# Fun Trivia about Weird al Yankovic **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388 "2018-08-10T14:25:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/41 "2018-08-11T14:43:55Z")
The number 27 occurs [frequently](http://weirdal.wikia.com/wiki/27) in his works. Why 27? > [@](#): > > In an interview with [TheForce.net](http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/interview/weirdal.shtml), Al is asked about the meaning of the number. He says, “I thought it was fairly obvious, but if you need me to explain it… it’s the cube root of 19,683.” ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/42 "2018-08-11T14:54:23Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The number 27 occurs [frequently](http://weirdal.wikia.com/wiki/27) in his works. > Why 27? I’m guessing: Because it’s a strangely specific number being used in situations where an approximate number would logically be expected. He has no reason to specify 27, and having no reason is exactly the reason he does it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/43 "2018-08-11T15:12:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The number 27 occurs [frequently](http://weirdal.wikia.com/wiki/27) in his works. > Why 27? Maybe [the 27 Club](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27_Club) of premature deaths? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/44 "2018-08-11T15:12:43Z")
“It’s Still Billy Joel to Me”, a parody of Billy Joel’s “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”, was originally planned for Al’s debut album. According to [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Weird_Al%22_Yankovic_(album)), > [@](#): > > Wary of the song being considered “dated” three years later, and doubtful that Joel would give his blessing, the band never bothered to ask. Even though it was never officially released, it somehow got released via other channels. [Here it is](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6T2B3Vhtzk). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/45 "2018-08-11T15:16:12Z")
Not everything was a parody. Here’s a straight cover: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7SnZ2kcJvik/maxresdefault.jpg ""Weird Al" Yankovic and his band covers "Glad All Over" by the Dave Clark Five") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SnZ2kcJvik) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/46 "2018-08-11T15:25:50Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Not everything was a parody. Here’s a straight cover: > [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7SnZ2kcJvik](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7SnZ2kcJvik) Another one. Harrison’s [What is Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXMq3QJwJiA)? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/47 "2018-08-11T15:42:59Z")
[77 Covers by Al and his band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_OhJL0te14) (Am I the only one who thinks the capitalization in the thread title makes Weird al-Yankovic look like an Arab?) ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/48 "2018-08-11T16:21:57Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > (Am I the only one who thinks the capitalization in the thread title makes Weird al-Yankovic look like an Arab?) … which would mean Weird was his given name, and his last name meant “the Yankovic”. Works for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/49 "2018-08-11T17:32:02Z")
There are interesting similarities between the backgrounds of Tom Lehrer and Weird Al Yankovic. Both learned to play an instrument as a child. Both entered college early. Both got degrees in technical fields unrelated to music. Both are satirical singer/songwriters. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/50 "2018-08-11T19:03:14Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > There are interesting similarities between the backgrounds of Tom Lehrer and Weird Al Yankovic. Both learned to play an instrument as a child. Both entered college early. Both got degrees in technical fields unrelated to music. Both are satirical singer/songwriters. At least when comparing only that of their material that’s become famous, Lehrer’s satirical stuff was much more “edgy” and tended to take on grittier or more serious topics (We Will All Go Together When We Go, National Brotherhood Week, even the more comedy-oriented Poisoning Pigeons in the Park). ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/51 "2018-08-13T16:02:37Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Wreck-Gar was voiced by Eric Idle. But “Dare to be Stupid” was featured during his introductory scene. To clarify, Weird Al played Wreck-Gar in the Transformers Animated TV Show, which is a different storyline than Transformers: The Movie from the 80s. I would say different continuity, but I have no idea about continuity in regards to Transformers: > **["Transformers: Animated" Garbage in, Garbage out (TV Episode 2008) ⭐ 7.5 |...](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1057557/)** > > 23m | TV-Y7 I did not realize this but he was Darkseid as well: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DoZ9C9_TTQM/maxresdefault.jpg "Darkseid Sounds Like Weird Al | Teen Titans Go! | Cartoon Network") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoZ9C9_TTQM) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/52 "2018-08-13T17:10:29Z")
He was also the voice of Dollmaker in the DC original animated movie _Batman vs Robin_, which IMO just served to make the character even more disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/53 "2018-08-13T20:41:21Z")
Also, Weird Al will be getting his star on the Walk of Fame > **[Walk of Fame](https://www.weirdal.com/news/walk-of-fame/)** > > Al received the 2,643rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, August 27, 2018.  You can visit it at 6914 Hollywood Blvd. \[...\] ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/54 "2018-08-13T22:12:35Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Also, Weird Al will be getting his star on the Walk of Fame > > [Walk of Fame | "Weird Al" Yankovic](http://weirdal.com/news/walk-of-fame/) Fantastic! And he really needs to be in the R&R HOF. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/55 "2018-08-13T22:17:58Z")
He wrote the [theme song for the movie Johnny Dangerously](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1n5XqwUkYw). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/56 "2018-08-14T16:19:00Z")
There’s a youtube video of Al making a surprise appearance at a Weezer concert, joining in on their cover of Africa with his accordion. Watch carefully, as he leaves the stage the keyboard player raises his hand for a high five, and Al does a fist-bump instead. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/57 "2018-08-15T13:16:56Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > There are interesting similarities between the backgrounds of Tom Lehrer and Weird Al Yankovic. Both learned to play an instrument as a child. Both entered college early. Both got degrees in technical fields unrelated to music. Both are satirical singer/songwriters. Al’s degree is in Architecture. If memory serves, I think he had intended to go into music, but got the degree to appease his parents, because they were worried that career would be too unstable. This way, he always had something to fall back on. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/58 "2018-08-15T18:05:14Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > Al’s degree is in Architecture. If memory serves, I think he had intended to go into music, but got the degree to appease his parents, because they were worried that career would be too unstable. This way, he always had something to fall back on. His degree is from my alma mater, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I had a couple of friends who were there when he was. He used to work at KCPR, the campus radio station, and his demo tape that he sent to Dr. Demento was recorded in the bathroom at the Graphic Arts building. Al currently does the voice of the title character in the Disney animated series “Milo Murphy’s Law” (which is great, by the way) and there are some really good songs in the episodes. I don’t think he wrote them, but he performs some of them. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/59 "2018-08-15T18:29:13Z")
Interestingly, one of Al’s “competitors” in _I Lost on Jeopardy_ was an architect, although Al holds a bachelor’s degree, unlike the one in the song, who was a Ph. D. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388/60 "2018-08-16T01:38:35Z")
Yes, Weird Al Yankovic’s degree is in architecture. He entered college at 16. He learned to play the accordion as a child. Tom Lehrer’s degree is in mathematics. He entered college at 15. He learned to play the piano as a child. Those three things (and the fact that they do satirical songwriting/singing) was all I’m claiming are similar. Listen to this episode of _Behind the Music_. It’s at 8:30. Weird Al says that when he was about to graduate from high school, a guidance counselor said to him, “You’re good at math. You’re also interested in artistic stuff. You should become an architect.” Weird Al said that he was thinking of becoming a cartoonist. (Um, I think that’s what he says.) The counselor said, “You’re never make any money at that.” So he majored in architecture: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdp3VsuBnb8) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-trivia-about-weird-al-yankovic/819388.md?page=4)