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Quiz about Weird Al Yankovic Laugh and Learn

Weird Al Yankovic: Laugh and Learn! Quiz

I loved "Weird Al" Yankovic while growing up, and listening to his older music still makes me smile. This quiz covers his first seven albums -- "Weird Al Yankovic" (1983) through "Off the Deep End" (1992).

A multiple-choice quiz by enfranklopedia. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
enfranklopedia

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
104,553

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
10 / 20

Plays
1542

Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (14/20), Guest 212 (6/20), Guest 140 (18/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. In "Happy Birthday," a song from Al's first (self-titled) album, what food does Al suggest is customary to eat with beer on one's birthday? Hint

broccoli

bratwurst

cake

jambalaya

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Question 2 of 20

2. Which song on Al's first album contains a reference to singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell? Hint

The Check's In the Mail

I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead

Such a Groovy Guy

Buckingham Blues

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Question 3 of 20

3. What is the last word of the last song on Al's first album, "Mr. Frump In the Iron Lung"?

Answer: (One Word -- think "church")

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Question 4 of 20

4. Which song on Al's second album, "In 3-D" (1984), spoofed Jamaican music? Hint

That Boy Could Dance

Midnight Star

Buy Me a Condo

Mr. Popeil

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Question 5 of 20

5. The phrase that acts as the title of Al's second album, "In 3-D," is actually sung in one of its songs. Which one? Hint

Polkas On 45

Theme From Rocky XIII

Nature Trail To Hell

Eat It

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Question 6 of 20

6. In "I Lost On Jeopardy," Al is disheartened due to the professions of his two opponents on the game show "Jeopardy." Which profession is embodied by at least one of Al's opponents? Hint

plumber

professor

lawyer

doctor

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Question 7 of 20

7. In "Cable TV," from Al's third album, "Dare To Be Stupid" (1985), Al suggests that his friends envy him because he has seen a certain film 27 times in a single week. What is the film? Hint

Porky's

Fast Times At Ridgemont High

The Cannonball Run

Smokey and the Bandit

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Question 8 of 20

8. Which song from "Dare To Be Stupid" was used as the theme song for a major motion picture? Hint

Slime Creatures From Outer Space

Like a Surgeon

Yoda

This Is the Life

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Question 9 of 20

9. Which musician or band is NOT the victim of a full-length song parody on the album "Dare To Be Stupid"? Hint

Madonna

Michael Jackson

Huey Lewis and the News

Cyndi Lauper

10. Some of Al's songs are not direct parodies of established hits, but rather "style parodies," in which he tries to imitate the overall sound of a band or musician using music and lyrics that he has written himself. "Dog Eat Dog," on 1986's "Polka Party!", is a style parody. Which band or musician is being imitated? Hint

Talking Heads

Bruce Springsteen

The Police

Def Leppard

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Question 11 of 20

11. "Here's Johnny," a spoof of El DeBarge's "Who's Johnny?", is all about Ed McMahon, the one-time announcer and second banana on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson." True or False: The real Ed McMahon provides his own voice and laughter on this track.

True

False

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Question 12 of 20

12. "Polka Party!" contains an original song that spoofs country music -- Al's first venture into that genre, if I'm not mistaken. What's it called? Hint

One of These Days

Toothless People

Don't Wear Those Shoes

Good Enough For Now

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Question 13 of 20

13. "Fat," on 1988's "Even Worse," is a spoof of Michael Jackson's "Bad." In "Fat," how much does Al say his shadow weighs, in pounds? Hint

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Question 14 of 20

14. Which song on "Even Worse" contains a reference to "Star Trek"? Hint

Lasagna

Good Old Days

Stuck in a Closet With Vanna White

I Think I'm a Clone Now

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Question 15 of 20

15. "Melanie" is about a woman whom Al has been spying on and stalking. On what floor of the building across the street from Al's does Melanie live? Hint

the 8th

the 3rd

the 27th

the 15th

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Question 16 of 20

16. "Velvet Elvis" is another "style parody" rather than a direct song imitation. Which band or musician is being aped? Hint

George Harrison

Elvis Presley

The Police

The Beastie Boys

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Question 17 of 20

17. Which musician or band is NOT spoofed on Al's 1989 release, the soundtrack to the motion picture "UHF"? Hint

Bryan Adams

Tone Loc

Fine Young Cannibals

R.E.M.

