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Info
and Facts about "Weird Al" Yankovic |
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Looking for some info on Weird Al? Well you're in the right
place! Here you can find lots of info and facts about "Weird
Al" Yankovic. For starters, there's a list of facts in the order
they occured. Next is Question of the Week Facts. Every week
there's a new question and the answer to the question is usually
an interesting fact. So, I've decided to list the Question of
the Week Facts here! Also, there's a list of ALL his Al-bums
with facts and a list of his songs!
What Do You Want To Know?
List
of Miscellaneous Facts
Al-bum List
Song List
Question of the Week Facts
Facts List
On October 23rd, 1959, Alfred
Matthew Yankovic, Nick and Mary Yankovic's first and only
child, was born.
Al grew up in Lynwood California, a small
suburb of Los Angeles.
One day a door-to-door salesman came to the Yankovic
residents. They offered guitar and accordion lessons.
Al's mother, of course, chose the accordion lessons.
On October 22, 1966, the day before Al's seventh birthday,
he took his first accordion lesson.
Al attended school at Woodrow Wilson Elementary.
He started kindergarten a year early and skipped from
second to third grade. Since Al was always 2 years younger
than his other classmates, he didn't go out for sports
or other big social events.
His main extracurricular activity was the National Forensics
League.
Al did very well in school, he even was valedictorian
of his senior class.
Al was a big fan of The Dr. Demento Show. He says the
first time he heard the show was in '71 or '72. The program
introduced him to the likes of Spike Jones, Allan Sherman,
Tom Lehrer and Stan Freberg.
In 1973, Dr. Demento gave a talk at Lynwood High. Afterwards,
Al came up to meet him and also gave him a tape for a
contest Dr. Demento was holding. Oddly, Al's entry wasn't
one of the winners. But, he didn't give up.
In 1976, he sent in a song he made up about the family
car, a 1964 Plymouth Belvedere, called "Belvedere Cruising".
Dr. Demento immediatly put it on the air!
Al attended Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University),
one of the best architecture schools in the country.
While there (Cal Poly), he took a job working for the
campus FM radio station. That, actually, is where he got
the name "Weird Al".
During his junior year, Al appeared on a record for
the first time! He wrote a song called "Take Me Down"
which appeared on the locally produced LP, "SLO Grown".
In the summer of 1979, Al wrote the song "My Bologna",
a parody of The Knack's "My Sharona". He recorded the
song in the men's room across the hall from the radio
station. He later signed with Capitol Records and they
released "My Bologna" with "School Cafeteria" being the
b-side. Capitol had no intention of continuing work with
Al, so he decided to finish school and see where his life
went from there.
Al recieved his Bachelor of Science degree in 1980.
He parodied Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" into
"Another One Rides The Bus". This song, unlike his previous
one, got people's attentions. In 1981, he recorded the
Placebo EP which included "Another One Rides The Bus",
"Mr. Frump In the Iron Lung", "Happy Birthday" and "Gotta
Boogie".
In February 1981, he got a deal with TK Records. They
released a 45 for "Another One Rides The Bus". But, not
long after, TK Records closed down.
On April 21, Al performed "Another One Rides The Bus"
on the Tomorrow show with Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, his
current drummer.
Al decided he needed a band. He held open auditions
and found his bassist, Steve Jay. Steve had a friend named
Jim West. After Al heard Jim play, the band was complete.
(Later, in 1991, the final piece of the puzzle would be
added, his current keyboardist, Ruben Valtierra.)
Now, with a band, Al needed another song. That song
would be "I Love Rocky Road", a parody of Joan Jett's
"I Love Rock & Roll".
Jay Levy, Al's manager, got him a deal with Scotty Bros.
to release his first album, Weird Al Yankovic. One track
which appeared on this album was "Ricky", a parody of
Toni Basil's song, "Micky". Al later filmed a video for
the song and it became one of the few comedy videos played
on MTV at the time.
Al got started on his next album, In 3-D.
"Eat It", which appears on the In 3-D album and is a
parody of Micheal Jackson's "Beat It", is one of Al's
biggest hits to date. He won a Grammy for Best Comedy
Recording and the American Video Award for Best Male Performance
in the video for "Eat It".
Al even got to do his own show on MTV called AL-TV.
People magazine even picked In 3-D as one of the ten
best albums of 1984!
Dare to be Stupid was next. It reached #50 in Billboard.
