Dust Off Yer Accordions
July 19, 2024 1:01 PM Subscribe
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his last album Mandatory Fun, Weird Al Yankovic just released a brand new single: “Polkamania!,” a medley of a dozen of the biggest pop hits of the last decade. And yes, it is a polka medley.
In addition to incorporating songs by Adele, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Lil' Nas X, and Bruno Mars, the video is also a tribute to various animators - Bill Plympton, Liam Lynch, Jarrett Heather, and British animator Cyriak, among others, animate different parts of the video. It's also a tribute to Al's past videos, with flashbacks to videos for "Like A Surgeon", "White And Nerdy", "Dare To Be Stupid" and "Amish Paradise".
As ever, Al worked with the various artists to get their permission first, going to unusually great lengths to contact Cardi B for her contribution. She didn't respond to his original request, so he turned to an unlikely friend - Jamie Lee Curtis, who is also friendly with Cardi B's husband Offset. "Jamie Lee Curtis and I made a video together,” Al told Rolling Stone. “We said, ‘We would love for your song to be in the polka medley,’ and sent it to [Offset] and then he got ahold of somebody else, and he got it figured out. But I had to make a special video with Jamie Lee Curtis to get their attention.”
Incidentally, he was reaching out to Cardi B about "WAP" - a segment which was already giving the traditionally G-rated Al some challenges...I will let you watch the video to see how he actually performed the lyric "Wet Ass Pussy".
In addition to incorporating songs by Adele, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Lil' Nas X, and Bruno Mars, the video is also a tribute to various animators - Bill Plympton, Liam Lynch, Jarrett Heather, and British animator Cyriak, among others, animate different parts of the video. It's also a tribute to Al's past videos, with flashbacks to videos for "Like A Surgeon", "White And Nerdy", "Dare To Be Stupid" and "Amish Paradise".
As ever, Al worked with the various artists to get their permission first, going to unusually great lengths to contact Cardi B for her contribution. She didn't respond to his original request, so he turned to an unlikely friend - Jamie Lee Curtis, who is also friendly with Cardi B's husband Offset. "Jamie Lee Curtis and I made a video together,” Al told Rolling Stone. “We said, ‘We would love for your song to be in the polka medley,’ and sent it to [Offset] and then he got ahold of somebody else, and he got it figured out. But I had to make a special video with Jamie Lee Curtis to get their attention.”
Incidentally, he was reaching out to Cardi B about "WAP" - a segment which was already giving the traditionally G-rated Al some challenges...I will let you watch the video to see how he actually performed the lyric "Wet Ass Pussy".
The medley is amazing and Weird Al is a national treasure.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 1:16 PM on July 19 [8 favorites]
posted by DiscourseMarker at 1:16 PM on July 19 [8 favorites]
That was a lot.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:23 PM on July 19
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:23 PM on July 19
Surprisingly, not the only accordion-heavy Bad Guy cover I've heard recently.
posted by modus_pwns at 1:42 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
posted by modus_pwns at 1:42 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
Does anybody know what that last riff is called or where it's from -- at 3:54 in this polka, right after "shave and a haircut?"
It usually makes me think of Ballad of the Sneak but of course it's in all kinds of stuff...
posted by Foosnark at 1:44 PM on July 19
It usually makes me think of Ballad of the Sneak but of course it's in all kinds of stuff...
posted by Foosnark at 1:44 PM on July 19
Was SO intrigued to see what happened when he got to WAP, and it was worth the wait. Fun!
posted by eternalhedgehog at 1:47 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
posted by eternalhedgehog at 1:47 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
!
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 1:49 PM on July 19
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 1:49 PM on July 19
I saw Yankovic in concert a couple of years ago, and it was the funnest, most energetic (he's in gobsmacking good shape for a 60-year-old), and sweetest show I've ever gone to. The vibe was all good-natured fun, a welcome respite from the darkness. He deserves a Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime work.
posted by Omon Ra at 1:57 PM on July 19 [12 favorites]
posted by Omon Ra at 1:57 PM on July 19 [12 favorites]
Apparently I'm the kind of person who sees this and thinks "Hmm. Maybe I should get some lederhosen"
posted by aubilenon at 2:02 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 2:02 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
Only if you don't already own lederhosen!
And I'm really glad that Weird Al continues to be a force for good clean fun at the age of 64. Long may he continue to make us giggle.
posted by drewbage1847 at 2:13 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
And I'm really glad that Weird Al continues to be a force for good clean fun at the age of 64. Long may he continue to make us giggle.
posted by drewbage1847 at 2:13 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
Does anybody know what that last riff is called...
Aha, it's the (Seven Note) Vaudeville Fanfare, and the similar thing more often used as an intro is the Minsky Pickup.
posted by Foosnark at 2:26 PM on July 19 [10 favorites]
Aha, it's the (Seven Note) Vaudeville Fanfare, and the similar thing more often used as an intro is the Minsky Pickup.
posted by Foosnark at 2:26 PM on July 19 [10 favorites]
wait wait wait ...
10-year anniversary of ... Mandatory Fun
b-but, that's - I - how -
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:33 PM on July 19 [5 favorites]
10-year anniversary of ... Mandatory Fun
b-but, that's - I - how -
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:33 PM on July 19 [5 favorites]
the similar thing more often used as an intro is the Minsky Pickup
I tried to start a vaudeville/music hall revival act in 2019. We were called Minsky Pickup, because for nearly a hundred years that melody has been shorthand for entertainment. We had three singers and a pianist, and for months we rehearsed and built up a repertoire. We did one show, and the audience enjoyed it. Then the pandemic hit. By the time the world cleared up enough for us to start meeting again, everyone except me had moved on to other things.
