The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic | ||||
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Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | October 27, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 1979–2006 | |||
Genre | Comedy, parody | |||
Length | 76:43 (Disc one) 76:31 (Disc two) 29:01 (Disc three) | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Rick Derringer, "Weird Al" Yankovic | |||
"Weird Al" Yankovic chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Mojo | [2] |
Paste | 8.8/10 [3] |
PopMatters | [4] |
Under the Radar | [5] |
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic is a two disc compilation album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. A limited edition "3.0" version of the album has a third disc. It is published by Sony Music's Legacy Recordings as part of their The Essential series. Yankovic selected the songs for inclusion on the album after seeking fan feedback for the choice between one of two polkas. [6]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Parody of | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Another One Rides the Bus" (from Another One Rides the Bus (EP), 1981; later included on "Weird Al" Yankovic , 1983) | "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen | 2:40 | |
2. | "Polkas on 45" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D , 1984) | Various writers:
| A polka medley including:
| 4:23 |
3. | "Eat It" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D) |
| "Beat It" by Michael Jackson | 3:21 |
4. | "I Lost on Jeopardy" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D) |
| "Jeopardy" by The Greg Kihn Band | 3:26 |
5. | "Yoda" (from Dare to Be Stupid , 1985) |
| "Lola" by The Kinks | 3:58 |
6. | "One More Minute" (from Dare to Be Stupid) | Yankovic | Style parody of Elvis Presley-like doo-wop | 4:04 |
7. | "Like a Surgeon" (from Dare to Be Stupid) |
| "Like a Virgin" by Madonna | 3:32 |
8. | "Dare to Be Stupid" (from Dare to Be Stupid) | Yankovic | Style parody of Devo | 3:25 |
9. | "Dog Eat Dog" (from Polka Party! , 1986) | Yankovic | Style parody of Talking Heads | 3:42 |
10. | "Lasagna" (from Even Worse , 1988) | Traditional, arr. by Ritchie Valens, Yankovic | "La Bamba" by Los Lobos and Ritchie Valens | 2:45 |
11. | "Melanie" (from Even Worse) | Yankovic | Original | 3:58 |
12. | "Fat" (from Even Worse) |
| "Bad" by Michael Jackson | 3:37 |
13. | "UHF" (Single version) (from UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff , 1989) | Yankovic | Original | 3:49 |
14. | "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" (from UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff) | Yankovic | Style parody of Harry Chapin and Gordon Lightfoot | 6:50 |
15. | "Trigger Happy" (from Off the Deep End , 1992) | Yankovic | Style parody of The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean | 3:46 |
16. | "Smells Like Nirvana" (from Off the Deep End) |
| "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana | 3:42 |
17. | "You Don't Love Me Anymore" (from Off the Deep End) | Yankovic | Original | 4:01 |
18. | "Bedrock Anthem" (from Alapalooza , 1993) |
| "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away" by Red Hot Chili Peppers | 3:43 |
19. | "Frank's 2000" TV" (from Alapalooza) | Yankovic | Style parody of R.E.M.'s early work | 4:07 |
20. | "Jurassic Park" (from Alapalooza) |
| "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris | 3:55 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Parody of | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Since You've Been Gone" (from Bad Hair Day , 1996) | Yankovic | Original a cappella song | 1:23 |
2. | "Amish Paradise" (from Bad Hair Day) |
| "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V. | 3:21 |
3. | "Gump" (from Bad Hair Day) |
| "Lump" by The Presidents of the United States of America | 2:12 |
4. | "Everything You Know Is Wrong" (from Bad Hair Day) | Yankovic | Style parody of They Might Be Giants | 3:48 |
5. | "The Night Santa Went Crazy" (Extra gory version) (from "Amish Paradise" single, 1996; original version from Bad Hair Day) | Yankovic | Style Parody of "Black Gold" by Soul Asylum | 4:03 |
6. | "Your Horoscope for Today" (from Running with Scissors , 1999) | Yankovic | Style parody of Third Wave Ska | 3:59 |
7. | "It's All About the Pentiums" (from Running with Scissors) |
| "It's All About the Benjamins (Rock remix)" by Puff Daddy | 3:34 |
8. | "The Saga Begins" (from Running with Scissors) |
| "American Pie" by Don McLean | 5:28 |
9. | "Albuquerque" (from Running with Scissors) | Yankovic | Style parody of The Rugburns | 11:21 |
10. | "eBay" (from Poodle Hat , 2003) |
| "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys | 3:37 |
11. | "Bob" (from Poodle Hat) | Yankovic | Style parody of Bob Dylan | 2:29 |
12. | "Hardware Store" (from Poodle Hat) | Yankovic | Original | 3:43 |
13. | "I'll Sue Ya" (from Straight Outta Lynwood , 2006) | Yankovic | Style parody of Rage Against the Machine | 3:51 |
14. | "Canadian Idiot" (from Straight Outta Lynwood) |
