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Rockford to get weird
By Holly Johns
Daily News staff writer
Musician ‘Weird' Al Yankovic to perform at the MetroCentre
ROCKFORD - Things are about to get weird in the Stateline Area.
Weird Al Yankovic will stop at the MetroCentre in Rockford at 7 p.m. Sunday for his “Straight Outta Lynwood” tour.
Born in Lynwood, Calif. in 1959, the multi-talented star started making up funny song lyrics by the age of 8.
Yankovic said he was one of those kids who made up “stupid parodies” for his friends when he was younger.
“I guess I never really grew out of that phase,” he said in a telephone interview.
After graduating high school as valedictorian at 16, Yankovic attended California Polytechnic State University to study architecture.
During his years there, Yankovic sent homemade tapes of his parody songs to a radio show hosted by Dr. Demento. By the time he graduated from college, he had not only received good airplay, but he also had a modest following and two nationally-released singles, “My Bologna” and “Another One Rides The Bus.”
By 1982, Yankovic had signed a deal with Scotti Bros. Records, who would end up releasing all of Weird Al's albums through “Bad Hair Day” in 1996. His most recent albums were recorded under Volcano Records, the company that purchased Scotti Bros. Records.
“I never thought I would make a living in the music scene,” Yankovic said. “I never thought I would have a career in show business, but I thought it would be a lot more fun than being an architect. It didn't really inspire me or give me a lot of joy to be working over a drawing board all day.”
Yankovic said he does appreciates some of the benefits of being famous.
“I like the deli trays that I get backstage,” he said.
Throughout his nearly 30-year career, Yankovic has earned 28 Gold and Platinum albums, seven Gold and Platinum-certified home videos and three Grammy Awards. He also created a television special for MTV titled “AL-TV,” a feature film titled “UHF” and a CBS network series called “The Weird Al Show.” Yankovic also has been featured on many TV shows and specials and has had his life profiled on VH-1's “Behind the Music.”
His latest album, “Straight Outta Lynwood,” is the main reason for his latest North America tour. The album is a dual disc release with a DVD of music videos, a nine minute behind-the-scenes documentary, as well as an entire set of karaoke/instrumental versions of the album.
“White and Nerdy,” a parody of Chamillionaire's No. 1 hit “Ridin' Dirty,” is the new album's biggest hit. Yankovic said he wrote a lot of lyrics from personal experience.
The popular song's video went straight into heavy rotation on VH-1 and racked up a few million hits on YouTube.
The new album also features parodies of Green Day, Usher, Taylor Hicks and R. Kelly as well as a polka medley, which includes hits by artists 50 Cent, The Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dogg, Coldplay, Weezer, Pussycat Dolls and Kanye West.
Yankovic said rap songs are the hardest to perform because of the amount of words that need to be sung in such a short period of time.
“It gave me a new respect for MC Hammer, who can dance in genie pants and still sing his songs,” he said.
Yankovic also creates original compositions for each of his albums. Originals on “Straight Outta Lynwood” include “Pancreas,” “Virus Alert,” “I'll Sue Ya,” “Close But No Cigar” and “Weasel Stomping Day.”
“Straight Outta Lynwood” opened at No. 10 on the Billboard charts, which makes it the highest charted album for Yankovic to date.
Yankovic said he generally waits until he is done touring before he begins recording new music.
“I only have so much RAM space in my brain,” he said.
Yankovic said he parodies songs that are popular at the time.
“I check the Billboard charts and try to find songs people would be identifiable with,” he said.
He also makes it a point to ask each artist permission to use their song.
“Most artists have a good sense of humor,” he said. “Although Prince is the one person who constantly says no to doing a parody.”
Yankovic also gets permission for each of the dozen or so songs he uses in his polkas.
“I just pick songs that I feel sound better polka-style,” he said.
Yankovic's performance on Sunday will include music from the new album along with older favorites.
Tickets are $36.50 and can be purchased at www.metrocentre.com or by calling 815-968-5222. The MetroCentre is at 300 Elm St. in downtown Rockford.
