Taking Eminem's advice, "Weird Al" Yankovic is seizing the moment.
The first single from Yankovic's new album, Poodle Hat, is a commentary on America's obsession with television set to the tune of "Lose Yourself." Weird Al's "Couch
Potato" begins ceremoniously with the satirical icon asking, "If you had one shot to sit on your lazy butt/ And watch all the TV you ever wanted/ Till your brain turned to mush/ Would you go for it?"
Eminem gave his blessing for the parody, but not a video for Yankovic's rendition of the "8 Mile" anthem, according to a spokesperson for Weird Al, who is not legally required to get permission from artists. Still, for the first time in his 20-year career, he will not have a video for his lead single.
Poodle Hat, due May 20, will also include parodies of Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" ("A Complicated Song"), Nelly's "Hot in Herre" ("Trash Day"), the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" ("E-Bay") and Billy Joel's "Piano Man" ("Ode to a Superhero").
The album will also include the usual Yankovic accordion medley, a track called "Angry White Boy Polka" that includes covers Papa Roach's "Last Resort," System of a Down's "Chop Suey!," the Vines' "Get Free," the Hives' "Hate to Say I Told You So," the White Stripes' "Fell in Love With a Girl," the Strokes' "Last Nite," Disturbed's "Down With the Sickness," Rage Against the Machine's "Renegades of Funk," Limp Bizkit's "My Way," Staind's "Outside," Kid Rock's "Bawitdaba," P.O.D.'s "Youth of the Nation" and Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady."
Yankovic wrote several of his own songs for the album, including "Hardware Store," "Party at the Leper Colony," "Wanna B Ur Lovr" and "Bob," an homage to Bob Dylan.
Ben Folds appears on an original called "Why Does This Always Happen to Me," and Dweezil Zappa plays guitar on a nine-minute tribute to his father, Frank Zappa, called "Genius in France."
Yankovic, a multiple-Grammy winner whose memorable hits include "Eat It," "Like a Surgeon," "Smells Like Nirvana," "Amish Paradise" and "The Saga Begins," will promote his 11th studio album with a summer tour kicking off June 19 in Del Mar, California.
"Weird Al" Yankovic tour dates, according to Jive Records:
- 6/19 - Del Mar, CA @ Del Mar Fairgrounds
- 6/20 - Kelseyville, CA @ Konocti Field Amphitheatre
- 6/21 - Las Vegas, NV @ Aladdin Theater
- 6/22 - San Luis Obispo, CA @ Christopher Cohan Center
- 6/26 - Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
- 6/27 - Kalamazoo, MI @ Kalamazoo State Theatre
- 6/28 - Toledo, OH @ Zoo Amphitheatre
- 6/29 - Buffalo, NY @ Melody Fair Theatre
- 7/1 - Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Casino
- 7/11 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ Mid-Hudson Civic Center
- 7/12 - Allentown, PA @ The Great Allentown Fair
- 7/13 - Doswell, VA @ Paramounts Kings Dominion
- 7/18 - Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
- 7/19 - Philadelphia, PA @ Mann Center for the Performing Arts
- 7/20 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
- 7/22 - Westbury, NY @ Westbury Music Fair
- 7/23 - Westbury, NY @ Westbury Music Fair
- 7/25 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Amphitheatre at Station Square
- 7/26 - Chicago, IL @ Navy Pier
- 7/27 - King's Island, OH @ Paramounts King's Island
- 8/1 - Tulsa, OK @ River Park Amphitheatre
- 8/3 - Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
- 8/5 - Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre
- 8/6 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Bricktown Events Center
- 8/8 - Gulfport, MS @ Grand Casino Gulfport
- 8/9 - Valdosta, GA @ Wild Adventures Theme Park
- 8/10 - Charlotte, NC @ Paramounts Carowinds
- 8/12 - Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Center
- 8/13 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl Theatre
- 8/15 - Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
- 8/16 - Pueblo, CO @ Colorado State Fair
- 8/17 - Denver, CO @ Universal Lending Pavillion
- 8/22 - Detroit, MI @ Meadowbrook Music Festival
- 8/24 - St. Paul, MN @ Minnesota State Fair
- 8/27 - Sault St. Marie, MI @ Kewadin Casino
- 8/29 - South Woodstock, CT @ Woodstock Fair
- 8/31 - Cleveland, OH @ Tower City Amphitheatre
- 9/1 - Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theater
- 9/5 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
- 9/7 - Santa Clara, CA @ Paramount's Great Adventure
This report is from MTV News.
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