World of Weird Al Yankovic

Hey...wait a minute!! Since when did Al become a children's artist??

In addition to his TV show and Disney Radio, Al has been played on Philly's "Kid's Corner" radio show every weeknight since before 1990. And don't forget "Peter and the Wolf."



I was eleven when I first heard Al, and while I consider that a "child's" age, I think all of his music is appropriate for an 11-year-old. I had pretty strict parents ... I just never played Al's records for them.



When I worked at the record store I used to play Al's video collection on the in-store TV's. Children would gather by the dozens, sitting cross-legged in front of the TV's as if hypnotized. We used to wax poetic about how Al was the United Nations of music: his music united children of every race, color, creed, religion, gender, and shoe-size.



We sold scores of that video collection ... when parents saw that their children were in a trance, they bought it hoping that their kids would be as quiet and mesmerized when they went home. :biggrin:



But we had more "Al" CD returns from irate parents (for two Al releases ... Deep End and Alapalooza) than any other individual recording artist, too. No one returned "Animaniacs" saying it was inappropriate.



Also, it's worth mentioning that whenever parents came to return an Al record claiming it was inappropriate for their children, I always tried to talk them out of it (it wasn't a store with an 'anything goes' return policy at that time). I told the parents that Al's records were educational ... his albums taught children about the different styles of music out there.



And I do believe that: my first real lesson on the history of rock was "In 3-D." I had never heard Hendrix. Or Devo. Plus, Al showed that you could play any style of music on any instrument; even rock on an accordion.



So too, with Poodle Hat ... there are kids who will now check out Bob Dylan because of Al.

What was it in particular that had parents returning Alapalooza and Off The Deep End?

Keep in mind, far more CDs and tapes sold than were ever returned. But with every release, returned Al Yankovic CDs were a given.



For Alapalooza, it was the 'wiener' line ... and 'Talk Soup.' We took back more "Alapaloozas" than "Off The Deep Ends." We were chewed out by several moms for even selling Alapalooza to their kids without their consent.



The Off The Deep End CDs were returned because of Trigger Happy.



We exchanged one video because some loopy parent thought the "Fat" video encourged kids to be mean to fat people.



And saddest of all: I exchanged a box set for a parent who didn't want their kid listening to "hours of farting and burping." Man, that one hurt -- I was working at a Sam Goody just for Christmas cash about a year after college ... I wasn't an assistant manager at that store, so I couldn't argue that Al was so much more than farting and burping noises. To diss the magic hands with such ignorance ... the pain, oh the pain.

What was it in particular that had parents returning Alapalooza and Off The Deep End?

A very large pole.







No, I had nothing to do with it.

My mom thought it was one of the funniest Al songs ever and laughed very hard. She didn't care.

I am glad to see some of these parents being careful though, because I am severely depressed when I see parents taking their 3 year old kids to Bringing Down the House, Matrix Reloaded, and Jackass.

And I've seen all of them watch it except Jackass, just seen them walk in.



And me and my mother get the clothes in the dryer line.

and I remember several mothers returning "Alapalooza" because they didn't think calling Barney Rubble a "little wiener" was appropriate for their children

Haha, my dad LOVES that! He even loves the 3rd verse in Headline News!





Oh, I played WBUL in front of my dad yesterday. He didn't say anything...

Wow, that's sad for parents returning albums for those reason. Afterall, my parents are thankful that Al is so clean with his music.



-CindyBob

I could understand possibly if he said "Barney Rubble has a little wiener" but he didn't.



Actually I can't see a big problem with that either...

For Alapalooza, it was the 'wiener' line ... and 'Talk Soup.' We took back more "Alapaloozas" than "Off The Deep Ends." We were chewed out by several moms for even selling Alapalooza to their kids without their consent.

"I have no genitalia" ?? Those moms should have been glad to have Al teaching their kids a four-syllable word, and one, moreover, which can be used in the politest company if that subject should happen to come up. I bet the "I have a thing for poodles and rubber underwear" is one of those lines that goes right over younger kids' heads anyway.

And saddest of all: I exchanged a box set for a parent who didn't want their kid listening to "hours of farting and burping." Man, that one hurt -- I was working at a Sam Goody just for Christmas cash about a year after college ... I wasn't an assistant manager at that store, so I couldn't argue that Al was so much more than farting and burping noises. To diss the magic hands with such ignorance ... the pain, oh the pain.

That IS sad. Offhand, I can only think of one studio-album-released song that actually has a fart joke in it: Your Horoscope For Today. And whether "Musical Mike's" contributions are actually fart noises is really in the ear of the beholder-- I mean listener-- isn't it? How many songs is Musical Mike or someone of similar skills actually on?

How many songs is Musical Mike or someone of similar skills actually on?

Apparently quite a few...

"Musical Mike" of Dr.Demento Show fame has provided hand music for Al's recordings from the late-seventies through Headline News. Mike has joined Al onstage many times throughout the years, and is seen in the "I Love Rocky Road" and "Headline News" videos.