The Weirdly Enduring Appeal of Weird Al Yankovic(nytimes.com)
nytimes.com
The Weirdly Enduring Appeal of Weird Al Yankovic
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/magazine/weird-al-yankovic.html
132 comments
But he is funny.
Your comment reminds me of the time the Harlem Globetrotters were accused of being comedians, but not very good basketball players. Then they held a serious game and disproved that accusation.
Your comment reminds me of the time the Harlem Globetrotters were accused of being comedians, but not very good basketball players. Then they held a serious game and disproved that accusation.
Oh yes he definitely IS funny :) My point is that he didn't make it because he's funny. Lots of funny people aren't successful.
Against who, The Generals? Those guys are all like 5'10''
I do not follow American popular music, but enjoy Al a great deal (and have also seen him live).
A consequence of this it that I have heard a great many songs for the first time after I have become habituated to ‘Weird’ Al’s (usually superior) version, which can be a little odd at times.
Same here. My impression is that Ridin' Dirty didn't cross the Atlantic until White and Nerdy paved the way.
Al and his band are incredibly talented musicians, they're funny, and they're real and honest and decent people. I hope they keep doing their thing for many decades to come.
Al and his band are incredibly talented musicians, they're funny, and they're real and honest and decent people. I hope they keep doing their thing for many decades to come.
I'm American, but didn't grow up with much mainstream pop music because I was raised in a religious environment. In my twenties, I discovered Weird Al, and like you, I'd very often hear his parody or polka version of a song before I heard the original. So sometimes, after hearing him zip through the chorus of a song in one of his polka medleys, I'd hear the original song and think, "That's a whole song?"
A couple of years ago my wife treated my to a Weird Al concert in the Melkweg in Amsterdam. It started with Tacky, but Al wasn't on stage yet. Instead he appeared on screen, singing and walking through the streets of Amsterdam, pushing someone into a canal in front of the venue, and then he entered and moments later appeared on stage, where he seamlessly finished the song.
It was absolutely the most spectacular opening of a concert I'd ever seen. And after that, the concert just kept getting better and better. It was a unique experience. Particularly the encore with the Star Wars songs.
It was absolutely the most spectacular opening of a concert I'd ever seen. And after that, the concert just kept getting better and better. It was a unique experience. Particularly the encore with the Star Wars songs.
That would have been the "Mandatory World Tour", I saw it in San Jose and it was absolutely awesome and one of the best live shows I've seen from any performer.
I saw him live on that tour as well. Like the NYT article's author, before the show I wondered if I would be leaving the venue regretting the decision. I did not.
He and his band absolutely killed it. They're incredibly talented, and have a crazy energy. It was one of the best concerts I had ever seen, in no small part due to the fact that it seemed like they wanted to perform, and were happy to be there.
The world needs more Weird Als.
He and his band absolutely killed it. They're incredibly talented, and have a crazy energy. It was one of the best concerts I had ever seen, in no small part due to the fact that it seemed like they wanted to perform, and were happy to be there.
The world needs more Weird Als.
I remember reading that when Steve Martin first did stand-up comedy he would frequently go out in the audience, and sometimes take the audience with him places. non-standard performances are fascinating.
Completely unrelated to that comment - I saw Steve Martin and Martin Short last year when they were on tour together.
Many laughs about The Three Amigos.
But my absolute favorite moment, and it will remain so for the rest of my life, of on-stage performance was when they were ramping the crowd up at the start of the show by mentioning and calling back to various things they've done. They listed all of their very popular movies, skits, songs, whatever, to raucous applause.
Until Martin Short talked about "Clifford". I lost my mind cheering, expecting everyone else to. I love that movie. It's so dumb and hilarious. Literally 0 other people even clapped. Just me, in a room of 2000 people, losing my mind.
And Martin Short looked up at me and said, "Of course that would come from the cheap seats."
Just amazing.
Many laughs about The Three Amigos.
But my absolute favorite moment, and it will remain so for the rest of my life, of on-stage performance was when they were ramping the crowd up at the start of the show by mentioning and calling back to various things they've done. They listed all of their very popular movies, skits, songs, whatever, to raucous applause.
