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|Past_members = Joe Earley<br/>]<br/>] |Past_members = Joe Earley<br/>]<br/>]
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'''Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic''' is the most unsecsessful music artist of all history, and should be punished because of his severe lack of skill.dyn/content/article/2007/08/09/AR2007080900305_2.html|last=Harrington|first=Richard|title=Weird Al's Imitation: A Funky Form of Flattery|publisher=Washington Post|accessdate=2007-08-10}}</ref> recorded more than 150 parody and original songs,<ref name="catchup">{{cite web|url=http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?f=39&g=b738d4f6-1921-4e6f-9836-1ce2b2b0850c&p=autvshows_authecatchup&t=m2556&mediaid=77139 |title=Weird Al Yankovic's latest send-ups on The Catch-up|accessdate=2007-03-14}}</ref><ref name="catalog">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/catalog.htm| title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Catalog|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/bio.htm| title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Biographies|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> and has performed more than 1,000 live shows.<ref>http://www.weirdal.com/livepage.htm</ref> His works have earned him three ]s among nine nominations, four ], and six ] in the United States. Yankovic's first top ten '']'' ] and ] were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his career.
'''Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic''' ({{pronEng|ˈjæŋkəvɪk}}; born ], ]) is an ] ], ], ], ], ], ], ]ist, and ]. Yankovic is known in particular for his humorous songs that make light of ] and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts.
Since receiving his first ] lesson a day before his seventh birthday, he has sold more than 12 million albums (more than any comedy act in history),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/09/AR2007080900305_2.html|last=Harrington|first=Richard|title=Weird Al's Imitation: A Funky Form of Flattery|publisher=Washington Post|accessdate=2007-08-10}}</ref> recorded more than 150 parody and original songs,<ref name="catchup">{{cite web|url=http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?f=39&g=b738d4f6-1921-4e6f-9836-1ce2b2b0850c&p=autvshows_authecatchup&t=m2556&mediaid=77139 |title=Weird Al Yankovic's latest send-ups on The Catch-up|accessdate=2007-03-14}}</ref><ref name="catalog">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/catalog.htm| title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Catalog|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/bio.htm| title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Biographies|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> and has performed more than 1,000 live shows.<ref>http://www.weirdal.com/livepage.htm</ref> His works have earned him three ]s among nine nominations, four ], and six ] in the United States. Yankovic's first top ten '']'' ] and ] were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his career.


In addition to recording his albums, Yankovic has written and starred in his ] and ], directed ]s for himself and other artists including ] and ]. He has also made guest appearances on television shows such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', in addition to starring in his own '']'' specials. In addition to recording his albums, Yankovic has written and starred in his ] and ], directed ]s for himself and other artists including ] and ]. He has also made guest appearances on television shows such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', in addition to starring in his own '']'' specials.
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Alfred's first accordion lesson was on ], ], a day before his seventh birthday. A door-to-door salesman traveling through Lynwood offered the Yankovic parents a choice of accordion or ] lessons at a local music school. Yankovic claims the reason his parents chose accordion over guitar was "They figured there should be at least one more accordion-playing Yankovic in the world," referring to ], to whom he has no relation.<ref name="booklet">{{cite web|url=http://php.indiana.edu/~jbmorris/FAQ/al.booklet |title=Permanent Record: Al In The Box|accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref> He continued lessons at the school for three years before continuing to learn on his own.<ref name="faq">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/faq.htm |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Frequently Asked Questions|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> Yankovic's early accordion role models include Frankie Yankovic and ] (the accordionist on '']''). In the 1970s, Yankovic was a big fan of ] and claims John's '']'' album "was partly how I learned to play rock 'n roll on the accordion."<ref name="booklet"/> He would repeatedly play the album and try to play along on his accordion. As for his influences in comedic and parody music, Yankovic lists artists including ], ], ], ], ] and ] "and all the other wonderfully sick and twisted artists that he was exposed to through the Dr. Demento Radio Show."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/weirdal |title="Weird Al" Yankovic on MySpace|accessdate=2007-04-02}}</ref><ref name="faq"/> Other sources of inspiration for his comedy come from ],<ref name="booklet"/> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://podcasts.triplem.com.au/audio/20070307_spoon_best_weirdalredux.mp3 |title="Weird Al" Yankovic interview by Spoonman on Triple M Australia|accessdate=2007-04-02}}</ref> and the ] parody movies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0494 |title=Midnight Star "Ask Al" Q&As for April, 1994|accessdate=2007-04-02}}</ref> Alfred's first accordion lesson was on ], ], a day before his seventh birthday. A door-to-door salesman traveling through Lynwood offered the Yankovic parents a choice of accordion or ] lessons at a local music school. Yankovic claims the reason his parents chose accordion over guitar was "They figured there should be at least one more accordion-playing Yankovic in the world," referring to ], to whom he has no relation.<ref name="booklet">{{cite web|url=http://php.indiana.edu/~jbmorris/FAQ/al.booklet |title=Permanent Record: Al In The Box|accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref> He continued lessons at the school for three years before continuing to learn on his own.<ref name="faq">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/faq.htm |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Frequently Asked Questions|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> Yankovic's early accordion role models include Frankie Yankovic and ] (the accordionist on '']''). In the 1970s, Yankovic was a big fan of ] and claims John's '']'' album "was partly how I learned to play rock 'n roll on the accordion."<ref name="booklet"/> He would repeatedly play the album and try to play along on his accordion. As for his influences in comedic and parody music, Yankovic lists artists including ], ], ], ], ] and ] "and all the other wonderfully sick and twisted artists that he was exposed to through the Dr. Demento Radio Show."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/weirdal |title="Weird Al" Yankovic on MySpace|accessdate=2007-04-02}}</ref><ref name="faq"/> Other sources of inspiration for his comedy come from ],<ref name="booklet"/> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://podcasts.triplem.com.au/audio/20070307_spoon_best_weirdalredux.mp3 |title="Weird Al" Yankovic interview by Spoonman on Triple M Australia|accessdate=2007-04-02}}</ref> and the ] parody movies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0494 |title=Midnight Star "Ask Al" Q&As for April, 1994|accessdate=2007-04-02}}</ref>
failures (his film '']'' and his 1986 album '']'') were presented as having a larger impact on the direction of his career than they really had. Also, ]'s later disapproval of "]" was played up as a large feud. Much was also made over his apparent lack of a love life, though he got married shortly after the program aired.<ref name="btm"/>

