​Weird Al Yankovic, a national treasure

By James Osbourne

Musician, actor, comedian, director and most recently Bandleader on Comedy Bang Bang!, Al’s an entertainment polymath with universal appeal.

Much of my exposure to pop music is through Weird Al parodies. Pop’s aggressive sexual themes and superficiality, elements which turn a lot of people off, are gone with a Weird Al treatment. I heard Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines after Al’s Word Crimes parody. Once you strip the douchbaggery away from Blurred Lines you can appreciate it as just a good pop song.

Al’s at the height of his popularity after close to 40 years of performing. I told a 24-year-old friend that I had interviewed him. She asked “Was he nice?” while she placed her hand on her chest, bracing herself for bad news. She said “Oh, thank god,” with relief after I told her that he couldn’t have been nicer. Like me, she grew up with Weird Al. My 12-year-old daughter once asked me if I’d ever heard of him, I was appropriately offended. I told her that “though he may look younger than me, his career is actually older than I am,” or something like that.

It’s interesting that someone who was often dismissed as a novelty act in his early career has managed to remain relevant for a greater expanse of time than anyone I can think of. Entertainers may work for their entire lives, they may even see late-career resurgences or lifetime achievement recognition, but can you think of anyone who’s been cool for 40 years?

Kung Fu Jimmy: Thanks, for talking to me, Al.

Weird Al Yankovic: Thanks, Jimmy.

KFJ: Weird Al Yankovic, at 56, you’ve managed to remain quite youthful both physically and spiritually. Al, what’s your secret?

WAY: I don’t know, I guess the comedy and the music keep me young, I’m doing exactly what I want to do for a living and not a lot of people can say that. It makes me happy to wake up every day and still be me.

KFJ: How often do you chime in politically? Can we expect a retooling of “Gump” into “Trump” come January 20th?

WAY: A few people suggested that. For one thing, I would never redo a parody like that. Also, I tend to stay away from politics for two big reasons. One is that I’ve learned that anything I joke about politically is very divisive. Even if it’s non-partisan, people take it poorly and I don’t want to divide my fan base like that. Another thing is that political humor, especially political music, tends to age very badly. A lot of my songs can be enjoyed 20 years after the fact and a lot of political comedy cannot. A month from now the political climate can have changed, people’s attitudes can change, the candidates will be different so it’s one thing I tend to stay away from.

KFJ: Right, I think “First World Problems” was maybe sociopolitical. Maybe you were not being directly political but you were addressing a current trend or situation.

WAY: Yeah, you can look at it that way. It’s more of a mindset. First world problems is sort of like a hashtag. It’s one of those internet culture things that’s become sort of inspirational to me in the last few years.

KFJ: Is there anything you wish you had not created?

WAY: Well, there are some songs I like more than others certainly. Like, my first album, I look at it sort of like baby pictures, I realized I’ve come a long way since then. I try not to give in to the George Lucas impulse of wanting to re-record it to make it good. I have to look at it like it’s a product of its time. I was very young, I didn’t know what I was doing and this is what I had back then. I look at it as a historical document. I don’t look at it proudly; I just go ‘ok, that was what it was.’

(I was hoping he’d say “Gotta Boogie” from his self-titled album because it really grossed me out when I was a kid)

KFJ: Here’s a reader question. This is from Andres V. who asks “Of the material misattributed to you through file sharing services and YouTube, which was your favorite false attribution?” Which one, if you had to, would you take credit for?

WAY: Mark Davis is a good friend of mine. He also goes by the alter ego of Richard Cheese...I never did a Vanilla Ice parody because the timing didn’t work out. Ice Ice Baby was a big hit. I wasn’t ready to put out an album so he got the jump on me and he did “Rice, Rice Baby”. If I were to write a Vanilla Ice parody that would be very close to what I would have done. It was a food-oriented song about Chinese restaurants and I thought it was very well done. Mark’s a smart guy.

