An Appreciation of ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic

Oh, the world would be such a poorer place without Alfred Yankovic. It's not a place I would want to be. He's ageless, brilliant and endlessly relevant.   Even the ever out of touch, sinking ship that is Radio Shack knew this.

As one commentator said on that video, "Why can't every commercial have Weird Al in it?" Oh, amen, sister. Let's jump back 31 years:

1984. That's the amazing thing about our Al. His continued longevity. Heard from Kim Carnes lately? No. Al, however, just won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album.

I think it's universal themes inherent in his music that keeps Al from fading into obscurity with the likes of Wild Man Fischer and Stevens And Gridnic (yes, exactly.) The stuff of eternal everyday life are his muse. Love, grammar, and of course, food. Lots and lots of food:

That's from Al's briefly lived but much loved kid's television show. Al's bloody anamorphic. He can do children's t.v.:

His music works with Breaking Bad:

He's been in movies:

He's even an amazing interviewer:

Speaking of movies, back 1989, he co-wrote and starred in one of my favorites, a  masterpiece called U.H.F. Which I saw a couple of years ago, introduced live by Al, himself. I looked up toward the end of the movie and saw Al walking to the stage in the dark. For a brief moment, I was inches away...from Al.

So I stand here in deep appreciation of Weird Al, and his over thirty year body of work, across all mediums,  An amazing accomplishment in the modern era of here and gone, flash across the sky brands of entertainment. It's oddly comforting, to know he's out there, at the top of his game, more than just a parody artist, more than a master accordionist:

He is, and shall be, always, Al.

(click the pic below to check out Oliver Stone's Yankovic!

P.S: One artist Al has never made fun of is Bruce Springsteen. Read why HERE!