Yankovic began ] a year earlier than most children, and he skipped the second grade. "My classmates seemed to think I was some kind of rocket scientist so I was labeled a ] early on," he recalls.<ref name="booklet"/> As his unusual schooling left him two years younger than most of his classmates, Yankovic was not interested in sports or social events at school. He claims to have been a "straight A" student throughout high school, which earned him the honor of becoming ] of his senior class.<ref name="booklet"/> Yankovic was fairly active in his school's extracurricular programs, including the ] (in which he "usually brought home some kind of trophy"), a play based upon '']'', the yearbook program (for which he wrote most of the captions), and the Volcano Worshipper's Club, "which did absolutely nothing. We started the club just to get an extra picture of ourselves in the yearbook."<ref name="booklet"/>

===Dr. Demento, "My Bologna," and early fame===
In 1976, Yankovic, then a high school senior, sent a homemade ] to ], the host of a ] radio program.<ref name="booklet"/> The tape's first song was "Belvedere Cruisin", about his family's ]; another song included on the tape (which never received airtime) was "Dr. D Superstar", a parody of the title song from the musical '']''.<ref name="unlabeled tape">{{cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/rare89.htm |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Rare Items: UNLABELED TAPE |accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref> Demento said "'Belvedere Cruising' might not have been the very best song I ever heard, but it had some clever lines I put the tape on the air immediately."<ref name="booklet"/> Yankovic also played at local coffeehouses saying,
{{cquote|It was sort of like amateur music night, and a lot of people were like wannabe ]s. They'd get up on stage with their acoustic guitar and do these lovely ballads. And I would get up with my accordion and play the theme from '2001.' And people were kind of shocked that I would be disrupting their mellow Thursday night folk fest.<ref>".", '']'', ], ]. p14. " A native of Lynwood (a Los Angeles suburb), Yankovic entered show business modestly, with unsolicited submissions to Dr. Demento's syndicated radio show and coffeehouse appearances. "It was sort of like amateur music night, and a lot of people were like wannabe Dan Fogelbergs," he says. "They'd get up on stage with their acoustic guitar and do these lovely ballads. And I would get up with my accordion and play the theme from '2001.' And people were kind of shocked that I would be disrupting their mellow Thursday night folk fest."</ref>}}

During Yankovic's sophomore year as an ] student at ], he became a ] at the university's radio station, ]. Yankovic said he had been nicknamed "Weird Al" by fellow students and "took it on professionally" as his persona for the station.<ref name="booklet"/> In 1978, he released his first recording (as Alfred Yankovic), "Take Me Down", on the LP, ''Slo Grown'', as a benefit for the Economic Opportunity Commission of ]. The song mocked famous local landmarks such as the fountain toilets at ].

In mid 1979, shortly before his senior year, "]" by ] was on the charts and Yankovic took his accordion into the restroom across the hall from the radio station (to take advantage of the ] acoustics) and recorded a parody entitled "]". He sent it to ], who played it to good response from listeners. Yankovic met The Knack after a show at his college, and introduced himself as the author of "My Bologna". The Knack's lead singer, ], said he liked the song and suggested that ] vice president ] release the song as a single.<ref name="booklet"/> "My Bologna" was released as a single with "School Cafeteria" as its B-side, and the label gave Yankovic a six-month recording contract.<ref name="btm">{{cite video|people=McNamara, Michael (Director) |title=|medium=TV series|publisher=VH1|date=1999}}</ref> Yankovic, who was "only getting average grades" in his architecture degree, began to realize that he might make a career of comedic music.<ref name="booklet"/>

On ], ], Yankovic was a guest on the Dr. Demento Show, where he was to record a new parody live. The song was called "]", a parody of ]'s hit, "]". While practicing the song outside the sound booth, he met ], who told him he was a drummer and agreed to bang on Yankovic's accordion case to help Yankovic keep a steady beat during the song. They rehearsed the song just a few times before the show began.<ref name="booklet"/> "Another One Rides the Bus" became so popular that Yankovic's first television appearance was a performance of the song on the '']'' (], ]) with ]. On the show, Yankovic played his accordion, and again, Schwartz banged on the accordion case and provided comical sound effects.

===The band and fame===
1981 brought Yankovic on tour for the first time as part of Dr. Demento's stage show. His stage act in a ], ], nightclub caught the eye of manager Jay Levey, who was "blown away".<ref name="booklet"/> Levey asked Yankovic if he had considered creating a full ] and doing his music as a career. Yankovic admitted that he had, so Levey held auditions. ] became Yankovic's ] player, and Jay's friend ] played guitar. Schwartz continued on ]. Yankovic's first show with his new band was on ], ].<ref name="livepage">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/livepage.htm |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Live Performances|accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref> Several days later, Yankovic and his band were the opening act for ]. The unimpressed audience ], and they were booed off the stage.<ref name="btm"/>

Yankovic recorded "]" (a parody of "]" as recorded by ]) in 1982. Due to the influence of his new producer, ], it managed to become a hit on Top 40 radio, leading to Yankovic's signing with ]. In 1983, Yankovic's first ] was released on Scotti Bros. He released his second album '']'' in 1984. The first single "]", a parody of the ] song "]", became quite popular, thanks in part to the music video, a shot-for-shot parody of Jackson's "Beat It" music video, and to Yankovic's self-styled "uncanny resemblance" to Jackson. Peaking at number 12 on the ] ], "Eat It" remained Yankovic's highest-charting single until "]" placed at number 9 in October 2006.

In 1985, Yankovic co-wrote and starred in a ] of his own life entitled '']'', which intertwined the facts of his life up to that point with fiction. The movie also featured some clips from Yankovic's trip to ] and some clips from the '']'' specials. ''The Compleat Al'' was co-directed by Jay Levey, who would direct '']'' four years later. Also released around the same time as ''The Compleat Al'' was '']'', a biographical book based on the film. The book, resembling a scrapbook, included real and fictional humorous photographs and documents.

Yankovic and his band toured as the opening act for ] in mid 1987 for their second reunion tour of ]. Yankovic claims to have enjoyed touring with The Monkees, despite the fact "the promoter gypped us out of a bunch of money."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#1198 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for November, 1998|accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref> He also noticed "they didn't seem to get along all that great when they weren't on stage. There was even a separate tour bus for each Monkee!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#1299 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for December, 1999|accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref>

Yankovic also appeared on the ] recording of ]'s ] as the narrator in 1988. The album also included a sequel of ]'s composition ] entitled the "Carnival of the Animals Part II", with Yankovic providing humorous poems for each of the featured creatures in the style of ], who had written humorous poems for the original. ] joined the band on keyboards in 1991, allowing Yankovic to concentrate more on singing and increasing his use of the stage space during concerts.

A factual biographical booklet of Yankovic's life, written by ], was released with the 1994 box set compilation '']''.<ref name="booklet"/> The Dr. Demento Society, which issues yearly ] re-releases of material from Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes, often includes unreleased tracks from Yankovic's vaults, such as "Pacman", "It's Still Billy Joel To Me" or the live version of "School Cafeteria".

===New look, personal life, and career to present===
]

On ], ], Yankovic had ] eye surgery to correct his extreme ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/thelook1.htm|title=LASIK story and pictures}}</ref>. In the same period, he shaved off his ] and grew out his hair, thus radically changing his trademark look. (He had previously shaved his mustache in 1983 for the video of ] in order to resemble ] more closely, and in 1996 for his "]" video.) Yankovic reasoned, "If ]'s allowed to reinvent herself every 15 minutes, I figure I should be good for a change at least once every twenty years."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20010208173222/http://www.weirdal.com/bio.htm |title=Archive.org for www.weirdal.com/bio.htm for February 8, 2001|accessdate=2006-10-29}}</ref> He parodied the reaction to this "new look" in a commercial for his nonexistent ] special. The commercial featured Yankovic in the short-haired wig from the music video for '']'', claiming his new look was an attempt to "get back to the core of what I'm all about," that being "the music."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-oholicsanonymous.com/videos/EatItUnpluggedPromo.wmv |title="Weird Al" Yankovic MTV Unplugged Promo|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref>

Yankovic married Suzanne Krajewski on ], ]. Their daughter, Nina, was born ], ]. They also have a pet ] named Bo Veaner. <ref name="faq"/>They used to have a pet ], Bela (pictured atop Yankovic's head on the cover of his album, '']''). Despite songs such as "]", his frequent use of "]" and other ] phrases, Yankovic is not of ] ancestry, and identifies himself as a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0795 |title=Midnight Star "Ask Al" Q&As for July, 1995|accessdate=2007-04-04}}</ref>

Yankovic changed his diet to become a ] in 1992, after a fan of his gave him the book '']'' and he felt "it made a very compelling argument for a strict vegetarian diet."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0195 |title=Midnight Star "Ask Al" Q&As for January, 1995|accessdate=2007-04-04}}</ref> When asked how he can "rationalize" performing at events such as the Great American Rib Cook-Off when he is a vegetarian, he replied "The same way I can rationalize playing at a college even though I’m not a student anymore."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0500 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for May, 2000|accessdate=2007-06-23}}</ref>

On ], ], Yankovic's parents, Nick, 86, and Mary, 81, were found dead in their ], home, apparently the victims of accidental ] from their fireplace that had been recently lit. The ] was closed, which trapped the carbon monoxide gas inside the house, suffocating them. An hour after his wife notified him of his parents' death, Yankovic went on with his concert in ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20040410-9999-1mc10ffire.html |title=Fallbrook couple found dead |accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> saying that "since my music had helped many of my fans through tough times, maybe it would work for me as well" and that it would "at least ... give me a break from sobbing all the time."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/msg.htm |title=A Message From Al|accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref>

Yankovic's career in novelty and comedy music has outlasted many of his "mainstream" parody targets, such as ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spokane7.com/music/stories/?ID=401 |title=Weird Al's shtick still draws a crowd |accessdate=2006-10-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.townonline.com/northshoresunday/homepage/x1575047109 |title=Revenge of the nerd: 'Weird Al' gets all white and nerdy for summer tour |accessdate=2007-08-13}}</ref> While most ] are ]s, Yankovic's continued success (including the top 10 single "]" and album '']'' in 2006) has enabled him to escape the stigma often associated with novelty music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tweak.com/phonetag/weirdal/ |title=Tweak: Phone Tag - Weird Al Yankovic |accessdate=2006-10-16}}</ref>

==Yankovic's work==
===Music===
{{main|List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic}}
While Yankovic's song parodies (such as "]") have resulted in success on the Billboard charts (''see ]''), he has actually recorded an equally large number of original humorous songs ("]" and "]").<ref name="faq"/> His work depends largely on the satirizing of ], including television (''see ]''), movies ("]"), food (''see ]''), popular music (the polkas), and sometimes issues in contemporary news ("]"). Yankovic claims he has no intention of writing "serious" music. In his reasoning, "There's enough people that do unfunny music. I'll leave the serious stuff to ] and ]."<ref name="hub">{{cite web|url=http://hub.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/NOISE02/707040313/1104/HUB |title='Weird Al' Yankovic - Parodist promises a high-energy show -- with costume changes|accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref>

Although many of Yankovic's songs are parodies of contemporary radio hits, it is rare that the song's primary topic lampoons the original artist as a person, or the song itself. Most Yankovic songs consist of the original song's music, with a separate, unrelated set of amusing lyrics. Exceptions include "]", which references unintelligible lyrics in "]", "]", which refers to the song "]", "(This Song's Just) Six Words Long", which refers to the repetitious lyrics in "]", the unreleased "It's Still Billy Joel to Me", and "]", which references "]" and "]" in the first few lines.

Yankovic's humor normally lies more in creating unexpected incongruity between an artist's image and the topic of the song, contrasting the style of the song with its content (such as the ] songs "]" and "]"), or in pointing out trends or works which have become pop culture clichés (such as "]" and "]").

Yankovic is the sole writer for all his songs, and for "legal and personal reasons" does not accept parody submissions or ideas from fans.<ref name="faq"/> There exists, however, one exception to this rule in the case of "]." ] was reportedly talking with a friend and happened to wonder aloud when Yankovic was going to turn her "]" into "Like a Surgeon." Madonna's friend was a mutual friend of Yankovic's manager, Jay Levey, and eventually Yankovic himself heard the story from Levey.<ref name="booklet"/>

Unlike other parody artists such as ] and ], Yankovic strives to keep the backing music in his parodies the same as the original. While Lehrer reproduced the songs on piano and Sherman reproduced them orchestrally, Yankovic and his band essentially play the original song with new lyrics. Instead of using instrumental versions of the original songs, Yankovic and his band transcribe the original song by ear and re-record the song for Yankovic's parody version.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdalforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4730&view=findpost&p=306317 |title=World of Weird Al Yankovic Forums - Ask Jim|accessdate=2006-10-30}}</ref>

In addition to his parodies, Yankovic also includes a medley of various songs on most albums, each one reinterpreted as a ], with the choruses or memorable lines of various songs juxtaposed for humorous effect. Yankovic has been known to say that converting these songs to polka was "…the way God intended." Because the polkas have become a staple of Yankovic's albums, he has said he tries to include one on each album because "fans would be rioting in the streets, I think, if I didn't do a polka medley."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/Weird_Al_talks_new_album_2007_tour-10776.html?t=1 |title='Weird Al' talks new album, 2007 tour|accessdate=2006-10-26}}</ref>

<!-- Please stop adding style parody artists/songs to the following paragraph, as there are too many now. -->
Some of Yankovic's original songs are ]s or "style parodies", for which he chooses a band's entire body of work to honor/parody, rather than any single hit by that band. Such bands include ] with "]", ] with "Dog Eat Dog", ] with "Genius in France", ] with "Germs", or most recently, ]s with "]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0100 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for January, 2000|accessdate=2006-10-30}}</ref> Others are style parodies in the style of a ] of music, rather than a specific band (for example, ] with "Good Enough For Now").

Yankovic has contributed original songs to several ]s ("]" from '']''; "]" from the movie '']'', and a parody of the ] title sequence in '']''), in addition to his own film, '']''. Other songs of his have appeared in films or television series as well, such as "]" in '']''.

Yankovic's recurring jokes include the number ] (as seen on the covers for '']'', '']'', and '']'') and the names Bob (the '']'' interviews often mention the name),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVGiUu2ciYY |title=Weird Al Interviews Avril Lavigne|accessdate=2006-10-29}}</ref> Frank ( e.g. "Frank's 2000" TV"), and the surname "Finkelstein" (e.g. the music video for "]"). Also, a ] called ] is a recurring character in '']'' and the ''Al TV'' specials, as well as the subject of an original song on '']''. Yankovic has also put two ] messages into his songs. The first, in "Nature Trail to Hell", said "Satan Eats ]"; the second, in "I Remember Larry", said "Wow, you must have an awful lot of free time on your hands."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-oholicsanonymous.com/faq/#secret |title=Al-oholics Anonymous' Frequently Asked Questions|accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref>

His latest three album releases feature the longest songs Yankovic has ever released. The "]" track from ''Running with Scissors'' is 11 minutes and 23 seconds; "Genius in France" from ''Poodle Hat'' runs for 8 minutes and 56 seconds; "Trapped in the Drive-Thru" from ''Straight Outta Lynwood'' is 10 minutes and 53 seconds long. Prior to 2007, (apart from a one-off performance of "Albuquerque" in ]),<ref name="setlists">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/setlists.htm |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Concert Set Lists|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> these "epic" songs were not performed live in their entirety due to their length and complexity. ''(See ] for details)''

====Music videos====
While Yankovic's music generally does not parody the song or the artist of the original song, Yankovic's music videos will sometimes incorporate parodies of many elements of the original song's music video, or otherwise spoof the general style of the music. Most notably, the video for "]" uses an extremely similar set to ]'s "]", including using several of the same actors. This video contended with "Smells like Teen Spirit" at the 1992 ] for Best Male Video. Other videos that are parodies of their original song videos include "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", and "]". The video for "]" is, as stated by Yankovic, a style parody in general of ] videos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0100 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for January, 2000" |accessdate=2007-08-05}}</ref> "]" is a parody of "]" by ]. Recent videos have included notable celebrities in addition to Yankovic and his band; for example, ] is featured in both "Smells Like Nirvana" and "]", ], ], and ] appear in "It's All About the Pentiums", and ] and ] appear in "White & Nerdy".

====Reactions from original artists====
Under the "]" provision of U.S. ] law, affirmed by the ], one does not need permission to record a ].<ref>'']'', {{Findlaw_us|510|569}} (1994)</ref> However, as a personal rule, and as a means of maintaining good relationships within the music community, Yankovic has always requested permission from the original artist before recording his parodies.<ref name="faq"/> Most artists have had positive reactions to Yankovic's parodies. Several have considered it to be something of a badge of honor to have Yankovic ask permission to parody their song or style, since they felt that Yankovic would not choose to do so unless they were a success or had made an impact on the music scene at the time. There are, however, a few notable exceptions, where people have not allowed parodies or otherwise withdrawn permission.

=====Positive=====
] of ] said that the band felt they had "made it" after Yankovic recorded "]", a parody of the ] band's smash hit, "]".<ref name="faq"/> On his ''Behind the Music'' special, Yankovic stated that when he called Cobain to ask if he could parody the song, Cobain gave him permission, then paused and asked, "Um...it's not gonna be about food, is it?" Yankovic responded with "No, it'll be about how no one can understand your lyrics".<ref name="btm"/> According to members of Nirvana interviewed for ''Behind the Music'', when they saw the video of the song, they laughed hysterically. Additionally, Cobain described Yankovic as "a musical genius."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/gig-previews--reviews/weird-al-yankovic/2007/03/19/1174152930142.html |title=Weird Al Yankovic - Gig previews & reviews - Music - Entertainment|accessdate= 2007-04-16}}</ref>

] in ], ] on March 10, 2007.]]] is also a big fan of Yankovic. Jackson has twice allowed him to parody his songs ("]" and "]" became "]" and "]", respectively). When he granted Yankovic permission to do "Fat", Jackson allowed him to use the same set built for his own "Bad" video from the '']'' video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://music.aol.com/artist/weird-al-yankovic/140212/biography |title=Weird Al Yankovic - Biography - AOL Music|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> Though Jackson was a good sport about "Eat It" and "Fat", he requested that Yankovic not record a parody of "]", because he felt the message was too important. However, Yankovic has performed a concert-only parody "Snack All Night" in some of his live shows.<ref name="setlists"/> Yankovic also has a cameo appearance, along with many other celebrities, in Jackson's music video for "]".

] approved Yankovic's parody of the ] song "]" for use in the film '']'' on the provision that Knopfler himself be allowed to play lead guitar on the parody which was later titled "]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0946148/bio |title=Biography for 'Weird Al' Yankovic|accessdate=2007-09-15}}</ref> Yankovic commented on the legal complications of the parody in the DVD audio commentary for ''UHF'', explaining "We had to name that song 'Money for Nothing 'slash' Beverly Hillbillies 'asterisk' because the lawyers told us that had to be the name. Those wacky lawyers! What ya gonna do?"<ref>Al Yankovic, "UHF" DVD Audio Commentary (0:35:15)</ref> The '']'' booklet referred to the song's "compound fracture of a title."<ref name="booklet"/> When a fan asked about the song's title, Yankovic shared his feelings on the title, replying "That incredibly stupid name is what the lawyers insisted that the parody be listed as. I'm not sure why, and I've obviously never been very happy about it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#1098|title="Ask Al" Q&As for October, 1998|accessdate=2007-09-15}}</ref>

] were so pleased with "Gump", Yankovic's parody of their song "Lump", that they ended the song with Yankovic's last line instead of their own ("And that's all I have to say about that") on the live recording of "Lump" featured on the compilation album '']''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/presidents_of_the_united_states_of_america/lump_live-lyrics-945109.html |title=Allthelyrics.com - Lyrics to Lump (live) by The Presidents of the United States of America|accessdate=2008-03-15}}</ref>

The song "]" (a parody of ]'s "]") accurately states the entire plot of '']'', despite being written before the film's release. Yankovic got the plot details from ] websites. He was slightly unsure about ] proposing to ], so he attended a ]500 screening to confirm, and ended up making only very minor alterations to the lyrics. McLean was pleased with the parody, and even told Yankovic that the parody's lyrics sometimes enter his mind during live performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0999|title="Ask Al" Q&As for September, 1999| accessdate=2006-10-29}}</ref> Yankovic's parody not only replicates the music from the original ] song, but it also replicates the multi-layered rhyming structure in the verses and chorus. Additionally, ] loved the song and a ] representative told Yankovic, "You should have seen the smile on his face."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/interview/weirdal.asp |title=TheForce.Net - Jedi Council - Interviews - Weird Al Yankovic |publisher=TheForce.Net|author=Chris Knight|accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref>

] was also very pleased, even putting Yankovic's parody "]" on his official ] page before it was on Yankovic's own page. Chamillionaire stated in an interview, "He's actually ] pretty good on it, it's crazy I didn't know he could rap like that. It's really an honor when he does that. Weird Al is not gonna do a parody of your song if you're not doing it big."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/091106/ |title=MTVNews.com - Mixtape Monday: Lil Wayne, Juelz To Drop Real Album; Ness Drops Da Band|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> In September of 2007, Chamillionaire credited "White & Nerdy" for his recent Grammy win, stating "That parody was the reason I won the Grammy, because it made the record so big it was undeniable. It was so big overseas that people were telling me they had heard my version of Weird Al's song."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-09-16-chamillionaire_N.htm |title=Chamillionaire triumphs over cursing on 'Ultimate Victory' |author=Steve Jones |publisher=USA Today |accessdate = 2007-09-20}}</ref>

=====Negative=====
One of Yankovic's most controversial parodies was 1996's "]", based on "]" by hip-hop artist ], which, in turn, was based on "]" by ]. Reportedly, Coolio's label gave Yankovic the impression that Coolio had granted permission to record the parody, but Coolio maintains that he never did. While Coolio claimed he was upset, legal action never materialized, and Coolio accepted ] payments for the song. After this controversy, Yankovic has always made sure to speak directly with the artist of every song he parodied. At the ] booth at the 2006 ] Yankovic and Coolio made peace. On his website, Yankovic wrote of this event, "I don’t remember what we said to each other exactly, but it was all very friendly. I doubt I’ll be invited to Coolio’s next birthday party, but at least I can stop wearing that bulletproof vest to the mall."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#042706 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for April 27, 2006|accessdate=2006-09-02}}</ref>

In 2003, Yankovic was denied permission to make a video for "]", his parody of ]'s "]":
{{cquote|Last year, Eminem forced me to halt production on the video for my 'Lose Yourself' parody because he somehow thought that it would be harmful to his image or career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20041014/ai_n12565818 |title=Is the King of Pop losing it? |author=Mike Thomas |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate = 2006-10-29}}</ref>}}
For the '']'' '']'' special, Yankovic raised the question of artistic expression in a false interview with Eminem. As Yankovic has always done for his ''Al TV'' specials, he edited the footage of a previous Eminem interview and inserted himself asking questions for comic effect.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPwBdnknGIs |title=Weird Al Interviews Eminem|accessdate=2008-01-15}}</ref>

=====Refused parodies=====
On numerous occasions, ] has refused Yankovic permission to record parodies of his songs. Yankovic has stated in interviews that he has "approached him every few years see if he's lightened up."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-oholicsanonymous.com/interviews/hotwired.txt |title="Weird Al" Yankovic Interview by Michael Small of Hotwired.com|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> However, this has not stopped Yankovic from parodying Prince in other ways. In one of his '']'' specials, he openly mocked the video for "When Doves Cry," even providing his own ending: Al is seen emerging from a bathtub and stretches his hand outward (just as in the original Prince video) after which a stagehand hands him a bathrobe. He also referred to his then-new movie '']'' as "a lot like '']'', except it's ''intentionally'' funny." Prince responded by placing a Weird Al look-alike in the video for his song "]".{{Fact|date=March 2008}}

] guitarist ] is a self-proclaimed Yankovic fan, but when Yankovic wished to create a polka medley of Led Zeppelin songs, Page refused.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0699 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for June, 1999|accessdate=2006-10-27}}</ref> Yankovic was, however, allowed the very rare opportunity to re-record a sample of "]" for a segment of "]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/09/19/weird-al-yankovic-dishes-on-james-blunt-discusses-his-role-as-the-whitest-nerdiest-rock-star-ever/ |title=Weird Al Yankovic Dishes On James Blunt, Discusses His Role As the Whitest, Nerdiest Rock Star Ever|accessdate=2006-10-27}}</ref>

], also a Yankovic fan, refused Yankovic permission to record a parody of ]' "]", entitled "Chicken Pot Pie", because McCartney is a vegetarian and did not wish to condone the eating of meat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-oholicsanonymous.com/interviews/alicon.html |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: The Icon Profile|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> Yankovic, who is a vegetarian as well, has stated that he respects McCartney's decision to refuse the parody, and is hesitant to "put Paul on the list" of artists who have refused permission for a parody.<ref name="catchup"/> However, like "Snack All Night", "Chicken Pot Pie" has been performed numerous times in concert.<ref name="setlists"/> His concerts often feature parodies for which the artist did not give permission or could not be released for various reasons.

] on ], as shown in the music video of "]".]]

In 2006, Yankovic gained ]'s permission to record a parody of "]". However, after Yankovic had recorded "]", Blunt's label, ], rescinded this permission. The parody was pulled from Yankovic's '']'' due to his label's unwillingness to "go to war" with Atlantic. Yankovic released the song as a free download on his ] profile, as well as his official website, and playing it in concert, since it was not Blunt himself objecting to the parody.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5482774 |title=Free 'Weird Al' Yankovic!|accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref>

====Live performances====
] Sucks" shirt during a performance of "]", on August 8, 2007, at the ].]]

Yankovic often describes his live concert performances as "a rock and comedy multimedia extravaganza"<ref name="yahoocache">{{cite web|url=http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:09MwL6eaJ3sJ:launch.yahoo.com/read/interview/12027570 |title=Weird Al Yankovic Interviews on Yahoo! Music (Google Cache)|accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref> with an audience that "ranges from toddlers to geriatrics."<ref name="hub"/> Apart from Yankovic and his band performing his classic and contemporary hits, staples of Yankovic's live performances include a medley of parodies, many costume changes between songs, and a video screen on which various clips are played during the costume changes.<ref name="yahoocache"/> A concert from Yankovic's 1999 tour for the '']'' album ('']'') was released on ] in 1999 and on DVD in 2000.<ref name="catalog"/> Titled '']'', the concert was recorded at the ] in ], on ], ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/100299.htm |title=Weird Al Photo Gallery - Backstage "Pep Talk"|accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref> For legal reasons, video clips (apart from those for Yankovic's own music videos) could not be shown for the home release, and unreleased parodies were removed from the parody medley for the performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0300 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for March, 2000|accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref>

2003 saw Yankovic on tour overseas for the first time. Prior to 2003, Yankovic and his band had toured only the ] and parts of ].<ref name="livepage"/> Following the success of '']'' in ], Yankovic performed eleven shows in ]'s major capital cities and regional areas in October of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/phtour.htm |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Poodle Hat '03 & '04 Tourdates|accessdate=2006-11-10}}</ref>

], ] on March 23, 2007.]]

