Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Original Soundtrack) | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | November 4, 2022 | |||
Recorded | 2022 | |||
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Length | 77:48 | |||
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Producer |
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"Weird Al" Yankovic chronology | ||||
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Singles from Weird:The Al Yankovic Story | ||||
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Weird:The Al Yankovic Story (Original Soundtrack) 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 (in his directorial debut),stars Daniel Radcliffe as Yankovic,along with Evan Rachel Wood,Rainn Wilson,Toby Huss,Arturo Castro,and Julianne Nicholson in supporting roles. [1] [2]
The album features 46 tracks in total,consisting mostly Yankovic's early songs that were re-recorded for the album,new renditions of several of his parody songs,and original score compositions by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson,accompanying the remainder of it. [3] Yankovic's original song "Now You Know" specially recorded for the film (in the closing credits) and album, [4] was released as a single on November 4,2022. [5] [6] The song was recorded in order to be eligible for a Best Original Song nomination at the 95th Academy Awards, [7] but the prospects of an Academy Award campaign was dropped as its distributor Roku denied a limited theatrical release plans for the film. [8]
The same day,the album was released as a companion to the film by Legacy Recordings, [9] in conjunction with its streaming premiere on The Roku Channel, [10] though music enthusiasts mentioned it as a "surprise album" from Yankovic. [10] It was released in CD on February 3,2023,and a two-disc vinyl edition of the soundtrack was released on May 19,2023. [11]
The original score is composed by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson,who also worked on Cobra Kai (2018–present). Birenberg and Robinson discussed the film's music with Eric Appel and "Weird Al" Yankovic. Yankovic interacted with the crew through Zoom due to his participation in global tours,while scoring the film. Birenberg said on his creative collaboration with Yankovic,as "he's an awesome guy to work with,because he's obviously so creative and such a visionary,but he also knows how much direction to give and to let people do their thing to make it as good as possible". [12] On doing parody music,Robinson added that "you almost 'cue' the audience where to laugh a little bit. So the way you'll structure a specific build or a specific hit will be designed to tee up a punchline that exists in the on-camera work. And when you just play it straight,you're still hitting things and still building,but you're doing it in a way that you want the audience to be like,'Yeah,I'm in it. This is a sweet action movie.' That's the difference." [13] [14]
The accordion was used as the primary instrument in the score,played by Cory Pesaturo. On using an accordion for the themes,Robinson explained that the process was "insanely difficult" as the player needs to know the aspects of an accordion and piano,and put them while constantly bellowing,as "that's what makes the sound,is the air being pushed out through these reeds that are in it ... your brain needs to be doing these three totally independent things and putting them together to execute the music." [13] Pesaturo played the accordion for all themes,instead of solo violins,and flute,so that a lot of emotional themes heard will have an accordion. Robinson added that Yankovic new various varieties of accordions,from various countries that have different sounds of different genres. [12] In addition to the accordion,Birenberg and Robinson used orchestral music to complement the score,but also had accordion playing in some pieces.
According to Birenberg and Robinson,some of the sequences,including the reconciliation between Yankovic and his dad,Yankovic's speech,his meeting with Dr. Demento and the dinner fight sequence were described as "fun to score". The theme for Al's speech was the first cue he had written and presented for the film,which was appreciated by Appel for the unique composition and style. [12] The diner fight had a John Wick -styled musical score,which was played by accordion,which Robinson described it as the "fun thing to do so". [12] For the first meeting between Yankovic and Madonna,Robinson had preferred his version of Yankovic's theme,vocalised by Madonna,that resulted in a "romantic","over-the-top" piano piece which was scored,to do "a funny Madonna vibe". [13]
Dr. Demento and Al's meeting included an emotional and orchestral score,whose version had "comedy cues". The original version,is a "very sincere,emotional piece of music that has a little bit more of hope and uplifting feeling to it",which was not considered. [13] The version is a "goofy comedic cue" played over the weirdness of Demento instead of the sincerity and emotion that Appel demanded. Both Birenberg and Robinson wanted a sincere approach to the sequences,as similar to Robert Zemeckis' directorials in the 1990s. [12]
