"Weird Al" Yankovic
Background information
Birth name	Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Also known as	"Weird Al" Yankovic
Born	October 23, 1959 (1959-10-23) (age 48)
Origin	Lynwood, California, United States
Genre(s)	Parody, polka, pop, rock, hip hop
Occupation(s)	Record producer, Satirist, parodist, singer-songwriter, musician, producer, actor
Instrument(s)	Vocals, accordion, keyboards,
Years active	1979–present
Label(s)	Capitol, Placebo, TK, Scotti Brothers, Volcano
Associated acts	Dr. Demento Ak & Zuie
Website	www.weirdal.com
Members
Al Yankovic Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz Steve Jay Jim West Rubén Valtierra
Former members
Joe Earley Rick Derringer Ross Noble

Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic (pronounced /ˈjæŋkəvɪk/; born October 23, 1959) is an American singer, musician, actor, satirist, parodist, songwriter, accordionist, and television producer. Yankovic is known in particular for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts. Since receiving his first accordion lesson a day before his seventh birthday, he has sold more than 12 million albums (more than any comedy act in history),^[1] recorded more than 150 parody and original songs,^[2][3][4] and has performed more than 1,000 live shows.^[5] 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. Singles from Weird Al Yankovic Released: May 3, 1983 Released: July 1983 Weird Al Yankovic is the eponymous debut album by Weird Al Yankovic, released in 1983. ... Image File history File links WeirdAlYankovic. ... is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Lynwood in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Government  - Mayor Maria Teresa Santillan. ... This article is about the U.S state. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Parody of Star Wars: Episode 1 Parody music, or musical parody, involves changing or recycling existing musical ideas or lyrics - or copying the peculiar style of a composer or artist, or even a general style of music. ... Street musicians in Prague playing a polka Polka is a fast, lively Central European dance, and also a genre of dance music. ... This article is about the genre of popular music. ... This article is about the genre. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... 1867 edition of Punch, a ground-breaking British magazine of popular humour, including a good deal of satire of the contemporary social and political scene. ... A parody (pronounced ), in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, or author, by means of humorous or satiric imitation. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... For the popular-music magazine, see Musician (magazine). ... The primary role of a television producer is to coordinate and control all aspects of production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... Harry Belafonte singing, photograph by C. van Vechten Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with speech. ... For other uses, see Accordion (disambiguation). ... An electronic keyboard. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood, California. ... TK Records was one of the record labels started by Henry Stone. ... Scotti Brothers Records was a California-based record label founded by Tony and Ben Scotti. ... Volcano Records is a subsidiary of Sony BMG Music Entertainments Zomba Music Group, and controls the Scotti Bros. ... Dr. Demento is the stage name of Barret Eugene Hansen (born April 2, 1941),[1] a radio disc jockey specializing in novelty songs and pop music parodies. ... Ak & Zuie is an ethno-funk duo, consisting of bassist Steve Jay and drummer Pete Gallagher. ... Jon Bermuda Schwartz (born August 18, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois) is a drummer best known for working with the singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. ... Stephen Steve Jay (born January 26, (year unknown) in Florida) is a bassist best known for working with the singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. ... James Jim Kimo West (born December 18, (year unknown) in Toronto) is a guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. ... Rubén Valtierra (born December 26 (year unknown) in San Rafael, California) is a keyboardist best known for working with the singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. ... Rick Derringer (born Richard Zehringer, 5 August 1947, in Fort Recovery, Ohio) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer. ... is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... For the popular-music magazine, see Musician (magazine). ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... 1867 edition of Punch, a ground-breaking British magazine of popular humour, including a good deal of satire of the contemporary social and political scene. ... A parody (pronounced ), in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, or author, by means of humorous or satiric imitation. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition (chords) or melody to songs, or both. ... For other uses, see Accordion (disambiguation). ... The primary role of a television producer is to coordinate and control all aspects of production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking. ... Popular culture (or pop culture) is the widespread cultural elements in any given society that are perpetuated through that societys vernacular language or lingua franca. ... For other uses, see Accordion (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ... On January 4, 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade and on July 20, 1940 the first Music Popularity Chart was calculated. ... Singles from Straight Outta Lynwood Released: August 21, 2006 Released: September 12, 2006 Released: September 26, 2006 Released: March 19, 2007 Straight Outta Lynwood is the twelfth album by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Straight Outta Lynwood track listing White & Nerdy Pancreas Canadian Idiot Ill Sue Ya Polkarama! Virus Alert Confessions Part III Weasel Stomping Day Close But No Cigar Do I Creep You Out Trapped in the Drive-Thru Dont Download This Song White & Nerdy is the second single from Weird...

