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
Buy Me A Condo
"Weird Al" Yankovic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
Get a wallet full 'o credit cards
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit' de alligator on
Wo, used to live in Jamaica But I don't live dere no more
Do t'ings I never done before
So now I'm just a lonely Rastaman
Living in dis American town
Gonna sell me Bob Marley records
Gonna get me some Jackson Browne
I gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
And get a wallet full 'o credit cards, eh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit' de alligator on
Wo, gonna cut off me dreadlocks
T'row away all me ganja
I'll have a Tupperware party
Maybe join me a health spa
I'll get a bowl of plastic fruits
And a microwave oven, too
Then I'll have the neighbors over for a weenie barbecue
Gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
Get a wallet full 'o credit cards, oh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I get a funny little T-shirt wit' de alligator on
Ain't gonna work in de field no more
Gonna be Amway distributor
Ain't gonna work in de field no more (no, no)
Gonna be Amway distributor
(Ja) Ja, ja, ja, life is so very hard
I need a (ja) ja, ja, ja jacuzzi in me back yard
Oh, I gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
Get a wallet full 'o credit cards, eh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit' de alligator on
What'd you say?
I gonna buy me a condo
I gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
Get a wallet full 'o credit cards, oh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit' de alligator on
What'd you say?
I gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
And get a wallet full 'o credit cards, oh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit' de alligator on
The song "Buy Me a Condo" by "Weird Al" Yankovic is a humorous satire about the American dream and consumerism. It is set to a reggae beat and tells the story of a Jamaican man who has moved to America and wants to assimilate by buying a condo, getting credit cards, and other material possessions. The lyrics are filled with irony and sarcasm, as the singer abandons his Rastafarian roots and dreams of becoming an Amway distributor.
The song suggests that the American dream is a superficial and materialistic one, as the singer is willing to sacrifice his culture and identity for material possessions. The song also pokes fun at the idea that living in a condo is a status symbol and implies that owning a Cuisinart and a wallet full of credit cards is a sign of success. The singer's desire to have a wall-to-wall carpet and throw a weenie barbecue for his neighbors seems trivial, and his decision to sell his Bob Marley records and join a health spa highlights his willingness to conform to American norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna buy me a condo
I am going to purchase a condominium for myself
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
I am going to purchase a Cuisinart brand kitchen appliance
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
I am going to install carpet that will cover the entire floor of my home
Get a wallet full 'o credit cards
I am going to obtain a significant number of credit cards
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I will purchase a condominium and never have to maintain a lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit' de alligator on
I am going to obtain a shirt with an alligator logo on it
Wo, used to live in Jamaica But I don't live dere no more
I used to live in Jamaica but I no longer reside there
Had to change me lifestyle
I had to alter my way of living
Do t'ings I never done before
I am doing things I have never done before
So now I'm just a lonely Rastaman Living in dis American town
I am a solitary Rastafarian residing in this American city
Gonna sell me Bob Marley records
I plan to sell my Bob Marley album collection
Gonna get me some Jackson Browne
I intend to acquire some Jackson Browne music
Gonna cut off me dreadlocks T'row away all me ganja
I will remove my dreadlocks and dispose of my marijuana
I'll have a Tupperware party
I will host a gathering to sell Tupperware products
Maybe join me a health spa
I may become a member of a health club
I'll get a bowl of plastic fruits And a microwave oven, too
I will purchase a decorative bowl full of artificial fruit and a microwave oven
Then I'll have the neighbors over for a weenie barbecue
I plan to invite my neighbors over for a casual hot dog cookout
Ain't gonna work in de field no more
I am not going to work in agriculture any longer
Gonna be Amway distributor
I will become a distributor for Amway products
Ja, ja, ja, life is so very hard I need a (ja) ja, ja, ja jacuzzi in me back yard
Life is difficult, and I desire a hot tub in my backyard
What'd you say?
What did you say?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind