Hilarious Dad Jokes That'll Make You Laugh (Even As You Roll Your Eyes)
Weird Al Yankovic's Top Songs On Billboard Hot 100
See if your favorite parody is among his biggest hits.
3/28/2023
Weird Al Yankovic photographed on March 20, 1984 in Los Angeles. GI/Bob Riha, Jr.
In many ways, the history of popular music over the last several decades can be traced through the eyes of one Alfred M. Yankovic. A master satirist who spent years fashioning pun-filled, ornately produced send-ups of the most popular hits of any given time period, "Weird Al" Yankovic paid homage to the '80s pop anthems of Michael Jackson and Madonna, the '90s grunge of Nirvana, the turn-of-the-century top 40 Billboard Hot 100 fodder of Backstreet Boys and Avril Lavigne, the rap stylings of Eminem and T.I. And much more. While Yankovic makes a habit of asking the permission of any artist he's satirizing, being spoofed by "Weird Al" has long been a badge of honor — if he's making a parody of your song, your song is important.
And yet, Yankovic does not only exist for comedy fans: his send-ups of popular tracks are so well-done, and so catchy, that they have often become popular on their own merit. Over the course of his career, "Weird Al" has launched multiple songs onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart — with one even reaching the top 10. And while Yankovic hasn't released a proper album since 2014's Mandatory Fun, he's still active on tour, playing these parody hits to thousands of adoring fans. In 2022, Yankovic tapped Daniel Radcliffe to play him in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a "Weird Al" biopic that fittingly satirized musician biopic tropes (and had little basis in reality, but was still hilarious).
Check out "Weird Al" Yankovic's 10 biggest Billboard hits to date below.
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 99Peak Date: May 21, 1988
Although "Fat" is not "Weird Al's" biggest hit — it's not even his biggest Michael Jackson parody — its 1988 music video, in which Yankovic dons a fat suit and shakes his massive hips in leather, is arguably his most iconic clip to date.
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 81Peak Date: July 7, 1984
When "Weird Al" spoofed the Greg Kihn Band's 1983 song "Jeopardy" by singing about the now-iconic game show, Alex Trebek had only been the Jeopardy! Host for three months.
Peak Position: No. 39Peak Date: Aug. 2, 2014.
While Robin Thicke used his 2013 No. 1 Hot 100 hit "Blurred Lines," feat. Pharrell and T.I., to reignite his music career and ask "What rhymes with 'hug me'?," "Weird Al" discarded all of its lasciviousness and gave us… the most fun song about grammar ever created? "Okay, now here's some notes / Syntax you're always mangling / No x in 'espresso' / Your participle's danglin'!" he croons, making listeners with and without English degrees want to boogie.
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 62Peak Date: May 19, 1984
On "King of Suede," "Weird Al" took aim at the Police's "King of Pain" by pawning off some fabric ("If you need a tuxedo for your junior prom/We can get you the best one that's made in Taiwan") nearly three decades before Macklemore & Ryan Lewis invaded the "Thrift Shop."
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 63Peak Date: May 28, 1983
"Weird Al" Yankovic's earliest Hot 100 hit, "Ricky," was a power-pop send-up of Toni Basil's "Mickey" that focused on I Love Lucy; the video features a moustache-free Yankovic going full Desi Arnaz.
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 35Peak Date: May 16, 1992
As the story goes, when "Weird Al" Yankovic approached Nirvana to parody "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with a song titled "Smells Like Nirvana," Kurt Cobain asked him if the lyrics were going on to list off smelly things. Instead, Yankovic opted to poke fun at Cobain's enunciation, as "Weird Al" sung about crooning with "marbles in my mouth."
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 53Peak Date: April 20, 1996
Coolio's 1995 Hot 100 topper "Gangsta's Paradise," feat. L.V., was such a huge hit that "Weird Al" practically based his whole 1996 album promotion around it: the full-length was titled "Bad Hair Day," featured Yankovic on the cover with the Coolio hairdo, and was led by the funkiest ode to the Amish lifestyle ever recorded.
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 47Peak Date: July 13, 1985
Even back in 1985, "Weird Al" knew that Madonna was a pop artist worthy of a high-profile homage: "Like A Surgeon," which spoofs her Hot 100 No. 1 "Like A Virgin," is highlighted by lines like, "Like a surgeon/Cuttin' for the very first time/Like a surgeon/Organ transplants are my line."
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 12Peak Date: April 14, 1984
"Weird Al" nodded to the phenomenon of Michael Jackson's Thriller album by pairing MJ's seamless melodies with… food, of course. "Eat It" became Yankovic's first top 20 Hot 100 hit, and remained his only one until….
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 9Peak Date: October 21, 2006
The thing about "Weird Al" Yankovic is that he can really, really rap. His 2006 parody of Chamillionaire's Hot 100 No. 1 "Ridin'," feat. Krayzie Bone, is a cleverly penned tribute to the nerdiest of us all, but Yankovic also proved his spitting skills with the rapid-fire verses. How has this man not dropped a guest verse on a Lil Wayne song yet?
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"Weird Al" Yankovic's biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is streaming on the Roku Channel as of today. To accompany the film, "Weird Al" has released a companion soundtrack featuring newly recorded versions of his classic tracks as well as a new song called "Now You Know." Stream it below.
"Now You Know" plays during the credits at the end of Weird, so naturally, the lyrics address the tell-all quality of the (faux) biopic. "You know all my dirty secrets 'cause we spilled all the tea/ There's nothing left to hide, baby/ How you like the real me?" Yankovic asks over a funky rock and roll guitar. After all, "If it's in a movie, it's got to be true."
