Historical Figure
"Weird Al" Yankovic
b. 1959
American comedy musician (born 1959)
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Biography
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American comedy musician, writer, and actor. He is best known for writing and performing comedy songs that often parody specific songs by contemporary musicians. He also performs original songs that are style pastiches of the work of other acts, as well as polka medleys of popular songs, most of which feature his trademark accordion. Since having one of his comedy songs aired on The Dr. Demento Radio Show in 1976 at age 16, Yankovic has sold more than 12 million albums, recorded more than 150 parodies and original songs, and performed more than 2,000 live shows.
In Their Own Words (5)
My brothers and sisters all hated me 'cause I was an only child.
"Generic Blues", UHF soundtrack (1989) . , 1989
If money can't buy happiness, I guess I'll have to rent it.
"This Is the Life", Dare to Be Stupid (1984). , 1984
Alanis Morissette and I actually used to date. I especially liked it when we went to the movies.
AL TV, MTV, 1996; referring to the line "Is she perverted like me/would she go down on you in a theater" from Morissette's breakout hit You Oughta Know. , 1996
Never had a date That you couldn't inflate
"You're Pitiful" (2006), Internet-released song , 2006
Oh, you don't wanna mess with the R-I-double-A They'll sue you if you burn that CD-R It doesn't matter if you're a grandma, or a seven-year-old girl They'll treat you like the evil, hard-bitten, criminal scum you are
"Don't Download This Song", Straight Outta Lynwood (2006). , 2006
Timeline
The story of "Weird Al" Yankovic, told in moments.
At 16, sent a homemade tape to the Dr. Demento radio show. It aired. Callers wanted more.
"Eat It," his parody of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," hit number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jackson himself reportedly loved it.
Mandatory Fun became his first number-one album and the first comedy album to top the Billboard 200 since 1963. He released eight music videos in eight days to promote it.
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