Until Martin Short talked about "Clifford". I lost my mind cheering, expecting everyone else to. I love that movie. It's so dumb and hilarious. Literally 0 other people even clapped. Just me, in a room of 2000 people, losing my mind.
And Martin Short looked up at me and said, "Of course that would come from the cheap seats."
Just amazing.
He's in the same vein as Zappa in my book. They both forged unique and entertaining personas, and, rare for rock stars, they did it sober. We need more role models who show you can be in control of your mind and still be cool. You can choose to be weird, and amazing creativity can come from your natural mind.
I'm not trying to demonize drug use. I've done my fair share. But I hate the notion that rock music requires it. It places a huge burden on people just looking to make a living doing what they love.
I'm not trying to demonize drug use. I've done my fair share. But I hate the notion that rock music requires it. It places a huge burden on people just looking to make a living doing what they love.
Unfortunately, if Yankovic is so comparable to Zappa, then one might predict a steep decline in his popularity after his death. While Zappa is still considered a major figure, most of his output has never quite entered the wider rock canon and is not widely listened to today. I get the impression that Zappa is about as niche now as Captain Beefheart.
As for bands being sober role models, I used to think that about Rush, which had a reputation for most of its career as the thinking man’s rock band whose members did not have hard drug problems, tattoos or other unkemptness. But then it gradually became known that in the 1980s the guitarist had a cocaine problem. (And he also began extolling the virtues of ecstasy in interviews which, though arguably a soft drug, might have made some people uneasy.) So, for other clean-looking bands, appearances may be deceptive.
As for bands being sober role models, I used to think that about Rush, which had a reputation for most of its career as the thinking man’s rock band whose members did not have hard drug problems, tattoos or other unkemptness. But then it gradually became known that in the 1980s the guitarist had a cocaine problem. (And he also began extolling the virtues of ecstasy in interviews which, though arguably a soft drug, might have made some people uneasy.) So, for other clean-looking bands, appearances may be deceptive.
Sadly, it's hard for me to imagine Weird Al will have much appeal to younger generations. If you've heard "Bad" 1000 times then his parody of it is hilarious, if you've heard "Bad" once on an oldies station maybe the parody still sounds goofy and funny, but you won't have the context to totally get the joke.
Well, he's continuing to do new music, rather than relying on just playing "My Bologna" a million times. He's done Lady Gaga at least, so I think he'll last longer than you might guess (hope so!).
Nobody would remember The Knack if it weren't for My Bologna. In their day, they were marketing themselves as "The Next Beatles". I bet Weird Al will still be making new song parodies when nobody can remember Lady Gaga but for Perform This Way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knack
>However, the band's rise to the top of the charts also precipitated a backlash. Capitol's packaging of Get the Knack included a perceived cover likeness to Meet the Beatles! with the record's center label being the same design and style as the Beatles' early 1960s LPs. Coupled with the band's "retro" 1960s look and pop/rock sound, the company's stylings led detractors to accuse them of being Beatles rip-offs, which the band and their record company denied. Fieger acknowledged the band's likeness to the Beatles, claiming that it was their intention to present the Knack as a replica of the British Invasion. He went on to mention how fans of the Knack had not been able to experience the times of the 1960s, and that it was wrong to deny them the privilege of experiencing something similar. Critics fought back, claiming the band was imposing inadequate memories of the 1960s on those who didn't know better. Soon, as Get the Knack became more popular, the band was met with hostility from other artists who felt the intense marketing of the band was invalidating their own efforts of invoking the 1960 sound. This perception, and the perception that the object of some of the Knack's songs were teenaged girls (subsequently acknowledged when the band were years older), quickly led to a "Knuke the Knack" campaign led by San Francisco artist Hugh Brown.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knack
>However, the band's rise to the top of the charts also precipitated a backlash. Capitol's packaging of Get the Knack included a perceived cover likeness to Meet the Beatles! with the record's center label being the same design and style as the Beatles' early 1960s LPs. Coupled with the band's "retro" 1960s look and pop/rock sound, the company's stylings led detractors to accuse them of being Beatles rip-offs, which the band and their record company denied. Fieger acknowledged the band's likeness to the Beatles, claiming that it was their intention to present the Knack as a replica of the British Invasion. He went on to mention how fans of the Knack had not been able to experience the times of the 1960s, and that it was wrong to deny them the privilege of experiencing something similar. Critics fought back, claiming the band was imposing inadequate memories of the 1960s on those who didn't know better. Soon, as Get the Knack became more popular, the band was met with hostility from other artists who felt the intense marketing of the band was invalidating their own efforts of invoking the 1960 sound. This perception, and the perception that the object of some of the Knack's songs were teenaged girls (subsequently acknowledged when the band were years older), quickly led to a "Knuke the Knack" campaign led by San Francisco artist Hugh Brown.
