The latest news, photos, insider information, FAQs, biography, trivia, and merchandise. Maintained by Als drummer, Jon Bermuda Schwartz. Alfred Matthew Weird Al Yankovic j k v k YANGkvik born October 23, 1959 is an American singer, songwriter, parodist, record producer. The discography of American singer, songwriter, rapper, musician and parodist Weird Al Yankovic consists of fourteen studio albums, ten compilation albums, eleven. Starting with his first professional recordings and appearances on the Dr. Demento radio show decades ago, Weird Al Yankovic has managed to stay on the pop culture. Facts About Weird Al Yankovic. Starting with his first professional recordings and appearances on the Dr. Demento radio show decades ago, Weird Al Yankovic has managed to stay on the pop culture map and change with the times, even while so many of the bands and artists he has parodied lost the spotlight. Here are some facts about Weird Al Yankovic and his songs. WEIRD ALS PARENTS CHOSE THE ACCORDION FOR HIMThe legendverified by Al Yankovic in the liner notes of his 1. Watch Weird Al Yankovic Live!: The Alpocalypse Tour Download Full' title='Watch Weird Al Yankovic Live!: The Alpocalypse Tour Download Full' />Permanent Record Al in the Boxreads that on the day before Al turned 7, a door to door salesman came through Lynwood, California, to solicit business for a local music school, which offered its pupils a choice between guitar or accordion lessons. Because Frankie Yankovic shared the familys surname and was known as Americas Polka King, Als parents chose the squeezebox for their son. Al would gradually learn how to play rock n roll on the instrument, mostly from Elton Johns Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, playing it over and over and trying to play along with it. Watch Gabriel Iglesias: Hot And Fluffy Streaming on this page. Frankie and Al werent actually related, but the two would eventually collaborate, with Al playing on Who Stole the Kishka on Frankies Songs of the Polka King, Vol. Frankies The Tick Tock Polka played by Al as a lead in to Kehas Tik Tok on the Alpocalypse track Polka Face. Doctor Who Episode 2 Season 1 Rose. YANKOVIC SKIPPED THE SECOND GRADEAl attended kindergarten one year early and skipped the second grade, and his scholastic promotion was not popular with his older classmates. I got my fair share of verbal abuse, but I learned to run pretty fast so I didnt get beat up a lot, Yankovic once explained. Al claimed that when he wasnt running away, his second grade actually third grade recess was spent pretending to be Mr. Terrific, a TV character that took a power pill to make him a superhero. Yankovic would graduate Lynwood High School at the age of 1. HE GAVE HIMSELF THE NICKNAME WEIRD IN COLLEGEYankovic was referred to by his full first name Alfred throughout childhood. It wasnt until he attended California Polytechnic State University looking for a degree in architecture that Weird became attached to Al Yankovic permanently. Al got a gig with the campus radio station playing records on Wednesdays from midnight to 3 a. DJ name, christening himself Weird Al. It would take Yankovic time to sneak in any weird music that was not considered a part of the college stations format New Wave music, but the moniker was his tribute to the comedy and novelty song playing radio broadcaster Dr. Demento Barry Hansen, who gave Yankovics earliest compositions some airplay. MY BOLOGNA WAS RECORDED IN A BATHROOM. During his senior year in 1. Yankovic recorded his parody of The Knacks My Sharona in the acoustic tiled bathroom across the hall from the college radio station, finding a microphone cord long enough to reach back to KCPR FMs tape deck to make it possible. The song got a huge positive response on Dr. Dementos show, but My Bologna was the song that turned Yankovics hobby into a career thanks to a backstage meeting with The Knack after a campus concert. Fortuitously, Rupert Perry, the VP of Capitol Records, was also present when Knack lead singer Doug Feiger professed to liking Als parody. Yankovic remembered Feiger turning to Perry and saying, You guys oughta put this song out on