It featured the song "This Is the Life", which is featured
in the movie Johnny Dangerously. The album also included
the songs "Yoda", a pardoy of "Lola" by the Kinks, "I
Want a New Duck", a parody of "I Want a New Drug" by Huey
Lewis and the News, "Like a Surgeon", a parody of Madonna's
"Like a Virgin" and many others.
Also in 1985, came The Compleat Al, a 90 minute video
retelling a semi-imaginary story of Al's life, and The
Authorized Al, the book version of The Compleat Al.
Al's next album just might've been his last. On October
1986, he released Polka Party. It was a commercial disappointment.
It only reached #177 in Billboard and is his worst selling
album to date. Even with this disaster, he didn't give
up.
Even Worse was released in April 1988.
Even Worse featured a parody of Micheal Jackson's "Bad",
called "Fat". The "Fat" video won Al the Grammy award
of Best Concept Video, his second Grammy award.
In the fall of '88, he also released a CD of the children's
classic, "Peter and the Wolf".
Next came his first feature film, UHF. UHF starred future
celebrities Kevin McCarthy, Fran Dresher, Micheal Richards
and others. The movie did poorly at the box office and
became a cult classic.
After that, Al took a three year break.
In 1992 he returned with "Off The Deep End". The album
featured a parody of Nirvana's "Smell's Like Teen Spirit",
called "Smell's Like Nirvana". Rolling Stone made it #68
on there list of 100 best videos of all time. Spy Magazine
also selected it as Video of the Year. Off The Deep End
reached #17 on the Billboard charts.
Next came Alapalooza, released on October 5th, 1993.
It featured the song "Jurrasic Park", a parody of "MacArther
Park", about the movie Jurrasic Park. It also featured
the song "Bedrock Anthem" paroding the Red Hot Chili Pepper's
"Under the Bridge" and "Give it Away".
In '94, Al wrote the song "Headline News", which can
be found on his 4 CD Boxed Set and his Greatest Hits Volume
II.
In '96 came "Bad Hair Day", Al's 9th studio album. The
album featured "Amish Paradise", a parody of Coolio's
"Gangsta's Paradise". But, there was a little confusion
about that one. Al got permission to do the song, but
later found out that Coolio wasn't happy with it saying
he hadn't given permission. Coolio never pressed charges,
but Al did, however, send him a letter of apology and
a check for a good sum of money. To this day, Coolio hasn't
responed, but has sincw cashed the check.
Also on that album was the song "Gump" (parody of "Lump"
by the Presidents of the United States), based on the
movie Forrest Gump.
His next album would be "Running With Scissors" (his
10th), released June 1999. The album featured "The Saga
Begins", a parody of "American Pie" by Don McLean, based
on the movie Star Wars: Episode One. RWS also featured
the popular 11 minute and 22 second song, "Albuquerque".
In 2000, Al released the song "Polkamon" for the movie
Pokemon The Movie 2000.
On February 10th, 2001, Al made a big decision, he got
married (to Suzanne Krawjewski)!
Also, in 2001, he directed the video for "Rockin' The
Suburbs" by Ben Folds.
On February 11th, 2003, Al's daughter Nina was born.
Al's 11th album, "Poodle Hat", is released on May 20th,
2003.
By request of Eminem, Al's first single
off "Poodle Hat" (Couch Potato, a parody of Eminem's
Lose Yourself) will not have a video or promotional
single. This is the first time in Al's career this has
happened.
On February 8, 2004, Al won his third
Grammy for his album Poodle Hat (Best Comedy Album).
Click
Here to view the QOTW Facts.
