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List of "Weird Al" Yankovic polka medleys#"The Hamilton Polka"

{{Short description|Polka-Style Song Covers by "Weird Al" Yankovic}}

Polka-style medleys of cover songs are a distinguishing part of American musician, satirist, parodist, and songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic's catalog. Twelve of his fourteen albums contain them; his self-titled debut and Even Worse omit them.{{Cite book |last=Padgett |first=Ray |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/978537907 |title=Cover me : the stories behind the greatest cover songs of all time |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-4549-2250-6 |location=New York |pages=130–138 |oclc=978537907}}

The medleys are composed of various popular songs, each one reinterpreted as a polka (generally an instrumentation of accordion, banjo, tuba, clarinet, and muted brass interspersed with sound effects) with the choruses or memorable lines of various songs juxtaposed for humorous effect and profane lyrics are covered with cartoon sound effects. Yankovic has been known to say that converting these songs to polka was "...the way God intended".{{cite web| title=Track By Track: In Weird Al's Lynwood, Green Day's 'Idiot' Is Canadian| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1541761/20060926/yankovic_weird_al.jhtml| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026150255/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1541761/20060926/yankovic_weird_al.jhtml| url-status=dead| archive-date=October 26, 2006| last=Moss|first=Corey|publisher=MTV Networks|date=2006-09-26|access-date=2010-07-04}} Yankovic said that the medleys were something he did "even before I had a record deal" in live performances, and that many of the songs are included due to not receiving a full parody version - "if there's a song that I think is really ripe for parody but I just can't think of a clever enough idea, sometimes it'll end up in the polka medley."{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/06/weird-al-yankovic-alpocalypse/ | title = Alpocalypse Now: 'Weird Al' Yankovic Says 'Twitter Saved My Album' | first = Angela | last = Watercutter | date = 2011-06-20 | access-date = 2011-06-20 | magazine = Wired }} Regarding their popularity, Yankovic has said, "At this point, it's sort of mandatory for me to do a polka medley. Fans would be rioting in the streets, I think, if I didn't do a polka medley." Yankovic has always asked permission from every artist whose songs compose a medley due to royalties issues.{{cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#1298 |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ask Al Archive |publisher=Weirdal.com |date=December 1998 |access-date=2016-02-14}} He acknowledged some influence of Spike Jones in the medleys, such as the sound effects.{{cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#0699 |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ask Al Archive |publisher=Weirdal.com |date=June 1999 |access-date=2016-02-14}}

Four of Yankovic's polka medleys{{em dash}}"Hooked on Polkas", "Polka Power!", "The Hamilton Polka", and "Polkamania!" {{em dash}}have been released as singles (either in international markets or domestically). "Polka Your Eyes Out" and "Polkas on 45" were also the only polkas to appear on a greatest hits album while "Polka Face" and "Polkamania!" are the only polkas to have official videos released for them that are not clips of the original songs' music videos.

In each medley, royalties are paid out to original songwriters according to the percentage of the medley directly attributable to them. What remains is then listed as "Ear Booker Polka" or various other titles so that it may be attributed to Yankovic himself.{{cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#1298 |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ask Al Archive |publisher=Weirdal.com |date=August 1999 |access-date=2024-07-20}}

"Polkas on 45"

{{Infobox song

| name = Polkas on 45

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D

| released = {{Start date|1984|02|28}}

| recorded = December 13, 1983

| genre =

| length = {{duration|m=4|s=23}}

| label = Scotti Brothers

| misc =

}}

"Polkas on 45" is Yankovic's first recorded polka medley. It appears on his second album, In 3-D. This and "The Hot Rocks Polka" are Yankovic's only polka medleys to focus on popular rock songs from the 1960s and 1970s rather than contemporary songs, though "Polkas on 45" includes some of the latter (e.g. Talking Heads and The Police). The song title is a take on the medley-releasing novelty band Stars on 45 and their self-titled 1981 single.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

Notes:

= Personnel =

According to the liner notes of The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic:{{Cite AV media notes |last=Yankovic |first="Weird Al" |title=The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic |date=2009-10-29 |others= |language=English |type=booklet}}

  • "Weird Al" Yankovic – lead & background vocals, accordion, group vocals, hand claps. finger snaps
  • Jim West – group vocals, hand claps. finger snaps
  • Steve Jay – bass guitar, banjo, group vocals, hand claps. finger snaps
  • Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz – drums, sound effects, group vocals, hand claps. finger snaps
  • Warren Luening – trumpet
  • Joel Peskin – clarinet
  • Jim Self – tuba