Capitol Records. Perry agreed, and Al soon signed a six month contract. YANKOVIC DOESNT LEGALLY HAVE TO SEEK OUT PERMISSION TO PARODY SONGS, BUT ASKS FOR IT ANYWAY. Under the fair use provision of U. S. copyright law, Yankovic and others do not need permission from original artists to satirize their work, as long as royalties are paid. But to stay on friendly terms with other artists in the industry, Weird Al asks for permission before recording anyway. When he was still wet behind the ears, Al also discovered that if you dont seek out original artist approval, you can have a tough time getting a label to release your latest single. In 1. 98. 1, Weird Al released Another One Rides The Bus, a parody of Queens Another One Bites the Dust, without asking the band, and before TK Records agreed to a deal. It would turn out to be TK Records last single release, as the company abruptly closed down citing financial trouble. Yankovic decided to go ahead and make his first national TV appearance on April 2. Tomorrow with Tom Snyder, and Queen eventually gave the song their blessing though guitarist Brian May referred to him as Mad Al. SOME MUSICIANS AND RECORD LABELS HAVE SAID NOYankovic has said that only about 2 to 3 percent of the time does he get a no from an artist or record label, but there have been notable rejections. Even though Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page is a fan, he indicated he would not approve of a polka medley of Zeppelin tunes. Still, a sample of Black Dog was allowed in a Trapped in the Closet parody. Paul Mc. Cartney didnt give permission for Wings Live and Let Die because the altered version would have been Chicken Pot Pie, which would have gone against Mc. Cartneys vegetarianism. In some cases, the artist agrees but is overruled by the label. James Blunt initially said that it would be a huge compliment to have Youre Beautiful changed to Youre Pitiful, but Atlantic Records rescinded authorization Yankovic released his version as a free My. Space download to avoid starting trouble with Atlantic. In an example of a no being turned into a yes, Daniel Powter initially refused to have his Bad Day parodied as You Had a Bad Date, but changed his mind. Powter had the change of heart literally the day before Weird Al recorded White Nerdy the music video of which has Al vandalizing Atlantic Records Wikipedia entry, and by then the train had left the station. ONE GROUPS FANS THREW THINGS AT WEIRD AL AND HIS BAND FOR 4. MINUTESIn 1. 98. 2, Weird Al and his newly formed band played at their first major gigand it was a profound disaster. The band opened for the then popular New Wave band Missing Persons at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, where they were on the receiving end of assorted thrown objects for their entire 4. Yankovic remembered his band scrambling for the loose change as soon as the curtain went down. The ignominy didnt end indoors I was walking to my car in the parking lot, and this 1. Are you Weird Al I said yes, and he said YOU SUCK That was the capper of the evening. After that, the band agreed to never play as anyones opening act and to just be the headliner of smaller showsa rule they wouldnt break for five years until agreeing to open for The Monkees in 1. Their fans were far more civil. I LOST ON JEOPARDY HELPED PUT JEOPARDY BACK ON THE AIR MAYBEThis is the general timeline of events Jeopardy NBC from 1. Art Fleming, with Don Pardo later of SNL fame as the announcer. On December 1. 2, 1. Weird Al recorded I Lost On Jeopardy. The single, which referred to the NBC version of the show, was released on June 4, 1. Fleming and Pardo, had been filmed two weeks earlier. Sometime in between the recording of the song and the shooting of the video, Griffin was asked to pair his already popular Wheel of Fortune with another half hour game show, and at some point he re discovered Jeopardy Griffin invited Yankovic to perform his song on June 2. Jeopardy was coming back on the air. Whether Griffin was being tongue in cheek, or just exaggerating, or hedging his bets if the revival failed, Jeopardy September 1. Alex Trebek. Despite some programmers initially putting the show on during unpopular morning and late night hours, the revival would become an television institution, and generate many losers. LIKE A SURGEON WAS MADONNAS IDEAReportedly, Madonna and an unnamed friend made history while talking one day. Madonna wondered aloud when Weird Al would turn Like a Virgin into Like a Surgeon. The friend was a mutual friend of Yankovics manager Jay Levey. Weird Al Yankovic discography WikipediaWeird Al Yankovic discography. Yankovic performing live in concert during his 2. Studio albums. 