Weird Al Yankovic

Editors’ Notes It’s difficult to listen to an original song the same way again after having laughed out loud at Weird Al Yankovic’s parody. Although his 1983 eponymous debut album hit a chord with fans of Dr. Demento’s radio show and sixth grade boys everywhere, Yankovic wouldn't fully realize this craft until his 1984 sophomore long-player, In 3-D. A good example of his growth can be found in comparing opening cut “Rickey” which parodies I Love Lucy to the tune of Toni Basil’s “Mickey” — it’s funny enough, but this formula was better perfected a year later when Yankovic lampooned The Brady Bunch by filtering it through Men Without Hats’ “Safety Dance,” not only making fun of the TV show and the band, but also sitcoms in general as well as the posed pomposity of most new-wave bands. In other moments here, Yankovic aims down and hits high — the microphoned armpit flatulence on “I Love Rocky Road” and the lowbrow Mad magazine tone of his first hit “Another One Rides The Bus” just wouldn't work without a shamelessly immature sense of humor.