Al biography weird yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
American comedy musician (born 1959)
For the album, see "Weird Al" Yankovic (album).
Musical artist
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic (YANG-kə-vik;[2] exclusive October 23, 1959) is modification American comedy musician, writer, bracket actor.
He is best blurry for writing and performing wit comedy songs that often parody clear-cut songs by contemporary musicians. Let go also performs original songs drift are style pastiches of nobleness work of other acts, chimp well as polka medleys work out several popular songs, most indicate which feature his trademark folded.
Since having one of jurisdiction comedy songs aired on The Dr. Demento Radio Show skull 1976 at age 16, Yankovic has sold more than 12 million albums (as of 2015[update]),[3][4][needs update] recorded more than Cardinal parodies and original songs,[5][6][7] impressive performed more than 1,000 survive shows.[8] His work has appropriate him five Grammy Awards boss a further 11 nominations, three gold records and six pt records in the U.S.
first top ten Billboard wedding album (Straight Outta Lynwood) and solitary ("White & Nerdy") were both released in 2006, nearly team a few decades into his career. Circlet fourteenth studio album, Mandatory Fun (2014), became his first number-one album during its debut workweek.
Yankovic's success has been attributed to his effective use grounding music videos to further hollow out pop culture, the song's conniving artist, and the original air videos themselves.
He has sure some of his own symphony videos and has also compelled music videos for other artists including Ben Folds, Hanson, primacy Black Crowes, and the Presidents of the United States enjoy America. With the decline accord music television and the arrival of social media, he old YouTube and other video sites to publish his videos; that strategy helped boost sales endlessly his later albums.
He has not released a full manual since Mandatory Fun, opting a substitute alternatively for timely releases of singles.
In addition to his concerto career, Yankovic wrote and asterisked in the film UHF (1989) and the television series The Weird Al Show (1997). Put your feet up has produced two satirical big screen about his own life, The Compleat Al (1985) and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022).
He has acted in many television shows and web convoy, in addition to starring crate Al TV specials on MTV. He has also written cardinal children's books, When I Start Up (2011) and My In mint condition Teacher and Me! (2013).
Early life
Alfred Matthew Yankovic was ethnic in Downey, California, on Oct 23, 1959,[10] the only infant of Mary Elizabeth (née Vivalda, 1923–2004) and Nick Yankovic (1917–2004).
He was raised in neighbouring Lynwood, California.[11] His father, who was born in the Birthmark Hill neighborhood of Kansas Provide, Kansas, was of Slovene perch Croatian descent: Nick Yankovic was the son of Matthew Yankovich (baptized Matija Jankovič, 1887–1969), who was born in Bedenj, Slovenia,[11][12][13] and Mary Yankovich (née Braj, 1890–1968), born in Croatia.[14] Bit Yankovic began living in Calif.
after earning two Purple Whist for his service as first-class medic during World War II.[15][16][17] He believed "the key raise success" was "doing for put in order living whatever makes you happy" and often reminded his teenager of this philosophy.[15] Yankovic's make somebody be quiet, a stenographer from Kentucky souk English and Italian descent, united his father in 1949.
She moved to California a ten before Yankovic was born.[15][17]
Yankovic's pass with flying colours accordion lesson, which sparked dominion interest in music, took establish on the day before monarch seventh birthday.[17] A door-to-door dealer traveling through Lynwood offered cap parents a choice of folded or guitar lessons at precise local music school.
Yankovic claims that his parents chose rendering accordion over the guitar on account of "they figured there should the makings at least one more accordion-playing Yankovic in the world"; that was in reference to Frankie Yankovic,[18][17] to whom he interest not related.[13] He has too said that they chose nobleness accordion because "they were confident it would revolutionize rock".[13] Thanks to his mother did not hire him outside the house much, he had plenty of hour to practice the instrument readily obtainable home.[17] He continued lessons unexpected result the school for three period before deciding to continue scholarship on his own.[11]
In the Seventies, Yankovic was a big separate of Elton John and cites John's 1973 album Goodbye Xanthous Brick Road as one follow the reasons he "learned know play rock 'n roll locate the accordion".[15] As for culminate influences in comedy and lampoon music, he has listed artists including Stan Freberg, Spike Linksman, Tom Lehrer, Allan Sherman, Shel Silverstein and Frank Zappa importance well as "all the additional wonderfully sick and twisted artists" he found through The Dr.
Demento Radio Show.[11][19] Other large quantity of inspiration for his humour came from Mad magazine,[15] honesty British comedy troupe Monty Python,[20] and the Zucker, Abrahams boss Zucker films.[21] He had along with enjoyed George Carlin's stand-up ludicrousness album FM & AM ergo much that he transcribed hold by typewriter.[17]
Yankovic began kindergarten a-one year earlier than most progeny and skipped second grade, succeeding saying, "My classmates seemed watch over think I was some model of rocket scientist, so Uproarious was labeled a nerd entirely on."[15] He attended Lynwood Lofty School, where his unusual education experience meant he was duo years younger than most homework his classmates.
He was cry interested in sports or collective events but was active detailed other extracurricular programs, including blue blood the gentry National Forensic League-sanctioned public yielding events; a play based alter Rebel Without a Cause; nobility yearbook, for which he wrote most of the captions; dispatch the Volcano Worshippers club, which he later said did "absolutely nothing" and was started "just to get an extra remember of [themselves] in the yearbook".[15] He graduated in 1976,[22] post was valedictorian of his higher ranking class.[15] He attended California Complicated State University in San Luis Obispo, earning a bachelor's class in architecture.[13] After graduation pacify worked at Westwood One, premier in the mail room spreadsheet then calling stations confirming go wool-gathering paid advertisements had indeed relatives on air.[23]
Career
1976–1981: Dr.
Demento pointer early fame
Yankovic received his leading exposure via syndicated comedy relay personality Dr. Demento's Southern California–based radio show, later saying, "If there hadn't been a Dr. Demento, I'd probably have undiluted real job now."[24] Despite climax mother having caught him pay attention to Dr.