I really enjoyed "Get the Knack" and was looking forward to their follow-up. When they named it "But the Little Girls Understand" I decided I couldn't support those pedophiles any more and never listened to, never mind bought, the album.
Hello nobody here, In my world 40plus crew everyone knows the Knack , my bologna first I’ve heard of it. So thanks for that.
Some of his stuff is timeless, like Word Crimes, which is as catchy and educational as Schoolhouse Rock.
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My kids are really into Weird Al and we have almost all of his tracks on CD or iTunes. I’ve even taken them to see him live in London.
They may not appreciate the references to the original songs but they can still enjoy the songs for what they are.
They may not appreciate the references to the original songs but they can still enjoy the songs for what they are.
For completeness, here’s Weird Al’s style parody of Frank Zappa, Genius In France: https://youtu.be/ZwFf9vGRqcs
His style parody originals are as much fun (and as numerous) as his song psrodies.
His style parody originals are as much fun (and as numerous) as his song psrodies.
I will always love and respect his direct parodies, but his talent as a style-mimic tickles some part of my brain in a deeper way.
I guess on some level it's because like many people I spent a good portion of my youth (and occasional moments of my adulthood) changing the lyrics of songs to silly (or vulgar) alternatives. I don't spend the amount of time Al does and I don't have his level of talent/dedication of course, but I get it.
But being able to write a song that sounds recognizably like another artist while being entirely original is a whole other level of talent. It requires both an understanding of what makes a song sound like The Police or Crosby, Stills, and Nash and the musical chops to sing/play/produce it.
Hearing those songs gives me a feeling like I know which one he's spoofing but not being able to put my finger on it--because it doesn't exist.
I guess on some level it's because like many people I spent a good portion of my youth (and occasional moments of my adulthood) changing the lyrics of songs to silly (or vulgar) alternatives. I don't spend the amount of time Al does and I don't have his level of talent/dedication of course, but I get it.
But being able to write a song that sounds recognizably like another artist while being entirely original is a whole other level of talent. It requires both an understanding of what makes a song sound like The Police or Crosby, Stills, and Nash and the musical chops to sing/play/produce it.
Hearing those songs gives me a feeling like I know which one he's spoofing but not being able to put my finger on it--because it doesn't exist.
I love his style parodies best of all, and I totally agree with you. I always bring those songs up if I'm arguing with someone about his musicianship.
"Close But No Cigar" is probably my favorite Cake song.
"Close But No Cigar" is probably my favorite Cake song.
Weird Al has avoided the temptation of taking the low road and being mean spirited in his parodies. He makes fun of people and groups but it's always playful. No doubt some can look back at some of his earlier work through a contemporary lens and find something to be fashionably offended by but everyone knows in their heart he wasn't trying to make anyone unhappy for his own benefit.
From Wikipedia: Cobain is claimed to have considered that Nirvana had "made it" with the success of Yankovic's parody.
I always thought that was kind of nice - that they liked being parodied because it meant they were legit.
I always thought that was kind of nice - that they liked being parodied because it meant they were legit.
Didn't he also add the condition that it not be about food?
Sounds like he just asked if it was going to be about food:
"I told [Kurt] I want to do a parody of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' and his first thing was: 'Is it going to be about food?' and I said, 'no, it's going to be about how no one can understand your lyrics.'"
Cobain thought the concept was funny and signed off on it."
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2016/5/17/weird-al-mandator...
"I told [Kurt] I want to do a parody of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' and his first thing was: 'Is it going to be about food?' and I said, 'no, it's going to be about how no one can understand your lyrics.'"