{{Clear}}

"Hooked on Polkas"

{{Infobox song

| name = Hooked on Polkas

| cover = Hooked On Polkas.jpeg

| caption = The Japanese sleeve of the single

| type = single

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Dare to Be Stupid

| released = {{Start date|1985|06|18}} (Japan only)

{{flatlist|

}}

| recorded = March 25, 1985

| genre = * Comedy

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=51}}

| label = Scotti Brothers

| prev_title = One More Minute

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = Dare to Be Stupid

| next_year = 1986

}}

"Hooked on Polkas" is the second polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appeared on his third album, Dare to Be Stupid. The song was released as a single in Japan.

Its title is a reference to the 1981 record Hooked on Classics, in which very recognizable extracts from classical music pieces were played over a continuous, more disco-style beat.[https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-original-hooked-on-classics-collection-mw0001427203 AllMusic]

The following songs are contained in the medley:

=Single track listing=

  1. "Hooked on Polkas" – 3:51
  2. "I Want a New Duck" – 3:01

{{Clear}}

"Polka Party!"

{{Infobox song

| name = Polka Party!

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Polka Party!

| released = {{Start date|1986|10|21}}

| recorded = August 29, 1986

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=15}}

| label = Scotti Brothers

| writer = "Weird Al" Yankovic

}}

"Polka Party!" is the third polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appears on his fourth album, Polka Party!.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

{{Clear}}Notes:

  • When performing "Polka Party!" live during the opening for The Monkees tour, "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" by Wang Chung would be included between "Shout" and "Papa Don't Preach.{{Citation |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: The Opening for The Monkees Tour - July 22, 1987 Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Audio) | date=29 January 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=285EeCTKSQA |access-date=2023-07-25 |language=en}}
  • During the MTV's New Years Eve 1987 Party, the "Papa Don't Preach" segment is replaced with "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" by Wang Chung.{{Citation |title=Weird Al - "Polka Party" | date=3 January 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv8hYOMzarE |access-date=2023-07-24 |language=en}}

"The Hot Rocks Polka"

{{Infobox song

| name = The Hot Rocks Polka

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = UHF

| released = {{Start date|1989|07|18}}

| recorded = May 24, 1989

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=50}}

| label = Scotti Brothers

| writer =

}}

"The Hot Rocks Polka" is the fourth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appears on his sixth studio album, UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff. All of the songs in "The Hot Rocks Polka" medley are songs by The Rolling Stones, with the addition of Yankovic's "Ear Booker Polka" at the end. The title of the song refers to Hot Rocks 1964-1971, a greatest hits album of The Rolling Stones music.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

{{Clear}}

"Polka Your Eyes Out"

{{Infobox song

| name = Polka Your Eyes Out

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Off the Deep End

| released = {{Start date|1992|04|14}}

| recorded = January 27, 1992

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=50}}

| label = Scotti Brothers

}}

"Polka Your Eyes Out" is the fifth polka medley by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is included on his 1992 album, Off the Deep End, and also on his Greatest Hits Volume 2 compilation. It was first performed in 1991 at the Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary show.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

{{Clear}}

"The Alternative Polka"

{{Infobox song

| name = The Alternative Polka

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Bad Hair Day

| released = {{Start date|1996|03|12}}

| recorded = January 3, 1996

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=50}}

| label = Scotti Brothers

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|fVWjThlEzts|"The Alternative Polka"}}}}

}}

"The Alternative Polka" is the seventh polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appears on his 1996 album, Bad Hair Day. The medley primarily consists of alternative rock songs, with the title being a reference to the genre.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

;Notes

  • "The Alternative Polka" was originally going to have an interpretation of the Weezer song "Buddy Holly" between "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" and "My Friends". However, Rivers Cuomo decided against the idea at the last minute, forcing Yankovic to edit the song out of the medley. Weezer, however, was thanked in the liner notes since the layout had been prepared beforehand. [http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#0796 Ask Al: July/August 1996] retrieved on February 14, 2016 Weezer later allowed Yankovic to include their hit "Beverly Hills" in the polka medley from Straight Outta Lynwood. On August 22, 2009, Yankovic released the "unmixed, physically-deleted-from-the-master-tape 'Buddy Holly' polka" on Twitter and later on YouTube.[https://twitter.com/alyankovic/status/3483949329] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303074955/https://twitter.com/alyankovic/status/3483949329|date=March 3, 2014}}{{cite tweet|number=3484165432|user=alyankovic|title=... Cut out of "The Alternative Polka" at the last minute due to a misunderstanding with Rivers Cuomo... |access-date=July 15, 2015 |date=23 August 2009}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/aXsbVQM8SP4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20101024143246/http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=aXsbVQM8SP4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXsbVQM8SP4| title = "Weird Al" Yankovic - Buddy Holly | website=YouTube| date = 25 June 2010 }}{{cbignore}}{{Clear}}

