Weird Al and Me

I have loved Weird Al since ... being very very little. My parents heard him on one of their favorite radio shows, Dr. Dimento. I'm not sure my love for Weird Al would have grown as strong as it has if it weren't for my friend B, the same one who had the horse that I posted about a couple weeks ago.

She was into Weird Al because her older brother was, and she worshiped her brother (briefly). So there we were, around six and five, enjoying "I Want a New Duck" and having absolutely no clue that the song it was parodying was totally innnapropriate for us to be listening to (Huey Lewis' "I Want a New Drug").

We watched UHF over and over and over again. That movie, to this day, is probably the one film  I've seen the most, even more than any Star Wars movie. Even more than Young Einstein, which we also watched together. I haven't seen it in a few years now, but I could still tell you the entire plot and recite a vast majority of the lines to you if you asked (you probably don't want to ask). I didn't understand almost any of the references at the time, but have slowly filled things in. Gandhi II where Gandhi kicks butt is funny because if you watch the first film/know anything about his life, he was a pacifist. I still haven't seen Rambo, but I don't think I need to to get the joke.

I used to own a lot of those Disney Adventures magazines, but I've only saved this one and one other (with Daniel Stern on the cover - not sure what that's about). In it, there's an interview with Weird Al. It's short and silly. I've interviewed quite a few bands for a music website I work for, and interviewing Al would be like some sort of Holy Grail. If I got to, I would like to give him these interview questions, see if his answers have changed.

I have, at least, shook the man's hand. It was at a benefit concert he showed up to, and he hadn't gone on yet. I was in the crowd, near the stage, watching the band that was up. Next to me was what I assumed to be a skinny teenager, who was in love with Weird Al, 'cause he reminded me of him, with the shirt and the hair. It was dark, but I could make out a Hawaiian shirt. It very slowly dawned on me that I was standing next to Weird Al. It was utterly terrifying. He was enjoying the show with his wife, and I waited very patiently until the band ended, then turned and shook his hand. He seemed genuinely happy to shake it. I told him it was amazing to meet him, or some such, but the crowd was so loud I doubt he heard me. I then grabbed my friend and ran off. I texted my parents, B, and J from high school.

So, here we are, about 25 years after I sang along with "Dare to Be Stupid" (one of my favorite of his songs, and definitely my favorite of his videos) and I'm still singing along.