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 & Mandy, Robot Chicken, and Transformers: Animated in addition to starring in his own Al TV specials. UHF (also known as The Vidiot from UHF in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, and Los Telelocos in Mexico) is a comedy film made in 1989. ... The Weird Al Show was a short-lived television show starring Weird Al Yankovic. ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ... Benjamin Scott Folds (born September 12, 1966, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina[1] is an American singer-songwriter and the former frontman of the musical group Ben Folds Five. ... For other uses, see Hanson (disambiguation). ... Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, created by and starring Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, is an American television series which premiered February 11, 2007 on Adult Swim. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... For the album by The Soundtrack of Our Lives, see Behind the Music (album). ... Johnny Bravo is an American animated television series created by Van Partible. ... Space Ghost Coast to Coast (SGC2C) is an animated spoof talk show. ... The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is an Annie- and Emmy-winning[1] American animated television series aired on Cartoon Network. ... Robot Chicken is an Emmy award-winning American stop motion animated comedy television series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, who are the executive producers. ... AL-TV is a show created by parody artist Weird Al Yankovic. ...

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 town of Lynwood.^[6] Nick was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and began living in California after serving during World War II.^{[7] [8]} He believed "the key to success" was "doing for a living whatever makes you happy" and often reminded his son of this philosophy.^[7] Nick married Mary Vivalda in 1949. Mary, who had come to California from Kentucky, gave birth to Alfred ten years later.^[7] is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost... Née redirects here. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the English as an ethnic group and nation. ... Location of Downey in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Founded 1800s Incorporated 1956 Government  - Type Council-Manager government  - City Council David R. Gafin Mario A. Guerra Rick Trejo (Mayor) Anne Marie Bayer Kirk Cartozian Area  - Total 12. ... Location of Lynwood in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Government  - Mayor Maria Teresa Santillan. ... Nickname: Location in Wyandotte, County in the state of Kansas. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S state. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ...

Alfred's first accordion lesson, which sparked his career in music, 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.^[7] He continued lessons at the school for three years before continuing to learn on his own.^[6] 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."^[7] 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."^[9][6] Other sources of inspiration for his comedy come from Mad magazine,^[7] Monty Python,^[10] and the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker parody movies.^[11] is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... Frankie Yankovic (July 15, 1915 - October 14, 1998) was a polka musician of Slovenian origin from Cleveland, Ohio. ... Myron Floren Myron Floren (born November 5, 1919 in Roslyn, South Dakota - died 23 July 2005 in Los Angeles County, California) is best known as being the accordionist on The Lawrence Welk Show between 1950 and 1982. ... The Lawrence Welk Show is a musical variety show hosted by former big band leader Lawrence Welk. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973. ... Thomas Andrew Tom Lehrer (born April 9, 1928) is an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician. ... Stanley Victor Freberg (born August 7, 1926 in Los Angeles) is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, puppeteer and advertising creative director. ... Spike Jones For the music video and film director, see Spike Jonze. ... Allan Sherman (sometimes incorrectly Alan and Allen), November 30, 1924 – November 20, 1973, was an American musician, parodist, satirist, and television producer. ... Sheldon Alan Shel Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American poet, songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of childrens books. ... Frank Vincent Zappa[1] (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, musician, and film director. ... Dr. Demento is the stage name of Barret Eugene Hansen (born April 2, 1941),[1] a radio disc jockey specializing in novelty songs and pop music parodies. ... Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. ... Monty Python, or The Pythons,[2][3] is the collective name of the creators of Monty Pythons Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. ... Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (ZAZ) is a comedy filmmaking trio consisting of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker. ...

Yankovic began kindergarten 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 nerd early on", he recalls.^[7] 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 valedictorian of his senior class.^[7] Yankovic was fairly active in his school's extracurricular programs, including the National Forensic League (in which he "usually brought home some kind of trophy"), a play based upon Rebel Without a Cause, 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."^[7] For other uses, see Kindergarten (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Nerd (disambiguation). ... In the United States and Canada, the title of valedictorian (an anglicized derivation from the Latin vale dicere, to say farewell) is given to the top graduate of the graduating class (the Australia/New Zealand equivalent being dux, although some Australian universities use the American term) of an educational institution. ... The National Forensic League is one of two major U.S. national organizations which direct high school competitive speech events. ... Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 film directed by Nicholas Ray that tells the story of a rebellious teenager who comes to a new town, meets a girl, defies his parents, and faces the local high school bullies. ...

Dr. Demento, "My Bologna", and early fame

In 1976, Yankovic, then a high school senior, sent a homemade tape to Dr. Demento, the host of a comedy radio program.^[7] The tape's first song was "Belvedere Cruisin", about his family's Plymouth Belvedere; another song included on the tape (which never received airtime) was "Dr. D Superstar", a parody of the title song from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.^[12] 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."^[7] Yankovic also played at local coffeehouses saying, The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. ... Dr. Demento is the stage name of Barret Eugene Hansen (born April 2, 1941),[1] a radio disc jockey specializing in novelty songs and pop music parodies. ... A comedy is a dramatic performance of a light and amusing character, usually with a happy conclusion to its plot. ... The Plymouth Belvedere was an American automobile produced from 1951 through 1970. ... This article is about the rock opera. ...

During Yankovic's sophomore year as an architecture student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he became a disc jockey at the university's radio station, KCPR. Yankovic said he had been nicknamed "Weird Al" by fellow students and "took it on professionally" as his persona for the station.^[7] 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 San Luis Obispo County. The song mocked famous nearby landmarks such as the fountain toilets at Madonna Inn. The cover of the album The Essential Dan Fogelberg Daniel Grayling Fogelberg (b. ... This article is about building architecture. ... This article is about the university in San Luis Obispo, California. ... For other meanings of DJ, see DJ (disambiguation). ... KCPR is a non-profit freeform college radio station at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, California. ... San Luis Obispo County is a county located on the central Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. ... The exterior of the Madonna Inn. ...

In mid-1979, shortly before his senior year, "My Sharona" by The Knack was on the charts and Yankovic took his accordion into the restroom across the hall from the radio station (to take advantage of the echo chamber acoustics) and recorded a parody entitled "My Bologna". He sent it to Dr. Demento, 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, Doug Fieger, said he liked the song and suggested that Capitol Records vice president Rupert Perry release the song as a single.^[7] "My Bologna" was released as a single with "School Cafeteria" as its B-side, and the label gave Yankovic a six-month recording contract.^[14] Yankovic, who was "only getting average grades" in his architecture degree, began to realize that he might make a career of comedic music.^[7] My Sharona is a 1979 song which was the debut single by and international hit for The Knack. ... This article is about the band. ... This article is about the technological device. ... My Bologna is a famous parody of My Sharona by The Knack. ... Dr. Demento is the stage name of Barret Eugene Hansen (born April 2, 1941),[1] a radio disc jockey specializing in novelty songs and pop music parodies. ... Douglas Doug Fieger (born August 20, 1952 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American singer and songwriter. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood, California. ...

On September 14, 1980, Yankovic was a guest on the Dr. Demento Show, where he was to record a new parody live. The song was called "Another One Rides the Bus", a parody of Queen's hit, "Another One Bites the Dust". While practicing the song outside the sound booth, he met Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, 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.^[7] "Another One Rides the Bus" became so popular that Yankovic's first television appearance was a performance of the song on the The Tomorrow Show (April 21, 1981) with Tom Snyder. On the show, Yankovic played his accordion, and again, Schwartz banged on the accordion case and provided comical sound effects. is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Another One Rides the Bus is a parody of Queens Another One Bites the Dust by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Queen are an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Brian May, lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, and drummer Roger Taylor, with bass guitarist John Deacon joining the following year. ... Another One Bites the Dust is a 1980 funk/rock song from the English rock band Queen, written by bassist John Deacon and was a worldwide crossover hit (hitting number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, hitting #2 on the R&B charts, and the Disco Top 100). ... Jon Bermuda Schwartz (born August 18, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois) is a drummer best known for working with the singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. ... Tomorrow (also known as The Tomorrow Show and, after 1980, Tomorrow Coast to Coast) was an American late-night television talk show hosted by Tom Snyder. ... is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... AUGUST 25 1981 US Marine Sean Vance is Born on the 25th of August {ear nav|1981}} Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