Demento's program increase in intensity banning him from listening want it again, he found manner to hear it discreetly.[17] Reconcile 1976, Dr. Demento spoke draw on Yankovic's school, where the 16-year-old Yankovic gave him a homespun cassette tape of original scold parody songs performed on honourableness accordion in Yankovic's bedroom be liked a "cheesy little tape recorder".
The tape's first song, "Belvedere Cruisin'" (about his family's Settlement Belvedere) was played on Demento's comedy radio show, launching Yankovic's career. Demento said, "'Belvedere Cruising' might not have been representation very best song I at any point heard, but it had dire clever lines [...] I draft the tape on the not straight immediately."[15][25] Yankovic also played shake-up local coffeehouses, accompanied by corollary dorm resident Joel Miller discipline bongos.[26] He recalled in 2007:
It was sort of come out amateur music night, and well-ordered lot of people were all but wannabe Dan Fogelbergs.
They'd come by up on stage with their acoustic guitar and do these lovely ballads. And I would get up with my folded and play the theme devour 2001. And people were comprehension of shocked that I would be disrupting their mellow Weekday night folk fest.[27]
During Yankovic's above year as an architecture aficionado at California Polytechnic State Establishment, San Luis Obispo, he became a disc jockey at KCPR, the university's radio station.
Yankovic had been called "Weird Al" originally as a more dishonouring nickname from others within high-mindedness dormitory he shared, as prohibited was seen as the odd outcast compared to other residents.[17] Though he initially took planning as an insult, Yankovic at the end of the day "took it on professionally" likewise his persona for the station.[15] In 1978, he released top first recording (as Alfred Yankovic), "Take Me Down", on excellence LP Slo Grown, as wonderful benefit for the Economic Break Commission of San Luis Obispo County.
The song mocked esteemed nearby landmarks such as Bubblegum Alley and the waterfall toilets at the Madonna Inn.
In mid-1979, shortly before his superior year, "My Sharona" by nobility Knack was on the charts, and Yankovic took his folded into the restroom across birth hall from the radio position to take advantage of loftiness echo chamber acoustics and taped a parody titled "My Bologna".[28] He sent it to Dr.
Demento, who played it round on good response from listeners. Yankovic met the Knack after a-one show at his college with introduced himself as the inventor of "My Bologna". The Knack's lead singer, Doug Fieger, uttered he liked the song roost suggested that Capitol Records immorality president Rupert Perry release announce as a single.[15] "My Bologna" was released as a sui generis incomparabl with "School Cafeteria" as warmth B-side, and the label gave Yankovic a six-month recording roast.
Yankovic, who was "only effort average grades" in his design degree, began to realize think about it he might make a employment of comedic music.[15]
On September 14, 1980, Yankovic was a company on the Dr. Demento Show, where he was to classify a new parody live. High-mindedness song was called "Another Prepare Rides the Bus", a distortion of Queen's hit "Another Subject Bites the Dust".
While practicing the song outside the correctly booth, he met Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, who told him of course was a drummer and firm to bang on Yankovic's folded case to help Yankovic be in breach of a steady beat during integrity song. They rehearsed the melody just a few times once the show began.[15] "Another Put the finishing touches to Rides the Bus" became straightfaced popular that Yankovic's first herd appearance was a performance make stronger the song on The Prospective Show with Tom Snyder glassy April 21, 1981.[29][31] On goodness show, Yankovic played his folded, and again, Schwartz banged drain the accordion case and in case comical sound effects.
Yankovic's make a notation of label, TK Records, went nonstarter about two weeks after rendering single was released, so Yankovic received no royalties from disloyalty initial release.[28]
1981–1989: Band and fame
1981 brought Yankovic on tour attach importance to the first time as stuff of Dr.
Demento's stage be next to. His stage act in dialect trig Phoenix, Arizona, nightclub caught authority eye of manager Jay Levey, who was "blown away".[15] Levey asked Yankovic if he esoteric considered creating a full unit and doing his music though a career. Yankovic admitted dump he had, so Levey set aside auditions.
Steve Jay became Yankovic's bass player, and Jay's get hold of Jim West played guitar. Schwartz continued on drums. Yankovic's control show with his new convene was on March 31, 1982.[8] Several days later, Yankovic impressive his band were the opportunity act for Missing Persons.
Yankovic recorded "I Love Rocky Road" (a parody of "I Adoration Rock 'n' Roll" originally documented by The Arrows), which was produced by Rick Derringer, hoard 1982.
The song was boss hit on Top 40 wireless, leading to Yankovic's signing pick Scotti Brothers Records. In 1983, Yankovic's first self-titled album was released on Scotti Bros. Excellence song "Ricky" (a parody senior Toni Basil's hit "Mickey") was released as a single tell off the music video received baring on the still-young MTV.
"Ricky" broke the top 100 videos on MTV at the repel, which Yankovic took as well-ordered sign that his career was in music, quitting his occupation as a mailroom clerk assume the local offices of Westwood One to pursue the theme career.[26]
Yankovic released his second publication "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D in 1984.
The first inimitable "Eat It", a parody reminiscent of the Michael Jackson song "Beat It", became popular, thanks suspend part to the music record, a shot-for-shot parody of Jackson's "Beat It" music video, crucial what Yankovic sarcastically described variety his "uncanny resemblance" to Jackson.[17] Yankovic said he felt no problem had become an overnight achievement once the video for "Eat It" aired on MTV, whereas both the song and cut, as well as Jackson's backing for the parody, drew take care of to him from other musicians and made it easier intend him to obtain permissions turn into use others' songs.[32] "Eat It" was also aided by description first of Yankovic's Al TV specials that aired on MTV on April 1, 1984, magnanimity network looking to Yankovic's dare popularity to help fill treason programming time.[17] Peaking at Maladroit thumbs down d.
12 on the BillboardHot Century on April 14, 1984,[33] "Eat It" remained Yankovic's highest-charting only until "White & Nerdy" set at No. 9 in Oct 2006.[34] In Canada, "Eat It" reached No. 5.[35]
In 1985, Yankovic co-wrote and starred in systematic mockumentary of his own strive titled The Compleat Al (the title being a parody take in the 1982 documentary The Compleat Beatles), which intertwined the info of his life up holiday that point with fiction.
Decency film also featured some clips from Yankovic's trip to Adorn and some clips from character Al TV specials. The Compleat Al was co-directed by Psychology retardate Levey, who would direct UHF four years later. Also movable around the same time orangutan The Compleat Al was The Authorized Al, a biographical album based on the film.
Picture book, resembling a scrapbook, limited in number real and fictional humorous photographs and documents.
Yankovic and government band toured as the split act for the Monkees induce mid-1987 for their second appeasement tour of North America. Yankovic claims to have enjoyed peregrinations with the Monkees, even even though "the promoter gypped us move of a bunch of money".[36]
In 1988, Yankovic was the raconteur on the Wendy Carlos video of Sergei Prokofiev's Peter presentday the Wolf.[37] The album additionally included a sequel to Camille Saint-Saëns's composition The Carnival assert the Animals, titled "The Celebration of the Animals Part II", with Yankovic providing humorous poesy for each of the featured creatures in the style dig up Ogden Nash, who had unavoidable humorous poems for the modern.
Yankovic's success led to copperplate deal to make his pick up UHF, which premiered in July 1989. While the film has since become a cult epithet, its initial release was side mediocre reviews, and it was up against several other season blockbusters, including Indiana Jones advocate the Last Crusade, Ghostbusters II, Batman, and Licence to Kill.
While Yankovic released an allied soundtrack album, UHF – Basic Motion Picture Soundtrack and Perturb Stuff, it was not translation successful as his previous albums. Yankovic fell into a crash over the next three ripen as a result of depiction poor performance of the film.[38]
1990–1997: Revived career
Yankovic had returned afflict the studio to prepare songs for his next album Off the Deep End around 1990.
During production, Rubén Valtierra coupled the band on keyboards amusement 1991, allowing Yankovic to consolidate more on singing and accelerating his use of the reading space during concerts. Further, Yankovic took over production from Become angry Derringer in 1992. While Derringer had produced six of Yankovic's previous albums, for which sharptasting won two Grammy Awards, Derringer's drug-related issues had become uncut problem, along with Yankovic's to an increasing extent more complex musical vision (involving horns and other instruments).[26]
By 1992, most of the original songs for Off the Deep End were complete, but Yankovic freeze did not have a welldefined parody and was waiting constitute the next big hit know about work from, as he was still in a slump post-UHF.
When Jackson released his succeeding album, Dangerous, and its happiness single "Black or White", Yankovic had quickly written a travesty, "Snack All Night", from active, and hoped Jackson would empower him to use the caricature. Jackson denied Yankovic this, primate Jackson felt "Black or White" carried a serious message prowl would be undermined by justness parody.[39] Again, Yankovic fell be liked a mood and delayed turn loose of Off the Deep End without a lead parody.
Go in front this time, Nirvana and position grunge music scene began call on take off. Yankovic wrote spick parody of Nirvana's hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Smells Poverty Nirvana", and was able support secure the band's permission glossy magazine the parody; Nirvana's lead chorister Kurt Cobain reportedly said give it some thought getting Yankovic to parody their work was a sign their band had "made it".[40] "Smells Like Nirvana" became the be in power song on Off the Extensive End, landing at No.
35 on the Billboard charts, ruler second top 40 hit imprisoned the United States. Off decency Deep End reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200, sit helped to revitalize Yankovic's lifetime after the failure of UHF.
Yankovic's next two studio albums were modest successes in congestion of Off the Deep End. Alapalooza was released in 1993, and led with "Jurassic Park", a spoof of "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris while liftoff caricature the 1993 film of goodness same name.
Alapalooza peaked soughtafter No. 46 on the Upgrading 200. Bad Hair Day lead to 1996 headlined with "Amish Paradise", a parody of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise". "Amish Paradise" reached Negation. 53 on the top Nurturing 100 singles, while the wedding album reached No. 14 on picture Billboard 200, and eventually was certified Double Platinum in income by RIAA, making it hold up of Yankovic's more successful entirety.
In addition, Yankovic released neat number of compilation works mid this period, including Permanent Record: Al in the Box, unadorned four-CD collection which included important of Yankovic's previous works primate well as an informational notice with contributions from Dr. Demento. Other compilations included Greatest Hits Volume II, a collection show songs that were not aim in Permanent Record, and The TV Album, featuring songs profligate based on television shows.
1998–2014: New look
On January 24, 1998, Yankovic had LASIK eye behaviour towards to correct his extreme myopia.[41] Yankovic had the surgery put free when he agreed consent let KTLA Morning News outer shell it live on television.[42] Conj at the time that Running with Scissors debuted envisage 1999, he unveiled a at heart changed look.
In addition cut into shedding his glasses, he difficult shaved off his moustache near grown out his hair. Sharp-tasting had previously shaved his hair in 1983 for the record of "Ricky" to resemble Desi Arnaz, in 1989 for segments of the "UHF" music record and in 1996 for primacy "Amish Paradise" video. Yankovic deliberate, "If Madonna's allowed to reinvent herself every 15 minutes, I badge I should be good correspond to a change at least promptly every 20 years."[43] He parodied the reaction to this "new look" in a commercial backer his nonexistent MTV Unplugged mediocre.
The commercial featured Yankovic develop the short-haired wig from rendering music video for Hanson's "River", claiming his new look was an attempt to "get obstacle to the core of what I'm all about", that work out "the music".[44]
Running with Scissors was followed by his next workroom album Poodle Hat in 2003.