Cobain thought the concept was funny and signed off on it."
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2016/5/17/weird-al-mandator...
Another fun bit of trivia about "Smells Like Nirvana" - when shooting the music video, they used many of the same props, actors, camera angles, and even the same sound stage as the original "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smells_Like_Nirvana#Music_vide...
Smells like teen spirit was unintentionally ironic anyway.
Another anecdote to illustrate that - he doesn't truly legally have to ask permission to do these parodies, but out of courtesy and respect, he always does. And he'll usually refrain from making a parody if a song if the artist has a genuine reason why (e.g. Paul McCartney didn't have an issue with him parodying "Live and Let Die", but Weird Al was trying to turn it into "Chicken Pot Pie" and McCartney, a staunch vegetarian, didn't love that idea).
Weird Al is also a vegetarian, for something like the last 30 years. I'm not sure if he was at that time.
(Maybe he'll show up here and tell us! :) )
Weird Al is great.
(Maybe he'll show up here and tell us! :) )
Weird Al is great.
(I'm not Weird Al).
He became a vegetarian in 1992 (https://www.weirdal.com/archives/faq/, search for "vegetarian").
I don't know when the song was written, but he was playing it as early as 1992 (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/weird-al-yankovic-2bd6cca...).
He became a vegetarian in 1992 (https://www.weirdal.com/archives/faq/, search for "vegetarian").
I don't know when the song was written, but he was playing it as early as 1992 (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/weird-al-yankovic-2bd6cca...).
He'll refrain from making a parody if the artist doesn't want him to at all, no matter what the reason.
Guess that means I’ll never get to hear him do “I am the egg pan”
To parody without a license you can only take the minimum amount of the source to bring to mind the original. See, e.g., Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., 510 U.S. 569 (1994). So, Yankovic probably does need a license from the owner of the composition, because his versions usually borrow the entire source song and don’t change the tune or arrangement. Also, many of Yankovic's songs aren't parodies but take a well-known song and take the lyrics in a completely different direction.
As I understand it, he does also seek permission of the original artist, who isn’t always the owner of the copyright, as a professional courtesy.
As I understand it, he does also seek permission of the original artist, who isn’t always the owner of the copyright, as a professional courtesy.
> you can only take the minimum amount of the source to bring to mind the original.
That's not what the ruling you refer to says, and it's not what the statute says. The ruling's text is at https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/92-1292.ZS.html and mentions nothing along the lines of "minimum". The Supreme Court held in that particular case that the portion of the lyrics copied was not excessive, and left it up to the lower court to decide whether repeating the bass riff was excessive.
The statute's general guidelines are that all four of the following factors must be taken into account when determining fair use:
(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
Factor (3) is the only one that deals with how much of the source material can be used, and it also does not support your assertion. And those rules aren't just for parodies.
That's not what the ruling you refer to says, and it's not what the statute says. The ruling's text is at https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/92-1292.ZS.html and mentions nothing along the lines of "minimum". The Supreme Court held in that particular case that the portion of the lyrics copied was not excessive, and left it up to the lower court to decide whether repeating the bass riff was excessive.
The statute's general guidelines are that all four of the following factors must be taken into account when determining fair use:
(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
Factor (3) is the only one that deals with how much of the source material can be used, and it also does not support your assertion. And those rules aren't just for parodies.
See CPLX’s reply. Fair use is irrelevant if Weird Al is paying for a license, even a compulsory license.
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This is irrelevant.
You can just play the actual song the other person wrote. You’ve heard of the concept of covers right?
I don’t need anyone’s permission to record my own version of any song, and I can change the words or otherwise rearrange it however I want.
I might owe them publishing royalties but that’s an entirely different conversation.
The article implies it’s a grey area but that’s not actually true, it’s not really borderline at all, at least not for creating the songs. Al could have completely ignored the artists opinion he just chose not to.
With that said, the issue of a sync license could be a little more complex, and maybe is what the article is referring to. That could have some impact on the ability to create videos, though that would generally seem to hold up well to a fair use defense.
You can just play the actual song the other person wrote. You’ve heard of the concept of covers right?