Al-bum List
1 |
"Weird Al" Yankovic |
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2 |
In 3-D |
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3 |
Dare To Be Stupid |
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4 |
Polka Party! |
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5 |
Even Worse |
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6 |
UHF |
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7 |
Off The Deep End |
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8 |
Alapalooza |
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9 |
Bad Hair Day |
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10 |
Running With Scissors |
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11 |
Poodle Hat |
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12 |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
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MIDIs |
Song List
| Take Me Down |
SLO Grown |
| School Cafeteria |
Dr.Demento Basement Tapes #7 |
| Pac Man |
Dr. Demento Basement Tapes #4 |
| Ricky |
"Weird Al" Yankovic,Greatest Hits,The
TV Album,Box Set (Disc 1) |
| Gotta Boogie |
"Weird Al" Yankovic |
| I Love Rocky Road |
"Weird Al" Yankovic,The Food Album,Box
Set (Disc 1) |
| Buckingham Blues |
"Weird Al" Yankovic |
| Happy Birthday |
"Weird Al" Yankovic,Box Set (Disc
1) |
| Stop Draggin' My Car Around |
"Weird Al" Yankovic |
| My Bologna |
"Weird Al" Yankovic,The Food Album,Box
Set (Disc 1) |
| The Check's In The Mail |
"Weird Al" Yankovic |
| Another One Rides The Bus |
"Weird Al" Yankovic,Box Set (Disc
1) |
| I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead |
"Weird Al" Yankovic |
| Such A Groovy Guy |
"Weird Al" Yankovic |
| Mr. Frump In The Iron Lung |
"Weird Al" Yankovic |
| Eat It |
In 3-D,Greatest Hits,The Food Album,Box
Set (Disc 1) |
| Midnight Star |
In 3-D,Box Set (Disc 1) |
| The Brady Bunch |
In 3-D,The TV Album |
| Buy Me A Condo |
In 3-D,Box Set (Disc 1) |
| I Lost On Jeopardy |
In 3-D,Greatest Hits,The TV Album,Box
Set (Disc 1) |
| Polkas On 45 |
In 3-D,Box Set (Disc 1) |
| Mr. Popeil |
In 3-D,Box Set (Disc 1) |
| King Of Suede |
In 3-D,Box Set (Disc 1) |
| That Boy Could Dance |
In 3-D |
| Theme From Rocky XIII |
In 3-D,The Food Album |
| Nature Trail To Hell |
In 3-D |
| It's Still Billy Joel To Me |
Dr.Demento Basement Tapes #5 |
| Like A Surgeon |
Dare To Be Stupid,Greatest Hits,Box
Set (Disc 2) |
| Dare To Be Stupid |
Dare To Be Stupid,Greatest Hits,Box
Set (Disc 2) |
| I Want A New Duck |
Dare To Be Stupid,Box Set (Disc
2) |
| One More Minute |
Dare To Be Stupid,Greatest Hits,Box
Set (Disc 2) |
| Yoda |
Dare To Be Stupid,Greatest Hits
Volume II,Box Set (Disc 2) |
| George Of The Jungle |
Dare To Be Stupid |
| Slime Creatures From Outer Space |
Dare To Be Stupid |
| Girls Just Want To Have Lunch |
Dare To Be Stupid |
| This Is The Life |
Dare To Be Stupid,Greatest Hits
Volume II,Box Set (Disc 2) |
| Cable TV |
Dare To Be Stupid,The TV Album |
| Hooked On Polkas |
Dare To Be Stupid,Box Set (Disc
2) |
| Living With A Hernia |
Polka Party!,Greatest Hits,Box
Set (Disc 2) |
| Dog Eat Dog |
Polka Party!,Box Set (Disc 2) |
| Addicted To Spuds |
Polka Party!,Greatest Hits,The
Food Album,Box Set (Disc 2) |
| One Of Those Days |
Polka Party! |
| Polka Party! |
Polka Party! |
| Here's Johnny |
Polka Party!,The TV Album,Box Set
(Disc 2) |
| Don't Wear Those Shoes |
Polka Party! |
| Toothless People |
Polka Party! |
| Good Enough For Now |
Polka Party! |
| Christmas At Ground Zero |
Polka Party!,Greatest Hits Volume
II,Box Set (Disc 2) |
| Fat |
Even Worse,Greatest Hits,The Food
Album,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Stuck In A Closet With Vanna White |
Even Worse |
| (This Song's Just) Six Words Long |
Even Worse |
| You Make Me |
Even Worse,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| I Think I'm A Clone Now |
Even Worse,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Lasagna |
Even Worse,Greatest Hits,The Food
Album,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Melanie |
Even Worse,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Alimony |
Even Worse,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Velvet Elvis |
Even Worse |
| Twister |
Even Worse |
| Good Old Days |
Even Worse,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Peter And The Wolf |
Peter And The Wolf |
| Carnival Of The Animals - Part
Two |
Peter And The Wolf |
| Money For Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies |
UHF,Greatest Hits Volume II,The
TV Album,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Gandhi II |
UHF |
| Attack Of The Radioactive Hamsters
From A Planet Near Mars |
UHF |
| Isle Thing |
UHF |
| The Hot Rocks Polka |