On ], ], Yankovic performed his 1,000th live show at ].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.weirdal.com/livepage.htm|title = Live Performances|publisher = "Weird Al" Yankovic}}</ref>

===''UHF''===
{{main|UHF (film)}}
In 1989, Yankovic starred in a full-length feature film, co-written by himself and manager ], and filmed in ] called '']''. A satire of the television and film industries, also starring ], ], and ], it brought floundering studio ] their highest ] since the movie '']''.<ref name="robo">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0599 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for May, 1999|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> However, it was unsuccessful in theaters, likely due to a release in mid 1989, going up against '']'', '']'', '']'', and others.

The film has since become a ], with out-of-print copies of the ] version selling for up to $100 on ] until the release of the ] in 2002. Yankovic occasionally shows clips from the film at his concerts (to which ], the film's current owner, initially objected in the form of a ] letter).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0500 |title="Ask Al" Q&As for May, 2000|accessdate=2006-10-26}}</ref> To apparently make it more accessible to overseas audiences where ] TV stations were less prominent, the film was titled '']'' in ] and parts of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098546/ |title=UHF (1989)|accessdate=2006-10-26}}</ref>

''UHF'' shows the creation of Yankovic's signature food—the Twinkie Wiener Sandwich. The snack consists of an overturned ] split open as a makeshift bun, a ], and ]. Yankovic has stated that he has switched to using ] hot dogs since becoming a ], but still enjoys the occasional Twinkie Wiener Sandwich.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#1095 |title=Midnight Star "Ask Al" Q&As for October/November, 1995|accessdate=2006-10-26}}</ref>

===Notable television appearances===
Yankovic had a TV series called '']'', which aired from September 1997 to December 1997 on ]. Though the show appeared to be geared at children, the humor was really more for his adult fans (as such, it is often compared to '']''). The entire series was released on ] by ] on ], ].

Yankovic has hosted '']'' on ] and ''Al Music'' on ] many times, generally coinciding with the release of each new album. For '']'', '']'' appeared on ] for the first time. A recurring segment of '']'' involves Yankovic manipulating interviews for comic effect. He inserts himself into a previously conducted interview with a musician, and then manipulates his questions, resulting in bizarre and comic responses from the celebrity.

] produced a '']'' episode on Yankovic; however, he was so clean-cut that the producers could not find any of the typical angst-laced problems that make many rock stars' stories compelling (as Yankovic noted in the episode), so they stretched many smaller disappointments and skirmishes during his career into major downfalls to fit the program's classic formula. His two commercial failures (his film '']'' and his 1986 album '']'') were presented as having a larger impact on the direction of his career than they really had. Also, ]'s later disapproval of "]" was played up as a large feud. Much was also made over his apparent lack of a love life, though he got married shortly after the program aired.<ref name="btm"/>


Yankovic has done voice-overs for a number of animated series. He appeared in a 2003 episode of '']'', singing "The Ballad of Homer & Marge" (a parody of ]'s "]") with his band. The episode, "]", in which ] hires Yankovic to sing the aforementioned song to ] in an attempt to reconcile their marriage, later won an ] for "Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)". He recently reappeared in a 2008 episode, entitled "]", where he records a parody of Homer's grunge hit "]" entitled "Brain Freeze" (Homer's song, "Shave Me", was itself a parody of ]'s "]"). Yankovic is the voice for ] on the ] show, '']''. He is also the announcer of the cartoon's eponymous ] adaptation. During a ] 2007 panel session, ] ] confirmed Yankovic will have a guest appearance voicing a ] Transformer in the upcoming '']'' cartoon series known as ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=10976 |title=Botcon David Kaye Panel--Info on New Animated Series!|accessdate=2007-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2eT66j7fOA |title=Unicron.com Botcon 07, David Kaye talks TF: Animated 2|accessdate=2007-07-02}}</ref> Previously, Yankovic's "Dare to Be Stupid" song was featured in the 1986 animated film '']''. Yankovic has done voice-overs for a number of animated series. He appeared in a 2003 episode of '']'', singing "The Ballad of Homer & Marge" (a parody of ]'s "]") with his band. The episode, "]", in which ] hires Yankovic to sing the aforementioned song to ] in an attempt to reconcile their marriage, later won an ] for "Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)". He recently reappeared in a 2008 episode, entitled "]", where he records a parody of Homer's grunge hit "]" entitled "Brain Freeze" (Homer's song, "Shave Me", was itself a parody of ]'s "]"). Yankovic is the voice for ] on the ] show, '']''. He is also the announcer of the cartoon's eponymous ] adaptation. During a ] 2007 panel session, ] ] confirmed Yankovic will have a guest appearance voicing a ] Transformer in the upcoming '']'' cartoon series known as ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=10976 |title=Botcon David Kaye Panel--Info on New Animated Series!|accessdate=2007-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2eT66j7fOA |title=Unicron.com Botcon 07, David Kaye talks TF: Animated 2|accessdate=2007-07-02}}</ref> Previously, Yankovic's "Dare to Be Stupid" song was featured in the 1986 animated film '']''.
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==Weird Al Star Fund== ==Weird Al Star Fund==
The Weird Al Star Fund is a campaign started by Yankovic's fans to get him a star on the ]. Their mission is to "solicit, collect, and raise the necessary money, and to compile the information needed for the application to nominate 'Weird Al' Yankovic for a star on the ]."<ref name="starfund">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdalstar.com/ |title=The Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Campaign for "Weird Al" Yankovic|accessdate = 2007-03-15}}</ref> Fans worldwide have sent donations to raise the ]15,000 needed for a nomination. In addition to the preferred method of cash donations, many methods were used to raise money for the cause, such as a live benefit show held ], ], and selling merchandise on the official website and ], including T-shirts, calendars, and cookbooks.<ref name="cook">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdalstar.com/tributeshow.html |title=The Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Campaign for "Weird Al" Yankovic|accessdate = 2006-10-29}}</ref> On ], ], the campaign hit the then-$15,000 target, just five days before the ] deadline to submit the necessary paperwork.<ref name="starfund"/> However, Yankovic was not included on the list of inductees for 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=8ce9efb9-2eb5-4f61-85ab-c5c2ffb9d885 |title=Damon, Diddy, Ponch Got Star Power|author=Gina Serpe|publisher=E! Online News|accessdate = 2006-10-29}}</ref> On ], ], the Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce raised the price to sponsor a new star to $25,000<ref name="starfund"/> and as such the Fund is accepting donations again. Yankovic's application was resubmitted for consideration in 2007, but he was not included among 2008's inductees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/?p=1129 |title=New Stars to Grace Hollywood Walk of Fame|accessdate = 2007-07-02}}</ref> The Weird Al Star Fund is a campaign started by Yankovic's fans to get him a star on the ]. Their mission is to "solicit, collect, and raise the necessary money, and to compile the information needed for the application to nominate 'Weird Al' Yankovic for a star on the ]."<ref name="starfund">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdalstar.com/ |title=The Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Campaign for "Weird Al" Yankovic|accessdate = 2007-03-15}}</ref> Fans worldwide have sent donations to raise the ]15,000 needed for a nomination. In addition to the preferred method of cash donations, many methods were used to raise money for the cause, such as a live benefit show held ], ], and selling merchandise on the official website and ], including T-shirts, calendars, and cookbooks.<ref name="cook">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdalstar.com/tributeshow.html |title=The Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Campaign for "Weird Al" Yankovic|accessdate = 2006-10-29}}</ref> On ], ], the campaign hit the then-$15,000 target, just five days before the ] deadline to submit the necessary paperwork.<ref name="starfund"/> However, Yankovic was not included on the list of inductees for 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?