I don’t need anyone’s permission to record my own version of any song, and I can change the words or otherwise rearrange it however I want.
I might owe them publishing royalties but that’s an entirely different conversation.
The article implies it’s a grey area but that’s not actually true, it’s not really borderline at all, at least not for creating the songs. Al could have completely ignored the artists opinion he just chose not to.
With that said, the issue of a sync license could be a little more complex, and maybe is what the article is referring to. That could have some impact on the ability to create videos, though that would generally seem to hold up well to a fair use defense.
> I don’t need anyone’s permission to record my own version of any song, and I can change the words or otherwise rearrange it however I want.
You can't change the words - doing so makes your cover a derivative work, and not covered by the usual compulsory licence. You can change the arrangement
You can't change the words - doing so makes your cover a derivative work, and not covered by the usual compulsory licence. You can change the arrangement
Mostly. Give a listen to the gory version of "The Night Santa Went Crazy." But it's still so absurd you can't be too offended. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC4hJMpW2pM
He once said in an interview, "I'm doing a poke in the ribs, not a kick in the butt".
HN readers will probably appreciate Weird Al's "It's All About The Pentiums" (nee Benjamins) from 1999, an incredibly nostalgic time capsule of the late '90s dot-com era in computing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpMvS1Q1sos
My favorite line in that song is "you're just about as useless as JPEGs to Helen Keller". I wonder how many listeners realized that, intentionally or not, he was referring to a major web accessibility problem there.
I imagine many are also able to identify with "White and Nerdy": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw
I've got some kind of greatest hits compilation of his, and I'm really disappointed that wasn't included.
I would also advise listening in a context where you have the lyrics on hand, or listening very carefully. It isn't just some random guy using computer terms that happen to sound good; he knew his stuff. There's a correctly-done NNTP newsgroup joke in there, for pete's sake, and even at the time it was a number of years after that was topical.
“There's a correctly-done NNTP newsgroup joke in there, for pete's sake, and even at the time it was a number of years after that was topical.”
Not only that — it’s part of the joke! The nameless “you” who’s being dissed in the song is so much of a loser that their newsgroup is “alt.total.loser” and that they’re proud of having their own newsgroup at all when they NNTP is already ancient history to the narrator who views themselves as on the cutting edge of technology in 1999.
Not only that — it’s part of the joke! The nameless “you” who’s being dissed in the song is so much of a loser that their newsgroup is “alt.total.loser” and that they’re proud of having their own newsgroup at all when they NNTP is already ancient history to the narrator who views themselves as on the cutting edge of technology in 1999.
It's all about the pentiums is one of those parodies where I have never heard the original. Still a good song.
Thank you for this. There's not enough rock-rap about computer architecture.
The following acts have had a top 40 hit in every decade since the 80s (80s, 90s, 00s, 10s):
U2
Michael Jackson
Madonna
and "Weird Al" Yankovic
Ironically, Al has parodied the other three. :)
U2
Michael Jackson
Madonna
and "Weird Al" Yankovic
Ironically, Al has parodied the other three. :)
The article says there are 5 such acts. Apparently the other one is Weird Al's doppelganger [0] Kenny G, who scraped in with top 40 hits in January 2000 and December 2019.
[0] https://i.redd.it/tiu1j5am3of21.jpg
[0] https://i.redd.it/tiu1j5am3of21.jpg
Most people don't know that Kenny G is a killer jazz improv player too, probably the best living sax player. Check out his unofficial videos on Youtube. He's also a seaplane pilot.
Also, his son, Max G, is a drummer.
Also, his son, Max G, is a drummer.
Also, there's a muppet version of him!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgfZVNv6w2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgfZVNv6w2E
THIS is a great little number!
Gentle reminder that the 20’s are now a “decade since the 80s” ;)
It seems premature to claim that someone didn't get a top 40 hit in the 2020s, though.
I really suggest you read https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22854475
And technically, 2020 is part of the 10's, the decade starts only with 2021. :)
No, 2020 is part of the 2020's, just like 1600 is part of the 1600's. You would have a point if he had referred to 'the 203rd decade' - but no one does.
