History Awesome / WeirdAlYankovic

** Notable in that, for Pokemon fans who grew up in the 90's and early 2000's (the song was in the end credits of ''[[Anime/Pokemon2000 Pokemon 2000: The Power Of One]]''), this was probably the first Weird Al song they ever heard.

* An odd example: a semi-trend on [=YouTube=] is to play a song with every other beat changed in some way. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x2gzo9KEYU One Youtube video]] shows Al's "Amish Paradise" mixed every other beat with the original "Gangsta's Paradise". The only difference in the beat is a slight increase in pitch for Al's version [[note]]A common practice; singers might change key to fit their vocal range[[/note]], leading to the beat sounding rather smooth. Strange as it is, it ends up being another point to how much work Al puts into his parodies that the two versions are so close.

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---> '''Kurt:''' Uh, [your parody]'s not going [[RunningGag to be about food]], is it?
---> '''Al:''' No, it's about how [[TheUnintelligible no one understands your lyrics.]]
---> '''Kurt:''' Oh, of course. [[ActuallyPrettyFunny That's funny.]]

--> "It's one thing to go platinum. Where do you go from there? Then Weird Al calls."

* Weird Al's even CoveredUp with a parody song. Chamillionaire, whose song "Ridin'" was the basis for "White & Nerdy", reported that he received praise from people overseas, saying "people were telling me they had heard my version of Weird Al's song". Chamillionaire would eventually reference this on a remix of "Ridin'" with the lyrics "A year later, after 'White and Nerdy'", showing he still has a good sense of humor about it.

--> ''Everything you know is wrong!''
--> ''Black is white, up is down, and short is long'',
--> ''And everything you thought''
--> ''Was just so important doesn't matter!''
--> ''Everything you know is wrong!''
--> ''Just forget the words and sing along!''
--> ''All you need to understand is''
--> ''Everything you know is wrong!''

* In regards to Al's physical prowess, one need look no further than his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8CTEEOMLgE ''Circus of the Stars'' performance in 1993.]] ''Without using a net or an airbag,'' he climbed a ''55-foot-high'' sway pole set up outside at Ride/UniversalStudios Hollywood, on top of which he planked, did his trademark foot-behind-the-head move, and eventually ''stood straight up'' with nothing to hold on to. If that's not a testament to a strong body (and balls of pure adamantium), I really couldn't tell you what is.

* An odd example: a semi-trend on Youtube is to play a song with every other beat changed in some way. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x2gzo9KEYU One Youtube video]] shows Al's "Amish Paradise" mixed every other beat with the original "Gangsta's Paradise". The only difference in the beat is a slight increase in pitch for Al's version [[note]]A common practice; singers might change key to fit their vocal range[[/note]], leading to the beat sounding rather smooth. Strange as it is, it ends up being another point to how much work Al puts into his parodies that the two versions are so close.

* Reportedly, Music/KurtCobain said that he only really knew he hit the big time when Weird Al parodied one of his songs. It should be noted that Al had to go through a friend to Kurt Cobain on the phone ''before he was about to play on '''Series/SaturdayNightLive'''''. And the Weird Al parody was ''still'' the "we made it" moment to him.
** He also, reportedly, cracked up the entire time when he first saw the video for "Smells Like Music/{{Nirvana}}".

** And in the words of Coolio, after he initially refused Al's request to parody "Gangsta Paradise":

* In regards to Al's physical prowess, one need look no further than his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8CTEEOMLgE ''Circus of the Stars'' performance in 1993.]] ''Without using a net or an airbag,'' he climbed a ''55-foot-high'' sway pole set up outside at Universal Studios Hollywood, on top of which he planked, did his trademark foot-behind-the-head move, and eventually ''stood straight up'' with nothing to hold on to. If that's not a testament to a strong body (and balls of pure adamantium), I really couldn't tell you what is.

** Notable in that, for Pokemon fans who grew up in the 90's and early 2000's (the song was in the end credits of ''Pokemon 2000: The Power Of One''), this was probably the first Weird Al song they ever heard.