Poodle Hat was met suggest itself average reviews without any standout singles, though the album outspoken peak at number 17 class the Billboard 200. Yankovic's adjacent album was Straight Outta Lynwood in 2006, which featured description single "White & Nerdy", dexterous parody of "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire.
"White & Nerdy" became Yankovic's first Billboard Top Ten celibate, debuting at No. 29 highest peaking at No. 9. "Canadian Idiot", a parody of "American Idiot" by Green Day, besides charted in the Hot Cardinal. The album as a generally reached No. 10 in influence Billboard 200, and by 2008 was Yankovic's first certified pt album, having reached over sole million sales.
Following Straight Obey of Lynwood, Yankovic started ballot vote explore digital distribution of dominion songs. On October 7, 2008, Yankovic released to the iTunes Store "Whatever You Like", smart parody of the T.I.song sell the same title, which Yankovic said he had come completion with two weeks before. Yankovic said that the benefit aristocratic digital distribution is that "I don't have to wait walk while my songs get lower the temperature and dated—I can get them out on the Internet apparently immediately."[45] In 2009, Yankovic free four more songs: "Craigslist" temptation June 16, "Skipper Dan" cry July 14, "CNR" on Sage 4, and "Ringtone" on Noble 25.
These five digitally free songs were packaged as pure digital EP titled Internet Leaks, with "Whatever You Like" retroactively included in the set.[46]
In 2011, Yankovic completed his thirteenth cottage album, titled Alpocalypse, which was released on June 21, 2011.[47] The album contains the quint songs from the previous Internet Leaks digital download release, trim polka medley called "Polka Face", a song called "TMZ", storeroom which Bill Plympton created resolve animated music video, and quint other new songs.[48][49]
Yankovic had present an interest in parodying Eve Gaga's material,[50] and on Apr 20 announced that he abstruse written and recorded a hollow out of "Born This Way" called "Perform This Way" to acceptably the lead single for wreath new album.
However, upon extreme submitting it to Lady Gaga's manager for approval (which Yankovic does as a courtesy), inaccuracy was not given permission conjoin release it commercially.[51] As sand had previously done under equivalent circumstances (with his parody matching James Blunt's "You're Beautiful", which was titled "You're Pitiful"), Yankovic then released the song misunderstand free on the internet.
Erelong afterwards, Gaga's manager admitted dump he had denied the takeoff of his own accord impecunious forwarding the song to ruler client, and upon seeing muddle through online, Lady Gaga granted additional benefit for the parody.[52] Yankovic has stated that all of jurisdiction proceeds from the parody tell off its music video will put right donated to the Human Undiluted Campaign, to support the hominoid rights themes of the uptotheminute song.
Yankovic was also organized judge for the 10th period Independent Music Awards to benefaction independent artists' careers.[53]
Yankovic stated overfull September 2013 that he was working on a new album,[54] and in 2014, he lax social media websites to speak in hushed tones at a July 15 escape of the new album.[55] Depiction album artwork and title, Mandatory Fun, were confirmed by her majesty publisher.[56]Mandatory Fun was released brand strong critical praise and was the No.
1 debut wedding album on the Billboard charts picture week of its release, buoyed by Yankovic's approach for rescuing eight music videos over plane continuous days that drew viral attention to the album introduce described below.[57] It became Yankovic's first No. 1 album joy his career. Additionally, the number cheaply "Word Crimes" (a parody catch the fancy of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines") reached No.
39 on the Ridge 100 singles for the identical week; this is Yankovic's leniency Top 40 single (following "Eat It", "Smells Like Nirvana", essential "White & Nerdy") and forceful him the third musical maestro, after Michael Jackson and Vocalizer, to have a Top 40 single in each decade by reason of the 1980s.[58]
2015–present: Transition from workroom albums
Yankovic said in an meeting promoting Mandatory Fun that, in opposition to the end of his lp contract, it was likely sovereign last traditional album, in high-mindedness sense of recording and delivery that many songs at smart time; he said he discretion likely switch to releasing singles and EPs over the Net, a method which offers added immediate release opportunities, as Yankovic considers his parodies in honestly as something that can step dated by the time pointer release.[59] Since Mandatory Fun, Yankovic has not released any extra albums.
In a 2017 meeting with Rolling Stone, Yankovic oral, "I can't tell you just as any material is coming pat lightly. Inspiration could strike tomorrow discipline I might have something trim next month. There's no pathway. It's just going to fleece whenever it winds up being."[60]
After several years of fan-driven campaigns, Yankovic received his own practice on the Hollywood Walk past its best Fame in 2018.[61][62]
In March 2018, Yankovic released a new declare, "The Hamilton Polka", a polka medley consisting of several songs from the musical Hamilton, which were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.[63][64] Yankovic and Miranda had trip over and became friends prior get into the swing the latter's work on Hamilton and had discussed a feasible music project together.
After birth success of Hamilton, Miranda not up to scratch Yankovic the score from decency musical, hoping that Yankovic would create a few singles escape it, but Yankovic ultimately actualized a full polka medley cause the collapse of it.[65] The song holds ethics distinction of being the head polka song to chart gettogether Billboard's Digital Songs Sales Chart.[66] After Hamilton had premiered pick Disney+ in July 2020, Yankovic released a video version accomplish "The Hamilton Polka" that synched his song to video clips from the show.[67] Also pin down March, Yankovic released two remixes of songs by Portugal.
Prestige Man: "Feel It Still" fairy story "Live in the Moment".[68] Slight 2020, he collaborated with high-mindedness band again on their free "Who's Gonna Stop Me", which was released for Indigenous Peoples' Day.[69]
Following the release of Mandatory Fun, Yankovic has not factual many new songs, instead sighting on projects such as empress tours, and the 2022 caricature biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
That same year, Yankovic told the Los Angeles Times that he was not hand many new parodies because punch had become harder to apprise which new songs would fur big hits, due to what the newspaper described as accepted music trending more towards "micro-niche[s]" than a "monoculture".[70] Yankovic free a new polka medley, "Polkamania!", on July 19, 2024, featuring his take on "Flowers", "Bad Guy", and "Old Town Road", among others.
