5. "Weird Al" Yankovic

Significant Signals

Summary

In this very special episode, Significant Signals pulls out all the stops. Gus and Tony have hired professional musician Andres Luke and music historian Alex Schirling to discuss one of the biggest names in the industry over the last 50 years, "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Be amazed as Alex and Andres take you on a mind bending journey through the dramatic origins of "Weird Al", being very specific about the roots of his comedic style, the intellectual mastery of his musical composition, and transitioning seamlessly between those topics.

Part One brings us through "Weird Al’s" surprise single “The Hamilton Polka” which is given a comprehensive analysis that uncovers the evolution of "Weird Al’s" polkas over the years. This introduction eases the listener into Part Two, a complex analysis of "Weird Al’s" style in “Another One Rides the Bus”, written nearly 50 years earlier. But this parody of Queen is merely to whet your palette for the dénouement, “Albuquerque”, which, as you will see, we prove with research and science is “the greatest song that ever lived”.

Pull up a seat, grab your enchilada, and enjoy this extra special episode of Significant Signals.

IF YOU PODCAST PLAYER DOESN'T DISPLAY LINKS IN THE NOTES BELOW– Linked show notes available at https://pixelnoise.fm/sig/5

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Links

• 0:00:00 "You ain't fat!"
• 0:00:31 Intro
• 0:02:33 "Weird Al's" Beginnings
  • The "Another One Rides the Bus" Wikipedia Article
  • On drums, Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz
  • The Dr. Demento Show
  • Dr. Demento interviews "Weird Al"
  • Behind the Scenes of Epic Rap Battles of History
  • Sir Isaac Newton vs Bill Nye
• 0:06:51 The First Album
  • "'Weird Al' Yankovic" Front Cover
• 0:07:57 "Weird Al's" Polkas
  • All of "Weird Al's" Parodies and Polkas with References
  • Polkarama!
  • Even Flow
  • Virus Alert
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda at the White House Poetry Jam
• 0:14:10 "The Hamilton Polka"
• 0:17:39 More On Polkas
• 0:20:16 "Another One Rides the Bus"
  • Another Ones Bites the Dust by Queen
  • Just kidding. We talk about other things.
  • Girls Just Want to Have Lunch
• 0:22:30 "Weird Al's" Attributes
  • We met "Weird Al"!
  • "Weird Al's" transformation over the years
• 0:26:37 Our Introductions to "Weird Al"
  • Awards and Nominations
  • Squeeze Box
  • White and Nerdy
• 0:30:21 Other Comedy Artists
  • "Please, Kind Sir" by P.D.Q. Bach
  • "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!" by Allan Sherman
• 0:32:10 Straight Outta Lynwood
  • "Our Prayer / Gee" by Brian Wilson
    • "I Ain't No Brian Wilson" by Gentleman Brawlers
    • "Let's Stick Together" by Brian Wilson featuring "Weird Al"
    • Confessions Part One and Part Two by Usher
    • Behind the Scenes of Straight Outta Lynwood
    • "Do I Make You Proud" by Taylor Hicks
    • The Ren & Stimpy Show
• 0:40:36 Albuquerque & Other Long Songs
  • "Dick's Automotive" by Rugburns
  • You Don't Love Me Anymore
  • a simile, if not, a metaphor
  • Genius in France
  • Jackson Park Express
• 0:53:20 Alex and Andres pick their Favorites from each Album
• 0:54:18 "Weird Al" Yankovic (1983)
  • Alex: Gotta Boogie
  • Andres: Mr. Frump In the Iron Lung
  • Who uses the other two pedals on a piano?
  • The Horse Whinny
  • "The Typewriter" by Leroy Anderson
• 0:58:59 "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D (1984)
  • Andres: That Boy Can Dance
  • Alex: Midnight Star
  • Honorable Mention
    • Eat It
• 1:00:51 Dare to be Stupid (1985)
  • Alex: Dare to be Stupid
  • Andres: This is the Life
  • "Yoda" Live in Concert
• 1:04:29 Polka Party! (1986)
  • Alex: Addicted to Spuds
  • Andres: Good Enough For Now
• 1:06:29 Even Worse (1988)
  • Alex: (This song is just) Six Words Long
  • Andres: Fat
  • The Food Album
  • The TV Album
• 1:08:10 UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff (1989)
  • Andres: UHF
  • Alex: Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters from a Planet Near Mars
  • Children's Books
  • Milo Murphy's Law
  • The Mysterious Floating Orb
  • The Gift
• 1:10:42 Off the Deep End (1992)
  • Andres: You Don't Love Me Anymore
  • Alex: Airline Amy
  • Honorable Mention: Smells Like Nirvana
  • You're Pitiful
  • On guitar, Jim West
  • On bass, Steve Jay
• 1:15:01 Alapalooza (1993)
  • Alex: Harvey the Wonder Hamster
  • Andres: Jurassic Park
• 1:15:51 Bad Hair Day (1996)
  • Alex: I Remember Larry
  • Andres: The Alternative Polka
  • Coolio on "Weird Al" parodying his music
  • The "Ear Booker Polka", or "The Way Moby Polka" (for accounting reasons)
• 1:18:09 Running with Scissors (1999)
  • Andres: The Saga Begins
  • Alex: Albuquerque
  • Honorable Mention
    • That's Your Horoscope for Today
    • The "Weird Al" Show Theme
• 1:19:14 Poodle Hat (2003)
  • Alex: Angry White Boy Polka
  • Andres: Hardware Store
  • Honorable Mention
    • A Complicated Song
    • eBay
    • Party at the Leper Colony
• 1:20:52 Straight Outta Lynwood (2006)
  • Alex: Virus Alert
  • Andres: Pancreas
• 1:21:11 Alpocalpse (2011)
  • Alex: Skipper Dan
  • Andres: Skipper Dan
• 1:21:40 Mandatory Fun (2014)
  • Alex: Mission Statement
  • Andres: Now That's What I Call Polka!
  • Honorable Mention
    • My Own Eyes
    • Word Crimes
• 1:24:19 Wrap Up
  • If you like Hamilton...
  • "Weird Al" is a Hero
  • Andrés Luke is busy
  • Episode #1 of TAP (2015)

We met "Weird Al!"

"Weird Al's" transformation over the years.