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 Phoenix, Arizona, nightclub caught the eye of manager Jay Levey, who was "blown away".^[7] Levey asked Yankovic if he had considered creating a full band and doing his music as a career. Yankovic admitted that he had, so Levey held auditions. Steve Jay became Yankovic's bass player, and Jay's friend Jim West played guitar. Schwartz continued on drums. Yankovic's first show with his new band was on March 31, 1982.^[5] Several days later, Yankovic and his band were the opening act for Missing Persons. The unimpressed audience threw items at the group, and they were booed off the stage.^[14] Nickname: Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: , Country State County Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Government  - Type Council-Manager  - Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area  - City  515. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... A musical ensemble is a group of two or more musicians who perform instrumental or vocal music. ... Stephen Steve Jay (born January 26, (year unknown) in Florida) is a bassist best known for working with the singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... James Jim Kimo West (born December 18, (year unknown) in Toronto) is a guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... is the 90th day of the year (91st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ... Bottling is when a concert audience throws things at the performers onstage. ...

Yankovic recorded "I Love Rocky Road" (a parody of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" as recorded by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts) in 1982. Due to the influence of his new producer, Rick Derringer, it managed to become a hit on Top 40 radio, leading to Yankovic's signing with Scotti Brothers Records. In 1983, Yankovic's first self-titled album was released on Scotti Bros. He released his second album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D in 1984. The first single "Eat It", a parody of the Michael Jackson song "Beat It", 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 Billboard Hot 100, "Eat It" remained Yankovic's highest-charting single until "White & Nerdy" placed at number 9 in October 2006. I Love Rocky Road is a song by Weird Al Yankovic. ... I Love Rock n Roll is a rock and roll song, written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of The Arrows, who recorded the first released version. ... Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1958 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania) is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress. ... Rick Derringer (born Richard Zehringer, 5 August 1947, in Fort Recovery, Ohio) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer. ... Scotti Brothers Records was a California-based record label founded by Tony and Ben Scotti. ... Singles from Weird Al Yankovic Released: May 3, 1983 Released: July 1983 Weird Al Yankovic is the eponymous debut album by Weird Al Yankovic, released in 1983. ... Singles from In 3-D Released: February 28, 1984 Released: April 1984 Released: June 4, 1984 Weird Al Yankovic In 3-D, sometimes referred to simply as In 3-D, is the second album by Weird Al Yankovic, released in 1984. ... Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D track listing Eat It Midnight Star The Brady Bunch Buy Me A Condo I Lost on Jeopardy Polkas On 45 Mr. ... For other persons named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... Beat it redirects here. ... It has been suggested that Billboard be merged into this article or section. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... Straight Outta Lynwood track listing White & Nerdy Pancreas Canadian Idiot Ill Sue Ya Polkarama! Virus Alert Confessions Part III Weasel Stomping Day Close But No Cigar Do I Creep You Out Trapped in the Drive-Thru Dont Download This Song White & Nerdy is the second single from Weird...

In 1985, Yankovic co-wrote and starred in a mockumentary of his own life entitled The Compleat Al, which intertwined the facts of his life up to that point with fiction. The movie also featured some clips from Yankovic's trip to Japan and some clips from the Al TV specials. The Compleat Al was co-directed by Jay Levey, who would direct UHF four years later. Also released around the same time as The Compleat Al was The Authorized Al, a biographical book based on the film. The book, resembling a scrapbook, included real and fictional humorous photographs and documents. Mockumentary (also known as a pseudo-documentary)[1], a portmanteau of mock and documentary, is a film and TV genre, or a single work of the genre. ... The Compleat Al is a mockumentary about the life of Weird Al Yankovic, from his birth to 1985. ... AL-TV is a show created by parody artist Weird Al Yankovic. ... UHF (also known as The Vidiot from UHF in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, and Los Telelocos in Mexico) is a comedy film made in 1989. ...

Yankovic and his band toured as the opening act for The Monkees in mid-1987 for their second reunion tour of North America. Yankovic claims to have enjoyed touring with The Monkees, despite the fact "the promoter gypped us out of a bunch of money."^[15] The Monkees were a pop-rock quartet created and based in Los Angeles in 1965 for an NBC American television series of the same name. ... North American redirects here. ...

Yankovic also appeared on the Wendy Carlos recording of Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" as the narrator in 1988. The album also included a sequel of Camille Saint-Saëns's composition The Carnival of the Animals entitled the "Carnival of the Animals Part II", with Yankovic providing humorous poems for each of the featured creatures in the style of Ogden Nash, who had written humorous poems for the original. Rubén Valtierra joined the band on keyboards in 1991, allowing Yankovic to concentrate more on singing and increasing his use of the stage space during concerts. Wendy Carlos (born Walter Carlos, November 14, 1939) is an American composer and electronic musician. ... Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (Russian: , Sergej Sergejevič Prokofijev; April 27 (April 151 O.S.), 1891–March 5, 1953) was a Russian and Soviet composer who mastered numerous musical genres and came to be admired as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. ... 1947 coloring book cover. ... Charles Camille Saint-Saëns () (9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist, known especially for his large-scale orchestral works The Carnival of the Animals, Danse Macabre, Samson et Dalila, and Symphony No. ... Le Carnaval des Animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) is a musical suite of fourteen movements by the French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saëns. ... Frederic Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971) was an American poet best known for writing pithy and funny light verse. ... Rubén Valtierra (born December 26 (year unknown) in San Rafael, California) is a keyboardist best known for working with the singer-songwriter Weird Al Yankovic. ...

A factual biographical booklet of Yankovic's life, written by Dr. Demento, was released with the 1994 box set compilation Permanent Record: Al in the Box.^[7] The Dr. Demento Society, which issues yearly Christmas 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". Dr. Demento is the stage name of Barret Eugene Hansen (born April 2, 1941),[1] a radio disc jockey specializing in novelty songs and pop music parodies. ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ...

New look, personal life, and career to present

Yankovic's "classic" look before eye surgery, with glasses, mustache and afro

On January 24, 1998, Yankovic had LASIK eye surgery to correct his extreme myopia^[16]. In the same period, he shaved off his moustache and grew out his hair, thus radically changing his trademark look. (He had previously shaved his mustache in 1983 for the video of Ricky in order to resemble Desi Arnaz more closely, and in 1996 for his "Amish Paradise" video.) Yankovic reasoned, "If Madonna's allowed to reinvent herself every 15 minutes, I figure I should be good for a change at least once every twenty years."^[17] He parodied the reaction to this "new look" in a commercial for his nonexistent MTV Unplugged special. The commercial featured Yankovic in the short-haired wig from the music video for The Saga Begins, claiming his new look was an attempt to "get back to the core of what I'm all about", that being "the music."^[18] Image File history File linksMetadata Weirdalclassic. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Weirdalclassic. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... LASIK is the acronym for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, a type of refractive laser eye surgery performed by ophthalmologists for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. ... For other uses, see Myopia (disambiguation). ... Joseph Stalin, one of the most famous historical figures with a moustache For the Swedish heavy metal band, see Mustasch. ... Weird Al Yankovic track listing Ricky Gotta Boogie I Love Rocky Road Buckingham Blues Happy Birthday Stop Draggin My Car Around My Bologna The Checks In The Mail Another One Rides the Bus Ill Be Mellow When Im Dead Such a Groovy Guy Mr. ... Desi Arnaz (born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III) (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986) was a Cuban American musician, actor and television producer. ... Amish Paradise is Weird Al Yankovics parody of the hip hop song Gangstas Paradise by Coolio. ... This article is about the American entertainer. ... MTV Unplugged is a series showcasing popular musical artists playing acoustic instruments. ... The Saga Begins is a parody by Weird Al Yankovic, released from the 1999 album Running With Scissors. ...

Yankovic married Suzanne Krajewski on February 10, 2001. Their daughter, Nina, was born February 11, 2003. They also have a pet cockatiel named Bo Veaner. ^[6]They used to have a pet poodle, Bela (pictured atop Yankovic's head on the cover of his album, Poodle Hat). Despite songs such as "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi", his frequent use of "Oy vey" and other Yiddish phrases, Yankovic is not of Jewish ancestry, and identifies himself as a Christian.^[19] is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Binomial name (Kerr, 1792) Cockatiel range (in red; all-year resident) Synonyms Psittacus hollandicus Kerr, 1792 Leptolophus hollandicus The Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), also known as the Quarrion and the Weero, is a diminutive Cockatoo endemic to Australia and prized as a household pet. ... For the political insult see poodle (insult). ... Singles from Poodle Hat Released: May, 2003 Released: January 13, 2006 Poodle Hat is the eleventh album by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Pretty Fly For A Rabbi is a song by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Look up oy vey in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Yiddish ( yidish or idish, literally: Jewish) is a non-territorial Germanic language, spoken throughout the world and written with the Hebrew alphabet. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Preaching Prayer Ecumenism Relation to other religions Movements Music Liturgy Calendar Symbols Art Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ...