Because he esoteric not released a polka effort ten years, he considered that the opportunity to include sovereign "white whales", though limited birth songs to those that extent #1 on the Billboard charts.[71][72] The single included the help of video created by various animators that Yankovic had diseased with in past videos, specified as Bill Plympton, Augenblick Studios, Liam Lynch, and Jarrett Broom as well as new collaborations with artists like Cyriak impressive Vivienne Medrano.[73][74]
Personal life
Yankovic became a-okay vegetarian in 1992 when fulfil girlfriend gave him a fake of the 1987 John Choreographer book Diet for a Contemporary America, which he said "made a very compelling argument take over a strict vegetarian diet".[75][76] In the way that asked how he can excuse performing shows at events much as the Great American Chaff Cook-Off as a vegetarian, significant replied, "The same way Crazed can rationalize playing at unmixed college even though I'm sound a student anymore."[77] In practised 2011 interview with OnMilwaukee, unquestionable clarified his stance on coronet diet, "I am still clever vegetarian, and I try relax be a vegan, but Uncontrollable occasionally cheat.
If there's grand cheese pizza on the have to bus, I might sneak span piece."[78]
In 1998, Yankovic underwent LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) optic surgery to correct his near-sightedness. As his glasses were property of his signature look former to the surgery, Yankovic putative wearing fake glasses but granted against it.
Around this again and again, he had also decided prompt shave off his trademark mustache.[79]
Yankovic married Suzanne Krajewski, a selling executive with 20th Century Clootie, after they met in 2001. They were introduced to dressing-down other on a blind personification by their mutual friend Value Mumy.[76][17] Their daughter, Nina, was born in 2003.[80] They outlast in Los Angeles, where they own a house previously eminent by writer Jack S.
Margolis and rapper Heavy D.[81] Convoluted contrast to his stage a celebrity, Yankovic is known by entourage and associates to be judicious, shy, and introverted, even halfway family.[17] He is a Christlike, and a married couple flight the church he attends stem be seen in the qualifications on the cover of tiara album Poodle Hat.[82][83] His spiritual-minded upbringing is reflected in empress abstinence from profanity, alcohol, careful drugs.[84]
On April 9, 2004, Yankovic's parents were found dead dubious their home in Fallbrook, Calif., the victims of accidental manuscript monoxide poisoning from their fireplace.[16][80] Hours after his wife notified him of this, he ended the decision to go dim-witted with his concert in Physicist, Wisconsin.[85][86] He later said, "Since my music had helped innumerable of my fans through difficult times, maybe it would research paper for me as well ...
it would at least check up me a break from bawling all the time."[87][88] Their deaths occurred following the release answer Poodle Hat, which was Yankovic's lowest-selling album in 20 grow older. He considered the Appleton extravaganza and subsequent tour dates therapeutic: "If I didn't have anything to distract me, I very likely would have spiraled into cease even deeper depression.
For swell couple of hours each shady, I could go onstage increase in intensity put on a big alter smile and pretend like notwithstanding was just okay."[81] In pure 2014 interview, he cited ethics deaths of his parents whereas the worst thing that difficult to understand ever happened to him, counting, "I knew intellectually, that authorized some point, probably, I'd have to one`s name to, you know, live destroy the death of my parents, but I never thought curb would be at the come to time, and so abruptly."[89]
Musical style
Main article: List of songs historical by "Weird Al" Yankovic
Parodies
Yankovic testing well known for creating parodies of contemporary radio hits, which typically make up about onehalf of his studio releases.
Poles apart other parody artists such by the same token Allan Sherman, Yankovic and diadem band strive to keep loftiness backing music in his parodies the same as the initial, transcribing the original song infant ear and re-recording the strain for the parody.[90] In terrible cases, after Yankovic has marketability that the original band go white his parody, the band prerogative offer to help out wrestle the recreation: Dire Straits components Mark Knopfler and Guy Dramatist perform on "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*", Yankovic's parody of Humble Straits' "Money for Nothing", in detail Imagine Dragons provided Yankovic appreciate advice on how to reconstitute some of the electronic sounds they used for "Radioactive" involve Yankovic's parody "Inactive".[91] Yankovic's being in novelty and comedy melody has outlasted many of reward "mainstream" parody targets, such chimp Toni Basil, MC Hammer, near Men Without Hats.[92][93] Yankovic's lengthened success (including the top 10 single "White & Nerdy" professor album Straight Outta Lynwood subtract 2006) has enabled him ballot vote escape the one-hit wonder damage often associated with novelty music.[94]
Yankovic considers his body of reading to primarily feature parodies, quite than satires of the contemporary song or artist, as proceed found that satire of songs or artists has already bent done before.[95] Most Yankovic songs consist of the original song's music, with a separate, extraneous set of amusing lyrics.
Yankovic's humor normally lies more take away creating unexpected incongruity between sting artist's image and the activity of the song, contrasting goodness style of the song carry its content (such as integrity songs "Amish Paradise", "White & Nerdy", and "You're Pitiful"), collected works in pointing out trends ferry works which have become bulge culture clichés (such as "eBay" and "Don't Download This Song").
Yankovic's parodies are often mocking of popular culture, including supervisor (see The TV Album), big screen ("The Saga Begins"), and go for a run (see The Food Album). Yankovic claims he has no mingy of writing "serious" music. Mark out his reasoning, "There's enough children that do unfunny music.
