# Does Weird Al belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** music
**Created:** [March 2, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142 "2026-03-02T15:52:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 7
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/121 "2026-03-03T23:04:32Z")
> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> OK, back to how great Weird Al is. There are three distinct Al categories:
>
> 1. Direct song parodies (Eat It, Amish Paradise)
> 2. Originals that are style parodies (Bob, Craigs List, Dare to Be Stupid)
> 3. Polka medleys (I don’t think these have been mentioned, but they are excellent in how they weave together different songs, different styles, into one coherent polka)
>
> Does he have any songs that are just originals? Maybe _One More Minute_?
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Mentioned upthread, by me. At a minimum, it’s a doo-wop style parody, and maybe an Elvis style parody.
Is there any difference between “a doo-wop style parody” and “a doo-wop song”? It sounds to me like this criticism against Weird Al basically boils down to “he successfully writes in many different genres”.
---
### Author:  [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/122 "2026-03-03T23:16:17Z")
> [@hajario](#):
>
> I haven’t liked Weird Al’s music since I first heard it on Dr. Demento in the 70s. The entire genre of parody music annoys me. It’s just not my thing. One of his show or any musical theater would be torture for me.
>
> That said, he is an objectively very talented musician. He took that genre of music to a level far beyond what anyone has done before. He’s respected by very well respected artists. He’s by all accounts a genuinely fine human being. He’s prolific as hell without a drop in quality.
>
> He belongs.
That’s exactly how I feel. I respect him for what he does and how he does it. He’s probably the best of his genre. But I’ve never actually enjoyed anything he’s ever done. I still think he belongs.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/123 "2026-03-03T23:31:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Is there any difference between “a doo-wop style parody” and “a doo-wop song”?
IMO, it’s a question of the lyrics. Al doesn’t do “straight” (i.e., non-funny) songs. When he chooses to parody another artist, or a style/genre of music, it seems, to me, that it’s always with an eye to “how can I make this funny, in the context of that style?”
Just to reiterate: I love his music, I think he’s brilliant, and I do think he belongs in the Hall.
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/124 "2026-03-04T00:16:41Z")
> [@hajario](#):
>
> That said, he is an objectively very talented musician. He took that genre of music to a level far beyond what anyone has done before. He’s respected by very well respected artists. He’s by all accounts a genuinely fine human being. He’s prolific as hell without a drop in quality.
I think it’s a testament to Weird Al as an entertainer that nobody here has thrown any shade on his talent as an artist. We don’t often have a thread with near universal praise for a singer.
---
### Author:  [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/125 "2026-03-04T00:27:49Z")
The only person I’ve ever seen get as much positive commentary as Weird Al is Mister Rogers.
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### Author:  [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/126 "2026-03-04T00:37:44Z")
He’s even a vegetarian!!
He’s also (allegedly) a devout Christian, as was Mister Rogers. And btw, I’m just pointing out a similarity between the two men. That is all. I could just as easily have said they were both Pittsburgh Pirates fans, is it were true.
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/127 "2026-03-04T00:40:36Z")
> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> Originals that are style parodies
I know it’s already been mentioned, but [Genius in France](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwFf9vGRqcs) is a parody of the style of Zappa, and brilliantly-done I might add. Warning: nine minutes long. (Is it the longest song of his?)
And when Al does a parody of a musician’s or band’s style, he usually doesn’t do it to poke fun at them. Quite the opposite: in most cases he’s a genuine fan, and the song is a homage to them. (I know he’s always been a huge Zappa fan.)
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### Author:  [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/128 "2026-03-04T00:46:09Z")
I always liked Weird Al but I’ve come to appreciate him more with age. It’s not an easy feat to find a niche, master it, connect with fans, and then spin that out into broad appeal and popularity without compromising your authenticity. He is uniquely and unapologetically himself and it works for a lot of people.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/129 "2026-03-04T01:04:22Z")
> [@echoreply](#):
>
> “Penny Lane” is just Bach
Are you maybe thinking of “[Blackbird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbird_(Beatles_song)#Origins)”?