UHF |
| UHF |
UHF,Greatest Hits Volume II,The
TV Album,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Let Me Be Your Hog |
UHF |
| She Drives Like Crazy |
UHF |
| Generic Blues |
UHF,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Spatula City |
UHF |
| Fun Zone |
UHF |
| Spam |
UHF,The Food Album,Box Set (Disc
3) |
| The Biggest Ball Of Twine In Minnesota |
UHF,Box Set (Disc 3) |
| Smells Like Nirvana |
Off The Deep End,Greatest Hits
Volume II,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| Trigger Happy |
Off The Deep End,Box Set (Disc
4) |
| I Can't Watch This |
Off The Deep End,The TV Album,Box
Set (Disc 4) |
| Polka Your Eyes Out |
Off The Deep End,Greatest Hits
Volume II,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| I Was Only Kidding |
Off The Deep End |
| The White Stuff |
Off The Deep End,The Food Album |
| When I Was Your Age |
Off The Deep End,Box Set (Disc
4) |
| Taco Grande |
Off The Deep End,The Food Album,Box
Set (Disc 4) |
| Airline Amy |
Off The Deep End |
| The Plumbing Song |
Off The Deep End |
| You Don't Love Me Anymore |
Off The Deep End,Greatest Hits
Volume II,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| Patterns |
"Square One" (TV Show) |
| Babalu Music |
Babalu Music! |
| Jurassic Park |
Alapalooza,Greatest Hits Volume
II,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| Young, Dumb & Ugly |
Alapalooza |
| Bedrock Anthem |
Alapalooza,Greatest Hits Volume
II,The TV Album,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| Frank's 2000" TV |
Alapalooza,The TV Album,Box Set
(Disc 4) |
| Achy Breaky Song |
Alapalooza,Greatest Hits Volume
II,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| Traffic Jam |
Alapalooza |
| Talk Soup |
Alapalooza,The TV Album |
| Livin' In The Fridge |
Alapalooza,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| She Never Told Me She Was A Mime |
Alapalooza |
| Harvey The Wonder Hamster |
Alapalooza,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| Waffle King |
Alapalooza |
| Bohemian Polka |
Alapalooza |
| Headline News |
Headline News Single,Greatest Hits
Volume II,Box Set (Disc 4) |
| Amish Paradise |
Bad Hair Day |
| Everything You Know Is Wrong |
Bad Hair Day |
| Cavity Search |
Bad Hair Day |
| Callin' In Sick |
Bad Hair Day |
| The Alternative Polka |
Bad Hair Day |
| Since You've Been Gone |
Bad Hair Day |
| Gump |
Bad Hair Day |
| I'm So Sick Of You |
Bad Hair Day |
| Syndicated Inc. |
Bad Hair Day |
| I Remember Larry |
Bad Hair Day |
| Phony Calls |
Bad Hair Day |
| The Night Santa Went Crazy |
Bad Hair Day |
| The Night Santa Went
Crazy (Extra Gory Version) |
Amish Paradise CD Single |
| Spy Hard |
Spy Hard Single |
| The Ballad Of Kent Marlow |
"Safety Patrol" (Movie) |
| The Saga Begins |
Running With Scissors |
| My Baby's In Love With Eddie Vedder |
Running With Scissors |
| Pretty Fly For A Rabbi |
Running With Scissors |
| The Weird Al Show |
Running With Scissors |
| Jerry Springer |
Running With Scissors |
| Germs |
Running With Scissors |
| Polka Power! |
Running With Scissors |
| Your Horoscope For Today |
Running With Scissors |
| It's All About The Pentiums |
Running With Scissors |
| Truck Drivin' Song |
Running With Scissors |
| Grapefruit Diet |
Running With Scissors |
| Albuquerque |
Running With Scissors |
| Polkamon |
Pokemon 2000 The Movie Soundtrack |
| Couch Potato |
Poodle Hat |
| Hardware Store |
Poodle Hat |
| Trash Day |
Poodle Hat |
| Party At The Leper Colony |
Poodle Hat |
| Angry White Boy Polka |
Poodle Hat |
| Wanna B Ur Lover |
Poodle Hat |
| A Complicated Song |
Poodle Hat |
| Why Does This Always Happen To
Me |
Poodle Hat |
| Ode To A Superhero |
Poodle Hat |
| Bob |
Poodle Hat |
| eBay |
Poodle Hat |
| Genius In France |
Poodle Hat |
| Home & Marge |
The Simpsons: Testify |
| You're Pitiful |
Unreleased, Free Download, WeirdAl.com |
| White and Nerdy |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Pancreas |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Canadian Idiot |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| I'll Sue Ya |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Polkarama! |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Virus Alert |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Confessions Part III |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Weasel Stomping Day |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Close But No Cigar |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Do I Creep You Out? |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Stuck In The Drive Thru |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
| Don't Download This Song |
Straight Outta Lynwood |
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