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"Weird Al" Yankovic

Songs to make you laugh, with 'Weird Al' Yankovic

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Paul McConnell/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

Songs to make you laugh, with 'Weird Al' Yankovic

"Weird Al" Yankovic helps curate a mix of some of the funniest songs of all time, from classics like Tom Lehrer's "The Elements," to more fringe discoveries from The Hazzards, Tonio K. and more.

Songs to make you laugh, with 'Weird Al' Yankovic

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Weird Al on accordions, bathrooms, and getting turned down by Prince
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Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Weird Al on accordions, bathrooms, and getting turned down by Prince

Weird Al joins panelists Josh Gondelman, Robby Hoffman, and Tom Bodett to talk about his new (mostly real) biopic, and what he would've done if Prince hadn't turned him down.

Weird Al on accordions, bathrooms, and getting turned down by Prince

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How 'Weird Al' Yankovic turned the parody song into an art form

"Weird Al" Yankovic Robyn Von Swank/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Robyn Von Swank/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

How 'Weird Al' Yankovic turned the parody song into an art form

WXPN

With six platinum records and a career going on its fifth decade, "Weird Al" went from parodying the biggest artist to becoming one.

Weird Al on World Cafe

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'Weird Al' Yankovic wants to 'bring sexy back' to the accordion

"I'm by nature actually a very shy person," Al Yankovic, shown here in 2014, says. "Being somewhat famous has helped me be more social and talk to people." Casey Curry/Invision/AP hide caption

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Casey Curry/Invision/AP

Music Interviews

'Weird Al' Yankovic wants to 'bring sexy back' to the accordion

Fresh Air

It's "a very sensual instrument," the parody artists insists. A new over-the-top "biopic" tells the story of Yankovic's life — sort of. Originally broadcast Nov. 16, 2022.

'Weird Al' Yankovic wants to 'bring sexy back' to the accordion

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'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story' is gleefully full of lies about its subject

Quinta Brunson and Daniel Radcliffe star in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story The Roku Channel hide caption

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The Roku Channel

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story' is gleefully full of lies about its subject

You should expect to learn nothing about the life of "Weird Al" Yankovic from the new film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. That's because in keeping with his history of parody and comedy and sendups, the film, starring Daniel Radcliffe, is itself a sendup of biopics. From unsupportive parents who hate the accordion to a scandalous affair with Madonna, the movie is an avalanche of fictions mixed with the occasional dash of truth.

'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story' is gleefully full of lies about its subject

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A Lot Of Songs About Ice Cream

All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen (left) and Robin Hilton, high on ice cream sandwiches, music. Brandi Fullwood/NPR hide caption

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Brandi Fullwood/NPR

All Songs Considered

A Lot Of Songs About Ice Cream

Even though it was a rocky road, we whipped together a show sprinkled with some of our favorite ice cream tunes.

A Lot Of Songs About Ice Cream

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'Weird Al' Yankovic On Parody In The Age Of YouTube

"Weird Al" Yankovic's latest album, Mandatory Fun, comes out July 15. Robert Trachtenberg/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Robert Trachtenberg/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

'Weird Al' Yankovic On Parody In The Age Of YouTube

Yankovic says the new digital democracy has forced him to focus his craft and reconsider his release strategy — but where pop parody is concerned, "as long as people don't mind, I'll keep doing it."

'Weird Al' Yankovic On Parody In The Age Of YouTube

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Crisis Averted: Lady Gaga Approves 'Weird Al' Yankovic Parody

For those who hope to one day see a video in which "Weird Al" Yankovic adopts many satirized Lady Gaga personas, all's well that ends well. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Opinion

All Songs Considered

Crisis Averted: Lady Gaga Approves 'Weird Al' Yankovic Parody

For those anxiously awaiting a video in which Yankovic adopts many satirized Lady Gaga personas, rest easy: Gaga has, after a brief online controversy, heard the song and approved of its release.

'Weird Al' Yankovic: Tiny Desk Concert
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Tiny Desk

'Weird Al' Yankovic: Tiny Desk Concert

Even after 12 million albums sold in more than three decades, Yankovic and his band still hadn't played their first Tiny Desk Concert until just now.

Audio Only: 'Weird Al' Yankovic's Tiny Desk Concert

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New Music

'Weird Al' Can't Wait To Play 'Whatever You Like'

"Weird Al" Yankovic has outlasted many of the artists he's lampooned in a career spanning nearly 30 years. But until now, he's never released a song parody while the original was still atop the Billboard pop chart. Yankovic took two weeks to write, record and release "Whatever You Like," a parody of the T.I. song of the same name.

'Weird Al' Can't Wait To Play 'Whatever You Like'

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Review

Director's Cuts

Grammy's Hidden Surprises

Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake and the Dixie Chicks are just a few of the big names in contention at the 49th annual Grammy Awards. But this year's list of nominees also offers plenty of gems beyond the obvious blockbusters.

Grammy's Hidden Surprises

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