==Discography==
{{main|"Weird Al" Yankovic discography|List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC
! Album title || Release year
|-
| '']'' || 1983
|-
| '']'' || 1984
|-
| '']'' || 1985
|-
| '']'' || 1986
|-
| '']'' || 1988
|-
| '']'' || 1988
|-
| '']'' || 1989
|-
| '']'' || 1992
|-
| '']'' || 1993
|-
| '']'' || 1993
|-
| '']'' || 1994
|-
| '']'' || 1994
|-
| '']'' || 1995
|-
| '']'' || 1996
|-
| '']'' || 1999
|-
| '']'' || 2003
|-
| '']'' || 2006
|}
===Awards and nominations===
<!--DO NOT ADD VIDEO related awards here. See Videography section-->
{|
|-
|'''Grammy Award winners'''<ref> Retrieved 1 December 2006.</ref>
*"Eat It" — ] (])
*''Poodle Hat'' — Best Comedy Album (])
|-
|'''Grammy Award nominees'''
*''Dare to Be Stupid'' — Best Comedy Recording (])
*''Polka Party!'' — Best Comedy Recording (])
*''Peter and the Wolf'' — ] (])
*''Even Worse'' — Best Comedy Recording (1988)
*''Off The Deep End'' — Best Comedy Album (])
*''Straight Outta Lynwood'' — Best Comedy Album (])
*''Straight Outta Lynwood'' — ] (2006)

|-
|'''Australian gold records'''<ref name="awards"/>
*''Running with Scissors''
|-
|'''Canadian gold records'''<ref name="awards"/>
*''"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D''
*''Even Worse''
*''"Weird Al" Yankovic's Greatest Hits''
*''Greatest Hits Volume II''
*''Running With Scissors''
|-
|'''Canadian platinum records'''<ref name="awards"/>
*''Off the Deep End''
*''Bad Hair Day''
|-
|'''Canadian double platinum records'''<ref name="awards"/>
*''Alapalooza''
|-
|'''Gold single'''<ref name="awards"/><ref name="riaa"/>
*"Eat It" (U.S., Canada, & Australia)
|-
|The "Eat It" single reached the #1 position on the ]n singles chart in 1984.<ref name="awards"/>
|-
|'''Platinum single'''<ref name="awards"/><ref name="riaa"/>
*"White & Nerdy" (U.S.)
|-
|'''United States gold records'''<ref name="awards"/>
*''"Weird Al" Yankovic''
*''The Food Album''
*''Alapalooza''
*''Straight Outta Lynwood''
|-
|'''United States platinum records'''<ref name="awards"/>
*''"Weird Al" Yankovic In 3-D''
*''Dare to be Stupid''
*''Even Worse''
*''Off the Deep End''
*''Bad Hair Day''
*''Running With Scissors''
|}

==Videography==
The following is a comprehensive list of his long form videos to date, with the United States release date.
* '']'' - August 1985
* '']'' - ], ]
* '']'' - May 1992
* '']'' - December 1993
* '']'' - 1993
* '']'' - June 1996
* '']'' - January 1998
* '']'' - ], ]
* '']'' - ], ]
* '']'' - ], ]

===Awards and nominations===
<!--DO NOT ADD ALBUM/SONG related awards here. See Discography section-->
{|
|-
|'''Grammy Award winners'''<ref> Retrieved 1 December 2006.</ref>
*"Fat" — ] (])
|-
|'''Grammy Award nominees'''
*"Jurassic Park" — ] (])
|-
|'''Australian gold long form videos'''<ref name="awards"/>
*'']''
|-
|'''U.S. gold long form videos'''<ref name="awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/awards.htm |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Awards|accessdate=2006-12-14}}</ref><ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |title=RIAA Searchable Database|accessdate=2007-08-13}}</ref>
*'']''
*'']''
*'']''
*'']''
|-
|'''U.S. platinum long form videos'''<ref name="awards"/><ref name="riaa"/>
*''The Ultimate Video Collection''
|}

===Cameos and special appearances in film===
<!-- This is for released films and long form videos. Television appearances should be listed in the TV appearances section.-->
* '']'' - 1988
* '']'' - 1988
* '']'' - 1991
* '']'' - 1991
* '']'' - 1994
* '']'' - 1996
* '']'' - 1997
* '']'' - 1998
* ''Desperation Boulevard'' - 2002
* '']'' - 2003

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*
*{{MySpace-music|weirdal}}
*
*{{imdb name|id=0946148|name="Weird Al" Yankovic}}
*{{musicbrainz artist|id=7746d775-9550-4360-b8d5-c37bd448ce01|name="Weird Al" Yankovic}}
*
*


{{"Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{{The Naked Gun}}

{{featured article}}

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Revision as of 23:14, 9 April 2008

This article is about the musician. For his self-titled debut album, see "Weird Al" Yankovic (album).
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Musical artist

Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is the most unsecsessful music artist of all history, and should be punished because of his severe lack of skill.dyn/content/article/2007/08/09/AR2007080900305_2.html|last=Harrington|first=Richard|title=Weird Al's Imitation: A Funky Form of Flattery|publisher=Washington Post|accessdate=2007-08-10}}</ref> recorded more than 150 parody and original songs, and has performed more than 1,000 live shows. His works have earned him three Grammy Awards among nine nominations, four gold records, and six platinum records in the United States. Yankovic's first top ten Billboard album and single were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his career.