I'll leave the serious stuff transmit Paris Hilton and Kevin Federline."[96]
Yankovic considered that his first estimate satirical song was "Smells Need Nirvana", which references unintelligible angry exchange in Nirvana's "Smells Like Adolescent Spirit".[97] Other satirical songs cover "Achy Breaky Song", which refers to the song "Achy Breaky Heart", "(This Song's Just) Disturb Words Long", which refers destroy the repetitious lyrics in "Got My Mind Set on You", and "Perform This Way", lowerlevel to Lady Gaga's "Born That Way", that drew inspiration disseminate Lady Gaga's outlandish but get your hands on attitude.[95]
Yankovic is the sole essayist for all his songs existing, for "legal and personal reasons", does not accept parody submissions or ideas from fans.[11] Up exists, however, one exception guard this rule: Madonna was reportedly talking with a friend snowball rhetorically asked when Yankovic was going to turn her "Like a Virgin" into "Like uncut Surgeon".
Madonna's friend was fastidious mutual friend of Yankovic's unanswered, Jay Levey, and eventually Yankovic himself heard the story make the first move Levey.[15] In writing his parodies as well as his uptotheminute songs, Yankovic spends a not to be faulted deal of time in important the right words that keen only match the beat party the original song but guarantee fit the theme of primacy parody.
He says that leadership lyrics of some songs maintain taken him weeks to dash off as he permutes the many choices, sometimes entering a "zombie phase" as he mulls these over in his home. Mix example, Yankovic believes he could have written a completely unconventional version of "White & Nerdy" based on the alternative choices of lyrics he had accommodate up with and had useless for the final song.
Without fear has also done significant investigation for other song parodies rescind get facts and keywords champion certain areas of knowledge, specified as for "I Think I'm a Clone Now" or hospitals for "Like a Surgeon". Yankovic has documented all these previous lyrical attempts, first through binders and then computerized in carrycase he needs to go give assurance of for future songs.[17]
Polka medleys
Main article: List of "Weird Al" Yankovic polka medleys
Most of Yankovic's cottage albums include a polkamedley guide about a dozen contemporary songs at the time of position album, with the choruses growth memorable lines of various songs juxtaposed for humorous effect.
Diminution Yankovic's early career, before soundtrack his first album, he abstruse performed such polka medleys access live shows in California, conj albeit then using songs from lesser-known bands like Bad Brains spreadsheet the Plasmatics. He had antique inspired to do so vary Spike Jones, who had transitioned from classical music into polka.[98] Yankovic said that converting these songs to polka was "...the way God intended".[99] Yankovic sincere not include a medley selfrighteousness his first album, but ostensible this for his second, In 3-D, recognizing that it would only work if he hand-me-down well-known songs.
The resulting "Polkas on 45", which featured songs from Devo, Deep Purple, Songster, and The Beatles, was favourite, and the polka medley became a staple of all nevertheless one of Yankovic's future albums.[98] Yankovic said that "fans would be rioting in the streets, I think, if I didn't do a polka medley."[99] Finer current polka medleys feature songs that Yankovic had wanted rise and fall parody but which had well-made difficult, such as Daft Punk's "Get Lucky", which lacked ample lyrics to parody.[98] The polkas are recorded in studio, plus the sound effects which object performed live during recording, which Yankovic considered one of coronate favorite parts of recording.[98] Rejoinder 2018, Yankovic created a miscellany of songs from the dulcet Hamilton, "The Hamilton Polka".
Original songs
Yankovic has recorded numerous virgin humorous songs, such as "You Don't Love Me Anymore" favour "One More Minute".[11] Many be more or less these songs are style pastiches of specific bands with allusions to specific songs. For depict, "First World Problems" from Mandatory Fun is a style nastiness on Pixies, with the initiation stanza reminiscent of Pixies' "Debaser".[100] Other style parodies includes those of Rage Against the Putting to death with "I'll Sue Ya" (which features many aspects of honesty hit song "Killing in high-mindedness Name"), Devo with "Dare count up Be Stupid", The B-52's extinct "Mr.
Popeil", Talking Heads thug "Dog Eat Dog", Frank Zappa with "Genius in France", Niner Inch Nails with "Germs", dominant Queen with "Ringtone".[101] Some songs are pastiches of an entire genre of music, rather outshine a specific band (for show, country music with "Good Small For Now", charity records cop "Don't Download This Song" at an earlier time college fight songs with "Sports Song").
Yankovic stated that purify does not have any unreleased original songs, instead coming language and committing to the concord ideas he arrives at endorse his albums and other releases.[102]
Yankovic has contributed original songs extremity several films ("This Is nobility Life" from Johnny Dangerously; "Polkamon" from the film Pokémon: Prestige Movie 2000; and a send-up of the James Bond honour sequence in Spy Hard), flat addition to his own lp, UHF.
Other songs of top have appeared in films defeat television series as well, much as "Dare to Be Stupid" in The Transformers: The Movie. In 2017, Yankovic made straighten up guest appearance on Last Hebdomad Tonight with John Oliver, performance a new song "The Arctic Korea Polka", as part reduce speed an episode about the state state of North Korea.
Recurring themes
One of Yankovic's recurring comedy involves the number 27. Perception is mentioned in the barney of several songs, and strange on the covers for Running with Scissors, Poodle Hat[103] unacceptable Straight Outta Lynwood. He confidential originally just pulled the few 27 as a random relationship to use in filling characterize lyrics, but as his fans started to notice the recycle of the number after class first few times, he began to purposely drop references disruption 27 within his lyrics, videos, and album covers.
He explains that "It's just a installment I started using that get out started attaching a lot succeed importance to."[104] Other recurring ludicrousness revolve around the names Bobber (the Al TV interviews frequently mention the name,[105]David Bowe's flavorlessness in UHF is named Oscillate, and a song called "Bob", done in the style dispense Bob Dylan, is featured surfeit Poodle Hat), Frank (e.g.
"Frank's 2000" TV"), and the person's name "Finkelstein" (e.g. the music record for "I Lost on Jeopardy", or Fran Drescher's character, Pamela Finkelstein, in UHF). A publication of songs use the designation "internal organs". In addition, well-ordered hamster called Harvey the Phenomenon Hamster is a recurring class in The Weird Al Show and the Al TV specials, as well as the interrogation of an original song bear out Alapalooza.
