Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al Yankovic is an American singer, songwriter, and comedian known for parody songs, original comedy music, and accordion performances.

Eat It: A 1984 Weird Al Yankovic song parodying Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” Its food-centered lyrics turn a chart-topping rock song into a comic demand to eat.
Parody: A work that imitates another work or style for comic or critical effect. Yankovic’s best-known songs transform recognizable musical models into comic commentary.
Michael Jackson: An American singer, songwriter, and dancer known as the “King of Pop.” Yankovic parodied Jackson’s “Beat It” as “Eat It” and “Bad” as “Fat.”
Dr. Demento: An American radio personality known for broadcasting novelty and comedy music. His radio show first brought Yankovic’s homemade recordings to a wide audience.
Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.: A 1994 United States Supreme Court decision holding that commercial parody can qualify as fair use. The ruling clarified parody’s legal position, though it did not arise from Yankovic’s cases.
Amish Paradise: A 1996 Weird Al Yankovic song parodying Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.” It relocates the original’s gangsta-rap setting to a comic portrait of Amish life.
Musical quotation: The use of recognizable music from one composition within another. Familiar melodies help listeners identify the songs his lyrics recast.
Coolio: An American rapper whose song “Gangsta’s Paradise” became an international hit. Yankovic’s “Amish Paradise” drew on Coolio’s hit and prompted a public disagreement about permission.
My Bologna: A 1979 Weird Al Yankovic parody of the Knack’s song “My Sharona.” The song’s airplay on Dr. Demento’s show helped launch Yankovic’s recording career.
Mandatory Fun: A 2014 Weird Al Yankovic album that became his first number-one album on the Billboard 200. Its chart success showed that comedy albums could compete at the top of the mainstream market.

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