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'Weird Al' Yankovic
Birthday:
23 October 1959
Birth Name:
Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Height:
183 cm
Biography
[on making his parodies satirical but not mean-spirited] I like to say I like to poke people in the ribs instead of kicking them in the butt.
[on making his parodies satirical but not mean-spirited] I like to say I like to poke people in the ribs instead of kicking them in the butt.
When fans ask me for advice, here's what I tell them: "Try not to set yourself on fire."
When fans ask me for advice, here's what I tell them: "Try not to set yourself on fire."
One of the hardest things I've had to deal with in my career is keeping my material topical even though I only release albums every three or four years.
One of the hardest things I've had to deal with in my career is keeping my material topical even though I only release albums every three or four years.
So that's why one of my rules of parody writing is that it's gotta be funny regardless of whether you know the source material. It has to work on its own merit.
So that's why one of my rules of parody writing is that it's gotta be funny regardless of whether you know the source material. It has to work on its own merit.
Somebody will come up to me after a show and have me sign their arm, and the next time I see them my autograph has been permanently inscribed on their arm.
Somebody will come up to me after a show and have me sign their arm, and the next time I see them my autograph has been permanently inscribed on their arm.
What kind of morons do you have working at newspapers in Austin that would base an entire review of an artist's performance on whether or not they had a good seat?
What kind of morons do you have working at newspapers in Austin that would base an entire review of an artist's performance on whether or not they had a good seat?
If I could find the right kind of property, get tied in with the right movie, I'd love to be involved, but I just find it hard to be motivated to do another screenplay right now.
If I could find the right kind of property, get tied in with the right movie, I'd love to be involved, but I just find it hard to be motivated to do another screenplay right now.
It becomes more important to me as time goes on to make every album the best thing I've ever done, so it's a lot of self-imposed pressure that also kind of slows me down a bit.
It becomes more important to me as time goes on to make every album the best thing I've ever done, so it's a lot of self-imposed pressure that also kind of slows me down a bit.
It's hard to really articulate what the parameters are that make one song parody-able and another song not, but if I can come up with a good enough idea for it, I go for it, and if not, then I have to move on.
It's hard to really articulate what the parameters are that make one song parody-able and another song not, but if I can come up with a good enough idea for it, I go for it, and if not, then I have to move on.
Like, I have had moments, which I think most people have, where you'll be watching TV, and it'll be interrupted by some tragic event, and you'll actually find yourself thinking, "I don't want to hear about this train being derailed! What happened to 'The Flintstones'?''.
Like, I have had moments, which I think most people have, where you'll be watching TV, and it'll be interrupted by some tragic event, and you'll actually find yourself thinking, "I don't want to hear about this train being derailed! What happened to 'The Flintstones'?''.
One of my pet peeves is that sometimes the talents of my band get overlooked because, and it was the same problem that Frank Zappa had, with a lot of groups that use humor, people don't realize there's a lot of craft behind the comedy.
One of my pet peeves is that sometimes the talents of my band get overlooked because, and it was the same problem that Frank Zappa had, with a lot of groups that use humor, people don't realize there's a lot of craft behind the comedy.
When I was a kid, I thought I was going to be an architect, because when I was 12 years old I had a guidance counselor that convinced me that that was the best career choice for me.
When I was a kid, I thought I was going to be an architect, because when I was 12 years old I had a guidance counselor that convinced me that that was the best career choice for me.
I did have a child, and I was reading a lot of picture books to her, but at the same time writing a children's book was something that I'd been wanting to do for many years, pretty much since the start of my career.
I did have a child, and I was reading a lot of picture books to her, but at the same time writing a children's book was something that I'd been wanting to do for many years, pretty much since the start of my career.
I make charts of songs that are good candidates, good targets, so to speak. Then I try to come up with ideas for parodies. And 99% of those ideas are horrible.
I make charts of songs that are good candidates, good targets, so to speak. Then I try to come up with ideas for parodies. And 99% of those ideas are horrible.
I suppose I had my rock star fantasies while I was singing into my hairbrush in the bathroom mirror, but I never really consciously said, "Okay, this is what I'm going to do for a living and I'm going to be Weird Al.".
I suppose I had my rock star fantasies while I was singing into my hairbrush in the bathroom mirror, but I never really consciously said, "Okay, this is what I'm going to do for a living and I'm going to be Weird Al.".
I write and write and write, and then I edit it down to the parts that I think are amusing, or that help the storyline, or I'll write a notebook full of ideas of anecdotes or story points, and then I'll try and arrange them in a way that they would tell a semi-cohesive story.