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### Author:  [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/130 "2026-03-04T01:07:00Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#):
>
> That’s exactly how I feel. I respect him for what he does and how he does it. He’s probably the best of his genre. But I’ve never actually enjoyed anything he’s ever done. I still think he belongs.
Absolutely. His music has never resonated with me very deeply; after about half a song, I’m thinking, “Okay, I get the idea. I’m good.”
That said, I can recognize that he’s doing what he wants to do, he’s world-class good at it, lots of people like it, and it’s all in good fun. I can agree with all that, and I got nothing bad to say about it.
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### Author:  [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/131 "2026-03-04T01:13:30Z")
OMG that is hilarious! I’d never heard it before, but it sounds exactly like Zappa! There’s no possible doubt who he’s imitating.
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### Author:  [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/132 "2026-03-04T01:28:51Z")
> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> Does he have any songs that are just originals?
This one isn’t a parody of (or homage to) anything in particular:
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jDg6N04Q0As/hqdefault.jpg ""Weird Al" Yankovic - Patterns (HQ 60fps)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDg6N04Q0As)
---
### Author:  [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/133 "2026-03-04T01:30:57Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> > [@echoreply](#):
> >
> > “Penny Lane” is just Bach”
>
> Are you maybe thinking of “[Blackbird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbird_(Beatles_song)#Origins)
It can all be true! According to this site, “Penny Lane” uses the piccolo from “Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major”, and “Blackbird” is based on “Bourrée in E minor”.
> **[5 songs by The Beatles inspired by classical music](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/beatles-songs-inspired-by-classic-music-beethoven-bach-because/)**
>
> From Ludwig van Beethoven and 'Because' to Johann Bach and 'Blackbird' we're looking at five Beatles tracks that inspired by classical music.
My point is that even if those are not simply John & Paul lyrics set to Bach melodies, they are well beyond inspired or influenced by Bach, but directly borrow from his pieces. Similarly, Weird Al’s songs that are done in specific styles are only considered parody because of silly lyrics or the incongruous placement of an accordion. Many artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame move between different genres and subgenres of rock.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/134 "2026-03-04T01:58:20Z")
And let’s not forget about his totally original song “Eat It”, that was so good and popular that Michael Jackson wrote “Beat It” as a parody to it.
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### Author:  [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/135 "2026-03-04T01:59:49Z")
Also can we please start some kind of movement to get Madonna out of the HoH? She killed poor Al!
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/136 "2026-03-04T02:29:09Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#):
>
> The only person I’ve ever seen get as much positive commentary as Weird Al is Mister Rogers.
I met Al after a show he did in Merrillville, Indiana a few years ago. He’s an absolute sweetheart. Extremely nice, respectful, and accommodating as an entertainer. I’ve met several celebrities over the years, and Al was the epitome of what you would want an encounter with a celebrity to be like.
---
### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/137 "2026-03-04T02:43:49Z")
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> I met Al after a show he did in Merrillville, Indiana a few years ago. He’s an absolute sweetheart. Extremely nice, respectful, and accommodating as an entertainer.
I met him at a book signing at a local bookstore, about a decade ago, when he was on tour to promote his first children’s book. I completely agree: he was nice, good-natured, patient, and was clearly happy to be meeting his fans.
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/138 "2026-03-04T02:55:47Z")
Well, it was here on the SDMB that I learned about Al’s dark side.
> [@Weird Al Yankovic isn't funny](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-isnt-funny/552300/41):
>
> You’ve mentioned this a few times but never expanded on it. Why the fuck was a 19 year old man on a date with a 14 year old child? It was a blind double-date. A girlfriend of mine was secretly (i.e., her mother didn’t know) dating one of Dr. Demento’s minions and the only way she could go out in the evening was if it was a “double date.” She asked me along and my date was Weird Al. The four of us went miniature golfing and the whole evening was mostly spent with the two guys making bodily-f…
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/139 "2026-03-04T03:32:16Z")
…and Ray Charles.
If I were one of the voters, I would not be voting for including Weird Al. Just completely not my taste and never has been.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-weird-al-belong-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/1028142/140 "2026-03-04T11:42:33Z")
Would you only vote for artists who are to your taste, whether or not you found them otherwise objectively worthy?
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