| "American Idiot" by Green Day | 2:24 |
15. | "Pancreas" (from Straight Outta Lynwood) | Yankovic | Style parody of Brian Wilson | 3:48 |
16. | "Don't Download This Song" (from Straight Outta Lynwood) | Yankovic | Style parody of 1980s charity songs | 3:52 |
17. | "White & Nerdy" (from Straight Outta Lynwood) |
| "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone | 2:52 |
18. | "Trapped in the Drive-Thru" (from Straight Outta Lynwood) | Trapped in the Closet by R. Kelly; contains interpolation of "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin | 10:51 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Parody of | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ricky" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic) |
| "Mickey" by Toni Basil | 2:37 |
2. | "Midnight Star" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D) | Yankovic | Original | 4:35 |
3. | "Living with a Hernia" (from Polka Party!) |
| "Living in America" by James Brown | 3:20 |
4. | "Good Old Days" (from Even Worse) | Yankovic | Style parody of James Taylor | 3:20 |
5. | "Wanna B Ur Lovr" (from Poodle Hat) | Yankovic | Style parody of Beck | 6:14 |
6. | "Genius in France" (from Poodle Hat) | Yankovic | Style parody of Frank Zappa | 8:58 |
Poodle Hat is the eleventh studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on May 20, 2003. It was the fifth studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on the album are built around parodies and pastiches of pop of the early-2000s. The album's lead single, "Couch Potato", is a parody of "Lose Yourself" by Eminem. The single failed to chart, although the album's song "eBay" eventually peaked at 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles in 2007.
Bad Hair Day is the ninth studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on March 12, 1996. It was Yankovic's last studio album for the Scotti Brothers label before it was purchased by Volcano Entertainment in 1999. The album produced an array of hit comedy singles; lead single "Amish Paradise", which lampoons both Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" and the Amish lifestyle, charted at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Gump", which parodies "Lump" by the Presidents of the United States of America and the movie Forrest Gump, reached at No. 102.
Running with Scissors is the tenth studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 29, 1999. It was the fourth studio album self-produced by Yankovic, and his first album for Volcano Records after its acquisition of Scotti Brothers. The musical styles on the album are built around parodies and pastiches of pop and rock music of the late 1990s, largely targeting alternative rock and hip-hop. The album's lead single, "The Saga Begins", however, was a parody of the 1971 single "American Pie" by Don McLean, and it recounts the plot of the film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which was released around the same time. None of the album's singles charted domestically, although "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi", a parody of "Pretty Fly " by the Offspring, charted at number 67 in Australia.
Alapalooza is the eighth studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1993. By the completion of his previous album, Off the Deep End, Yankovic had already written all of the original songs that he planned to use on his next release. This new album, which would eventually be titled Alapalooza in reference to the music festival Lollapalooza, consisted of seven original songs and five parodies. It produced three parody singles: "Jurassic Park", "Bedrock Anthem", and "Achy Breaky Song". "Jurassic Park" was a top five hit on the Canadian magazine The Record's single chart.
Off the Deep End is the seventh studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1992. This album was the first album self-produced by Yankovic, after six albums with Rick Derringer. Recorded between June 1990 and January 1992, the album was a follow-up to the unsuccessful soundtrack to Yankovic's 1989 film UHF. Off the Deep End and its lead single "Smells Like Nirvana" helped to revitalize Yankovic's career after a lull following his last hit single, "Fat", in 1988.
Dare to Be Stupid is the third studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 18, 1985. The album was one of many Yankovic records produced by former McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Recorded between August 1984 and March 1985, the album was Yankovic's first studio album released following the success of 1984's In 3-D, which included the Top 40 single "Eat It".
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D is the second studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on February 28, 1984, by Rock 'n Roll Records. The album was one of many produced by former McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Recorded between October and December 1983, the album was Yankovic's follow-up to his modestly successful debut LP, "Weird Al" Yankovic.