I write and write and write, and then I edit it down to the parts that I think are amusing, or that help the storyline, or I'll write a notebook full of ideas of anecdotes or story points, and then I'll try and arrange them in a way that they would tell a semi-cohesive story.
You fake something until you're good at it. You don't need to be defined by your job.
You fake something until you're good at it. You don't need to be defined by your job.
You still have Top 40 radio now, but it's 40 different stations. There aren't many hits that everybody knows, and there aren't many real superstars.
You still have Top 40 radio now, but it's 40 different stations. There aren't many hits that everybody knows, and there aren't many real superstars.
At this point, I've got a bit of a track record. So people realize that when 'Weird Al' wants to go parody, it's not meant to make them look bad... it's meant to be a tribute.
At this point, I've got a bit of a track record. So people realize that when 'Weird Al' wants to go parody, it's not meant to make them look bad... it's meant to be a tribute.
I was a huge fan of 'Mad' magazine when I was 11, 12, 13 years old. I'd scour used bookstores trying to find back issues, and I'd wait at the newsstand for a new issue to come out. My life revolved around it.
I was a huge fan of 'Mad' magazine when I was 11, 12, 13 years old. I'd scour used bookstores trying to find back issues, and I'd wait at the newsstand for a new issue to come out. My life revolved around it.
There are a lot of songs that would ostensibly be a good candidate for parody, yet I can't think of a clever enough idea.
There are a lot of songs that would ostensibly be a good candidate for parody, yet I can't think of a clever enough idea.
There are probably a few library fines I haven't paid yet, but I'm a pretty clean-cut guy overall.
There are probably a few library fines I haven't paid yet, but I'm a pretty clean-cut guy overall.
There aren't that many superstars around anymore.
There aren't that many superstars around anymore.
When I go to my live shows it's often a multigenerational audience, a family bonding experience.
When I go to my live shows it's often a multigenerational audience, a family bonding experience.
Whenever I do a parody it's not meant to make you hate anybody's music really.
Whenever I do a parody it's not meant to make you hate anybody's music really.
Probably 90 percent of my albums have polka medleys.
Probably 90 percent of my albums have polka medleys.
So I'm one of the few celebrities that got to do a repeat performance on "The Simpsons", which I'm very flattered by.
So I'm one of the few celebrities that got to do a repeat performance on "The Simpsons", which I'm very flattered by.
Some people want to advertise their weirdness, and spread it out, that's not me.
Some people want to advertise their weirdness, and spread it out, that's not me.
The irony is of course that my career has lasted a whole lot longer than some of the people I've parodied over the years.
The irony is of course that my career has lasted a whole lot longer than some of the people I've parodied over the years.
It's hard to force creativity and humor. Pop culture has gotten much more disposable.
It's hard to force creativity and humor. Pop culture has gotten much more disposable.
My hobbies just sort of gradually became my vocation.
My hobbies just sort of gradually became my vocation.
My personal taste doesn't enter into it a lot when I make my decisions as to what to parody.
My personal taste doesn't enter into it a lot when I make my decisions as to what to parody.
People never ask people doing serious music, "Do you ever think about doing funny music?".
People never ask people doing serious music, "Do you ever think about doing funny music?".
People that were a little nerdy in high school would look up to me and know it gets better.
People that were a little nerdy in high school would look up to me and know it gets better.
I'm watching the charts every week and hoping something will pop into my head.
I'm watching the charts every week and hoping something will pop into my head.
I've done a movie and a TV series, and someday I'd like to do a successful movie and a successful TV series. That would be nice.
I've done a movie and a TV series, and someday I'd like to do a successful movie and a successful TV series. That would be nice.
I've learned how to use my spam filter pretty effectively.
I've learned how to use my spam filter pretty effectively.
If something is good enough, it can be out there and people will see it.
If something is good enough, it can be out there and people will see it.
In the '80s, I was putting out an album virtually every year, I think mostly based on fear - that if I didn't, people would soon forget about me.
In the '80s, I was putting out an album virtually every year, I think mostly based on fear - that if I didn't, people would soon forget about me.
I mean, I hate to gloat, but I'm extremely satisfied with my position in life and the way things have worked out for me.
I mean, I hate to gloat, but I'm extremely satisfied with my position in life and the way things have worked out for me.
I think that nerds, if you want to call them that, have only gotten more hip and assimilated into the culture.
