“Weird Al” Yankovic’s albums composed roughly 95% of my adolescent music collection. Starting with an Alapalooza tape, progressing through a back catalog of 80’s records, acquiring The Food Album and The TV Album (even though I already had all of the songs elsewhere), and basking in the majesty of UHF; getting the complete Al collection became a source of pride and a major influence on my sense of humor. It culminated with a 30 minute cassette tape I made of looped together Weird Al lyrics forming one giant Mad Libs song. Sadly, six years of obsession ran its course and I inevitably burned out shortly after the release of Running with Scissors.
And here I am today with the opportunity to evaluate a Blu-ray of “Weird Al” Yankovic Live! – The Alpocalypse Tour. It certainly presents an odd perspective. I get to experience some new (to me) material from an artist I once claimed as my role model, and absorb the context of both old and new songs in a live atmosphere. It’s a bit like seeing a play of your favorite childhood movie; instantly familiar and yet altogether different
One thing hasn’t changed; Al is dedicated to putting on a show. In the age of Gaga and a dozen other power pop princesses, costume changes are an expected part of the show. With the exception of his medley bit, which itself is subject to spontaneous wardrobe alterations, every song carries a new outfit. “Smells like Teen Spirit” brings back the striped shirt and blonde mop from it’s now twenty year old video. He rocks a giant peacock outfit for “Perform This Way” and dons an impressive rendition of the fat guy suit and mask(???) from the “Fat” video. Even “Skipper Dan,” where Al sheds his pretentious art school get-up for humiliating tour guide rags, manages to enhance an otherwise middling tune.
It helps that Al has completely nailed the timing for his absurd facial expressions. Appalled surprise, cherubic melodrama, scornful smirks, and sadistic bravado come alive as if Al’s reacting to the words spilling out of his mouth for the first time. The screen in the background of the concert appears to either be playing his song’s respective music videos or some sort of stop-motion animation, which I suppose is better for the live audience, but seeing Al’s range of twisted faces up close and personal undoubtedly adds to the experience.
As you might expect, Al’s also a master of playing to the crowd. Al isn’t too chatty, but sneaks a few local references to the Toronto area (where it the concert was filmed last July) – not to mention launching into “Canadian Idiot” in its native land. Dry sarcasm is also in no short supply. Before “Let Me Be Your Hog,” a ten second blast of meaningless insanity that I sort of can’t believe he performed, Al goes on an extended diatribe about the audience’s usual failure to properly understand the significance of the tune. He also actually goes into the crowd to croon at ladies during “Wanna B Ur Lov,” which is both exceptionally creepy and hilarious.
Regarding the content of Al’s newer stuff, I was impressed. The standout lyric for me was the aforementioned “Wanna B Ur Lov’s,” my love for you is like diarrhea I just can’t hold it in, which seemed slightly more risqué than Al’s usual PG-rated affair. Everything celebrities do is fascinating! cascading in the background of “TMZ” was also a riot. “Perform This Way” simultaneously compliments and filets Gaga, much like Al’s parodies of Michael Jackson’s songs did twenty years ago. In the end, though, I wouldn’t be lying if I said my favorite part was the Medley mostly composed of his older stuff.
The Blu-ray also includes a bunch of bonus features. Three other songs not shown when this show was broadcast on Comedy Central are available out of sequence. The mildly heartbreaking “You Don’t Love Me Anymore,” along with the forgettable “You Make Me.” “Frank’s 2000-inch TV,” a personal favorite style parody of R.E.M, is the best of the bunch; Al obviously cares about his entire catalog, but with I kind of got the feeling that “Frank” seemed extra special to him.
Some other videos pop up too. A bunch of shorts from Al’s YouTube account total about three minutes. Mostly composed of harmless gags from everyday observations, they’re a telling insight into a mind that never stops looking for everyday absurdity. My favorite of which was a six second clip of a chicken crossing the road somewhere with Al pleading, “why…why why!”
Four other random videos are present. The one shot for college humor is a dud, but another is almost genius. Two versions of Al are green screen’d riding next to each other on a bus. One is obviously Weird Al, the other is Al dressed like a random debased fan. What follows is a clever commentary on fan interaction and the annoyance that celebrities have to put up with on a daily basis. It’s a bit mean spirited, for sure, but you can’t help but appreciate the bottled up revenge the sketch was slowly bleeds out.
Lastly, here’s the complete set list (courtesy Wikipedia):
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Polka Face
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TMZ
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Smells Like Nirvana
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Party in the CIA
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CNR
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Let Me Be Your Hog
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Canadian Idiot
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Wanna B Ur Lovr
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Medley (Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies, Whatever You Like, Another Tattoo, eBay, I Want a New Duck, Theme from Rocky XIII, Spam, My Bologna, Ode to a Superhero, Lasagna, Eat It)
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Skipper Dan
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Craigslist
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Amish Paradise
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Perform This Way
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White & Nerdy
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Fat
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The Saga Begins
Yoda
