As most of us are painfully aware, not all ’80s icons are still churning out high-quality musical parody. But the great ”Weird Al” Yankovic — humorist, parodist, polkaist — has remained remarkably consistent over the years, though some would argue that the notorious shave-and-Lasik of 1998 was a misstep from which he’s never recovered.
It occurred to me this morning that Al is the only artist I’ve bought consistently since 1986. This probably says more about me than it does about Al. But, if his sales figures are any indication, it says something about a lot of us. So today, I’m moved to praise Al’s "White and Nerdy," his riff on Chamillionaire’s "Ridin’." I listened to it in passing before, but… man, it’s actually good, isn’t it? I mean:
"Shopping online for deals on some writable media
I edit Wikipedia
I memorized Holy Grail really well
I can recite it right now and have you ROTFLOL."
Am I wrong (or white? or nerdy?), or does that actuallty possess the fabled "flow"? (In both Javascript and Klingon?) Al’s the elder statesman (and really the only "serious" practicioner) of song-parody, a field that ranks just below roadie’s-apprentice on the music-biz respect-o-meter. He is King Dork of Nerd Mountain (Ben Folds is Secretary of State), and "White and Nerdy" is, in many ways, the apotheosis of his art. Like a bird-chested man in glistening plastic pecs, the song takes possession of an edgy gestalt the singer can’t possess; then it blunts that edge, but blunts it with skill, with respect, with a tip of the hat to the artist who originally created it. I’ll always feel a little sorry for those who resist a good Yankovizing. Me, I’ve got it in my will: I would like my life polka-parodied by Al. It’s better than having your head frozen.
Keep it weird, Al. We laughed in ‘86. We’re laughing now. Either we’re idiots or you’re a genius. Or, most likely, both.
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Weird Al is great. His song parodies are not only hilarious, they’re smart, creative, and pay a twisted tribute to the songs and artists he’s parodying. Despite the fact that he’s been around for 20 years, I still think he’s underrated, or at least underappreciated. Either way, as someone who is equally white and nerdy, I tip my hat to you, Weird Al!
funny stuff
Eat it. Eat it. Open up your mouth and feed it
Have a banana
Have a whole bunch
it doesn’t matter
what you have for lunch
just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
Don’t sleep on “Trapped in the Drive-Thru,” the undisputed epic from “Straight Outta Lynwood.” It’s even ridiculous-er than “Trapped in the Closet.”
I think I was 7 when I first heard Weird Al – I thought “Eat It” was the funniest thing I ever heard, and I loved “Like a Surgeon” too. As a kid it was okay to like him, but as I grew older it was something shameful that I had to keep secret. But now I will proclaim to the world – I am white and nerdy and I love Weird Al!!!
Scott — please tell me someone has hipped you to the musical goodness of Jonathan Coulton (Re Your Brains, Code Monkey, Skullcrusher Mountain, Baby Got Back, so much more at jonathancoulton.com). Truly as good an intersection of musicality and nerdiness as TMBG, Weird Al, etc., and in some ways more listenable and accessible. He’s a Contributing Troubador to Popular Science, but also writes great relationship songs … but then also of course writes great relationship songs *about science.* Check it out.
Al has been cranking out novelty hits for well over 20 years. He’s like the LL Cool J of parody. Cutting edge lyrics. And he’s not a half bad rapper. He’s got mad skillz! All About the Benjamins Baby!
Weird Al actually produced a lot of Ben Folds’ songs.
Is everyone 7?
I can’t help it and I don’t wanna: I luuuuuv me some Al! Is he innovative, brilliant, or groundbreaking? Rarely, if ever. But his good-natured, profanity-free skewering of pop music is just plain fun, and occasionally his originals transcend that of “just another comedy song”.
Gimme a solid pop-music polka montage every couple of years and I’m sold. Polka your eyes (and mine) out, Al!
I adore Weird Al. He does song skewering in a way that most comedians aim for but never quite achieve. He’s taken it to an art form (well, art if you squint your eyes). He pokes fun at others and himself in the process.
Once he came out with “My Bolonga” which was his first release, I was hooked. This guy is what what Steve Allen was to poltical satire, and has gone way beyond what comedian song parodist Spike Jones did in the Fifties and Sixties. Only someone with an amazing sense of humor and a wild imagination would have come up with those parodies! UHF is a giggly cult classic.