KFJ: Rick Derringer takes credit for your discovery, Doug Feiger from the Knack has also alluded to being responsible for your career, as well as Dr. Demento. Al, who’s the real hero? Who can take credit for bringing Weird Al Yankovic into public consciousness?

WAY: Well, they all are. It’s the butterfly effect. There are so many people responsible my having a career. If you had to say one person, I guess it’d have to be Dr. Demento because if it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have been sending him tapes through the mail, I probably wouldn’t have had the idea to write funny songs, and he was inspirational, he gave me my first airplay and if he never existed, I think my life would’ve taken a much different trajectory. Everyone you mentioned and dozens more had a direct and positive impact on my life and my career, and they’re all very important to me.

KFJ: In 2014, your Mandatory Fun album topped the Billboard charts for the first time in your illustrious career. In fact, the last comedy album to accomplish such a feat was released 53 years ago. Do you know what performer holds that distinction?

WAY: Allan Sherman, “My Son the Nut.” Allan Sherman was one of my all-time heroes. That was the last album to hit number one but it was the third album in a row of his to hit #1. He had three #1 albums in the course of 18 months, which is insane. I read Allan Sherman’s biography a few years ago, an amazing story. It’s quite a cautionary tale. I mean, he reached such heights then he completely crashed. It was quite sad what happened to poor Allan.

KFJ: He died really young, right?

WAY: He did and he made of lot of bad decisions in his professional life and his personal life. After being this huge artist, he hit the skids, his health failed. It’s a very, very sad story. He was a hero, when he was on his game, there was nobody better.

KFJ: Will you play a game with me, Al?

WAY: Sure.

KFJ: This is a game called Hitler or Hot Dog. Now, I know you’re not a fan of either one, but you have more in common with Hitler than you think. First of all you’re both vegetarians. Second, you’re both teetotallers and third, you both rose to fame with tiny little moustaches. In this game decide if the following statements describe either Hitler or a hot dog. Are you ready to play?

WAY: I’ll do my best.

KFJ: Hitler or Hot Dog was created in Austria?

WAY: Ooh, that’s a good question. I’m gonna say Hitler.

KFJ: Correct! Hitler was born in Austria. The Frankfurter was created in Frankfurt, Germany...hence the name. One point, Al. Number two: Hitler or Hot Dog was the first thing uttered by Mickey Mouse?

WAY: Hahaha! Knowing Walt was anti-semitic I’d say Hitler but I’m gonna go with hot dog.

KFJ: That’s right! Mickey Mouse spoke for the first time in 1929’s Karnival Kid. Those words were “hot dog” Two points, Al. Number three in Hitler or Hot Dog: Contains around .14 kilograms of sulphur, .10 kilograms of sodium and 1.8 kilograms of Nitrogen.

WAY: I can go either way on this, but I’m gonna go hot dog.

KFJ: Ew, sorry, Al. It was Hitler. The human body contains those element in those proportions on average. You missed one, but you got two out of three so far. Number 4. Hitler or Hot Dog is known as heißhund in Germany.

WAY: I never took German, but I’m gonna go with hot dog.

KFJ: That’s right! Heißhund is German for hot dog. Hitler is just Hitler. That’s three for four, Al. The last question of the game. Hitler or Hot Dog has personally choked thousands of children to death?

WAY: Haha! I’m gonna have to say Hot Dog.

KFJ: That’s right! Number one choking hazard for children. Al, you got four out of five correct in Hitler or Hot Dog which makes you a winner!

WAY: That’s a great game.

KFJ: Thank you. Have you played Fargo/Moorhead before?

WAY: I’ve played everywhere before.

KFJ: Thanks for talking to me, Al.

WAY: It was my pleasure.

IF YOU GO:

An Evening With Weird Al. Bluestem Amphitheater, 5600 36th Terrace E, Moorhead

August 12, 2016 7:00 PM

Doors open: 5:00 PM