“Weird Al” Yankovic, the king of song parodies, is back with a new polka medley titled “Polkamania!” In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, Yankovic shared his inspiration behind the new track and teased an upcoming tour.
The Grammy-winning artist has been entertaining audiences for over four decades with his clever and humorous takes on popular songs. With “Polkamania!”, Yankovic takes on some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish.
Yankovic explained that he chose these artists because they are currently dominating the charts and have a huge fan following. He also revealed that he had to do some research to understand the lyrics and melodies of their songs, as he wanted to stay true to the original versions while adding his own twist.
“I always try to make sure that the parody is respectful and not mean-spirited. I want the artists to know that it’s all in good fun,” Yankovic said.
The polka medley features snippets of popular songs such as Swift’s “Shake It Off,” Rodrigo’s “Drivers License,” and Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” all mashed up with Yankovic’s signature accordion and polka beats. The result is a fun and energetic track that will have listeners tapping their feet and singing along.
Yankovic also shared that he is planning to go on tour in 2022, after being forced to cancel his “Strings Attached” tour in 2020 due to the pandemic. He promised that the tour will be a “spectacle” and will feature some of his classic hits as well as new material.
In addition to his music, Yankovic also revealed that a sequel to his 2010 mockumentary “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” is in the works. The original film, which was a parody of the biopic “Walk the Line,” was a hit with fans and critics alike. Yankovic hinted that the sequel will focus on his life and career in the past decade.
“I’ve had some pretty interesting experiences in the last 10 years, so there’s definitely material there for a sequel,” Yankovic said.
With “Polkamania!” and a potential tour and movie in the works, it’s safe to say that “Weird Al” Yankovic is not slowing down anytime soon. Fans can expect more hilarious and catchy parodies from the music legend in the future.
