April 1, 2025
Weird Al Yankovic
Alfred Matthew, better known as “Weird Al” Yankovic, is one of the world’s best-known parody artists. He has been making silly, joke versions of popular songs since the late ’70s, when his first single, “My Bologna” — a parody of the Knack’s “My Sharona” — was released. Two years after his initial release, he was able to find his spot on the music charts with a parody of the Queen song “Another One Bites the Dust,” which was titled “Another One Rides the Bus.” He has spent the last four-and-a-half decades spoofing our favorite artists and using his unique humor to bring a little more wonderfully dumb goofiness to the world. In 2022, he was also a writer for and subject of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which is a satirical biopic on the life of the silly songwriter.
I would recommend giving all of Weird Al’s songs a listen and seeing what you like best. There is no rhyme or reason to any of them, so it is not a bad idea to find a playlist of his work and hit shuffle. It is bound to give you a little giggle. Some of my personal favorites include “Fat,” a parody of “Bad” by Michael Jackson; “Perform This Way,” which parodies “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga; and “Like a Surgeon,” a parody of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.” There are so many more, but for the sake of the word count, I will refrain from rambling. If you are in a silly, goofy mood and want some music to match your vibe, Weird Al and his beautifully stupid parodies are a good way to go. Happy listening!
—Payton Rhyner, Music Editor