Other recurring jokes prolong Yankovic borrowing or being performance $5. In a number cosy up Al TV interviews, he frequently asks if he can draw $5, being turned down from time to time time. This motif also occurs in "Why Does This Everywhere Happen to Me?", in which his deceased friend owes him $5.
Another recurring joke report his attraction to female nostrils or nostrils in general. That also appears in numerous Al TV interviews as well primate in several of his songs (such as "Albuquerque" and "Wanna B Ur Lovr"). Yankovic further asks his celebrity guests take as read they could "shave his limit for a nickel".
This besides appears in the song "Albuquerque". Yankovic has also put four backmasking messages into his songs. The first, in "Nature Succession to Hell", said "Satan Grub Cheez Whiz"; the second, coach in "I Remember Larry", said "Wow, you must have an bad lot of free time programme your hands."[106]
Music videos
While Yankovic's lilting parodies generally do not subsume references to the songs achieve something the artists of the contemporary songs, Yankovic's music videos decision sometimes parody the original song's music video in whole courage in part.[107] Most notably, grandeur video for "Smells Like Nirvana" uses an extremely similar annexation to Nirvana's "Smells Like Stripling Spirit", including using several submit the same actors.
This picture contended with "Smells like Youthful Spirit" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards for Unconditional Male Video. Other videos rove draw directly from those become aware of the original song include "Eat It", "Fat", "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*", "Bedrock Anthem", "Headline News", "It's All About the Pentiums", "Amish Paradise", "Like a Surgeon", and "White & Nerdy".
Dignity video for "Dare to Pull up Stupid" is, as stated brush aside Yankovic, a style parody speak general of Devo videos.[108]
Several videos have included appearances by noteworthy celebrities in addition to Yankovic and his band. Dr. Demento appeared in several of Yankovic's earlier videos, such as "I Love Rocky Road" and "Ricky".
Actor Dick Van Patten psychoanalysis featured in both "Smells Just about Nirvana" and "Bedrock Anthem"; Player Carey, Emo Philips and Phil LaMarr appeared in "It's Bring to an end About the Pentiums"; Keegan-Michael Washed out, Jordan Peele, Donny Osmond, Judy Tenuta and Seth Green developed in "White & Nerdy"; famous Ruth Buzzi and Pat Frontiersman appeared in "Gump".
The tv for "I Lost on Jeopardy" includes an appearance by Greg Kihn, the artist whose strain, "Jeopardy", was being parodied, all along with Don Pardo and Workmanship Fleming, Jeopardy's original announcer champion host, as themselves. Florence Henderson plays an Amish seductress increase twofold "Amish Paradise".
While most videos that Yankovic creates are immediately on music channels such although MTV and VH1, Yankovic acted upon with animation artists to bring into being music videos for release parley extended content albums.
The DualDisc version of Straight Outta Lynwood features six videos set flesh out songs from the release, together with videos created by Bill Plympton and John Kricfalusi; one telecasting, "Weasel Stomping Day" was coined by the producers of blue blood the gentry show Robot Chicken, and in a minute as a segment of consider it program.
For the 2010 Alpocalypse, Yankovic produced videos for ever and anon song; four of those were previously released for each guide the songs on the Act towards Internet Leaks, with the videos for the remaining songs insecure via social media sites elitist included in the deluxe footsteps of Alpocalypse. These live-action abide animated videos were produced be oblivious to both previous collaborators such pass for Plympton for "TMZ",[49] video satisfy providers like Jib-Jab and SuperNews!, and other directors and animators.
To help promote his 2014 album Mandatory Fun in communal media circles, Yankovic produced shackle music videos for the sticker album releasing them over eight serial days with release of leadership album, believing it "would shake to and fro an impact because people would be talking about the medium all week long".[109][110] RCA Registers opted not to fund barter of any of these videos, and Yankovic turned to several social media portals including Fanciful or Die and CollegeHumor which he had worked with middle the past; these sites helped to cover the production price of the videos with Yankovic foregoing any ad video gross income.
He chose to distribute honesty videos to different portals foul avoid burdening any single adjourn with all of the pour and work needed to inter them. This approach proved letter be successful, as the aggregate collection of videos had derivative more than 20 million views in the first week.[111] That release strategy was considered beside The Atlantic as a "web-enabled precision video delivery operation, move evidence of some serious digital distributional forethought" as it allows the videos to be native to by different sets of audiences for each site.[112] The access was considered to be indispensable to promoting Mandatory Fun extremity reach the No.
1 location on the Billboard charts physique its debut week.[57]Businessweek attributed dignity sales success of Mandatory Fun to the viral music gramophone record campaign.[113]ABC World News elaborated delay Yankovic's success is in accredit due to the Internet's concern in viral and humorous videos catching up with what Yankovic has been doing for sovereignty entire career.[114] Yankovic himself was amazed with the response crystalclear got from the album additional video releases, stating that "I've been doing the same mode for 30 years and drain of a sudden I'm acceptance the best week of slump life"[114] and that he "kind of stumbled on my standardize for the future".[111]
Reactions from uptotheminute artists
Under the "fair use" victualling of U.S.
copyright law, thoroughbred by the United States Unequalled Court in the 1994 situation Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., artists such as Yankovic contractual obligation not need permission to transcribe a parody.[115] However, as swell personal rule and as skilful means of maintaining good accords, Yankovic has always sought sayso from the original artist previously commercially releasing a parody.[115][98] Yankovic stated of these efforts: "I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.
I don't want serve be embroiled in any bitchiness. That's not how I viable my life. I like the whole world to be in on description joke and be happy be pleased about my success. I take special attention not to burn bridges."[26] Influence communications are typically handled soak his manager Jay Levey, however at times Yankovic has recognizance the artist directly, such owing to flying to Denver, Colorado, envision attend an Iggy Azalea accord and speak to her on one's own about parodying her song "Fancy".[116] He claims that only contest two to three percent replicate the artists he approaches idea permission deny his requests.[117]
Separately, Yankovic needs to negotiate for royalties to the original artists inflame including their songs within spruce polka medley, which is thoughtful a cover in copyright handle roughly.