14. Compilation albums. Video albums. 11. Music videos. 54. EPs. 2Singles. 46. Other albums. 1The discography of American singer, songwriter, rapper, musician and parodistWeird Al Yankovic consists of fourteen studio albums, ten compilation albums, eleven video albums, two extended plays, forty six singles and fifty four music videos. Since the debut of his first comedy song in 1. His works have earned him four Grammy Awards among eleven nominations, along with several gold and platinum record certifications in the United States. Yankovics first single, My Bologna, was released in 1. Another One Rides the Bus, which peaked at number four on the Billboard. Bubbling Under Hot 1. Singles chart. 6 His self titled debut studio album was released on Scotti Brothers Records in April 1. US Billboard 2. 00 and being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America RIAA. Ricky, the albums third single, became his first single to chart on the US Billboard Hot 1. Weird Al Yankovic in 3 D followed in February 1. It peaked at number 1. Billboard 2. 00 and was certified platinum by the RIAA,57 while also charting in Australia and Canada. The albums lead single Eat It was a commercial success, topping the Australian singles chart and also reaching the top 1. Canada and the United States. Follow up singles King of Suede and I Lost on Jeopardy peaked at numbers 6. Hot 1. 00. 8 Yankovics third studio album Dare to Be Stupid, released in June 1. Billboard 2. 007 and produced six singles, the most successful being the Hot 1. Like a Surgeon. 8 Issued in October 1. Polka Party charted at a disappointing number 1. Billboard 2. 00, with the album and its accompanying singles failing to match the commercial success of Yankovics previous work. His fifth studio album Even Worse fared better commercially, peaking at number 2. Billboard 2. 00 and earning him a minor chart hit with the single Fat. In 1. Yankovic starred in and recorded the soundtrack for the 1. UHF. The soundtrack album was released in July 1. Billboard 2. 00. 7Peter and the Wolf, a collaboration with American composer Wendy Carlos, was released in October 1. Yankovics seventh studio album Off the Deep End helped revitalize his career after a decline in commercial success in the late 1. Billboard 2. 00,7 earning a platinum certification from the RIAA,5 and producing the Billboard top 4. Smells Like Nirvana. Alapalooza, his eighth studio album, was released in October 1. Billboard 2. 00. 7Bad Hair Day, Yankovics ninth studio album, peaked at numbers 9 and 1. Canadian Albums Chart and Billboard 2. Amish Paradise, the albums lead single, peaked at number 5. Billboard Hot 1. 00. After signing to new label Volcano Records, Yankovic released his tenth studio album Running with Scissors in June 1. The album peaked at number 1. Billboard 2. 00 and produced a minor Australian chart hit, Pretty Fly for a Rabbi. Poodle Hat, his eleventh studio album, was released in May 2. Billboard 2. 00. 7Straight Outta Lynwood was released in September 2. Billboard 2. 00, becoming Yankovics first top ten album on the chart. He also scored his first top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 1. White Nerdy. 8Alpocalypse was released in June 2. Billboard 2. 00,7 and Mandatory Fun followed in July 2. The latter became Yankovics first number one album on the chart, with first week sales of 1. Studio albumseditCollaborative albumseditCompilation albumseditVideo albumseditExtended playseditSingleseditOther charted songseditThe following songs charted in the US, despite not having been released as official singles Guest appearanceseditMusic videoseditSee alsoeditA re recorded version of this song would appear on Yankovics debut albumAnother One Rides the Bus did not enter the Billboard Hot 1. Bubbling Under Hot 1. Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 1. I Love Rocky Road did not enter the Billboard Hot 1. Bubbling Under Hot 1. Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 1. Headline News did not enter the Billboard Hot 1. Bubbling Under Hot 1. Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 1. Gump did not enter the Billboard Hot 1. Bubbling Under Hot 1. Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 1. Whatever You Like did not enter the Billboard Hot 1. Bubbling Under Hot 1. Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 1. Bay did not enter the Billboard Hot 1. Bubbling Under Hot 1. Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 1. ReferenceseditBibliographyeditHarrington, Richard August 1. Weird Als Imitation A Funky Form of Flattery. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 2, 2. Retrieved October 2, 2. Catalog. Weird. Al. Retrieved August 2. Live Performances. Weird. Al. com. Retrieved August 2. Biographies. Weird. Al. com. Retrieved August 2. Gold Platinum Yankovic. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 2. Whitburn, Joel 2. Billboards Top Pop Singles 1. Menomonee Falls Record Research. Country House Rescue Episodes. ISBN 9. 78 0 8. Weird Al Yankovic Chart History Billboard 2. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 2. Weird Al Yankovic Chart History Hot 1. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 2. Peak chart positions for albums in Australia All except Weird Al Yankovic in 3 D and Even Worse Discography Weird Al Yankovic. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1. Weird Al Yankovic in 3 D and Even Worse Kent, David 1. Australian Chart Book 1. St Ives Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0 6. 46 1. Peak chart positions for albums in Canada Weird Al Yankovic in 3 D RPM 1. Albums. RPM. 4. 0 7. April 2. 1, 1. 98. Retrieved August 1. Dare to Be Stupid RPM 1. Albums. RPM. 4. 2 2. August 2. 4, 1. 98. Retrieved August 1. Even Worse RPM 1. Albums. RPM. 4. 8 1. July 9, 1. 98. 8. Retrieved August 1. Off the Deep End RPM 1. Albums. RPM. 5. 5 2. May 3. 0, 1. 99. 2. Retrieved August 1. Alapalooza RPM 1. Albums. RPM. 5. 8 1. November 2. 0, 1. Retrieved August 1. Bad Hair Day Top AlbumsCDs. RPM. 6. 3 1. 6. June 3, 1. Retrieved August 1. Running with Scissors RPM Top 1. CDs. RPM. 6. 9 1. July 1. 9, 1. 99. Retrieved September 2. Straight Outta Lynwood Albums Top 1. For The Week Ending 1. October, 2. 00. 6. Jam Sun Media. October 1. Archived from the original on October 2. Retrieved July 2. Alpocalypse and Mandatory Fun Weird Al Yankovic Chart History Canadian Albums. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 2. Peak chart positions for singles in Australia Eat It and Like a Surgeon Kent, David 1. Australian Chart Book 1. St Ives Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0 6. 46 1. Fat and Smells Like Nirvana Discography Weird Al Yankovic. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1. Jurassic Park and Pretty Fly for a Rabbi Ryan, Gavin 2. Australias Music Charts 1. Victoria Moonlight Publishing. Peak chart positions for singles in Canada Eat It RPM 5. Singles. RPM. 4. April 1. Retrieved August 1. Like a Surgeon RPM 1. Singles. RPM. 4. August 1. Retrieved August 1. Fat RPM 1. 00 Singles. RPM. 4. 8 9. June 1. Retrieved August 1. Smells Like Nirvana RPM 1. Hit Tracks where to find them. RPM. 5. 5 2. 4. June 1. Retrieved August 1. You Dont Love Me Anymore Lwin, Nanda 1. Top 4. 0 Hits The Essential Chart Guide. Toronto Music Data Research. ISBN 9. 78 1. 89. Jurassic Park Hits Of The World. Billboard. 1. 06 8 4. February 1. 9, 1. Retrieved June 4, 2. Weber, Barry. Off the Deep End Weird Al Yankovic. All. Music. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 1. Caulfield, Keith July 2. Weird Al Yankovic Gets First No. Album On Billboard 2. Mandatory Fun. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 2. Weird Al Yankovic Chart History Comedy Albums. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.