Album: Even Worse (1988)
Charted: 80 99
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A parody of Michael Jackson's hit "Bad," this song is all about the state of being overweight. It's similar in concept to Yankovic's previous Jackson parody, "Eat It."

    Food is a common theme in Al's parodies - he drew inspiration from cafeterias when he started writing songs.
  • The video is based on "Bad," with Al wearing a fat suit and gorging himself throughout the clip. It was a big-budget production with special effects that required lots of ingenuity - to make Al's face expand, tubes were placed in the latex on his face and inflated by technicians blowing through them.

    The subway set is the same one used in the "Bad" video. Jackson had built an exact replica of the original set for his Moonwalker film that was used in the segment called "Badder". Before taking it down he offered it to Yankovic for use in his clip. Yankovic said that Jackson's support helped to gain approval from other artists he wanted to parody.
  • Weird Al stopped performing this song and "Eat It" in 2019 after HBO aired the Leaving Neverland documentary, which makes accusations of child abuse against Jackson.
  • His food-themed parodies of Jackson's hits earned him the chance to open for the King of Pop on tour, but he turned down the offer to work with Al on the box-office bomb UHF. Although the movie tested well with preview audiences, it couldn't compete against huge blockbusters such as Batman and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
  • This won the Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video in 1989.

Comments: 1

  • Moosehead from Scmy son LOVES him some of that weird AL. we just watched the movie. very clever fellow. go RJ!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.