Among songs newly recorded by "Weird Al" are "My Bologna," "Another One Rides the Bus," "Eat It," "Like a Surgeon," and Amish Paradise." Additionally, the soundtrack features the original score composed by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson, who previously helmed the score for Cobra Kai
Before you stream the film/soundtrack, however, we should clarify that the "biopic" is, in typical "Weird Al" fashion, more of a parody of the genre than a harrowing tale of Yankovic's life — complete with a million celebrity cameos that bolster the mockumentary's fantastical vibe. Read how you can watch the free film here, and scroll onward to see the artwork and tracklist for the Weird: The Al Yankovic Story soundtrack.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Soundtrack Artwork:
weird the al yankovic story soundtrack artwork
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Soundtrack Tracklist:01. You Don't Know Anything (Dialogue) – Performed by Diedrich Bader02. My Bologna (2022 version) – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic03. I Love Rocky Road (2022 version) – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic04. Another One Rides the Bus (2022 version) – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic05. Eat It (2022 version) – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic06. Like a Surgeon (2022 version) – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic07. Amish Paradise (2022 version) – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic08. Now You Know – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic09. Dr. Demento Opening Theme (Pico & Sepulveda) – Performed by The Roto Rooter Goodtime Christmas Band10. Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out the Barrel) – Performed by Cory Pesaturo11. Helena Polka – Performed by Cory Pesaturo – Performed by The Emeralds12. The Chicken Dance aka The Bird Dance13. Clarinet Polka – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic14. Beat on the Brat – Performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic15. Bowling with the Devil – Performed by Skunk Barf16. The Factory – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson17. Demento's Pool Party – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson18. You're All a Bunch of Slaves (Instrumental) – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson19. Guadalajara – Performed by Cesar Ramirez, Omar Estrada, & Cesar Chavira20. Back From the Dead – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson21. Weird Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson22. The Accordion – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson23. Hay Boy – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson24. The Closet – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson25. Epiphany – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson26. Cracked the Code – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson27. On the Spot – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson28. A Rare Gift – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson29. My Parents – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson30. Write Your Own Songs – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson31. LSD Trip – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson32. Al and Madonna – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson33. A Parody of "Eat It" – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson34. Drunk Driving – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson35. You're All I've Got – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson36. Diner Kidnapping – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson37. Heart of the Jungle – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson38. Certified Platinum – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson39. It's All Business – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson40. The Factory – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson41. Dad Apologizes – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson42. Raised Amish – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson43. It's Nothing – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson44. Would You Be My Son? – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson45. Al's Speech – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson46. In Memoriam – Performed by Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson
"Weird Al" Yankovic Reveals Biopic Soundtrack, Featuring New Song "Now You Know": StreamCarys Anderson
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The Weird Al Yankovic Movie Is Practically Perfect, If You ... - GameSpot
In the world of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, polka parties were the quickest way for rebellious teens to get back at their parents, and Michael Jackson's "Beat It" is a parody track of Weird Al's 100% original song "Eat It." The Al Yankovic Story, like the career of Weird Al that it takes many huge liberties with, is a series of winking parodies that fans of the original material will immediately get, but at a cost--if you don't know the source material, you might not always be in on the joke.
Spoilers follow for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
NBC's Community, in many of its best moments, was a send-up of television tropes--a constant acknowledgment that television is a construct made up of off-the-shelf parts that come from different shows, networks, and creators parroting each other. It felt like a show made that adored television as a medium even as it made fun of it.
Weird is in a similar, but more focused vein. Early on in the film, Al declares his intent to become "maybe not technically the best, but arguably the most famous accordion player in an extremely specific genre of music." Similarly, Weird is a parody of an extremely specific genre of film, the dramatic biographical movie or biopic. However, if you're looking for a straight-up dramatic retelling of Al Yankovic's life, you're going to be in for a double disappointment. Not only is that not the story Weird is looking to tell, but Yankovic's life and career also aren't all that dramatic. Even as a successful musician, his worst scandal is that Coolio didn't like his parody of "Gangsta's Paradise," and he and the late rapper successfully hashed things out long ago. Indeed, Al himself said that part of the idea behind doing a parody biopic about him is that a straight-faced one would have nothing to tell.
To get the most out of Weird, you have to be ready for it. The movie is filled with nods to and takedowns of biopics, poking fun at the way they often play fast-and-loose with the details and try only with the lightest of effort to keep clear the line between the actor and the performer. In an early scene, Yankovic writes his classic parody of "My Sharona" in real-time, looking around the room for inspiration. When he sings, it isn't actor Daniel Radcliffe belting out the tunes, or even a younger performer doing a closer version of Yankovic's voice--it's the 63-year-old performer's voice coming out of the 33-year-old man's mouth.
This version of Al Yankovic lives life fast and hard, going to celebrity parties, putting out lit cigarettes in the palms of record executives, hooking up with Madonna, and binge drinking. If you've watched Walk the Line or The Doors, the third act of the film plays much more like those movies than anything that actually happened to Yankovic.
For those who love lampoons of the entertainment industry--and films that revolve around said industry, these moments land nicely. But for those who have a surface-level appreciation of Al's music and don't know much about the man behind the accordion, especially younger audiences that quite possibly haven't sat down to watch a number of the films and events the movie is parodying, it's entirely possible to miss the joke.
Part of the joy in listening to Weird Al is hearing a familiar tune or style and then listening to Yankovic twist it around and flip it on its head--the surprise and joy of the unexpected. The point of parody is to trick you for a moment into believing it's the real thing. In that way, Weird is a perfect match for the man it's about; anyone expecting an Oscar-bait biopic will find themselves caught off guard, like someone expecting to hear "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and instead hearing "Smells Like Nirvana." If you're not in on the joke, the title--Weird--may seem especially apt.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Movie is streaming free on Roku now.
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