Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic (born October 23, 1959[1]) is a singer-songwriter known chiefly for his parodies of popular songs, as well as "style parodies" of specific artists or groups. Since 1976, he has sold over 12 million albums and recorded over 150 parodies and original songs. His works have gained him three Grammy Awards (out of nine nominations), four gold records and six platinum records.
Biography[]
"Weird Al" Yankovic created two Star Wars–themed song parodies, "Yoda" and "The Saga Begins," from his Dare to Be Stupid and Running With Scissors albums respectively. There is also a scene in the video of his hit single "White & Nerdy" in which Al makes a back-alley purchase of a bootlegged VHS of The Star Wars Holiday Special.
During The Weird Al Show, Yankovic planned on green-screening himself into scenes from Star Wars, portraying Luke Skywalker's "annoying younger brother." Though Yankovic got permission from George Lucas and Sir Alec Guinness, he did not get permission from Mark Hamill, and thus scrapped the skit.[3]
Yankovic wrote music and voiced 4-LOM[4] for Seth Green and Matt Senreich's unreleased animated series, Star Wars Detours,[5] and later played Vic Vankoh in LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation.[6] In the special, he performed the original song "Scarif Beach Party."[7]
Works[]
Filmography[]
| Year | Title | Series | Contribution(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreleased | Star Wars Detours | 4-LOM,[5] songwriter[4] | |
| 2022 | LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation | Vic Vankoh[6] |
Sources[]
"Star Wars Rocks!" — Star Wars Insider 40
Weird Al: The Saga Begins... on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)- Star Wars: The Official Magazine 44
- Star Wars Insider 69
- "Weird Al" -- Nerdy Something on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
5 Things We Love About the LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation Trailer on StarWars.com (backup link)
LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation | Booth to Beach | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
This Week! in Star Wars Marvel Star Wars: Revelations Reveal, Inspiring ILM Legends, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)- 20 Easter Eggs from LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 This Week! in Star Wars The Mandalorian Season Two Hype, Tales from the Galaxy's Edge Action, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ Weird Al Yankovic – Biography by Jason Ankeny on AllMusic (archived from the original on May 7, 2021)
- ↑ "Weird Al" -- Nerdy Something on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Weird Al Reveals He Wrote Half a Dozen Songs For a Musical Episode of Star Wars Detours by John Dodge on Comic Book Resources (March 24, 2022) (archived from the original on March 24, 2022)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 First Footage Shown from Seth Green and Matt Senreich's Star Wars: Detours Animated Series by Eric Goldman on IGN (August 24, 2012) (archived from the original on May 31, 2020)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Star Wars Celebration LIVE! - DAY 2 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ 5 Things We Love About the LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation Trailer on StarWars.com (backup link)
External links[]
- Official website
"Weird Al" Yankovic on Wikipedia
"Weird Al" Yankovic at the Internet Movie Database- The Weird Al Wiki
