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
Polka Power
"Weird Al" Yankovic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(So tell us what ya want, what ya really really want)
I'll tell ya what I want, what I really really want
(So tell us what ya want, what ya really really want)
I want to ha, I want to ha, I want to ha, I want to ha
I want to really, really, really, want to zigga zigga, ah!
If you want to be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is.
Hey!
I'm not sick, but I'm not well.
And I'm so hot, 'cause I'm in hell.
I'm not sick, but I'm not well.
And it's a sin to live so well.
Ghetto superstar, that is what you are,
Coming from afar, reaching for the stars.
Run away with me, to another place
We can rely on each other, uh huh
From one corner to another, uh huh
Everybody (yeah)
Rock your body (yeah)
Everybody
Rock your body right.
Backstreet's back, all right!
All right!
So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out
But now, if you're still alive, six to eight years to arrive
And if you follow, there may be a tomorrow
But if the offer's shun, you might as well be walking on the sun
Might as well be walking on the sun!
Intergalactic planetary, planetary intergalactic
Intergalactic planetary, planetary intergalactic
Intergalactic planetary, planetary intergalactic
I get knocked down, but I get up again,
You're never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You're never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You're never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You're never gonna keep me down
Quicker than a ray of light
Quicker than a ray of light
Quicker than a ray of light
I want to push you around, well I will, well I will
I want to push you down, well I will, well I will
I want to take you for granted
I want to take you for granted
Yeah, yeah, well I will
I want something else
To get me through this semi-charmed kinda life, baby baby
I want something else
I'm not listening when you say good-bye.
There's lots of pretty, pretty ones
That want to get you high
But all the pretty, pretty ones
Will leave you low and blow your mind
We're all stars now in the dope show
We're all stars now in the dope show
Mmmbop, do floppa do wop
Do be dop ah
Do wap, do zap ah, do
Yeah-ee yeah
Mmmbop, do be 'zap ah, do wop
Do be dop ah
Do wop, doom zap ah, do
I smell sex and candy here
Who's that lounging in my chair?
Who's that casting devious stares in my direction?
Mama, this surely is a dream
Yeah, yeah mama, this surely is a dream
Dig it, yeah mama, this surely is
Closing time
One last call for alcohol
So finish your whiskey or beer
Closing time
You don't have to go home
But you can't stay here
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
Take us home.
'Cause it's closing time!
(Yeah it's closing time)
(We're talkin' 'bout closin' time)
(It's really closin' time)
(Hey!)
The "Weird Al" Yankovic song Polka Power! is a medley of snippets from various popular songs of the late 90s, with a polka twist. The song starts with Spice Girls' hit song "Wannabe," in which the singers demand loyalty and friendship from a potential lover. It then moves on to "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger, followed by "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" by Pras Michel featuring Mya and Ol' Dirty Bastard. The Backstreet Boys' hit "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," a snippet from Smash Mouth's "Walking on the Sun," and songs by Beastie Boys, Chumbawamba, Madonna, The Verve Pipe, Marilyn Manson, and Semisonic, are also included.
"Weird Al" Yankovic has been making parodies of popular songs for more than 40 years, and his polka medleys are always among the fan favorites. Polka Power! is no exception, as it is a fun, playful, and high-energy song. By combining snippets of popular tunes into a polka arrangement, Yankovic creates an entirely new sound and interpretation of the songs, which are also laugh-out-loud funny. It is no surprise that he continues to have a successful career in music, television, and film.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, well, I'll tell ya what I want, what I really really want
I am going to tell you exactly what I want and how much I want it.
I want to ha, I want to ha, I want to ha, I want to ha
I want to have fun, and I want to have a lot of it!
If you want to be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
If you want to be in a relationship with me, you need to be friends with my other friends too.
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
Our friendship and relationship should be long-lasting and never-ending.
Hey!
Just a fun little interjection to keep the energy up!
I'm not sick, but I'm not well.
I'm not exactly sick, but I'm not entirely healthy either.
And I'm so hot, 'cause I'm in hell.
I'm feeling miserable and hot, like I'm in a terrible place.
Ghetto superstar, that is what you are,
You are a superstar that comes from unconventional and difficult backgrounds.
Run away with me, to another place
Let's escape from our current situation and go somewhere else together.
From one corner to another, uh huh
We can go anywhere and explore everything together!
Everybody (yeah)
Let's get everyone involved and having a good time!
Rock your body (yeah)
Let loose and dance to the beat!
Backstreet's back, all right!
The Backstreet Boys are back and ready to party!
So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out
Take action immediately since there may not be enough resources later.
if you're still alive, six to eight years to arrive
If you're still around, good things will happen in the next six to eight years.
But if the offer's shun, you might as well be walking on the sun
If you don't take the opportunity, it's as if you're living in a different world.
Intergalactic planetary, planetary intergalactic
Traveling through space and time, exploring the unknown.
I get knocked down, but I get up again
I may get knocked down, but I will always get back up and keep trying.
Quicker than a ray of light
Faster than anyone or anything else around us.
I want to push you around, well I will, well I will
I want to have control over you, and I will exert that control.
I want something else
I'm looking for something more than what I currently have.
To get me through this semi-charmed kinda life, baby baby
I need something more exciting to make it through my current life.
There's lots of pretty, pretty ones
There are many attractive people.
That want to get you high
They want to get you to do things you might not normally do.
But all the pretty, pretty ones
However, these attractive people don't have your best interests in mind.
We're all stars now in the dope show
We are all performers who are involved in something shady or illegal.
Mmmbop, do floppa do wop
Just some fun nonsense lyrics!
I smell sex and candy here
I sense something illicit and seedy is going on.
Who's that lounging in my chair?
Who is this person being too comfortable in my space?
Dig it, yeah mama, this surely is
I'm digging this, it really feels like a dream come true!
Closing time
Time to close up shop and leave.
One last call for alcohol
Let's have one last drink before we go home.
So finish your whiskey or beer
Make sure to finish what you're drinking before you leave.
You don't have to go home
You don't need to go home, but you can't stay here either.
Take us home.
Provide us with transportation back to our place of residence.
'Cause it's closing time!
Again, time to head home since the place is closing!
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind