Yankovich’s earliest musical excursion came aged seven when he began playing the accordion in the wake of un-related polka star Frank Yankovich. Inspired by the comedic, musical delivery of the likes of Dr. Demento, Allan Sherman, Spike Jones, and Tom Lehrer, Yankovich gave a demo of his to Dr. Demento aged just 13. Three years later the musician made his radio debut on the Dr. Demento show with the single “Belvedere Cruising”, and found favour with the show’s fan base.
In 1979 after graduating from high school and enrolling at California Polytechnic State University to study architecture, Yankovich adopted the nickname “Weird Al”, and crafted the parodic track “My Bologna” inspired my the Knack’s hit single “My Sharona”. The Knack were so impressed by the satirical take of their song, they asked their label Capitol to issue it as a single, introducing “Weird Al” to a much wider audience. A year later after graduating from university, Yankovich released the song “Another One Rides the Bus” in a comedic remake of the famous Queen song “Another One Bites the Dust”. The song became an underground hit and led to the song “I Love Rocky Road”, a take on Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ hit “I Love Rock ’n Roll”.
Yankovich signed to Scotti Brothers in 1983, who issued the parodic musician’s debut album ““Weird Al” Yankovich” featuring the single “Ricky”, which became a staple on the growing MTV network. Yankovich’s use of the music video medium, unlike the likes of Spike Jones and Allan Sherman, allowed the musician an extra means of satire-infused communication. The parodist soon became known for his Hawaiian shirts, frizzy hair and goofy persona, later mocking the Michael Jackson video “Beat It” scene-for-scene in his Grammy-award winning remake “Eat It”.
Yankovich went on to release the parodies “King of Suede”, “I Lost on Jeopardy”, and “Polkas on 45”, before releasing the full-length “Dare to Be Stupid” in 1986. The album went gold like its predecessor, was the first comedy album to be released on compact disc, and featured the single “Like a Surgeon” – a take on Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”. The musician’s subsequent album “Polka Party!” failed to achieve success unlike its platinum-selling successor “Even Worse” in 1988. The album which is in large part a satirical take on Michael Jackson’s hit “Bad”, saw Yankovich portrayed as a overweight tough guy and earned the parodist his second Grammy Award.
Yankovich kept a low profile for a number of years before returning in 1992 with the album “Off the Deep End”, which notably features the single “Smells Like Nirvana”. 1996 brought the subsequent album “Bad Hair Day” which spawned the singer’s most popular release to date, the single “Amish Paradise” in response to Coolio’s hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise”. The musician went on to release a string of albums into the new millennium including “Running with Scissors” in 1999, “Poodle Hat” in 2003, “Straight Outta Lynwood” in 2006, and “Alpocalypse” in 2011. Yankovich’s 14th studio album “Mandatory Fun” was promoted with eight video prior to its release and became the first comedy album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2014.
As I write this review, comedy legend ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic has finally, at the fourteenth time of asking, achieved a number one record in the U.S., with Mandatory Fun. The album, which marks the end of a mammoth, twelve-album contract that he’s been tied to for over thirty years, proves beyond doubt that his appetite for satire and parody remains as sharp as ever, with Iggy Azalea, Lorde, Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke amongst the artists on the receiving end of the dubious honour of getting the ‘Weird Al’ treatment. He’s continuing to tour at a prodigious rate, too, with his extensive Alpocalypse run documented on DVD three years ago. Late last year, he played a slew of shows across America, which saw him run through classics from ‘his’ considerable back catalogue; whilst tracks like ‘White and Nerdy’ and ‘Eat It’ may have dated a little in terms of their cultural references, there was also plenty of evidence that he remains ahead of the curve, with ‘TMZ’ sending up the trashy gossip site of the same name. He hasn’t played in the UK since late 2010, but new dates should follow soon now that the album’s out; it could be your last chance to catch him, too, with the end of his contract sparking rumours of retirement.
Joeg_67
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