Tony Solis mixed and re-recorded the film's soundtrack,while Anthony Vanchure and Michael James Gallagher,respectively edited,supervised and designed the sounds to blend Yankovic's music with Birenberg and Robinson's underscore and sound effects. Phil McGowan mixed Birenberg and Robinson's score. [15] [11] Solis was reminded by Yankovic and Appel,to mix the live performance sequences "to be more authentic",whether on outdoor and indoor arena performance. Yankovic also re-recorded the parody songs,with Solis mixing them in Dolby Atmos music,as "it is a big surround sound film" and gave him individual stems of the music,and the songs played throughout the film,which gave him access "to weave the music into making it right for the space,making the accordion sound awesome,and making drums and bass and all of his vocals sound exactly right to the space." [16]
Both Gallagher and Vanchure discussed about the sound design in a music-themed film with Yankovic,who provided instructions on producing each sound uniquely. Vanchure called it as his biggest challenge of any film as "when you are doing audio for film because you have music,and that is helping tell the story,and then you also have the sound effects that we are using to help tell the story and with this movie,not only do we have Weird Al songs,but we also have a fantastic score by our composers,and it also is dependent on seeing how you mix a scene you need to keep playing it back a couple of times and go,“all right,what are we feeling,what’s carrying the scene more.”" [17]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
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1. | "You Don't Know Anything (Dialogue)" | Diedrich Bader | 0:10 | |
2. | "My Bologna" (2022 version) | Yankovic | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 2:09 |
3. | "I Love Rocky Road" (2022 version) | Yankovic | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 2:35 |
4. | "Another One Rides the Bus" (2022 version) | Yankovic | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 2:34 |
5. | "Eat It" | Yankovic | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 3:18 |
6. | "Like a Surgeon" (2022 version) | Yankovic | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 3:23 |
7. | "Amish Paradise" (2022 version) | Yankovic | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 3:19 |
8. | "Now You Know" | Yankovic | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 5:18 |
9. | "Dr. Demento Opening Theme (Pico and Sepulveda)" |
| The Roto Rooter Goodtime Christmas Band | 1:33 |
10. | "Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out the Barrel)" |
| Cory Pesaturo | 1:21 |
11. | "Helena Polka" | Traditional | Cory Pesaturo | 0:31 |
12. | "The Chicken Dance aka The Bird Dance" |
| The Emeralds | 2:43 |
13. | "Clarinet Polka" | Karol Namysłowski | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 0:35 |
14. | "Beat on the Brat" | Joey Ramone | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 0:19 |
15. | "Bowling with the Devil" | Yankovic | Skunk Barf | 0:13 |
16. | "The Cobra Pit" |
|
| 1:08 |
17. | "Demento's Pool Party" |
|
| 4:08 |
18. | "You're All a Bunch of Slaves (Instrumental)" | Yankovic | "Weird Al" Yankovic | 1:32 |
19. | "Guadalajara" | Pepe Guízar |
| 1:15 |
20. | "Back From the Dead" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:45 |
21. | "Weird" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:53 |
22. | "The Accordion" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 2:09 |
23. | "Hay Boy" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:43 |
24. | "The Closet" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:43 |
25. | "Epiphany" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:51 |
26. | "Cracked the Code" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:12 |
27. | "On the Spot" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:35 |
28. | "A Rare Gift" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:46 |
29. | "My Parents" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:11 |
30. | "Write Your Own Songs" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:21 |
31. | "LSD Trip" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 2:06 |
32. | "Al and Madonna" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 3:07 |
33. | "A Parody of 'Eat It'" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:35 |
34. | "Drunk Driving" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:54 |
35. | "You're All I've Got" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:33 |
36. | "Diner Kidnapping" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:22 |
37. | "Heart of the Jungle" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:23 |
38. | "Certified Platinum" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:28 |
39. | "It's All Business" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 2:37 |
40. | "The Factory" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:23 |
41. | "Dad Apologizes" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 2:08 |
42. | "Raised Amish" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 3:10 |
43. | "It's Nothing" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:57 |
44. | "Would You Be My Son?" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 0:38 |
45. | "Al's Speech" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 1:29 |
46. | "In Memoriam" |
| Budapest Scoring Orchestra | 2:34 |
Total length: | 77:48 |
Credits adapted from Vinyl liner notes.