I think that nerds, if you want to call them that, have only gotten more hip and assimilated into the culture.
I'm obviously not a rapper, and I don't have any claims to be one, really.
I'm obviously not a rapper, and I don't have any claims to be one, really.
I'm very analytical, I'm very precise. I mean, I don't write for kids.
I'm very analytical, I'm very precise. I mean, I don't write for kids.
I can't get too offended when somebody parodies me.
I can't get too offended when somebody parodies me.
I don't think there are any new media I'd like to cover.
I don't think there are any new media I'd like to cover.
I have a long-standing history of respecting artists' wishes.
I have a long-standing history of respecting artists' wishes.
I know now that everything I write, I'm going to put out, and I'll have to live with it for the rest of my life.
I know now that everything I write, I'm going to put out, and I'll have to live with it for the rest of my life.
I like the guitar-driven music of Nirvana at its peak. At that point, I thought there was a lot of really exciting music coming out.
I like the guitar-driven music of Nirvana at its peak. At that point, I thought there was a lot of really exciting music coming out.
A lot of rap songs don't usually have a lot of melody per se.
A lot of rap songs don't usually have a lot of melody per se.
As a kid, I certainly never thought I would get to spend my life doing something fun.
As a kid, I certainly never thought I would get to spend my life doing something fun.
As it turns out, there is a thing called the Internet, and stuff does go out there whether the suits like it or not.
As it turns out, there is a thing called the Internet, and stuff does go out there whether the suits like it or not.
As much as people are griping about the Internet taking sales away from artists, it's been a huge promotional tool for me.
As much as people are griping about the Internet taking sales away from artists, it's been a huge promotional tool for me.
By the time I'm in the studio recording my parody, 10,000 parodies of that song are on YouTube.
By the time I'm in the studio recording my parody, 10,000 parodies of that song are on YouTube.
I don't really look at myself as the kind of person who craves attention, but I've never been to therapy so there's probably a lot of stuff about myself that I don't know.
I don't really look at myself as the kind of person who craves attention, but I've never been to therapy so there's probably a lot of stuff about myself that I don't know.
As my father used to tell me, the only true sign of success in life is being able to do for a living that which makes you happy.
As my father used to tell me, the only true sign of success in life is being able to do for a living that which makes you happy.
How can you get bored if the audience is cheering and laughing at something you're doing?
How can you get bored if the audience is cheering and laughing at something you're doing?
I'm still a geek on the inside, that's the important thing.
I'm still a geek on the inside, that's the important thing.
A lot of artists have really been supportive over the years.
A lot of artists have really been supportive over the years.
[on a 1999 episode of Behind the Music (1997), answering a question about (then) being unmarried. He is now married and has a daughter] My parents are like, "Well, he's almost 40, lives in Los Angeles, and he's unmarried. You know what that means!".
[on a 1999 episode of Behind the Music (1997), answering a question about (then) being unmarried. He is now married and has a daughter] My parents are like, "Well, he's almost 40, lives in Los Angeles, and he's unmarried. You know what that means!".
'Weird Al' Yankovic
Alfred Matthew Yankovic was born on October 23, 1959, in the Los Angeles suburb of Lynwood, to Mary Elizabeth (Vivalda) and Nick Louis Yankovic. He is of Slovenian, Croatian, Italian, and English descent. He first took up the accordion when a salesman came around to solicit business for a music school. His parents decided on the accordion because of polka king Frankie Yankovic (no relation). As a child and young teen, Al watched a lot of television, which gave him much inspiration for his later work. He also became a fan of such musician/comedians as Allan Sherman and Spike Jones. He became especially acquainted with these musicians through the radio show of Barry Hansen, aka "Dr. Demento", which would later become a great source of publicity for his talents. After an extraordinary career at Lynwood High School, where Al graduated as valedictorian, he attended the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo to study architecture, a field he is said to have chosen because it was listed first in the catalog (although he has said that he really chose it on the advice of a guidance counselor). It was at Cal Poly that Al had a radio show and earned the nickname "Weird Al". Although he had sent tapes to Dr. Demento in the past, it was at Cal Poly where he recorded his first real published piece, a parody of the popular "My Sharona" by The Knack, called "My Bologna". After the astounding success of that song, forever to be known as the "bathroom recording" as it was recorded in the acoustically perfect mens' room, Al began his phenomenal career, which has spanned twelve albums, numerous compilations, a box set, movies, videos and edible underwear. He has also done a great deal to advance the cause of accordion-wielding weirdos, for which we can all be thankful.
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