Wow. A linguistical off-by-one bug. I have never noticed that before.
Interestingly, Wikipedia contradicts itself here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1600s
> The period from 1600 to 1699, synonymous with the 17th century
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century
> The 17th century was the century that lasted from January 1, 1601, to December 31, 1700.
I think this is going to annoy me until I forget about it.
Interestingly, Wikipedia contradicts itself here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1600s
> The period from 1600 to 1699, synonymous with the 17th century
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century
> The 17th century was the century that lasted from January 1, 1601, to December 31, 1700.
I think this is going to annoy me until I forget about it.
Never noticed it? This was a big topic around the turn of the millennium. Was the turn of the millennium the same as the turn of the odometer (2000) or was it the actual start of the third millennium AD (2001)?
Yes, I was aware that years not being zero-indexed can create confusion, but I never noticed this particular consequence of that.
Synonymous does not always mean "exactly the same", some times it's "nearly the same".
Most synonyms have subtle nuance differences I would say.
In this case, if we are talking about hundred-year spans at once, a shift of 1 year is irrelevant, thus I would say "synonymous" is valid.
I hope this soothes your annoyance.
In this case, if we are talking about hundred-year spans at once, a shift of 1 year is irrelevant, thus I would say "synonymous" is valid.
I hope this soothes your annoyance.
I get your point, but would you say "a 99 year period" is synonymous with "a century"?
Generally yes, though it would depend on the exact context.
The Spanish monarchy in the 1600s or in the 17th century is the same for me, same if you say "the Spanish monarchy (1600-1699)", unless a specific event happened in 1700 (revolution?).
The Spanish monarchy in the 1600s or in the 17th century is the same for me, same if you say "the Spanish monarchy (1600-1699)", unless a specific event happened in 1700 (revolution?).
Both the 1600s and the 17th century are 100 years long.
Yes, that wasn't my point. I find the term "synonymous" when used for unambiguous numerical values that are off by 1% strange. But i'm not a native english speaker.
Roughly 1% of people born in the 17th century were not born in the 1600's.
Roughly 1% of people born in the 17th century were not born in the 1600's.
Ah, technically correct, the best sort of correctness.
Michael Jackson in the 70s too, right? But also Jackson died before 2010 and so whatever was top 40 was written previously?
There's really only space for one Weird Al, but he nailed it. He's a talented musician, solid songwriter, has more musical range than any artist I can think of, is backed by a solid team, and seems to genuinely love doing what he does.
> Things geeks say, number 37
> "I liked the Weird Al version better"
https://www.lorebrandcomics.com/number-37.html
Over the last ~3 decades I've had the privilege of hearing several hundred bands perform in a wide variety of style. While this included a lot of very talented musicians and many memorable performances, one of my favorite live events - by far - was seeing Weird Al and his band perform for free at the Santa Clara County Fair.
> "I liked the Weird Al version better"
https://www.lorebrandcomics.com/number-37.html
Over the last ~3 decades I've had the privilege of hearing several hundred bands perform in a wide variety of style. While this included a lot of very talented musicians and many memorable performances, one of my favorite live events - by far - was seeing Weird Al and his band perform for free at the Santa Clara County Fair.
One of the best, most beautifully written articles I've read during this dark timeline. So glad someone submitted it here. Highly recommend listening to the audio version.
One of my touches with greatness; I met Weird Al. He was besties with my college roomie's wife in high school, so I met him at the wedding. I was a sleep deprived grad student, and without his pencil moustache he looks exactly like my pal Tal, who came from a vastly different non wide-bandgap semiconductor social circle, so I had a fairly surreal conversation with him, "Tal? How do you know Mike?"
"I'm not Tal, I'm Al."
He was a pretty cool guy; no pretense about him, and he could have totally trolled me, but was just real nice about it.
He was a pretty cool guy; no pretense about him, and he could have totally trolled me, but was just real nice about it.
Like Spike Jones before him, you need exceptional musicianship to get to comedy. I took my 11 year old son to his first big concert, last August. Weird Al was playing the Greek at Berkeley with Strings Attached. I cherish that night. The concert shirt has become a mainstay in his wardrobe.
