![]() YANKOVIC: Well, I mean, in 1983, '84, Michael Jackson was the most popular human being in the universe. And, of course, you did a video of "Eat It," too. And Michael Jackson's videos, including "Beat It," were, like, huge at the time. GROSS: So we just heard "Eat It." How did you decide to do that Michael Jackson song? Why did you choose that one? And I should mention, this was the era where, like, music videos were really big. GROSS: Al Yankovic, welcome to FRESH AIR. You won't get no dessert till you clean up your plate. Don't want to hear about what kind of food you hate. Well, don't you know that other kids are starving in Japan? So eat it. Here is "Eat It."ĪL YANKOVIC: (Singing) How come you're always such a fussy young man? Don't want no Captain Crunch, don't want no Raisin Bran. Let's start with one of his early hits, which is also in the film. You can see his new movie, "Weird," streaming on for free. He recently completed his tour, which he called "The Unfortunate Return Of His Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour" (ph). He's the third music performer, after Michael Jackson and Madonna, to have a top 40 single in each decade since the '80s. Although Yankovic never achieved quite the status his character does in the film, he's been quite successful. He becomes so popular he's asked to be the next James Bond.ĭaniel Radcliffe stars as Al Yankovic. Artists, including Madonna, will do anything to get him to parody their songs, knowing their song will become a hit if Weird Al parodies it. Making up words to songs that already exist is considered a high calling, the work of a visionary. In the movie, playing accordion gives him the status of a guitar hero. In keeping with his style of comedy, the new movie "Weird," which he co-wrote, parodies music biopics, as well as action films and film noir, and offers an alternate version of his life. Yankovic's instrument is the accordion, not exactly a mainstay of rock bands or hip-hop. ![]() "Beat It" became "Eat It." "My Sharona" became "My Bologna." "Another One Bites The Dust" became "Another One Rides The Bus." "Like A Virgin" - "Like A Surgeon." "Ridin'" - ridin' dirty - was transformed into "White & Nerdy." He's recorded a mashup of songs from "Hamilton" Polka style. He's famous for his song parodies, for which he writes comic lyrics to hit songs. Today we continue our series featuring some of our favorite interviews of the year with Al Yankovic, aka Weird Al Yankovic.
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