, so it has helped me realize I can do other things and finish them as well.”