"Weird Al" Yankovic is the debut studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. The album was the first of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Mostly recorded in March 1982, the album was released by Rock 'n Roll Records as an LP and on Compact Cassette in 1983.
Polka Party! is the fourth studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on October 21, 1986. The album was produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Recorded between April and September 1986, the album was Yankovic's follow-up to his successful 1985 release, Dare to Be Stupid. The album's lead single, "Living With a Hernia", failed to chart.
"Like a Surgeon" is a song recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic that appears as the opening track on his third studio album, Dare to Be Stupid (1985). It was released as the album's second single on June 4, 1985, by Scotti Brothers Records. It was issued as a 7", 12", and picture disc. A parody of the pop song "Like a Virgin" by Madonna, its lyrics describe a hospital environment, with the same melody as Madonna's original. The track was written by Yankovic, Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, the latter two are credited as co-writers due to the "Like a Virgin" sample. Madonna came up with the parody's title, an act Yankovic generally discourages. Rick Derringer served as the executive producer.
"Yoda" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic from his third album, Dare to Be Stupid (1985). It is a parody of the song "Lola" by the Kinks. Inspired by the events of the movie The Empire Strikes Back, the song is told from the point of view of Jedi-in-training Luke Skywalker and concerns his dealings with Master Yoda on the planet Dagobah. The song was initially written and recorded in 1980, during the original release of The Empire Strikes Back and achieved success on The Dr. Demento Show; however, securing permission from both Star Wars creator George Lucas and "Lola" songwriter Ray Davies delayed the physical release of the song for about five years.
"You're Pitiful" is a parody of the James Blunt song "You're Beautiful" written and recorded by American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released exclusively online on June 7, 2006. In it, Yankovic chides a 42-year-old man who lives a pitiful existence. It was originally intended as the lead single of his twelfth studio album, Straight Outta Lynwood.
Straight Outta Lynwood is the twelfth studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on September 26, 2006, the title drawing inspiration from hip hop group N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton. It was the sixth studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on the album are built around parodies and pastiches of pop and rock music of the mid-2000s. The album's lead single, "White & Nerdy", is a parody of Chamillionaire's hit single "Ridin'". The single debuted at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #9 the following week; "Canadian Idiot", a parody of Green Day's "American Idiot", also charted, peaking at #82.
"White & Nerdy" is the second single from "Weird Al" Yankovic's album Straight Outta Lynwood, which was released on September 26, 2006. It parodies the song "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone. The song both satirizes and celebrates nerd culture, as recited by the subject, who cannot "roll with the gangstas" because he is "just too white and nerdy". It includes many references to activities stereotypically associated with nerds and/or white people, such as collecting comic books and action figures, being fluent in JavaScript and Klingon, editing Wikipedia, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
The discography of American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor and parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic consists of fourteen studio albums, two soundtrack albums, nine compilation albums, eleven video albums, two extended plays, two box sets, forty-six singles and fifty-four music videos. Since the debut of his first comedy song in 1976, he has sold more than 12 million albums—more than any other comedy act in history—recorded more than 150 parody and original songs, and performed more than 1,000 live shows. His works have earned him five Grammy Awards among sixteen nominations, along with several gold and platinum record certifications in the United States. Yankovic's first single, "My Bologna", was released in 1979, and he made his chart debut two years later with his second single, "Another One Rides the Bus", which peaked at number four on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. His self-titled debut studio album was released on Scotti Brothers Records on May 3, 1983, peaking at number 16 on the US Billboard 200 and being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Ricky", the album's third single, became his first single to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 64.
A list of music videos by American musician, singer and record producer "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American comedy musician, writer, and actor. He is best known for writing and performing comedy songs that often parody specific songs by contemporary musicians. He also performs original songs that are style pastiches of the work of other acts, as well as polka medleys of several popular songs, most of which feature his trademark accordion.
Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic is a 15-album box set by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on November 24, 2017. Squeeze Box marks Yankovic's second box set since 1994's Permanent Record: Al in the Box.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is the soundtrack album to the 2022 film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a satirical biopic, loosely based on the life and career of comedy musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, who is also credited as executive producer and co-writer of the film. The film, co-written and directed by Eric Appel, stars Daniel Radcliffe as Yankovic, along with Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Toby Huss, Arturo Castro, and Julianne Nicholson in supporting roles.
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