"Weird Al" Yankovic may earn a living making fun of people's work, but he's always polite about it. Even though no law can stop the comedian from parodying another performer, he gets permission from the artists just the same.

He first garnered attention through the Dr. Demento radio show by sending in lampoons of popular songs like The Knack's "My Sharona" (as "My Bologna") and Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" (as "Another One Rides the Bus").

Over 150 songs and 14 albums later, the curly-haired, accordion-playing satirist is still using the Pop charts as his playground. How well do you know Weird Al?

~Amanda Flinner

Weird Al Songfacts

---

More Fact or Fiction

Comments: 12

• Turbooffy from Alma Co.Highly recommend new Roku fim on W.AY. Excellent , excellent casting. Great cameos, script. Daniel Radcliffe nails W. Al. WAY is will always be the Jimmy Page of Rock Accordions!!!
• Sophia A (fursuiter Chloe) from Belvidere, IlGot all right, toom 5 tries
• Rob Orick Alias "robgems68" from Oxford, MichiganWeird Al Is a favorite of mine for many years. I also love his many cartoon appearances on "My Little Pony/FIM" (as Cheese Sandwich), "We Bare Bears" (as a ornery carnival con-artist) and "Wander Over Yonder" (as the Batman villain parody "Dr. Screwball Jones, PHD.")
• Cheese Sandwich from EquestriaJust wait till I tell Pinkie about this!
• Solo579 from Never Sayin'I absolutely love Party in the C.I.A. Wait... Is that the radio?...RED ALERT!!!
• Funky-master from Oh-yeah-sureThe "Other Yankovic" question is debatable. Al has made that comment a few times, but on his "Behind The Music" special they interview his late mother, and she said that it was a choice between guitar and accordion, and she felt the accordion was more fun and reminded her of a one man band. Got the rest right.
• Patti Brown from Algonac, Mi I got two wrong, but I disagree with both. "Snack All Night" was a concert only song. He did perform it live, he just never recorded it. You can search youtube and find him performing just a snippet of it. Yes, I know he said recently that MJ talked him out of it, but that was as far as putting it on record. The other was that Al's parents chose the accordion for him because of Frankie Yankovic. Al's mother was quoted as saying that she chose the accordion for Al because it was kind of like a one-man band. Al did say his parents thought there should be one more accordion playing Yankovic in the world, but I always thought that was off the cuff.
• Darrin from Reno, Nv10 right, 4 wrong, all guesses since I hardly know anything about this guy. Guess it's luck of the draw.
• Glenn from Sydney, Australia"Snack All Night" DOES exist. It has been performed live only, i.e. not released on record.
• James from Vidalia, Ga5 right, 9 wrong. I thought I knew Al... my first Al was "Another one rides the Bus", I even love the film UHF, which actually DOES seem like a film about a favorite TV station that left the airwaves, dadgumit! Loads of tricks in these questions.. Al should do a parody of this quiz.
• Jim from North Billerica, MaI got two wrong myself, the Beach boys one (I call trick question!) and the "Black or White". I did get lucky and guessed at a couple.
  Keep 'em coming boys and girls, they are always fun to play
• Karen from Manchester, NhOnly 2 wrong (and one was on a technicality - Beach Boys' v. Beach Boy's)! The other was the "other Yankovic" one.

Editor's Picks

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Crystal WatersSongwriter Interviews

Waters tells the "Gypsy Woman" story, shares some of her songwriting insights, and explains how Dennis Rodman ended up on one of her songs.

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

More Songfacts:

HeroesDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Heroes" is about his producer Tony Visconti and his girlfriend, but Bowie didn't admit this until the '00s, since Visconti was married at the time.

Kiss On My ListHall & Oates

"Kiss On My List" by Hall & Oates is actually an anti-love song - the kiss is just one item on a list, and by no means the best.

Always On My MindWillie Nelson

Elvis Presley recorded "Always On My Mind" in 1972, but Willie Nelson's version 10 years later was the hit and won the Song of the Year Grammy.

We're Not Gonna Take ItTwisted Sister

Musically, the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It" is based on the Christmas tune "O Come All Ye Faithful."

AngelSarah McLachlan

Sarah McLachlan wrote "Angel" about the Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996.

My AllMariah Carey

Mariah Carey's "My All" is about her affair with New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.