Weird Al: Seriously

About this book

From his love of accordions and Hawaiian print shirts to his popular puns and trademark dance moves "Weird Al" Yankovic has made a career out of making us laugh. Funny music is often dismissed as light and irrelevant but Yankovics fourteen successful studio albums prove there is more going on than comedic musics reputation suggests. In this book for the first time the parodies original compositions and polka medleys of the Weird Al universe finally receive their due respect. Lily Hirsch weaves together original interviews with the prince of parody himself creating a fresh take on comedy and musics complicated romance. She reveals that Yankovics jests have always had a deeper meaning addressing such topics as bullying celebrity and racial and gender stereotypes. Weird Al is undeterred by those who say funny music is nothing but a low-brow pastime. And thank goodness. With his good-guy grace still intact Yankovic remains unapologetically and unmistakably himself. Reveling in the mischief and wisdom of Yankovics forty-year career this book is an Al-expense-paid tour of a true comedic and musical genius.