I also love that Lin Manuel Miranda was a huge fan which led to the Hamilton Polka.
I also love that Lin Manuel Miranda was a huge fan which led to the Hamilton Polka.
Weird Al's satire has never felt mean-spirited, and he's genuinely musically talented.
And I can never stop hearing "Living in the Fridge" when the radio plays Aerosmith's Living on the Edge
And I can never stop hearing "Living in the Fridge" when the radio plays Aerosmith's Living on the Edge
I heard Al Yankovic's first radio airing of "My Bologna" live on Dr. Demento back in 1979. He went to the same college as both my parents. Everything lined up for me to like this guy and think he was great. However, by the time I heard "Eat It" I thought his gimmick was over. I was amazed that he would get media attention in the 90s and the question lingers with each passing decade. I completely agree that the appeal is weird as I have found Al's shtick to be banal for decades.
I'd agree his shtick is gimmicky, but due to sound musicianship and genuine creativity he continues to entertain. Saw him play live at our local county fair and was surprised at just how good his music and act were. He really put on a show.
Check out some of his newer stuff. Wonderful musically and also often also brilliant satire. E.g.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGM8PT1eAvY
His recent "Word Crimes" video is incredible artistry:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc
He has a larger-than-you-would-expect catalogue of original songs, and they're good, too. From both a musical and a songwriting/structural perspective. No joke!
He refused to do "My Corona" and I think, was probably right.
I would totally buy an album of Weird Al playing Jimmy Shand scots accordion tunes.
I would totally buy an album of Weird Al playing Jimmy Shand scots accordion tunes.
It's such an obvious gag it's already been done several times:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojrtwXqqc6g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo7HB-slsm4
...but at this stage it's a bit like making Holocaust jokes, so I'd steer clear too. (The 2nd video above predates spread in the US and has already aged really badly.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojrtwXqqc6g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo7HB-slsm4
...but at this stage it's a bit like making Holocaust jokes, so I'd steer clear too. (The 2nd video above predates spread in the US and has already aged really badly.)
He did "My Bologna" in the early 80's.
Yep!
https://www.metrolyrics.com/bologna-lyrics-weird-al-yankovic...
That was on a Weird Al tape that I had back then. I still think of his versions of the songs on that tape (like "Another One Rides the Bus") as the "real" versions. I had almost never heard any of the things he was parodying anywhere else.
It must have been his self-titled album, released in 1983:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Weird_Al%22_Yankovic_(album...
https://www.metrolyrics.com/bologna-lyrics-weird-al-yankovic...
That was on a Weird Al tape that I had back then. I still think of his versions of the songs on that tape (like "Another One Rides the Bus") as the "real" versions. I had almost never heard any of the things he was parodying anywhere else.
It must have been his self-titled album, released in 1983:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Weird_Al%22_Yankovic_(album...
I don't think my kids will ever listen to "Beat It" by Michael Jackson, Weird Al's "Eat it" is their favourite song ever. Same for "Another One Rides The Bus".
He got his start on "Dr. Demento". IIRC, My Bologna and Another One Rides the Bus were first performed during an in-studio visit to Dr. Demento (which then aired on Sunday evenings via Westwood One).
People often attribute “Rice rice baby” to him, but he didn’t do that one either. If it’s in poor taste, it probably wasn’t Weird Al.
I remember hearing it on the radio when "Ice" was big but neither the style or the voice sounded like Al so I didn't realize people attributed it to him. I guess my long-ago Napster days should lead me to know better though...every crappy radio station parody had his name on it.
Looking it up now I just learned that "Rice" was done by the guy who also does the "Richard Cheese" act.
Looking it up now I just learned that "Rice" was done by the guy who also does the "Richard Cheese" act.
Oh, give a little space to me
away from me.
Please try not to sneeze in my eyes, corona.
Sanitizer isn't free
uh woe is me
couldn't get an N-95, corona.
Kids are home from school
and they're bugging me
stores are out of food, that's no good
there's none left for me
so I say:
"Why, why, why, why why" Ow!This one might be a bit too soon. Weird al made the right choice here. Be like weird al.