We sounded good, and we were good.
I'm never going to get that back.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:34 PM on July 19 [18 favorites]
I tried to start a vaudeville/music hall revival act in 2019. We were called Minsky Pickup, because for nearly a hundred years that melody has been shorthand for entertainment. We had three singers and a pianist, and for months we rehearsed and built up a repertoire. We did one show, and the audience enjoyed it. Then the pandemic hit. By the time the world cleared up enough for us to start meeting again, everyone except me had moved on to other things.
We sounded good, and we were good.
I'm never going to get that back.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:34 PM on July 19 [18 favorites]
OMG this was everything I could have hoped for.
Here's Justin McElroy's story on MBMBaM about seeing Weird Al two years ago.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:43 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
Here's Justin McElroy's story on MBMBaM about seeing Weird Al two years ago.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:43 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
The bit where they used the animation style (and hopefully the same animator) from the fan made flash video of Albuquerque was great.
Link to said video.
posted by Hactar at 3:02 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
Link to said video.
posted by Hactar at 3:02 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
*Weird Al Polka
That's absolutely brilliant, and I'm going to share it with my friends in the comedy music community.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:28 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
That's absolutely brilliant, and I'm going to share it with my friends in the comedy music community.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:28 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
I said out loud, "Oh, it's Plympton!"
This is brilliant.
posted by Sphinx at 4:56 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
This is brilliant.
posted by Sphinx at 4:56 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
I've got a Tidal playlist that's just Weird Al Polkas. So happy to see this today and immediately add it to the list.
posted by thecjm at 5:29 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
posted by thecjm at 5:29 PM on July 19 [1 favorite]
Really good interview with him on Guy Raz's podcast "The Great Creators" (maybe not posted yet?).
posted by wenestvedt at 5:30 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 5:30 PM on July 19 [3 favorites]
The bit where they used the animation style (and hopefully the same animator) from the fan made flash video of Albuquerque was great.
Yup. Ryan Krzak is listed in the credits and was the animator you linked to
posted by thecjm at 5:41 PM on July 19 [5 favorites]
Yup. Ryan Krzak is listed in the credits and was the animator you linked to
posted by thecjm at 5:41 PM on July 19 [5 favorites]
That video.
I paused so many times.
Metafilter: MAXIME INFECTUM CATTUS
posted by not_on_display at 9:17 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
I paused so many times.
Metafilter: MAXIME INFECTUM CATTUS
posted by not_on_display at 9:17 PM on July 19 [2 favorites]
fwiw some youtubers have used the ai to rehydrate the polkas with the original artist voices to hilarious effect
posted by credulous at 9:31 PM on July 19
posted by credulous at 9:31 PM on July 19
I also think it's sweet that Al found a way to give a nod to Lin-Manuel Miranda again.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:48 AM on July 20 [4 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:48 AM on July 20 [4 favorites]
If Weird Al ever dies (he may in fact be immortal?) I do hope they dedicate a display in the Smithsonian to honor his madness and musical talent. As noted above, he’s a goddamn national treasure.
posted by caution live frogs at 5:28 AM on July 20 [2 favorites]
posted by caution live frogs at 5:28 AM on July 20 [2 favorites]
Absolutely splendid.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 5:47 AM on July 20
posted by halfbuckaroo at 5:47 AM on July 20
If Weird Al ever dies (he may in fact be immortal?)
I can't think of anybody in popular music he's parodied who has outlasted him. The only one I can think of who has come close is Madonna, and her career has been going downhill since American Life. Prince never gave him permission to parody one of his songs, but Weird Al has outlived him.
In the wastelands of the apocalyptic future, it'll just be him and Keith Richards.
posted by jonp72 at 10:13 AM on July 20 [1 favorite]
I can't think of anybody in popular music he's parodied who has outlasted him. The only one I can think of who has come close is Madonna, and her career has been going downhill since American Life. Prince never gave him permission to parody one of his songs, but Weird Al has outlived him.
In the wastelands of the apocalyptic future, it'll just be him and Keith Richards.
posted by jonp72 at 10:13 AM on July 20 [1 favorite]
Weird Al performed at our county fair when he was touring "Like a Surgeon." I went on a lark, and enjoyed the confusion on the part of the older German and Polish folks in the area who probably thought they were going to see the famous polka performer Frankie Yankovic.
Even then, it was a very polished, strong show. He played as many originals as he did his pastiche/parody covers, which most people there had never heard, since he was mainly a novelty single artist at the time, not albums.
I've watched his career since, and enjoyed it. He never seems to do what anybody expects. I was surprised to see him play Julia Sweeney's husband in the short lived Showtime series "Work in Progress."
posted by jkosmicki at 2:32 PM on July 20 [3 favorites]
Even then, it was a very polished, strong show. He played as many originals as he did his pastiche/parody covers, which most people there had never heard, since he was mainly a novelty single artist at the time, not albums.
I've watched his career since, and enjoyed it. He never seems to do what anybody expects. I was surprised to see him play Julia Sweeney's husband in the short lived Showtime series "Work in Progress."
posted by jkosmicki at 2:32 PM on July 20 [3 favorites]
I took the playlist suggestions to heed and made one in Apple Music, and lord that is some long lasting weapons grade memetic interference. It goes right past being merely an earmworm. Like, I've been familiar with I dunno, probably 80% of the WAPs over the years (Alpocalypse and Mandatory Fun's offerings, less so), but putting all of them into an hour long playlist goes straight to critical mass.
posted by Kyol at 8:17 AM on July 22
posted by Kyol at 8:17 AM on July 22
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