# "Weird Al" Yankovic-New Article in New York Times Magazine
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 9, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427 "2020-04-09T14:08:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/1 "2020-04-09T14:08:02Z")
I’ve been a fan of “Weird Al” since I first heard him on The Mighty Met(KMET) back in the mid ‘70s on Dr. Demento, and [a new article in New York Times Magazine](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/magazine/weird-al-yankovic.html) reminded me why. His dedication and talent shows in his music(and even more so at his concerts) and, well…most of his music is _funny_. I saw him at the Clark County Fair a few years back, and between the many costume and set changes and his total exuberance during each and every song played actually got me a bit worried that he would have a freakin’ heart attack right on stage. I think my favorite song is his tribute to Frank Zappa, “Genius In France”, which I believe was on the album “Poodle Hat”.
Any other fans out there?
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/2 "2020-04-09T14:59:21Z")
Huge fan; have been since I first heard him on Dr. D, just like you.
I wrote to him after he won his first Grammy; I still have the postcard reply he sent me a couple of weeks later.
I’ve met him twice, once after a show informally and once after a show at a meet-and-greet (one of his ex-girlfriends was a co-worker at the time so I was on the guest list). I have multiple autographs.
He’s a very cool guy and very, _very_ good at what he does for a living. His concerts are an unparalleled good time, a true spectacle that entertains all ages.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/3 "2020-04-09T15:30:12Z")
That is a fantastic article linked in the OP: quite long, but well worth the read.
I’ve loved Weird Al’s stuff from almost the beginning. I bought his second album “In 3D” when it came out and have been a fan ever since.
Thanks for sharing that article Czarcasm. I implore everyone to read it.
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### Author:  [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/4 "2020-04-09T15:33:09Z")
Been a fan since I first heard him as a kid in the 80s. His career is amazing, and he seems like a genuinely great guy too (though of course it’s hard to know for sure!).
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/5 "2020-04-09T15:39:50Z")
I remember hearing him first on the old Dr. Demento show, very late 70’s. He’s amazing in concert.
And his old songs, “Germs” and “Virus Alert” are sure appropriate these days. Along with “Dare to be stupid”.
And it is a great article, though I think the author was a bit condescending in referring to his 16 year old daughter as ‘precocious’, and describing her as ‘scampering off’. Those are terms for use on much younger kids.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/6 "2020-04-09T16:25:52Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> That is a fantastic article linked in the OP: quite long, but well worth the read.
Would be worth it just for that picture of Al and his daughter.
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### Author:  [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/7 "2020-04-09T16:37:35Z")
I have only been to two concerts, both Weird Al. One for Running With Scissors and the most recent Strings Attached tour. He’s awesome. Totally worth it. So much energy and having fun and sharing that with the audience.
I have yet to hear anyone say he’s not that great. I have a friend who talked to him on the meet and greet VIP concert and said he was awesome and gracious to his fans. So good to hear!
My older brother bought his 3D album in cassette and I bought Even Worse on vinyl. I have a lot of his CDs. I don’t have all as I have Pandora and a Weird Al channel with all of them.
Thanks for the fun conversation!
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### Author:  [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/8 "2020-04-09T16:42:13Z")
The thing about Weird Al is that he isn’t just funny, he’s both funny _and_ a genuinely talented musician. How many musicians can play hip hop, and pop, and grunge, and… polka all in one show?
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/9 "2020-04-09T17:22:27Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#):
>
> Been a fan since I first heard him as a kid in the 80s. His career is amazing, and he seems like a genuinely great guy too (though of course it’s hard to know for sure!).
He’s one of the short list of celebrities I truly believe that of.
He has a wonderful voice as well. And nice teeth! 😃
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### Author:  [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/10 "2020-04-09T17:41:23Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#):
>
> The thing about Weird Al is that he isn’t just funny, he’s both funny _and_ a genuinely talented musician. How many musicians can play hip hop, and pop, and grunge, and… polka all in one show?
I agree with the accolades for Weird Al, but to address your question as if it weren’t rhetorical in nature, if you appreciate that kind of multifaceted talent, I’ve got a recommendation for you: _My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend_. It was a 3 year TV series in which each episode had at least one (usually two or even more) musical numbers, each of which was a take-off on a style or a specific popular song, and they did a spectacularly good job of doing them.
You can find several of them on YouTube.
[Sample 1: I’m So Good at Yoga](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFUk79fBOiQ)
[Sample 2: Stuck in a Car (With Someone You Don’t Want to Be Trapped in a Car With](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm_tYL7_Vdc)
[Sample 3: Santa Ana Winds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4qvpHZzZGI)
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### Author:  [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/11 "2020-04-09T19:06:50Z")
I know many have brought it up before, but I still think he would be a perfect choice for the Super Bowl Half-Time show and I have no idea why they wouldn’t.
-Most of his music is a parody of current popular hits that have broad recognition.
-He’s proven as an expert live performance artist
-No one, even those who are not fans, have said his music/performances are something they don’t like or would rather skip
-You know the performance would be extremely entertaining if nothing else
-I’d love for him to open with his “sports song” (our team is great, and you suck)
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/12 "2020-04-09T20:55:07Z")
My favorite is Star Wars episode 1 song with music of American pie. He bought a ticket to a preview so he could have the song out right after the movie came out.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/13 "2020-04-09T21:22:22Z")
Excellent article. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/14 "2020-04-09T21:30:03Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#):
>
> The thing about Weird Al is that he isn’t just funny, he’s both funny _and_ a genuinely talented musician.
Not meant in any way to dis Weird Al; but you might also like Tim Minchin.
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### Author:  [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/15 "2020-04-10T01:09:38Z")
I like Tim Minchin, too.
And I remember first hearing him on Dr. Demento (KMET… tweedly dee) back in the day as well. That was a loooooooooooong time ago.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/16 "2020-04-10T01:23:48Z")
“Little bit of Heaven, 94.7…”
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/17 "2020-04-10T01:49:53Z")
Some years ago, in my city, there was an article in the paper on a Friday, saying Al would be at a show here the following Wednesday. It was too late to get tickets that day, so I determined to go first thing on Monday to the venue to get a seat.
The next day, Saturday, another newspaper article gave the sad news that Al’s parents had died. I think it was a carbon monoxide acctident. I figured there would be no show, but Al did it anyway, performing up until the funeral. He was quoted as saying something about as long as he was working he wasn’t crying.
What a trooper. Just before the show started a display screen said "This performance is dedicated to the memory of Nick and Mary Yankovic. You should have heard people clap and cheer.
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### Author:  [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/18 "2020-04-10T02:26:30Z")
> [@AHunter3](#):
>
> I agree with the accolades for Weird Al, but to address your question as if it weren’t rhetorical in nature, if you appreciate that kind of multifaceted talent, I’ve got a recommendation for you: _My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend_.
Many of those songs were written by the recently deceased Adam Schlesinger, also of the band Fountains of Wayne.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2020, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/19 "2020-04-10T02:29:14Z")
Yeah, somehow they started a fire and forgot to open the flue. I don’t know how that happens given the apparent smoke.
Anyway, Al decided to go on with the tour because he didn’t want to disappoint his fans.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-al-yankovic-new-article-in-new-york-times-magazine/851427/20 "2020-04-10T02:36:03Z")
I met Al at the after-party for the Adult Video Awards years ago. That was kinda weird.
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