* Reportedly, Music/KurtCobain said that he only really knew he hit the big time when Weird Al parodied one of his songs. It should be noted, Al had to go through a friend to Kurt Cobain on the phone ''before he was about to play on '''Saturday Night Live'''''. And the Weird Al parody is still the "we made it" moment.

---> '''Al:''' [[TheUnintelligible No, it's about how no one understands your lyrics.]]

* In all honesty, [[OnceAnEpisode all the polkas]] are SugarWiki/AwesomeMoments. Possibly the best ever? "[[Music/{{Queen}} Bohemian Polka]]." Notable for being the only time it was a straight-up cover. Not even a medley. And it works like a charm.

* Showing up on ''The Meltdown: With Jonah and Kumail'' and singing "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNf-lN3Z_-k Dare To Be Stupid]]" with a string quartet.

* And of course, Al gets one of the highest honors a man of his caliber could ever receive: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ctwg6-70g a supply closet named in his honor.]]

** "Word Crimes" reached number 39 in the United States. This makes Al one of only five artists to have a top 40 hit in every decade since the 1980s. The other four? Kenny G, Music/MichaelJackson, {{Music/Madonna}} and Music/{{U2}}. That's right, Al's in ''very'' big company.

---> "It's one thing to go platinum. Where do you go from there? Then Weird Al calls."

---> '''Kurt:''' Oh, of course. That's funny.

* Al wrote the lyrics to "The Saga Begins" with 99% accuracy... ''before Film/ThePhantomMenace was even released''. He got all of his information from fan sites and went to see a pre-screening only to check his work.

* Weird Al Yankovic VS. [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Pinkamena]] [[CrazyAwesome Diane]] [[RealityWarper Pie.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acfp3jgZ7gM It's as ridiculous and awesome as it sounds.]]

* In 2020, Music/PortugalTheMan collaborated with Weird Al for [[https://youtu.be/qTdgxhQwaVQ "Who's Gonna Stop Me"]], a powerful rock song written in honor of Indigenous People's Day. The song isn't comedic at all, which makes for a huge case of PlayingAgainstType for Al, yet Al still gives it the exact same amount of effort he gives to his parodies, which just cements how legitimately talented of a performer he is.

** His latest Polka Medley ends on "Get Lucky" by Music/DaftPunk, a fitting climax by including one of the best songs of the year, but more proof that once Weird Al gets to you, you've "made it."

* "Genius in France", Al's nine-minute long tribute song to Music/FrankZappa, made entirely from repurposed riffs[[note]](a practice which Zappa himself was known for)[[/note]] and featuring a opening and closing guitar solo from Dweezil Zappa.

** "Word Crimes" reached number 39 in the United States. This makes Al one of only five artists to have a top 40 hit in every decade since the 1980s. The other three? Kenny G, Music/MichaelJackson, {{Music/Madonna}} and Music/{{U2}}. That's right, Al's in ''very'' big company.

** "Word Crimes" reached number 39 in the United States. This makes Al one of only four artists to have a top 40 hit in every decade since the 1980s. The other three? Music/MichaelJackson, {{Music/Madonna}} and Music/{{U2}}. That's right, Al's in ''very'' big company.

** It simply isn't possible to overstate how awesome this moment is on its own, but what makes this even ''more'' awesome? ''Mandatory Fun'' was the first comedy record since Creator/AllanSherman's ''My Son, the Nut'' to reach number one. Did we mention that album was released ''51 years before Mandatory Fun?''
** "Word Crimes" reached number 39 in the United States. This makes Al one of only three artists to have a top 40 hit in every decade since the 1980s. The other two artists? Music/MichaelJackson and {{Music/Madonna}}. (A fourth artist would eventually join these prestigious ranks -- ''which'' fourth artist? Oh, just some band named Music/{{U2}}. That's right. Al's in ''very'' big company.)