He did do a satirical video called "Germs and You": https://youtu.be/c8fYSW53WsM
So it's not like the subject is off-limits to him. He's just not going to go for the poor-taste, easy joke.
So it's not like the subject is off-limits to him. He's just not going to go for the poor-taste, easy joke.
People often criticize clones and parodies as cheap and derivative, but I think to make a good clone you have to understand the original and what makes it tick. Not just what is the original like, but why is it like that, where did it came from and what inspired it.
Also, a lot of pop music is successful for reasons that have little to do with musical skills - good promotion, lifestyle, media presence, etc... Parody lives and dies on quality alone.
Here's a recent HN discussion about the story behind Weird Al's "World Crimes": Jarrett Heather presents: Word Crimes (2014)
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22820457
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22820457
I've always liked Weird Al's music but feel like most of his biggest hits were made during an era of "monoculture". As sources of entertainment continue to grow, it seems like it will be increasingly difficult to create a parody that resonates with as many people simply because people's entertainment preferences are so much more varied than they have been at any point in history. That said he's very talented and I'm sure he could be successful creating something other than parodies if he wanted to.
Don't feel like dealing with the paywall, so I'm not sure if it's mentioned, but his movie UHF is ... not bad. It's got some funny scenes, and an early Michael Richards (aka Kramer from Seinfeld).
Weird Al’s version of Rambo catching a bullet in his teeth, chewing it up, and machine gunning his attacker with his mouth was a formative moment of my childhood.
I'll never forget the Spatula City ad.
It was “No more Mr Passive Resistance” that did it for me!
Add a . after .com
Thank you. That's, um, weird. I wonder why that works.
Weird. This actually works. Well, thanks random internet friend.
My best friend growing up and I had 'UHF' and every Weird Al album up to 'Smells Like Nirvana' memorized.
I'm surprised the corporate culture parody song Mission Statement didn't come up. Every person who's ever been in a corporation should watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyV_UG60dD4
I can’t fly without thinking of Weird Al’s lyrics of “I got my tray table up, and my seat-back in the full upright position.” It has been well over a decade since I’ve actually heard the song, though. His lyrics have a weird staying-power in the mind.
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My high school girlfriend got me backstage passes to a Weird Al concert. Her dad was Weird Al's manager's insurance agent. Why Weird Al's manager bought insurance from an agent in a smallish town in Michigan, I'll never know, but it was pretty awesome to meet him after the show.
Last year I went to the opening show of his "Ill Advised Vanity Tour" where he only played his original songs. It was amazing seeing him up on stage just playing music without all the costume changes and videos playing in the background. Totally different feel, but still the same awesome Weird Al.
Last year I went to the opening show of his "Ill Advised Vanity Tour" where he only played his original songs. It was amazing seeing him up on stage just playing music without all the costume changes and videos playing in the background. Totally different feel, but still the same awesome Weird Al.
I really enjoyed Al's children's book, 'When I grow up'. Very talented, and yet seems down to earth.
I'm not a huge fan of Yankovic, but I was a fan of the Dr Demento show, which is often credited with getting Weird Al (and many others) his initial exposure.
I'm glad to see he's still popular since I imagine he has a lot more competition these days with youtubers doing their own parodies.
Just saw him for the first time at the Greek theatre in LA last summer :-).
Weird Al does a great live performance.
I caught that tour in Berkeley. And I thought it was good-- but he's done better: The "strings attached" idea was fine enough and I'm glad he did it. But if that's the bar for you I expect you'll be pleasantly surprised by future tours.
[As someone who's seen Weird Al in concert ...uhh... 6 times? I think that's right.]
I caught that tour in Berkeley. And I thought it was good-- but he's done better: The "strings attached" idea was fine enough and I'm glad he did it. But if that's the bar for you I expect you'll be pleasantly surprised by future tours.
[As someone who's seen Weird Al in concert ...uhh... 6 times? I think that's right.]
“He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life.” -Homer J. Simpson
He and his band are as legitimate as any other band they can play any genre or they want to.
I was privileged to see him live a couple of years ago in his ill-advised vanity tour. It was incredible show, and it made me really appreciate him as an artist and musician. Plus he's had the same band since the 80s and he's stuck with him and he's stuck with them.