I’ve been a fan of Al for pretty much my entire life. When I was born, I was singing “Another One Rides the Bus.” Of course, everyone only heard “Wahhh! Wahhh!” But I knew what I was saying.
Not only is Al immensely talented and a certified genius, but his band is equally as amazing. The quality and craftsmenship they put into each song, even the little sound effects that are barely audible in the background. They are all brilliant. I saw them live a bunch of years back, and it’s still the greatest live show I’ve ever seen. If that makes me a nerd, then I shout it proudly out to the heavens!!!
That video (and song) was brilliant! I loved the cameos by Donny Osmond and Seth Green.
I’ve never bought a Weird Al album even though I’ve known about him since “I Lost on Jeopardy” but I might get this one.
I haven’t heard much of Weird Al, but ‘White and Nerdy’ is hilarious. At least Chamillionaire is laid back about the parody, unlike Coolio (and in a lesser extent, Eminem, which is odd, considering how bad he trash talks about some celebrities/artists…come on, you practically pissed on Kurt Cobain’s grave on your single “Cum On Everybody” and you’d take it personally if Weird Al parodies you?)
The fact that Weird Al Yankovic is taken seriously worries me.
I’m listening to right now for the first time. It is pretty good and hilarious.
I LOVE Wierd Al. The man is a genius. And amazingly, after 20 years, he’s still as great as he was when he first started. And I think the thing I love best about Al, other than his very clever lyrics, is that he manages to be funny without being really crass – resorting to cheap sex and/or toilet jokes, etc. Any hack comedian/parody person can make the easy sex or toilet joke, but it takes someone with real comic talent to be funny without that. The current SNL writers could really learn from Al…
Laura, you are right! Lorne Michaels needs to give him a job as a writer.
I’ve loved Weird Al for decades. In addition to being truly funny, he is a gifted impressionist with real respect for the songs – and talents – he parodies, making sure that the joke version sounds remarkably like the original, right down to the instrumental arrangements.
The only problem with listening to Weird Al is that the parodies replace the originals in your head. “Lola” by the Kinks has always been a favorite classic rock song of mine, but now when I hear it all I can do is sing “Yoda, yo-yo-yo-yo-yoda…”
Marie, but sometimes the worst songs can be parodied into funnier songs. Ie- “Taco Grande(Rico Suave)” from 1992’s “Off the Deep End”. “Polka Your Eyes Out” was my favorite on that album.
And yet…. EW’s Music section has not reviewed the album. Are they avoiding it, or is it still too early?
God bless Weird Al. Thank goodness there are still people who can be funny, creative and respectful without being cruel or foul. Every time Weird Al pops up with a new parody or an interview i’m reminded of what an all-around stand up guy he is. Hooray for nerds!
When I first heard his new song I thought it was hilarious! I immediately had all my friends listen to it. I’ve always loved Wierd Al (even his awesome show that came on Saturday mornings) and think he’s brilliant. If anyone complains there’s no originality in music anymore look to “White and Nerdy”!
Weird Al is my favorite singer/songwriter of all time. Yes, his parodies are funny. But his originals are even better, and oftentimes they ape the sound of another artist without being a riff on a particular song. On his last album, he had another epic track called “Genius in France” which was clearly inspired by Frank Zappa.
Some of my other favorites are tunes like “Your Horoscope for Today” and “Hardware Store”. These are absolutely genius/lunatic creations in which Al sings faster than humanly possible, but you can still understand every word. And I’ve seen him live, too…he really can sing that fast. Amazing!
My favorites on his new disc are “Close But No Cigar”, “Confessions Part III” and the aforementioned “White and Nerdy”.
While I’m always up for a nice shout-out to Weird Al, why does this posting seem to be giving a hard time to good old Biff (up front, the youTube link)? Forget Back to the Future, even (where he was hilarious)–that guy won me over big time with his performance on Freaks and Geeks. Tell me there’s a better TV episode out there than the one where he and Bill make nice for the sake of his Mom… That guy is great!
Um, how is Al getting LASIK surgery and shaving off his moustache a misstep? People still know who he is, and I think he looks quite handsome without either. I’ve been a fan since I heard “Another One rides the Bus” on the Dr. Demento show. All hail Weird Al!