In addition to recording his albums, Yankovic has written and starred in his own film and television show, directed music videos for himself and other artists including Ben Folds and Hanson. He has also made guest appearances on television shows such as Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, The Simpsons, Behind the Music, Johnny Bravo, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and Robot Chicken, in addition to starring in his own Al TV specials.

Biography

Early life

The only child of Nick Yankovic (June 4, 1917–April 9, 2004; an American of Serbian descent) and Mary Elizabeth (née Vivalda; February 7, 1923–April 9, 2004, an American of Italian and English descent), Alfred was born in Downey, California, and raised in the neighboring town of Lynwood. Nick was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and began living in California after serving during World War II. He believed "the key to success" was "doing for a living whatever makes you happy" and often reminded his son of this philosophy. Nick married Mary Vivalda in 1949. Mary, who had come to California from Kentucky, gave birth to Alfred ten years later.

Alfred's first accordion lesson was on October 22, 1966, a day before his seventh birthday. A door-to-door salesman traveling through Lynwood offered the Yankovic parents a choice of accordion or guitar lessons at a local music school. Yankovic claims the reason his parents chose accordion over guitar was "They figured there should be at least one more accordion-playing Yankovic in the world," referring to Frankie Yankovic, to whom he has no relation. He continued lessons at the school for three years before continuing to learn on his own. Yankovic's early accordion role models include Frankie Yankovic and Myron Floren (the accordionist on The Lawrence Welk Show). In the 1970s, Yankovic was a big fan of Elton John and claims John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album "was partly how I learned to play rock 'n roll on the accordion." He would repeatedly play the album and try to play along on his accordion. As for his influences in comedic and parody music, Yankovic lists artists including Tom Lehrer, Stan Freberg, Spike Jones, Allan Sherman, Shel Silverstein and Frank Zappa "and all the other wonderfully sick and twisted artists that he was exposed to through the Dr. Demento Radio Show." Other sources of inspiration for his comedy come from Mad magazine, Monty Python, and the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker parody movies. failures (his film UHF and his 1986 album Polka Party!) were presented as having a larger impact on the direction of his career than they really had. Also, Coolio's later disapproval of "Amish Paradise" was played up as a large feud. Much was also made over his apparent lack of a love life, though he got married shortly after the program aired.

Yankovic has done voice-overs for a number of animated series. He appeared in a 2003 episode of The Simpsons, singing "The Ballad of Homer & Marge" (a parody of John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane") with his band. The episode, "Three Gays of the Condo", in which Marge hires Yankovic to sing the aforementioned song to Homer in an attempt to reconcile their marriage, later won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)". He recently reappeared in a 2008 episode, entitled "That 90's Show", where he records a parody of Homer's grunge hit "Shave Me" entitled "Brain Freeze" (Homer's song, "Shave Me", was itself a parody of Nirvana's "Rape Me"). Yankovic is the voice for Squid Hat on the Cartoon Network show, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. He is also the announcer of the cartoon's eponymous video game adaptation. During a BotCon 2007 panel session, voice actor David Kaye confirmed Yankovic will have a guest appearance voicing a waste collection vehicle Transformer in the upcoming Transformers: Animated cartoon series known as Wreck-Gar. Previously, Yankovic's "Dare to Be Stupid" song was featured in the 1986 animated film The Transformers: The Movie.

An exhaustive list of television shows on which Yankovic has appeared is available on his official website.

Directing career

"Weird Al" Yankovic has directed many of his own music videos; he has directed all of his music videos from 1993’s "Bedrock Anthem" to his latest, 2006’s "White & Nerdy". He also directed the end sequence of 1986’s "Christmas at Ground Zero" (an original piece juxtaposing Christmas with nuclear warfare) from his Polka Party! album and the title sequence to Spy Hard, for which he sang the title song.

In addition to his own, he has directed several videos for Hanson (The Titanic sequences in "River"), The Black Crowes ("Only a Fool"), Ben Folds ("Rockin' the Suburbs"), Jeff Foxworthy ("Redneck Stomp" and "Party All Night"),Blues Explosion ("Wail"), and The Presidents of the United States of America ("Mixed Up S.O.B"). He has cameo appearances in his videos for Blues Explosion, Hanson (as the interviewer), and Ben Folds (as the producer fixing Folds' "shitty tracks").

Misattribution and imitators

A screenshot of LimeWire PRO, showing a large number of parodies misattributed to Yankovic, as well as numerous misspellings of his surname

Songs posted to file sharing networks are often misattributed to him due to their humorous subject matter. Often, his surname is misspelled (and thus mispronounced) as "Yankovich", among other variations. Much to the disdain of Yankovic, these misattributed files include songs that are racist, sexually explicit, or otherwise offensive. A young listener who had heard several of these offensive tracks by way of a file sharing service confronted Yankovic online, threatening a boycott due to his supposedly explicit lyrics. Quite a few of the songs, such as "Star Wars Cantina" by Mark Jonathan Davis (later of Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine), "Star Wars Gangsta Rap", "Yoda Smokes Weed", "Chewbacca" and several more have a Star Wars motif. Some songs misattributed to him are not songs, but spoken skits, such as "Sesame Street on crack", which is also widely misattributed to Adam Sandler.

Yankovic cites these misattributions as "his only real beef with peer-to-peer file sharing sites":

If you do a search for my name on any one of those sites, I guarantee you that about half of the songs that come up will be songs I had absolutely nothing to do with. That particularly bothers me, because I really try to do quality work, and I also try to maintain a more-or-less family-friendly image—and some of these songs that are supposedly by me are just, well, vulgar and awful. I truly think my reputation has suffered in a lot of people's minds because of all those fake Weird Al songs floating around the Internet.

A list of songs frequently misattributed to Yankovic can be found at The Not Al Page and a list of all commercially released songs recorded by Yankovic can be found on his website.

Weird Al Star Fund

The Weird Al Star Fund is a campaign started by Yankovic's fans to get him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their mission is to "solicit, collect, and raise the necessary money, and to compile the information needed for the application to nominate 'Weird Al' Yankovic for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame." Fans worldwide have sent donations to raise the US$15,000 needed for a nomination. In addition to the preferred method of cash donations, many methods were used to raise money for the cause, such as a live benefit show held April 11, 2006, and selling merchandise on the official website and eBay, including T-shirts, calendars, and cookbooks. On May 26, 2006, the campaign hit the then-$15,000 target, just five days before the May 31 deadline to submit the necessary paperwork. However, Yankovic was not included on the list of inductees for 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?

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