Top Ten Songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Alfred Matthew Yankovic is an American singer and songwriter. He turned from early aspirations in architecture and, with just a dream and an accordion, rose to unlikely and seemingly endless popularity as the unapologetically goofy "Weird Al".

The list here reflects only my personal favorites. My knowledge is admittedly sporadic, with the tightest focus around my teens, so please forgive me if I leave out any comedic gems.

10. Ode to a Superhero (from the album "Poodle Hat" , 2003.) I can't believe I missed out on this parody of Billy Joel's "Piano Man until very recently. (The original makes the cut in its own right here .) This is a good solid parody, which essentially outlines the plot of Spider-man 2. There are quite a few good lines here, but, honestly, it's the Billy Joel hook that earns this one a spot on the list.

9. Another One Rides the Bus (from the album "Weird Al" Yankovic, 1983). One of Weird Al's earlier works, this song is a catchy parody of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust". It describes a nightmarish bus ride to nowhere as the narrator is crushed in with a mish-mosh of undesirables. I think anyone who has ever gone on a long trip anywhere can relate to this song.

8. Smells Like Nirvana (from the album "Off the Deep End", 1992) There is something intergenerational in saying to our kids, "How can you even understand what they're singing?" This enjoyable spoof of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" , pokes fun of the original's mush-mouthed and semi-nonsensical lyrics. I enjoy the original song, but I have to admit that Weird Al has a point.

7. Hooked on Polkas (from the album "Dare to be Stupid", 1985). Weird Al has done several of these "polka medleys" which take snippets of popular songs and string them together to accordion music . What could be better? The reason this one stands out is that I have had the line "Bang your head (ding ding)" stuck in my musical memory since 1985. Sad but true.

6.This Song is Just Six Words Long (from the album "Even Worse", 1988) This song parodies George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set on You" (another song I enjoy). It highlights one element of eighties music that no teen of the eighties can deny: there was a LOT of repetition. I often listen to the music of my teens and am surprised how the songs seem to drag on forever.This song also points out the empty-headedness of a lot of such music. But as I've admitted liking the original song being parodied I won't dwell on that. Ahem.

5. Stuck in a Closet with Vanna White (also from "Even Worse") This completely original song is nuts and I love it. The narrator in the song is describing his crazy dream to his doctor. Bizarre things happen. For example: "Now I'm bein' followed by these Russian spies/They give me some Velcro, and an order of fries/Suddenly I'm bowling on the Starship Enterprise". All such ventures lead back to a closet bound Vanna. I wonder what she thought of this song?

4. White and Nerdy (from the album "Straight Outta Lynwood," 2006). This spoof of Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" is the most popular of Weird Al's latest releases for good reason: a lot of us recognize ourselves in this song. I don't have a segway, and I'm not quite as technologically savvy as the character in the song, but a good deal tof he rest applies to me and/or my hubby. Yes, we even have "Steven Hawkings in [our] library" . . . and a Klingon dictionary. (And geekologie says the new segways will have seats! Gasp!)

3. Yoda (From "Dare to Be Stupid", 1985.) Star Wars rules at our house. And this parody of The Kinks' "Lola" does a great job of gently poking fun of Luke's training in Dagobah, while under the watchful eye of the world's most famous guru Muppet. I love Yoda and really like this song!

2. One More Minute (also from "Dare to Be Stupid") . This is the only other original song to make the list. Anyone to ever know heartbreak will appreciate this song. It's incredibly violent, but is so over the top, I just find it hilarious. My favorite "Weird Al" lines of all time are still :"I'm stranded all alone in the gas station of love/
And I have to use the self-service pumps". 25 years, and this song still cracks me up!

1. The Saga Begins (From the Album "Running with Scissors", 1999) As I said, Star Wars is a family affair for us. Many road trips found us all singing this song back to back with Don McLean's phenomenal "American Pie". (Not so coincidentally, the song being parodied. ) McLean is reported to love the spoof, which chronicle's "The Phantom Menace" from Obi Wan's perspective. It's one of "Weird Al's" best parodies as it parallels the lyrics of the original in several places, rather than simply mimicking the music. But it's the memory of time spent with my family that makes this my number one pick.

Hope you enjoy my picks. "Weird Al" Yankovic's music is a lot of fun . . . if you don't take yourself too seriously. I hope he keeps up his craziness for years to come.