In addition to recording his albums, Yankovic has written and starred in his own film, UHF, and his own television show, The Weird Al Show, and directed music videos for himself and other artists including Ben Folds, Hanson, the Black Crowes and The Presidents of the United States of America. He has also made guest appearances on many television shows, in addition to starring in his own Al TV specials.
Though parodies earned him his fame, Yankovic has recorded a greater number of humorous songs with original tunes. Some of these pieces are pastiches (or style parodies), where he chooses a band's entire body of work to emulate rather than any single hit, although Yankovic has many completely original pieces. Most of his albums include a medley which juxtaposes the choruses of various songs in a polka style to accordion music.
Due to his popularity, he has been credited with several songs that are not actually his. A full list of every song he has ever actually done, including the live-only songs, can be found at the Al Songs website. Similarly, a comprehensive list of songs incorrectly credited to him can be found at The Not Al Page.
In 2006, Al recorded the song "You're Pitiful". However, while James Blunt gave his blessing for the parody of his song, "You're Beautiful", Blunt's label Atlantic Records was opposed to it. Though parodies are protected legally, the issue had become "more of a political matter than a legal matter", according to Al, so he decided to not put the song on his next album. Instead, he offered it as a free download from his site.
His latest album, "Straight Outta Lynwood", was released September 26th, 2006. Its first released single, "Don't Download This Song", was made available as a free download on August 21, 2006. The animated video for the track and a link to downloadable MP3 is available at dontdownloadthissong.com. Among other tracks, the album includes parodies of Green Day, Usher, R. Kelly, and Chamillionaire. Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty" is parodied as "White and Nerdy", the second released single from the new album. This single has thus far climbed as far as #9 on the Billboard Singles chart, eclipsing "Eat It" as Al's highest charting single (which went as high as #12).
Official Website: http://www.weirdal.com
FactBox Info
Members
Al Yankovic
Jon ''Bermuda'' Schwartz
Steve Jay
Jim West
Rubén Valtierra
Former Members
Rick Derringer
Ross Noble
Joe Earley
Achy Breaky Song
"Weird Al" Yankovic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With Donnie & Marie
You can play some Barry Manilow
Or you can play some schlock
Like New Kids On The Block
Or any Village People song you know
Or play Vanilla Ice
Hey, you can play him twice
But Mr. DJ, please
I'm beggin' on my knees
I just can't take no more of Billy Ray
Don't play that song
That "Achy Breaky" song
The most annoying song I know
And if you play that song
That "Achy Breaky" song
I might blow up my radio, oh
You can clear the room
By playing Debbie Boon
Or crank your Abba records until dawn
Oh, I can even hear
Slim Whitman or Zamfir
Don't mind a Yoko Ono marathon
Or play some Tiffany
On eight-track or CD
Or scrape your fingernails across the board
Or tie me to a chair
And kick me down the stairs
Just please don't play that stupid song no more
Don't play that song
That "Achy Breaky" song
You know I hate that song a bunch
And if you play that song
That nauseating song
It might just make me lose my lunch, oh
Don't play that song
That "Achy Breaky" song
I think it's driving me insane
Oh, please don't play that song
That irritating song
I'd rather have a pitchfork in my brain
Don't play that song
That "Achy Breaky" song
The most annoying song I know
And if you play that song
That "Achy Breaky" song
I might blow up my radio, oh
The song "Achy Breaky Song" by "Weird Al" Yankovic is a parody of Billy Ray Cyrus' hit song "Achy Breaky Heart." In the song, the singer begs the DJ to play any other song except the overplayed, nauseating "Achy Breaky Song" which he hates to his bones. The verses give examples of other irritating songs like Vanilla Ice, New Kids On The Block, or any Village People song the DJ might choose to play. The singer is so tired of hearing the same song over and over again that he prefers listening to nails scratching on a chalkboard or being tied to a chair and kicked down the stairs rather than enduring "Achy Breaky Song" one more time.
The chorus of the song is catchy and playful, "Don't play that song, That 'Achy Breaky' song, The most annoying song I know." The character's emotion as he pleads with the DJ to put an end to the torture is palpable in the lyrics, "I'd rather have a pitchfork in my brain." The song's lyrics are a relatable expression of irritation and frustration when stuck in a situation with no escape.
Line by Line Meaning
You can torture me
With Donnie & Marie
I can endure any music torture, like Donnie & Marie's, but not Billy Ray's
You can play some Barry Manilow
Or you can play some schlock
Like New Kids On The Block
Or any Village People song you know
Or play Vanilla Ice
Hey, you can play him twice
And you can play the Bee Gees any day
You can play any bad music you like, but just not the 'Achy Breaky' song by Billy Ray Cyrus
But Mr. DJ, please
I'm beggin' on my knees
I just can't take no more of Billy Ray
I implore you, please stop playing Billy Ray's 'Achy Breaky' song, my ears can't bear it anymore
Don't play that song
That "Achy Breaky" song
The most annoying song I know
And if you play that song
That "Achy Breaky" song
I might blow up my radio, oh
Seriously, don't play that 'Achy Breaky' song, it's the worst and might just lead to radio destruction
You can clear the room
By playing Debbie Boon
Or crank your Abba records until dawn
Oh, I can even hear
Slim Whitman or Zamfir
Don't mind a Yoko Ono marathon
Or play some Tiffany
On eight-track or CD
Or scrape your fingernails across the board
Or tie me to a chair
And kick me down the stairs
Just please don't play that stupid song no more
I can withstand any other music torture like Debbie Boon, Abba, Slim Whitman, Zamfir or even Yoko Ono marathon, but please don't play the 'Achy Breaky' song anymore
You know I hate that song a bunch
And if you play that song
That nauseating song
It might just make me lose my lunch, oh
I really really hate that 'Achy Breaky' song and playing it might make me puke my guts out
I think it's driving me insane
Oh, please don't play that song
That irritating song
I'd rather have a pitchfork in my brain
This 'Achy Breaky' song is leading me towards insanity, please don't play it, I'd rather impale myself with a pitchfork
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD L. VON TRESS, WEIRD AL YANKOVIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind