Episode description

Weird Al Yankovic visits Google to discuss his new album "Mandatory Fun." He is best known for creating comedy songs that make light of pop culture and often parody specific songs by world-renown artists such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Queen, and many more.

Since having a comedy song aired on The Dr. Demento Radio Show in 1976 at age 16, Yankovic has sold more than 12 million albums, recorded more than 150 parodies and original songs, and performed more than 1,000 live shows. His work has earned him five Grammy Awards and a further 11 nominations, four gold records, and six platinum records in the U.S.. His first top ten Billboard album "Straight Outta Lynwood" and single "White & Nerdy" were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his career. His latest album, "Mandatory Fun," became his first number-one album during its debut week.

Yankovic's success comes in part from his effective use of music videos to parody pop culture, which are sometimes shot-for-shot recreations of the original. With the decline of music television and the onset of social media, he used YouTube and other video sites to publish his videos; this strategy has boosted sales of his later albums and returned him to the eye of popular culture. Most recently, his life and career were celebrated by the release of the semi-biographical parody film “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”, starring Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al.

Originally published in July of 2014.

Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.