More information about Weird Al Yankovic can be found at www.weirdal.com or www.myspace.com/weirdal.
ROCKFORD - Things are about to get weird in the Stateline Area.
Weird Al Yankovic will stop at the MetroCentre in Rockford at 7 p.m. Sunday for his “Straight Outta Lynwood” tour.
Born in Lynwood, Calif. in 1959, the multi-talented star started making up funny song lyrics by the age of 8.
Yankovic said he was one of those kids who made up “stupid parodies” for his friends when he was younger.
“I guess I never really grew out of that phase,” he said in a telephone interview.
After graduating high school as valedictorian at 16, Yankovic attended California Polytechnic State University to study architecture.
During his years there, Yankovic sent homemade tapes of his parody songs to a radio show hosted by Dr. Demento. By the time he graduated from college, he had not only received good airplay, but he also had a modest following and two nationally-released singles, “My Bologna” and “Another One Rides The Bus.”
By 1982, Yankovic had signed a deal with Scotti Bros. Records, who would end up releasing all of Weird Al's albums through “Bad Hair Day” in 1996. His most recent albums were recorded under Volcano Records, the company that purchased Scotti Bros. Records.
“I never thought I would make a living in the music scene,” Yankovic said. “I never thought I would have a career in show business, but I thought it would be a lot more fun than being an architect. It didn't really inspire me or give me a lot of joy to be working over a drawing board all day.”
Yankovic said he does appreciates some of the benefits of being famous.
“I like the deli trays that I get backstage,” he said.
Throughout his nearly 30-year career, Yankovic has earned 28 Gold and Platinum albums, seven Gold and Platinum-certified home videos and three Grammy Awards. He also created a television special for MTV titled “AL-TV,” a feature film titled “UHF” and a CBS network series called “The Weird Al Show.” Yankovic also has been featured on many TV shows and specials and has had his life profiled on VH-1's “Behind the Music.”
His latest album, “Straight Outta Lynwood,” is the main reason for his latest North America tour. The album is a dual disc release with a DVD of music videos, a nine minute behind-the-scenes documentary, as well as an entire set of karaoke/instrumental versions of the album.
“White and Nerdy,” a parody of Chamillionaire's No. 1 hit “Ridin' Dirty,” is the new album's biggest hit. Yankovic said he wrote a lot of lyrics from personal experience.
The popular song's video went straight into heavy rotation on VH-1 and racked up a few million hits on YouTube.
The new album also features parodies of Green Day, Usher, Taylor Hicks and R. Kelly as well as a polka medley, which includes hits by artists 50 Cent, The Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dogg, Coldplay, Weezer, Pussycat Dolls and Kanye West.
Yankovic said rap songs are the hardest to perform because of the amount of words that need to be sung in such a short period of time.
“It gave me a new respect for MC Hammer, who can dance in genie pants and still sing his songs,” he said.
Yankovic also creates original compositions for each of his albums. Originals on “Straight Outta Lynwood” include “Pancreas,” “Virus Alert,” “I'll Sue Ya,” “Close But No Cigar” and “Weasel Stomping Day.”
“Straight Outta Lynwood” opened at No. 10 on the Billboard charts, which makes it the highest charted album for Yankovic to date.
Yankovic said he generally waits until he is done touring before he begins recording new music.
“I only have so much RAM space in my brain,” he said.
Yankovic said he parodies songs that are popular at the time.
“I check the Billboard charts and try to find songs people would be identifiable with,” he said.
He also makes it a point to ask each artist permission to use their song.
“Most artists have a good sense of humor,” he said. “Although Prince is the one person who constantly says no to doing a parody.”
Yankovic also gets permission for each of the dozen or so songs he uses in his polkas.
“I just pick songs that I feel sound better polka-style,” he said.
Yankovic's performance on Sunday will include music from the new album along with older favorites.
Tickets are $36.50 and can be purchased at www.metrocentre.com or by calling 815-968-5222. The MetroCentre is at 300 Elm St. in downtown Rockford.
More information about Weird Al Yankovic can be found at www.weirdal.com or www.myspace.com/weirdal.
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