There has never been anyone like "Weird Al" Yankovic

[Pale Blue Dot]

Most "novelty" performers last only one record or two before the joke becomes stale. But Weird Al has a new record called "White and Nerdy" that debuts on the Billboard Top 100 this week at #28! (the highest debut of the week), almost 25 years after he first started his career doing parodies of hit records.

I have to admit that most of the time the joke is lost on me (although I think "White and Nerdy" is pretty funny), but I have to admire a guy who has shown the longevity he has. A TON of popular acts have come and gone during the time he's been making records.

So a toast to "Weird Al" Yankovic. :toast: Like it or not, I think we're stuck with him for a long, long time.

[ZombieNixon]

1. He looks like our College Dems' political director.

:D

[datasuspect]

2. and there never will be

the man is a genius.

[mainegreen]

3. He's also very normal, smart and down to earth.

That's why he's still around.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

11. Yep

his behind the music was hilarious.

When he was talking about one of his album's going Gold instead of Platinum he feigned annoyance about having to go with "the medium sized jaccuzzi." Very down to Earth easy-going guy.

[ghostsofgiants]

4. "White and Nerdy" is the first Weird Al song I've enjoyed in years.

[Sgent]

5. He has a few things going for him

He's bright.
He's very musically talented.

I would argue that Ray Stephens also had similar success -- not quite as much as Wierd Al, but he spanned from his first album in 1958 to his latest in 2002.

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. A few things about Ray Stevens

1. I think you've hit the nail on the head: Ray Stevens is the closest comparison you could made to "Weird Al", but;

2. Stevens wasn't purely a novelty artist. His biggest hit was "Everything Is Beautiful" which was a mainstream pop record. He was also a big country artist, and;

3. His career on the pop singles chart lasted about 12 years, from about 1962's "ahab the Arab" to 1974's "The Streak." "Weird Al"'s career on the pop charts is twice as long (and growing).

[Oeditpus Rex]

6. Sure there has

His records have been selling since the '40s.

[Pale Blue Dot]

12. Well, if you go by singles, which I was,

Spike Jones hasn't had a hit single since the mid-50's. However, you're right: If "Weird Al" CDs are still being purchased in 2040, then he has bragging rights.

[CBHagman]

17. Ah, the patron saint of novelty songs.

Let us bow our heads in memory of the master.

I used to know someone who actually saw Spike Jones perform live back in the day. It sounds like pure anarchic fun.

[Drum]

8. My favs:

Pretty Fly For a Rabbi
and
All About the Pentiums

They elicit major guffaws over here, and are good songs too. Al's inventiveness is a breath of fresh air! :)

[SlavesandBulldozers]

9. UHF is one of my all-time favorite movies.

goddamn hilarious movie. I've never understood why that one was never followed up.

Wheel of fish?
Conan the Librarian?
Spatula City?

The movie is a masterpiece. I love Weird Al.

[Pale Blue Dot]

10. I really enjoyed "UHF" too.

I suspect Al never made another movie because "UHF" bombed at the box office (although it has a cult following now.)

[SlavesandBulldozers]

13. that's a real shame it bombed at the box office.

in a perfect world it would have gone to the top and stayed there. I wonder what it was up against. I remember my family taking me to see Dead Poets Society and having to walk by UHF. A 10 year old kid going to Dead Poets Society, my dad still has some explaining to do for that one. Even though he's an intellectual, I'm sure my dad would have dug UHF a lot more.

That scene with the Mexican pets guy teaching poodles how to fly KILLS ME every time.

[Pale Blue Dot]

14. Plus, without UHF there would be no "Kramer" from Seinfeld

UHF is where Michael Richards perfected that character.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

15. sidenote i just noticed on IMDB

The man who played RJ Fletcher (the corporate news CEO asshole) in the movie was the cousin of Eugene McCarthy. interesting.

[tjdee]

16. He asks all the artists for permission, which I find really cool.

He doesn't have to ask the artists, but he does. So when you hear a Weird Al song, the artist has approved it. And according to Al, some artists know they've "made it" when Weird Al wants to parody them. :)

White and Nerdy is HILARIOUS. And it's cleverly worded...he really breaks it down old school, LOL. I very much agree with whoever said that Al was bright.

You're Pitiful is also amusing--it's a play on "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt.

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. Part of his longevity is that he is actually a musician and an artist,

with a lot of skill on playing a number of instruments AND understanding how music works.

Most novelty acts are just talentless posers.

Weird Al comes from a line of real musicians.