I am an 80’s child, raised on a healthy diet of Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, and some far more embarrassing fare like hair bands and one hit wonders. Given my age, I can remember the days of classic MTV – when Queen Madonna reigned and when videos mattered, hell, existed. The debut of the music video was an important milestone in the history of modern music, and one artist who went hand in hand with this special time was Weird Al Yankovic.
If you are currently breathing, you know that Weird Al released his 14th (!) album last week entitled Mandatory Fun. The collection is far better than any 2014 Weird Al album I could have possibly imagined. Shame on me for doubting him. On it, Weird Al proves that he is more than with the times, parodying Lorde (“Foil”), Robin Thicke (“Word Crimes”), Iggy Azalea (“Handy”), and Pharrell Williams (“Tacky”).
All of his new tunes have tickled my “Fancy,” but they left me longing for the olden days when Al was at his weirdest. Here are my favorite weird Weird Al songs that continuously bring back happy memories of MTV’s glory days.
“Eat It” (1984’s Weird Al in 3-D)
With Michael Jackson’s seal of approval, “Eat It” helped put Yankovic on the map. In fact, Al himself claims that without Jackson’s songs, he might not have had much of a career at all. The MJ parodies are some of Al’s best, but I opt for the “Beat It” spoof over “Fat” (partially because as a kid, I laughed so hard every time he launched himself through the counter space in the pool hall scene.) Classic.
“Like a Surgeon” (1985’s Dare to be Stupid)
Michael Jackson may have been the biggest star in the galaxy, but Madge was extremely notable herself, being one of the first half-naked female pop stars pushing limits and making parents cringe. Naturally, Al jumped at the chance to transform her “Like a Virgin” single. I probably didn’t even know what a virgin was at the time, but I absolutely loved it every time Al tried to sing through his surgical mask.
“The White Stuff” (1992’s Off the Deep End)
“Smells Like Nirvana” is the single to know on this album, but I always liked the super silly New Kids on the Block parody “The White Stuff.” (I should really look up “parody” in a thesaurus. But I’m also watching X2: X-Men United right now, and I’m rather lazy.) If this song doesn’t make you crave an Oreo, I don’t know what will. I hope he got paid some mad monies by Nabisco or whoever.
1992’s Alapalooza
Can I just pick the entire album? A couple things here. 1) This album isn’t one of the better reviewed Weird Al discs, but I had the CASSETTE TAPE. And when you’re a kid and you bought a tape and you played it 9,000 times, you tend to fall in love with the album for life. So hey. There’s that. 2) This album, despite its critical reception does have some great tracks. “Jurassic Park” and “Bohemian Polka” are top notch, my friends, and don’t even get me started on one of my favorite original Al songs “Frank’s 2000″ TV.” And an Aerosmith tune – “Livin’ in the Fridge” – rounding it out? I refuse to choose just one and you can’t make me.
OK FINE:
“Amish Paradise” (1996’s Bad Hair Day)
I can still sing this one front to back to this day. Who can’t? Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” was ginormous that year, as was the movie which gave us this cool(io) delight – Dangerous Minds. Transforming the “gangstas” to the Amish was nothing shy of pure genius, as Al once again hand-selected one of the most popular songs of the time and flipped the script upside down. (Full disclosure, I originally typed “Gangster’s” Paradise. Apologies to gangstas everywhere. I’m so out of the loop.)
“White & Nerdy” (2006’s Straight Outta Lynwood)
This was the very first “Shit, Weird Al still exists!?” moment I had. Again toying with polar opposites, Al took Chamillionaire’s track about ridin’ dirty and made it about nerdy, white kids who edit Wikipedia. Perfection.
Weird Al became an icon mimicking icons. His staying power and current relevancy more than prove this. His music really takes me back to a simpler time before YouTube, before Facebook, and before streaming music, all three of which have turned us into spoiled assholes. Perusing his discography is like taking a skip down memory lane. Here’s to hoping Al stays Weird for many, many years to come.