MUSICIAN CREDITS
SCORE CREDITS
Score Recorded by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200 [18] | 192 |
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard) [19] | 15 |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | November 4, 2022 | Legacy Recordings | [20] [21] | |
February 3, 2023 | CD | |||
May 19, 2023 | Vinyl |
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 16, 2022 | Best Music Themed Film, Biopic or Musical | Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Nominated | [22] [23] |
Best Original Score – Streamed Live Action Film (No Theatrical Release) | Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson | Nominated | |||
Best Original Song – Streamed Film (No Theatrical Release) | Weird Al Yankovic for "Now You Know" | Won | |||
San Diego Film Critics Society | January 6, 2023 | Best Use of Music | Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Nominated | [24] |
Society of Composers & Lyricists | February 15, 2023 | Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film | Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson | Nominated | [25] |
Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production | Weird Al Yankovic for "Now You Know" | Nominated | |||
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association | December 18, 2022 | Best Soundtrack | Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Nominated | [26] |
Grammy Awards | February 4, 2024 | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Nominated | [27] |
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.
"Headline News" is a parody song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the Crash Test Dummies' 1993 hit "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". It was released as the lead-off single for the compilation box set Permanent Record: Al in the Box on September 27, 1994. The song was written after Yankovic's label insisted he craft a new song to promote the album; Yankovic in turn combined the music of the Crash Test Dummies' song with three news stories that were popular in late 1993 and early 1994.
"My Bologna" is the debut single by American musical parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic, originally released in December 1979. It is a parody of the Knack's hit song "My Sharona". Yankovic originally wrote the lyrics while he attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California; the original version of the parody was recorded in a bathroom across the hall from the radio station at which Yankovic worked. The title refers to Bologna sausage, specifically the Oscar Mayer brand popular in the United States. Yankovic sent "My Bologna" to Dr. Demento, who aired the song on his nationwide radio program, The Dr. Demento Show. The song was a hit on the program, and eventually gained the number one spot on Dr. Demento's "Funny Five" countdown.
"Another One Rides the Bus" is a song by comedy musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released in February 1981 and is a parody of Queen's song "Another One Bites the Dust". Yankovic's version describes a person riding in a crowded public bus. It was recorded live on September 14, 1980, on the Dr. Demento Show, hosted by Barret "Dr. Demento" Hansen. Accompanying Yankovic was Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, who would go on to be the artist's long-time drummer.
"Christmas at Ground Zero" is an original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic, the tenth and final track on his 1986 album, Polka Party! and the final single from the album, released just in time for the 1986 Christmas season. The song is a style parody of Phil Spector-produced Christmas songs.
"Ricky" is a 1983 song by "Weird Al" Yankovic, duetting with voice actress Tress MacNeille. It is a parody of the 1982 song "Mickey" by Toni Basil, which itself, is a cover of Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn's "Kitty" recorded by Racey. The song focuses on the sitcom I Love Lucy, and ends with a segment of the theme from the sitcom.
"I Love Rocky Road" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic about a man's obsession with rocky road ice cream. It is a parody of the Arrows' 1975 song, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", originally sung and written by Alan Merrill, in the style of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
"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.
Cory Pesaturo is an American musician from Cumberland, Rhode Island. Pesaturo is an accordion player, who also plays the piano, clarinet, and saxophone. He began playing at the age of nine, and in 2002, became the youngest person to win the National Accordion Championship.
"I Lost on Jeopardy" is a song by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic from his second album, "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D, released in 1984. The song is a parody of "Jeopardy" by The Greg Kihn Band, released in 1983, and its refrain "Our love's in jeopardy". The parody's lyrics center on the game show Jeopardy!, and features a guest vocal from Don Pardo, who announced for Jeopardy! from 1964 to 1975. The music video uses a set inspired by the 1964-75 version of the game show, and in addition to Pardo, features cameos from the show's host Art Fleming as well as Dr. Demento and Greg Kihn. The song was released just prior to the revival of Jeopardy! in 1984, though contrary to popular theory, the revival was already in the works and was not inspired by Yankovic's song.
Another One Rides the Bus is the debut extended play (EP) by American parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released in 1981 by Placebo Records. The title song is a parody of English rock band Queen's 1980 single "Another One Bites the Dust". The EP also features three other songs, all of which are original recordings. All four songs on Another One Rides the Bus later appeared on Yankovic's eponymous debut studio album; the three original songs were re-recorded for the album, while the title song is the same version that appears on the EP.
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 American comedy 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.
Leo Birenberg is an American composer and orchestrator for film and television.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is a 2022 American biographical musical parody film directed by Eric Appel, in his feature directorial debut, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Al Yankovic. The film is a satire on musical biopics and is loosely based on Yankovic's life and career as an accordionist and parody songwriter. It stars Daniel Radcliffe as Yankovic, along with Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Toby Huss and Julianne Nicholson in supporting roles.
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