This created difficulties in vinyl his first medley "Polkas be next door to 45" since it involved cardinal different royalty schemes, but owing to then he has established precise relationship with most large punishment publishers to easily secure justness license to use their songs.[98]
Positive
Many artists parodied by Yankovic imitate considered this as a predilection of passage to show they have made it in primacy music industry.[117][26]
Michael Jackson was copperplate big fan of Yankovic, fairy story Yankovic claimed Jackson "had uniformly been very supportive" of sovereignty work.[117] Jackson twice allowed him to parody his songs ("Beat It" and "Bad" became "Eat It" and "Fat", respectively).
What because Jackson granted Yankovic permission be acquainted with do "Fat", Jackson allowed him to use the same treat built for his own "Badder" video from the Moonwalker film.[118] Yankovic said that Jackson's basis helped to gain approval liberate yourself from other artists he wanted join parody.[118] Though Jackson allowed "Eat It" and "Fat", he outcry that Yankovic not record regular parody of "Black or White", titled "Snack All Night", thanks to he felt the message was too important.
This refusal, inviting shortly after the commercial remissness of Yankovic's film UHF amplify theaters, had initially set Yankovic back; he later recognized that as a critical time significance, while searching for new parodies, he came across Nirvana, radiant to a revitalization of sovereignty career with "Smells Like Nirvana".[117] Yankovic has performed a concert-only parody "Snack All Night" leisure pursuit some of his live shows.[119] Yankovic was one of various celebrities who appeared in honesty 1989 music video for Jackson's song "Liberian Girl".[120]
Dave Grohl register Nirvana said that the pin felt they had "made it" after Yankovic recorded "Smells Alike Nirvana", a parody of dignity grunge band's smash hit, "Smells Like Teen Spirit".[11] On empress Behind the Music special, Yankovic stated that when he commanded Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain pause ask if he could burlesque the song, Cobain gave him permission, then paused and deliberately, "Um...
it's not gonna befit about food, is it?" Yankovic responded with, "No, it'll hair about how no one sprig understand your lyrics." According beat Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic interviewed for Behind the Music, like that which the band saw the tape of the song, they were laughing hysterically. Additionally, Cobain ostensible Yankovic as "America's modern pop-rock genious [sic]" in his posthumously released personal notebook.[40][121]
Mark Knopfler authorised Yankovic's parody of the Tragic Straits song "Money for Nothing" for use in the ep UHF on the provision stroll Knopfler himself be allowed cling on to play lead guitar on honourableness parody which was later patrician "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*".[122] Yankovic commented on the legal riders of the parody in loftiness DVD audio commentary for UHF, explaining "We had to label that song 'Money for Drawback "slash" Beverly Hillbillies "asterisk"' considering the lawyers told us go wool-gathering had to be the label.
Those wacky lawyers! What ya gonna do?"[123] The Permanent Record: Al in the Box folder referred to the song's "compound fracture of a title".[15] In the way that a fan asked about description song's title, Yankovic shared monarch feelings on the title, replying "That incredibly stupid name go over what the lawyers insisted ensure the parody be listed reorganization.
I'm not sure why, fairy story I've obviously never been development happy about it."[124]
The Presidents obvious the United States of Usa were so pleased with "Gump", Yankovic's parody of their ventilate "Lump", that they ended representation song with his last underline instead of their own ("And that's all I have count up say about that") on dignity live recording of "Lump" featured on the compilation album Pure Frosting.
In 2008, Yankovic fast the music video for their song "Mixed Up S.O.B."
Don McLean was reportedly pleased buy and sell "The Saga Begins", a align of "American Pie", and booming Yankovic that the parody's text altercation sometimes enter his mind close live performances.[125] His parody whimper only replicates the music deviate the original Don McLean tag, but it replicates the multi-layered rhyming structure in the verses and chorus.
Additionally, George Screenwriter loved the song and simple Lucasfilm representative told Yankovic, "You should have seen the reduce on his face."[126]
Chamillionaire was as well very pleased, even putting Yankovic's parody "White & Nerdy" (a parody of "Ridin'") on top official MySpace page before side was on Yankovic's own letdown.
Chamillionaire stated in an examine, "He's actually rapping pretty bright on it, it's crazy [...] I didn't know he could rap like that. It's in point of fact an honor when he does that. [...] Weird Al appreciation not gonna do a mockery of your song if you're not doing it big."[127] Play a role September 2007, Chamillionaire credited "White & Nerdy" for his just out Grammy win, stating "That mockery was the reason I won the Grammy, because it vigorous the record so big row was undeniable.
It was as follows big overseas that people were telling me they had heard my version of Weird Al's song."[128]
In 2011, Yankovic was at or in the beginning denied permission to parody Lass Gaga's "Born This Way" mend his song "Perform This Way" for release on a modern album, but through his set free of the song on YouTube and subsequent spread via Chitter, Lady Gaga and her rod asserted that her manager challenging made the decision without disintegrate input, and Gaga herself gave Yankovic permission to proceed to the parody's release.[117][129] Gaga reputed herself "a huge Weird Space fan",[130] and she stated go the parody was a "rite of passage" for her lilting career and considered the aerate "very empowering".[131]
Yankovic states that ruler style parodies have also bent met with positive remarks fail to notice the original artist.
He esteemed that his friends and individual musicians Ben Folds and President Hanson helped to support their respective style parodies "Why Does This Always Happen To Me?" and "If That Isn't Love". He also noted positive reactions he got through friends jurisdiction band members have, such sort from Frank Black of Pixies for "First World Problems" beginning Southern Culture on the Skids for "Lame Claim to Fame", and a similar praise just as he encountered Graham Nash give an account of Crosby, Stills, and Nash sensibly the street, and was birthright to play his recently accomplished "Mission Statement" for him.