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· 제목 : Who Is Weird Al Yankovic? (Paperback)
· 분류 : 외국도서 > 어린이 > 챕터북 > 논픽션 챕터북
· ISBN : 9780593889695
· 쪽수 : 112쪽
· 출판일 : 2026-03-24
· 분류 : 외국도서 > 어린이 > 챕터북 > 논픽션 챕터북
· ISBN : 9780593889695
· 쪽수 : 112쪽
· 출판일 : 2026-03-24
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Read all about how a young boy from California who listened to polka music and played the accordion became a comedian, parody songwriter, and Grammy winner in this biography for young readers about “Weird Al” Yankovic!
When Alfred Yankovic was seven years old, a salesman knocked on the door of his family home selling guitars and accordions. Al's life was never the same! He drew inspiration from comedian, radio broadcaster, and novelty songwriter Dr. Demento. By the time he was sixteen years old, Al graduated high school at the top of his class and had his first parody song on the radio.
While in college studying architecture, Alfred Yankovic became “Weird Al." He got a job at his university radio station where he worked on novelty songs, comedy sketches, and developing his public image, which included his signature Hawaiian shirt. His hard work led him to a record deal with Scotti Bros. Records, a time slot with MTV, and a headlining tour act. After releasing fourteen albums, two children’s books, and a comedy movie, Weird Al received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. Today, he is as famous for his Hawaiian shirt as he is for his hit songs, including "Eat It," "Smells Like Nirvana," and "Amish Paradise." Find out more about the life and career of “Weird Al” Yankovic in this biography for young readers.
When TV viewers tuned in to The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder on April 21, 1981, they saw something amazing, unexpected, and . . . weird.
As the talk show host welcomed his musical guest, the audience saw a barefoot twenty--one--year--old man with curly hair, thick glasses, a red shirt, and yellow, blue, and orange striped pants. Stranger still, the man had a large, boxy instrument—-an accordion—-strapped to his body.
The man with the accordion was introduced as “Weird Al” Yankovic, and—-although he had released his first song in 1979—-this was the first time he’d ever played his music on national television.
The host and audience didn’t know what to think as Al squeezed his accordion and sang about riding on a crowded, stinky bus. The lyrics described how his fellow passengers became stranger with each bus stop. This performance of “Another One Rides the Bus” was made even weirder by a man in a black suit sitting behind the singer. As the song went on, the man, Al’s friend Jon Schwartz, beat a large accordion case with his hands in time with the song. Occasionally, he blew a whistle or squeezed a bike horn that hung around his neck.
The song sounded familiar to some viewers. While the lyrics were unusual, the music itself was the same as a song called “Another One Bites the Dust.” The tune had been released the previous year by the popular British rock and roll band Queen.
Al’s songs are what’s known as parody, an art form that borrows from the original version to create something new. In Al’s parody songs, the music is similar (sometimes even the same!) but he writes new lyrics meant to make the song funny. In Al’s talk show performance, the original song line “Hey, I’m gonna get you, too,” became, “Hey, he’s gonna sit by you.” Parodies are meant to be playful, silly, and entertaining.
After Al’s performance, viewers of the show thought he was a joke. How could they have known that the musician would go on to have a career that has lasted more than forty years?
In the years since that TV appearance, Weird Al Yankovic has performed thousands of concerts. He’s won five Grammy Awards, the highest honor in music. He’s released fourteen studio albums that have sold more than twelve million copies combined. Beyond that, Al has inspired thousands of musicians and comedians. He accomplished great things by being himself...and by always being a little bit weird.
When Alfred Yankovic was seven years old, a salesman knocked on the door of his family home selling guitars and accordions. Al's life was never the same! He drew inspiration from comedian, radio broadcaster, and novelty songwriter Dr. Demento. By the time he was sixteen years old, Al graduated high school at the top of his class and had his first parody song on the radio.
While in college studying architecture, Alfred Yankovic became “Weird Al." He got a job at his university radio station where he worked on novelty songs, comedy sketches, and developing his public image, which included his signature Hawaiian shirt. His hard work led him to a record deal with Scotti Bros. Records, a time slot with MTV, and a headlining tour act. After releasing fourteen albums, two children’s books, and a comedy movie, Weird Al received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. Today, he is as famous for his Hawaiian shirt as he is for his hit songs, including "Eat It," "Smells Like Nirvana," and "Amish Paradise." Find out more about the life and career of “Weird Al” Yankovic in this biography for young readers.
Excerpt
Who Is “Weird Al” Yankovic?When TV viewers tuned in to The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder on April 21, 1981, they saw something amazing, unexpected, and . . . weird.
As the talk show host welcomed his musical guest, the audience saw a barefoot twenty--one--year--old man with curly hair, thick glasses, a red shirt, and yellow, blue, and orange striped pants. Stranger still, the man had a large, boxy instrument—-an accordion—-strapped to his body.
The man with the accordion was introduced as “Weird Al” Yankovic, and—-although he had released his first song in 1979—-this was the first time he’d ever played his music on national television.
The host and audience didn’t know what to think as Al squeezed his accordion and sang about riding on a crowded, stinky bus. The lyrics described how his fellow passengers became stranger with each bus stop. This performance of “Another One Rides the Bus” was made even weirder by a man in a black suit sitting behind the singer. As the song went on, the man, Al’s friend Jon Schwartz, beat a large accordion case with his hands in time with the song. Occasionally, he blew a whistle or squeezed a bike horn that hung around his neck.
The song sounded familiar to some viewers. While the lyrics were unusual, the music itself was the same as a song called “Another One Bites the Dust.” The tune had been released the previous year by the popular British rock and roll band Queen.
Al’s songs are what’s known as parody, an art form that borrows from the original version to create something new. In Al’s parody songs, the music is similar (sometimes even the same!) but he writes new lyrics meant to make the song funny. In Al’s talk show performance, the original song line “Hey, I’m gonna get you, too,” became, “Hey, he’s gonna sit by you.” Parodies are meant to be playful, silly, and entertaining.
After Al’s performance, viewers of the show thought he was a joke. How could they have known that the musician would go on to have a career that has lasted more than forty years?
In the years since that TV appearance, Weird Al Yankovic has performed thousands of concerts. He’s won five Grammy Awards, the highest honor in music. He’s released fourteen studio albums that have sold more than twelve million copies combined. Beyond that, Al has inspired thousands of musicians and comedians. He accomplished great things by being himself...and by always being a little bit weird.
About the Author
Wes Locher is a writer of prose, journalism, video games, and comic books. In 2021, he published the first two titles of his "tiny books" series: Networking, How Do You Do It, and Why Is It So Scary? and Game Writing: What It Is, What It Isn't, and How To Get Started. He has authored several books in the Who HQ nonfiction series for young readers.