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Question 18 of 20

18. Fill in the missing word in the title of this song from the "UHF" soundtrack: "Attack of the Radioactive _________________ From a Planet Near Mars".

Answer: (One plural word -- think "mammal")

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Question 19 of 20

19. The cover of Al's 1992 album "Off the Deep End" parodies the cover of a rather famous album. Which band's or musician's album cover is Al imitating? Hint

Nirvana

Led Zeppelin

The Beatles

MC Hammer

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Question 20 of 20

20. "The Plumbing Song" is actually a medley of sorts, as it directly parodies not one, but two songs by the same band or musician. Which one? Hint

Milli Vanilli

Metallica

Billy Idol

Janet Jackson

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 18 2024 : Guest 136: 14/20
Nov 16 2024 : Guest 212: 6/20
Oct 11 2024 : Guest 140: 18/20

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In "Happy Birthday," a song from Al's first (self-titled) album, what food does Al suggest is customary to eat with beer on one's birthday?

Answer: broccoli

"Well, it's time to celebrate your birthday/it happens every year/
We'll eat a lot of broccoli and drink a lot of beer." I love this song, but I LOATHE broccoli...and I'm not too keen on beer, either. Oh, well.

2. Which song on Al's first album contains a reference to singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell?

Answer: I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead

"I can't stand the smell of incense/I don't really like to jog/No Joni Mitchell eight-tracks in my car -- ooooo!" The "ooooo" is tailored to sound like Joni and her harmonizing back-up singers. I wonder if Joni was consulted before this mild slam was released...?

3. What is the last word of the last song on Al's first album, "Mr. Frump In the Iron Lung"?

Answer: amen

"And now I bring to you the very last thing that Mr. Frump had to say...." [deep "iron lung" breathing that flutters wildly and dies off suddenly]

"Aaaaaaa...[up an octave]...MENNNNN!"

4. Which song on Al's second album, "In 3-D" (1984), spoofed Jamaican music?

Answer: Buy Me a Condo

"Buy Me a Condo" seems, specifically, to be a Bob Marley pastiche. Al even tries out a Jamaican accent.

5. The phrase that acts as the title of Al's second album, "In 3-D," is actually sung in one of its songs. Which one?

Answer: Nature Trail To Hell

The chorus of "Nature Trail To Hell" reveals that the film being described, about a pack of Cub Scouts slaughtered by a maniac, is indeed "in 3-D."

6. In "I Lost On Jeopardy," Al is disheartened due to the professions of his two opponents on the game show "Jeopardy." Which profession is embodied by at least one of Al's opponents?

Answer: plumber

"I was there to match my intellect on national TV/Against a plumber, oh, and an architect, both with a PhD..." I'm not sure why someone with a PhD. makes a living as a plumber, but hey -- it takes all kinds.

7. In "Cable TV," from Al's third album, "Dare To Be Stupid" (1985), Al suggests that his friends envy him because he has seen a certain film 27 times in a single week. What is the film?

Answer: Porky's

"My friends are gettin' kinda worried/They think I'm turning into some kinda freak/Oh, but they're just jealous 'cause I've seen "Porky's" twenty-seven times this week..."

Grammar Geek alert: Al says "jealous," but he really means "envious." Look it up.

8. Which song from "Dare To Be Stupid" was used as the theme song for a major motion picture?

Answer: This Is the Life

"This Is the Life" was used as the title theme to "Johnny Dangerously," starring Michael Keaton and Marilu Henner.

9. Which musician or band is NOT the victim of a full-length song parody on the album "Dare To Be Stupid"?

Answer: Michael Jackson

"Like a Surgeon" apes Madonna's "Like a Virgin"; "I Want a New Duck" is a take-off on Huey Lewis and the News' "I Want a New Drug"; and Cyndi Lauper's first big hit is imitated in "Girls Just Want To Have Lunch." Michael Jackson is one of Al's favorite targets, but none of his songs are parodied at full length on this album.

A couple of lines from "State of Shock," Jackson's collaboration with the Rolling Stones, show up in "Hooked On Polkas," a medley of hit songs put to polka music, but that's it.

There's no full-length Jackson parody on the album.

Answer: Talking Heads

The keyboards, synthesizers, harmonies, and Al's David Byrne-like vocal stylings are clearly meant to remind listeners of the Talking Heads. He even borrows the "This is not by beautiful home! This is not my beautiful wife!" bit from the Talking Heads' hit "Once in a Lifetime"...but Al changes the wording to, "This is not my beautiful stapler! This is not my beautiful chair!"

Answer: False

It clearly states in the liner notes of "Polka Party!" that the voice of "Ed McMahon" was provided by a man named John Roarke.

12. "Polka Party!" contains an original song that spoofs country music -- Al's first venture into that genre, if I'm not mistaken. What's it called?

Answer: Good Enough For Now

"Good Enough For Now" contains steel guitars, rich harmonies, and a rather hesitant declaration of love. It's pretty funny. ("Toothless People" is actually a direct parody of Mick Jagger's "Ruthless People.")

13. "Fat," on 1988's "Even Worse," is a spoof of Michael Jackson's "Bad." In "Fat," how much does Al say his shadow weighs, in pounds?

Answer: 42

"And my shadow weighs forty-two pounds/Lemme tell you once again --who's fat?"

14. Which song on "Even Worse" contains a reference to "Star Trek"?

Answer: Stuck in a Closet With Vanna White

"Stuck in a Closet With Vanna White" is filled with unusual dream imagery that Al is describing to his psychiatrist. Case in point: "Now I'm bein' followed by these Russian spies/They give me some velcro, and an order of fries/Suddenly I'm bowling on the Starship Enterprise..."

15. "Melanie" is about a woman whom Al has been spying on and stalking. On what floor of the building across the street from Al's does Melanie live?

Answer: the 15th

"She lived across the street on the fifteenth floor of the Gilmore building/I saw her in the shower reaching for some soap..."

16. "Velvet Elvis" is another "style parody" rather than a direct song imitation. Which band or musician is being aped?

Answer: The Police

The instrumentation, harmonies, and percussion of the song are meant to emulate The Police (my favorite band!). In particular, bits of "Don't Stand So Close" and "Synchronicity II" seem to have been inspirational in the writing of "Velvet Elvis." The Beastie Boys get a style parody on this album as well -- it's called "Twister."

17. Which musician or band is NOT spoofed on Al's 1989 release, the soundtrack to the motion picture "UHF"?

Answer: Bryan Adams

"She Drives Like Crazy" spoofs FYC's "She Drives Me Crazy". "Isle Thing" is a goof on Tone Loc's "Wild Thing" (as well as the TV show "Gilligan's Island"!). "Spam" is a take-off on R.E.M.'s "Stand." No Bryan Adams parody appears on this album.

18. Fill in the missing word in the title of this song from the "UHF" soundtrack: "Attack of the Radioactive _________________ From a Planet Near Mars".

Answer: hamsters

"Man oh man, you oughtta hear 'em squeal/Now the whole wide world is their exercise wheel!"

19. The cover of Al's 1992 album "Off the Deep End" parodies the cover of a rather famous album. Which band's or musician's album cover is Al imitating?

Answer: Nirvana

The cover of Nirvana's "Nevermind" depicts a naked baby swimming in pursuit of a dollar dangling from a fishing hook. The cover of "Off the Deep End" features a naked Weird Al swimming after a donut on a fishing hook.

20. "The Plumbing Song" is actually a medley of sorts, as it directly parodies not one, but two songs by the same band or musician. Which one?

Answer: Milli Vanilli

Al merges parodies of "Don't Lose My Number" and "Blame It On the Rain" into one track. He changes the lyrics to make a number of plumbing-related jokes at the expense of Milli Vanilli (who deserved it).

Source: Author enfranklopedia

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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