Dusseldorf.
Hard to believe: cult parodist Weird Al Yankovic has been on the stages of the world for over 40 years – but has never been on tour in Germany.
“Harry Potter of all things” thought quite a few fans of Weird Al Yankovic in January last year. It was then rumored that Daniel Radcliffe, best known for his portrayal of JK Rowling’s sorcerer’s apprentice, would be playing the lead in his less-than-real career adaptation, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. The vast majority of fans and critics ultimately found words of praise for the Londoner’s performance after the strip premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September. Since November, the work, in which Yankovic himself played a key role in the script, has also been available on the streaming service “The Roku Channel” – unfortunately only legally in North America and Mexico.
Unfortunately, it is still unclear whether and when the film will be released in this country, in the original sound or with German dubbing. Instead, the master of pop music spoofs finally graces local fans himself with his presence in March. Yankovic was last seen in Europe eight years ago, cities such as Amsterdam, Brussels and Stockholm were on the calendar, but the 63-year-old still avoided the German-speaking world. But soon the Californian with Slovenian and Croatian roots was performing in Hamburg, Berlin and Düsseldorf.
Weird Al Yankovic: First hit with Queen song
On the “The Unfortunate Return Of The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-Advised Vanity” tour, the full-blooded artist plays through his complete works from more than four decades. The first single, My Bologna, a parody of The Knack’s hit My Sharona, was released in 1979 but failed to chart, as did Another One Rides The Bus, released two years later.
The artist reaped the first respectable successes with both pieces, only he had unpleasant experiences with different record companies. Capitol Records sold 10,000 units of “My Bologna” within a month, but those responsible showed no interest in further vinyl pressings or a follow-up single. Meanwhile, the Queen satire on the hit “Another One Bites The Dust” was the last single to be released by TK Records – the label went bankrupt just weeks later. After all: Queen guitarist Brian May found the version “extremely funny”.
She was also very popular with radio listeners, especially in the “Dr. Demento Show” by moderator Barret Eugene Hansen, who played it regularly and thus made it increasingly popular. That’s how “Another One Rides The Bus” ended up on the 1983 debut album, which Yankovic titled after himself.
The final, also international breakthrough followed two years later with the LP “Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D”, mainly thanks to the single “Eat It”, a parody of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”. In Australia, the copy even topped the original with number one in the charts (third place). The critics were also enthusiastic, for “Eat It” the interpreter received the first of five Grammy Awards in the category “Best Comedy Recording”. According to legend, Jackson was amused and was considered a fan of Yankovic’s work.
Prince didn’t take a joke
However, other artists refused to allow him to use their originals. So the music comedian bit his teeth on Prince several times – the funk star didn’t want to see his “Purple Rain” distorted as “Yellow Snow”, which is the working title. Once they were supposed to sit in the same row at the American Music Awards, and shortly before the awards ceremony, Yankovic even received a telegram from management telling him not to make eye contact with Prince. And Paul McCartney didn’t give his blessing to the comedy cover of his 1973 James Bond song “Live And Let Die” either, because “Chicken Pot Pie” glorified meat consumption. The vegetarian ex-Beatle didn’t like that at all, it stayed with Yankovic’s (legally impeccable) live performances.
For a long time, however, he has also scored with his own songs, which tend to poke fun at entire music genres rather than individual pieces by certain musicians and take up about half of the playing time on more recent records. In any case, his German fans can look forward to a good mixture of pieces from different creative phases. You’ve waited long enough for it.
Weird Al Yankovic live: March 4, Düsseldorf (8 p.m., Capitol Theater). Tickets from around €60.
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