Yankovic changed his diet to become a vegan in 1992, after a fan of his gave him the book Diet for a New America and he felt "it made [...] a very compelling argument for a strict vegetarian diet."^[20] 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."^[21] Vegan redirects here. ... John Robbins is an American author known for his books on food and health. ...

On April 9, 2004, Yankovic's parents, Nick, 86, and Mary, 81, were found dead in their Fallbrook, California, home, apparently the victims of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from their fireplace that had been recently lit. The flue 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 Appleton, Wisconsin,^[22] 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."^[23] Fallbrook is a census-designated place (CDP) in northern San Diego County, California. ... Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after the inhalation of carbon monoxide gas. ... A flue is a duct, pipe, or chimney for conveying exhaust gases from a fireplace, furnace, water heater, boiler, or generator to the outdoors. ... Appleton is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, on the Fox River, 100 miles (161 km) north of Milwaukee. ...

Yankovic's career in novelty and comedy music has outlasted many of his "mainstream" parody targets, such as Toni Basil, MC Hammer, Men Without Hats, and Crash Test Dummies.^[24][25] While most novelty artists are one-hit wonders, Yankovic's continued success (including the top 10 single "White & Nerdy" and album Straight Outta Lynwood in 2006) has enabled him to escape the stigma often associated with novelty music.^[26] Toni Basil (born Antonia Christina Basilotta on September 22, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a musician, video artist, actress, and choreographer. ... MC Hammer (born Stanley Kirk Burrell on March 30, 1962) is an American MC who was popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s, known for his dramatic rise to and fall from fame and fortune, his trademark Hammer pants, and for leaving a lasting influence on hip hop culture... Men Without Hats are a Canadian pop group from Montreal, Quebec who were popular in the early 1980s. ... This article is about a music group. ... A novelty song is a silly or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. ... For other uses, see One hit wonder (disambiguation). ... Straight Outta Lynwood track listing White & Nerdy Pancreas Canadian Idiot Ill Sue Ya Polkarama! Virus Alert Confessions Part III Weasel Stomping Day Close But No Cigar Do I Creep You Out Trapped in the Drive-Thru Dont Download This Song White & Nerdy is the second single from Weird... Singles from Straight Outta Lynwood Released: August 21, 2006 Released: September 12, 2006 Released: September 26, 2006 Released: March 19, 2007 Straight Outta Lynwood is the twelfth album by Weird Al Yankovic. ...

Yankovic's work

Music

Main article: List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic

While Yankovic's song parodies (such as "Eat It") have resulted in success on the Billboard charts (see List of singles by "Weird Al" Yankovic), he has actually recorded an equally large number of original humorous songs ("You Don't Love Me Anymore" and "One More Minute").^[6] His work depends largely on the satirizing of popular culture, including television (see The TV Album), movies ("The Saga Begins"), food (see The Food Album), popular music (the polkas), and sometimes issues in contemporary news ("Headline 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 Paris Hilton and Kevin Federline."^[27] Weird Al Yankovic Weird Al Yankovic is a multi-Grammy award winning American musician, satirist, parodist, accordionist, and television producer. ... Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D track listing Eat It Midnight Star The Brady Bunch Buy Me A Condo I Lost on Jeopardy Polkas On 45 Mr. ... Weird Al Yankovic (born October 23, 1959) is an American musician best known for his parodies of contemporary radio hits. ... Off the Deep End track listing Smells Like Nirvana Trigger Happy I Cant Watch This Polka Your Eyes Out I Was Only Kidding The White Stuff When I Was Your Age Taco Grande Airline Amy The Plumbing Song You Dont Love Me Anymore Bite Me (Hidden Track) You... One More Minute is an original song by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Popular culture (or pop culture) is the widespread cultural elements in any given society that are perpetuated through that societys vernacular language or lingua franca. ... The Food Album is a compilation CD of songs by Weird Al Yankovic that features songs about television and TV shows. ... The Saga Begins is a parody by Weird Al Yankovic, released from the 1999 album Running With Scissors. ... The Food Album is a compilation CD of songs by Weird Al Yankovic that features songs about food. ... Headline News is a parody song by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American celebrity and socialite. ... Kevin Earl Federline (born March 21, 1978), is an American back-up dancer, model, actor, and rapper. ...

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 "Smells Like Nirvana", which references unintelligible lyrics in "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Achy Breaky Song", which refers to the song "Achy Breaky Heart", "(This Song's Just) Six Words Long", which refers to the repetitious lyrics in "Got My Mind Set on You", the unreleased "It's Still Billy Joel to Me", and "Confessions Part III", which references "Confessions" and "Confessions Part II" in the first few lines. Smells Like Nirvana is a parody of Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit written and performed by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Nevermind track listing Smells Like Teen Spirit is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, and the opening track and lead single from the bands 1991 breakthrough album Nevermind. ... Achy Breaky Song is a song by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Achy Breaky Heart is a hit country music song from 1992 by Billy Ray Cyrus, first available on his CD Some Gave All. ... Got My Mind Set on You is a song written by Rudy Clark and originally recorded by the late James Ray in 1962. ... Straight Outta Lynwood is the twelfth album by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Confessions is the fourth studio album by American R&B-pop singer Usher, released on March 23, 2004 via Arista Records. ... Confessions is the fourth studio album by American R&B-pop singer Usher, released on March 23, 2004 via Arista Records. ...

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 rap songs "Amish Paradise" and "White & Nerdy"), or in pointing out trends or works which have become pop culture clichés (such as "eBay" and "Don't Download This Song"). Rap redirects here. ... Amish Paradise is Weird Al Yankovics parody of the hip hop song Gangstas Paradise by Coolio. ... Straight Outta Lynwood track listing White & Nerdy Pancreas Canadian Idiot Ill Sue Ya Polkarama! Virus Alert Confessions Part III Weasel Stomping Day Close But No Cigar Do I Creep You Out Trapped in the Drive-Thru Dont Download This Song White & Nerdy is the second single from Weird... eBay is a song by Weird Al Yankovic on his album Poodle Hat. ... Dont Download This Song is the first single from Weird Al Yankovics 12th studio album Straight Outta Lynwood, which was released on September 26, 2006. ...

Yankovic is the sole writer for all his songs, and for "legal and personal reasons" does not accept parody submissions or ideas from fans.^[6] There exists, however, one exception to this rule in the case of "Like a Surgeon." Madonna was reportedly talking with a friend and happened to wonder aloud when Yankovic was going to turn her "Like a Virgin" 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.^[7] Like a Surgeon is a song by Weird Al Yankovic. ... This article is about the American entertainer. ... Audio sample Info Like a Virgin (help· info) Like a Virgin is the first single by pop singer Madonna from her second studio album, Like a Virgin. ...

Unlike other parody artists such as Tom Lehrer and Allan Sherman, 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.^[28] Thomas Andrew Tom Lehrer (born April 9, 1928) is an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician. ... Allan Sherman (sometimes incorrectly Alan and Allen), November 30, 1924 – November 20, 1973, was an American musician, parodist, satirist, and television producer. ...

In addition to his parodies, Yankovic also includes a medley of various songs on most albums, each one reinterpreted as a polka, 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."^[29] Street musicians in Prague playing a polka Polka is a fast, lively Central European dance, and also a genre of dance music. ...

Some of Yankovic's original songs are pastiches 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 Devo with "Dare to Be Stupid", Talking Heads with "Dog Eat Dog", Frank Zappa with "Genius in France", Rage Against the Machine with "I'll Sue Ya", Nine Inch Nails with "Germs", or most recently, charity records with "Don't Download This Song".^[30] Others are style parodies in the style of a genre of music, rather than a specific band (for example, country music with "Good Enough For Now"). The word pastiche describes a literary or other artistic genre. ... Devo (pronounced DEE-vo or dee-VO, often spelled DEVO or DEV-O) is an American New Wave group formed in Akron, Ohio in 1972. ... Dare to Be Stupid track listing Like a Surgeon Dare to Be Stupid I Want a New Duck One More Minute Yoda George of the Jungle Slime Creatures From Outer Space Girls Just Want To Have Lunch This is the Life Cable TV Hooked on Polkas Dare to Be Stupid... The Talking Heads was an American rock band formed in 1974 in New York City and active until 1991. ... Frank Vincent Zappa[1] (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, musician, and film director. ... Rage Against the Machine, is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1991. ... NIN redirects here. ... A charity record (also known as a charity single) is a release of a song for a specific charitable cause. ... Dont Download This Song is the first single from Weird Al Yankovics 12th studio album Straight Outta Lynwood, which was released on September 26, 2006. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. ...

