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Being Al Yankovic

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Being Al Yankovic gCttil},g ,I},S'6C hJ.S ~efr6r&eSS' hJe86 by Jeff Bliss ~ wanted to write the "Weird AI" persona that has and fellow consummate "Boy, isn't earned him near-cult status and students used to do. No breaking Weird Al Yankovic really record sales in the millions. into funny songs about "SLO weird?" story, penning a Town." Just a calm, cool, and humorous' account of the Cal Poly ~of76eCof76;rb8 collected Yankovic taking it all architecture alumnus who has The limousine carrying in. (Later, however, he tells his gained more recognition for his Yankovic and his assistant wends appreciative audience at the music parodies than for any its way through downtown San Performing Arts Center on architectural renderings. Luis Obispo. Curled up in the campus, "Playing here brings back I discovered, however, that corner of the cavernous back a lot of memories ­ on stage, in music passenger seat, Yankovic, 40, like licking the walls of videos, in sports his trademark slip-on tennis Bubble Gum Alley.") films, shoes, a pair of black pants, and The two-time and on a lime-green pullover shirt. As Grammy-winning television, the car passes the Marsh Street Yankovic, back at Alfred storefronts, he waxes nostalgic. Cal Poly for only the Mathew "When I was going to Cal second time since Yankovic's Poly, [San Luis] wasn't as tidy," graduating, isn't just (ARCH '80) he says Wistfully. "It had its funny riding around in the reputation for quirks and character to it. Like the back of a big, fancy manic craziness ['uniquely' decorated] bathrooms car. Every stop has not just been over at the Madonna Inn." along his 80-date well-earned, but also well­ There are no bizarre imperson­ tour is an cultivated. Off stage, the "King ations of San Luis Obispo folks he opportunity to of the Parodies" is low-key and used to know. No crazy stories of promote "Running thoughtful, a stark contrast to the strange things he with Scissors," his (Stage photos by Tony Hertz. Portrait by johnny Buzzerio.) CAL POLY MAGAZINE SPRING 2000 :s II; th,frj.tt it'$ $ to a~ ; fLJOfj,' PC 8°" 8 " to, ~t ct rc 11 cassette player in his bedroom. By 1976, and still in high schoo], Yankovic had made his first Jive appearance in Oemento's touring stage show, playing 15th album since 1983. (A World his ode to family car Wide Web site lists a complete City after rides, "Belvedere discography of legitimate and city, doesn't it all get Cruising," bootleg recordings, songs, and live old? Doesn't the road and was tracks, including "an audiO presen­ wear on him? Doesn't it cut tation" made on campus at Cal into his artistic forays (which Poly's 1979 Week of Welcome.) now include directing other Today Yankovic will visit three artists' non-parody music videos)? radio stations - including Cal "Not really," he says. "When Poly's KCPR, where he got his start ['m on the road, my brain is kind - and the local NBC affiliate, of on vacation. [ don't find myself becoming a KSBY-TV. He wilJ answer the same scrawling lyrics while I'm on "name player" among questions repeatedly, honor each the tour bus. I don't resent the a group of budding satirists request by a OJ or reporter to touring. It's a break from working and comedians. exhibit his trademark "Weird" on albums." At about the same time, side, and respond patiently to on the advice of his high school radio callers. peSflblbflbSS guidance counselor, class valedic­ The only child of Nick and torian Yankovic enrolled at Mary Yankovic, Yankovic grew Cal Poly. Just 16, he may have up in the Los Angeles suburb found himself far from familiar of Lynwood. On his seventh surroundings, but never from birthday, his parents gave him his accordion and a desire to an accordion. Seven years later, take other artists' songs and in 1973, he submitted his first "pep them up a bit." song, "Pico and Sepulveda," In 1979, he got his first big to Dr. Oemento, a nationally break. The power pop album syndicated disc jockey "Get the Knack" included the hit known for playing comedy single "My Sharona," a catchy and novelty music. No. 1 tune practically asking for Demento found a certain a parody. Yankovic set up a mini charm in the "accordion­ recording studio adjacent to powered ditties" Yankovic KCPR in the men's bathroom ­ recorded on a cheap renowned for its "famed" acoustics 4 CAL POLY MAGAZINE SPRING 2000 .' ­ (read: echoes) - and recorded his could be said was, 'Well, the , first record release, "My Bologna." last album sold a few hundred He recalls, with a touch of irony, thousand less copies.'" He being signed by Capitol Records ­ laughs. "I mean, if that's the -~ "I~ ~ "The Beatles' label!" worst thing ...." A year later, he won interna­ The worst thing to be said tional acclaim with"Another about Yankovic is probably that One Rides the Bus," his parody his frenetic pace playing state fairs, of Queen's No. 1 single, "Another amphitheaters, and concert stages One Bites the Dust." would kill a mere mortal. One "I started getting calls from minute he's pressing the flesh all over," he says. "It wasn't just at SLO rock station KZOZ-FM Dr. Demento. I was getting calls (where he did a stint during his about the song from Australia Cal Poly days as weekend DJ "AI and Europe. It was big." Matthews") and the next minute and [say]: 'Oh, the form is following Three years after receiving he's conducting an exacting sound the function.' And I'm thinking, his bachelor's degree, Yankovic check at the performance hall. 'Yeah, big deal - it's a house!' recorded his first full album. Then he's out the door for a return "I enjoy what I do [now], and Nine more studio albums (with to his roots in a live interview at I'm glad people enjoy what I do," several compilations and a box set) KCPR. Then back to the stage for Yankovic says. "It's great to have followed, resulting in 11 million a sold-out show. them singing along, laughing. albums sold, making him "Eventually, I'd like to do "Of course it's not all just fun the most successful more directing. I'm enjoying and games," he adds. "There's a comedy working on other people's videos," lot of work." he says. "I've He smiles again. even thought "But it's better than flipping about burgers." G:J recording artist ever. After two Grammy awards and six nominations, he continues to perform on [directing] feature MTV, at major concert venues, films, and have and on other network TV series been offered a and specials on Showtime and couple of scripts. the Disney Channel. "I think it's safe to say I won't be t>aC~) to Car por~ going into "It was funny doing 'Behind architecture, " the Music' for VH-l," Yankovic he adds, smiling. says. "Those documentaries "I recently used usually chronicle the ups and my training to downs of bands. How they made remodel my kitchen, it big. How they fell off the charts. but that's as far as it gets. How they got caught up in drugs Studying architecture definitely and alcohol. And then how helped me become a more they got cleaned up and made analytical, disciplined person, a comeback. but I didn't love [it like the other "For my piece, the worst that students]. They'd see a building CAL POLY MAGAZINE SPRING 2000 5 .
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