Hanging 27: Taco Surfing

Post by **weird_el** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 10:08 pm

From the Richmond VA Times Dispatch:

Silliness is his livelihood, not his life

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Jul 11, 2003

Weird" Al Yankovic has made a 20-year career out of silliness. Hilarious, intelligent silliness that is often the perfect antidote in a music industry intent on breaking the bar on self-seriousness.

His latest album, "Poodle Hat," takes the Al specialty - parodies - to the same gold-medal level afforded his most classic work, 1984's "In 3-D," which featured spoofs of songs by Michael Jackson ("Eat It") and Greg Kihn ("I Lost on Jeopardy").

This time, the targets range from Eminem to Avril Lavigne to Nelly. And let's not ignore the Al staple, the polka medley, which, as usual, satirizes the pomposity of a slew of hard-rock acts (Disturbed, The Strokes, The White Stripes, Papa Roach, etc.). No one is safe from Yankovic.

Considering the goofy mentality one must enlist to listen to these songs, it might be assumed that the man who crafted them is a loon.

Sorry to disappoint, but Yankovic is as normal as the local lawn guy - if the lawn guy had the talent to twist lyrics by Madonna and Coolio into one of those clown balloon hats.

He's a quick talker - bright, articulate and, yes, funny, but not crazy.

Life has changed recently for Yankovic, who got married 2½ years ago and is the father of a 5-month-old daughter.

But right now, most of his days are spent on a tour bus, where he will remain until the "Poodle Hat" tour wraps in early September. And then it's off to Australia, where Yankovic and his band will perform for the first time outside North America.

Chatting from his California home earlier this week, Yankovic touched on his secrets for remembering lyrics (he has none) and why his fans are weirder than he is.

Q. Your new album, "Poodle Hat," is brilliant - especially the first single, "Couch Potato" (a parody of Eminem's "Lose Yourself"). How did you come about choosing Eminem?

A. He's such a phenomenon that he seemed like the obvious choice, but I was waiting for him to come out with something a little more serious, because he wasn't taking himself seriously in most of his own songs, like "The Real Slim Shady." But "Lose Yourself" is such a dark anthem, and those are the best ones to lampoon.

Q. He gave you permission to redo the song, but wouldn't let you do a video. How come?

A. For whatever personal reasons, he didn't want me to do one. I was disappointed, because we figured it would be a big-budget video for the leadoff single on the album. But I'm not upset with him.

Q. You also pull out Billy Joel's "Piano Man" (to talk about Spider-Man in "Ode to a Superhero"), a song from the early '70s. Why now?

A. The last few albums, I've been throwing a classic rock song on there. Not everyone is familiar with the current state of Top 40, so some of my older fans can relate. I had made a list of possible songs to use and "Piano Man" had the most possibilities. And Billy was fine about [using] it.

Q. You've been doing this for 20 years. Are songs any harder or easier to spoof now?

A. It's pretty much the same, because pop culture is always changing. There's always going to be hit songs and rock stars, and I've been able to bend and adjust with the times. There's probably more of a proliferation of rap songs, but that's good for me because there are more words to play with. There is a lot of anger and a lot of angst in them.

Q. It must be tough for you to handle rap songs because, well, you don't have any rap skills.

A. It's easier to do in the studio because you don't have to worry about pitch [laughs]. Probably the hardest to do is MC Hammer from 10 years ago ["I Can't Watch This," a takeoff on Hammer's "U Can't Touch This"], because not only is he spitting all of these words out, but he's zipping back and forth onstage. That one used to knock me out to do live.

Q. Your performance of "Couch Potato" on Craig Kilborn was priceless. Did you use a TelePrompTer for that, or do you have one onstage at your concerts?

A. [Laughing] No, I don't have one, but I might if I could afford it. The lyrics are all in my head somewhere. I once printed out all of the lyrics from all of the songs I would sing in one show . . . and it was a book.

Q. As a TiVo fan, I've gotta tell you how much I loved that reference in "Couch Potato" ("Never missed 'Melrose Place' or 'Lost in Space'/I've seen each 'Amazing Race' and 'Without a Trace'/But I only watched 'Will & Grace' one time one day/Wish I hadn't 'cause TiVo now thinks I'm gay").

A. That actually happened! My wife recorded "Queer As Folk" because my friend Hal Sparks is in it, and that was it! But TiVo has changed my life. I only have the 30-hour capacity, which you'd think would be enough!

Q. Are there any of your songs that you're sick of performing?

A. If I had my choice, I wouldn't be doing "Eat It" in the show. But I'm an entertainer, and if that is what people want me to do to entertain them, that's what I do. All of this is relatively fresh to the audience, so as long as they're getting off on it, I'm not bored on stage. [Performing] is good exercise. There will be some point in my life where I won't be able to jump around and put my leg behind my head, but I'll worry about that then.

Q. Can you share any details about the live show?

A. It's the same kind of show as always. It's a multimedia extravaganza. We're featuring a lot of songs from "Poodle Hat" and a lot of the old stuff, too. I'm still playing with the same guys I've been with since the early '80s. We're getting telepathic now.

Q. When people meet you, are they always expecting to see "Weird" Al, the personality?

A. I'm not sure what people expect. I'm not bouncing off the walls when I'm not onstage. But a lot of times, people are a lot weirder than I am. They might come up to me in the grocery store and (affecting loud, excited voice), 'HEY! IT'S WEIRD AL. HEH HEH. HEY AL!" And I'll just say, "Hi, yes, I'm buying broccoli."

Post by **TMBJon** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 10:16 pm

QUOTE But I'm an entertainer, and if that is what people want me to do to entertain them, that's what I do.

thats why i like al more than all those pretentious bands who dont play the song that got them huge. oasis, radiohead, and the white stripes, im looking in your direction

Website · Post by **Teh Dingo** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 10:20 pm

That was a very good interview. Thanks for sharing!

Post by **scottidog** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 10:55 pm

The Australian contingent just passed out from joy...

HOw's that for a birthday present Grom??

Post by **weird_el** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 11:11 pm

QUOTE From the Richmond VA Times Dispatch:

But right now, most of his days are spent on a tour bus, where he will remain until the \"Poodle Hat\" tour wraps in early September. And then it's off to Australia, where Yankovic and his band will perform for the first time outside North America.

This should be highlighted and the joy should be spread. I had confirmation from a high-ranking band member about this Friday night, but it's not truly "official, official" until it's on weirdal.com. I'll just say things are looking VERY good for you Oz guys.

El

Website · Post by **Teh Dingo** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 11:58 pm

The population of Australia has gathered together, holding hands, and have lit candles spelling out Al's name......Hope he's more appreciative than Mr. Burns.

minnick27 · Post by **minnick27** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 12:18 am

That is WAY MOBY! All we have to do now is get him to perform in The Netherlands for Whizzi and Russia for Seva

MIke

rboy27 · Post by **rboy27** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 12:22 am

http://www.apologetix.com/faq.html

An interesting article I found while surfing the net.

-Rich, just Rich

minnick27 · Post by **minnick27** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 12:35 am

Here was another interesting thing I learned from the Philly Broadcast Pionners. WHile Ed McMahon was working here, another person on the same sation was a man named Joe Early

Mike

Post by **stupidsurgeon27** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 1:39 am

QUOTE But right now, most of his days are spent on a tour bus, where he will remain until the \"Poodle Hat\" tour wraps in early September. And then it's off to Australia, where Yankovic and his band will perform for the first time outside North America.

Holy spam! Congrats to all you Aussies who have been waiting for this moment for a long time! You guys deserve it.

I think they're still recovering from shock.

-CindyBob