IT doesn't take long to warm to Weird Al Yankovic. For someone who takes the p*** out of so many artists, he really is a genuine guy.
With the release of Straight Outta Lynwood, his 12th studio album, Weird Al continues to poke fun at society in only the clash-of-cultures way he knows how.
He puts the mash in mish-mash, but he's far from haphazard. There's a lot of thought that goes into his music.
What strikes you is his knack for tapping into popular culture and keeping up with the changing trends - none more so evident than on his first single, White Nerdy where white nerds roll with the gangsters .
The new album suffered delays after You're Pitiful, a parody of James Blunt's hit You're Beautiful was recorded for the album, but was removed at the request of Blunt's label, Atlantic Records. The song was then released - rather cheekily - as a free-for-download single on the internet.
Among the tracks on the new album are a parody of Ridin' by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone (White Nerdy), a reworking of American Idiot by Green Day (Canadian Idiot), a polka medley featuring digs at The Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Kanye West and Coldplay, plus Don't Download This Song, which describes the perils of online music file-sharing.
For all the latest news and gossip on Weird Al, go to his
* Straight Outta Lynwood is out this weekend. The video for the single White Nerdy is doing the rounds on all the music shows. Check it out.
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