Yankovic has contributed original songs to several films ("This Is the Life" from Johnny Dangerously; "Polkamon" from the movie Pokémon: The Movie 2000, and a parody of the James Bond title sequence in Spy Hard), in addition to his own film, UHF. Other songs of his have appeared in films or television series as well, such as "Dare to Be Stupid" in The Transformers: The Movie. This article is about motion pictures. ... Dare to Be Stupid track listing Like a Surgeon Dare to Be Stupid I Want a New Duck One More Minute Yoda George of the Jungle Slime Creatures From Outer Space Girls Just Want To Have Lunch This is the Life Cable TV Hooked on Polkas This Is The Life... The film Johnny Dangerously is a 1984 comedy spoof of 1930s crime/gangster movies directed by Amy Heckerling. ... Polkamon is the title of a song by American parodist Weird Al Yankovic released on the soundtrack of Pokémon The Movie 2000. ... This article is about the spy series. ... Spy Hard is a 1996 movie starring Leslie Nielsen, parodying James Bond films and other action films. ... UHF (also known as The Vidiot from UHF in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, and Los Telelocos in Mexico) is a comedy film made in 1989. ... Dare to Be Stupid track listing Like a Surgeon Dare to Be Stupid I Want a New Duck One More Minute Yoda George of the Jungle Slime Creatures From Outer Space Girls Just Want To Have Lunch This is the Life Cable TV Hooked on Polkas Dare to Be Stupid...

Yankovic's recurring jokes include the number 27 (as seen on the covers for Running With Scissors, Poodle Hat, and Straight Outta Lynwood) and the names Bob (the Al TV interviews often mention the name),^[31] Frank (e.g. "Frank's 2000" TV"), and the surname "Finkelstein" (e.g. the music video for "I Lost on Jeopardy"). Also, a hamster called Harvey the Wonder Hamster is a recurring character in The Weird Al Show and the Al TV specials, as well as the subject of an original song on Alapalooza. Yankovic has also put two backmasking messages into his songs. The first, in "Nature Trail to Hell", said "Satan Eats Cheez Whiz"; the second, in "I Remember Larry", said "Wow, you must have an awful lot of free time on your hands."^[32] 27 (twenty-seven) is the natural number following 26 and preceding 28. ... Singles from Running with Scissors Released: June 24, 1999 Released: August 4, 1999 Running with Scissors is the tenth album by Weird Al Yankovic, released on June 29, 1999. ... Singles from Poodle Hat Released: May, 2003 Released: January 13, 2006 Poodle Hat is the eleventh album by Weird Al Yankovic. ... Singles from Straight Outta Lynwood Released: August 21, 2006 Released: September 12, 2006 Released: September 26, 2006 Released: March 19, 2007 Straight Outta Lynwood is the twelfth album by Weird Al Yankovic. ... AL-TV is a show created by parody artist Weird Al Yankovic. ... Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D track listing Eat It Midnight Star The Brady Bunch Buy Me A Condo I Lost on Jeopardy Polkas On 45 Mr. ... Genera Mesocricetus Phodopus Cricetus Cricetulus Allocricetulus Cansumys Tscherskia Hamsters are rodents belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. ... The song Harvey the Wonder Hamster originally appeared on Weird Al Yankovics ALTV and Al-Music specials on MTV and MuchMusic. ... The Weird Al Show was a short-lived television show starring Weird Al Yankovic. ... Singles from Alapalooza Released: October 1993 Released: November 12, 1993 Released: November 1993 Alternate cover Alternate cover that looked more similar to the Jurassic Park soundtrack Alapalooza is the eighth album by Weird Al Yankovic, released in 1993. ... Backmasking (also known incorrectly as backward masking)[1] is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backwards onto a track that is meant to be played forwards. ... Country of origin United States Region, town Source of milk Cow Pasteurised Yes Texture thick, viscous liquid Aging time n/a Certification Cheez Whiz is a thick processed cheese sauce or spread introduced by Kraft Foods in 1952. ...

His latest three album releases feature the longest songs Yankovic has ever released. The "Albuquerque" 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. Before 2007, (apart from a one-off performance of "Albuquerque" in Albuquerque, New Mexico),^[33] these "epic" songs were not performed live in their entirety due to their length and complexity. (See Live performances for details) Albuquerque is the last song of Weird Al Yankovics Running With Scissors album. ... Albuquerque redirects here. ...

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 "Smells Like Nirvana" uses an extremely similar set to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", including using several of the same actors. This video contended with "Smells like Teen Spirit" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video. Other videos that are parodies of their original song videos include "Eat It", "Fat", "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*", "Bedrock Anthem", "Headline News", and "White & Nerdy". The video for "Dare to Be Stupid" is, as stated by Yankovic, a style parody in general of Devo videos.