"Polka Power!"

{{Infobox song

| name = Polka Power!

| type = single

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Running with Scissors

| released = {{Start date|1999|09|26}} (Germany only)

{{flatlist|

}}

| recorded = April 20, 1999

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=20}}

| label =

| prev_title = It's All About the Pentiums

| prev_year = August 4, 1999

| next_title = Pretty Fly for a Rabbi

| next_year = November 22, 1999

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|yugldxpRDMo|"Polka Power!"}}}}

}}

"Polka Power!" is the eighth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appears on his 1999 album, Running with Scissors. The title of the song is a reference to "Girl Power!" a phrase made popular by the Spice Girls, the first act to be featured in the polka.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} The song was released as a single in Germany.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

{{Clear}}

"Angry White Boy Polka"

{{Infobox song

| name = Angry White Boy Polka

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Poodle Hat

| released = {{Start date|2003|05|20}}

| recorded = March 21, 2003

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=5|s=04}}

| label = Volcano

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|vV71Dh5CImI|"Angry White Boy Polka"}}}}

}}

The "Angry White Boy Polka" is the ninth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appears on his 2003 album Poodle Hat and consists of Christian metal, nu metal, rap metal, garage rock, and rap tracks performed primarily by white males; however, members from groups System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine and P.O.D. are multiracial and drummers Meg White of The White Stripes and Stefanie Eulinberg of Kid Rock's band are female. Rage Against the Machine would have their style parodied on the 2006 track "I'll Sue Ya" from Straight Outta Lynwood.

The following are contained in the medley:

;Notes

  • One song that Yankovic wanted to include was Freak on a Leash by Korn, but amongst other songs, it was denied by the band.{{cite web | url=https://consequence.net/2024/07/polkamania-weird-al-polka-medleys/6/ | title=Polkamania: Weird al Breaks Down All 14 of His Polka Medleys | date=19 July 2024 }}

{{clear}}

"Polkarama!"

{{Infobox song

| name = Polkarama!

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Straight Outta Lynwood

| released = {{Start date|2006|09|24}}

| recorded = April 12, 2006

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=17}}

| label = Volcano

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|R5CHql9KVB0|"Polkarama!"}}}}

}}

"Polkarama!" is the tenth polka medley by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on his 2006 album, Straight Outta Lynwood.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

;Notes

  • "Polkarama!" was used as the set opener for Yankovic's 2007-08 Straight Outta Lynwood tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/setlists.htm |title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Concert Set Lists |publisher=Weirdal.com |access-date=2014-05-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722011850/http://www.weirdal.com/setlists.htm |archive-date=2011-07-22 }}
  • Yankovic initially wanted to include a verse of "Photograph" by Nickelback, and even got the band's permission. However, since he was unable "to find a way to incorporate the song into 'Polkarama' where it didn't sound wedged in or tacked on," Yankovic decided not to use it, but still thanked Nickelback in the liner notes for the album.{{cite web | url = http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#060907 | title = Ask Al June 6, 2007 | access-date = 2016-02-14 }}

{{Clear}}

"Polka Face"

{{Infobox song

| name = Polka Face

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Alpocalypse

| released = {{Start date|2011|06|21}}

| recorded = May 8, 2010{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdal.com/rcdgdate.htm |title=Archive of recording dates for Weird Al songs |publisher=weirdal.com |access-date=2014-07-02 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709121948/http://www.weirdal.com/rcdgdate.htm |archive-date=2010-07-09 }}, October 6, 2014

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=47}}

| label = Volcano

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|MRJILK3NxSM|"Polka Face"}}}}

}}

"Polka Face" is the eleventh Weird Al polka medley. It was performed in concert in 2010, and was released on the 2011 album Alpocalypse. The medley consists of then-recent dance-pop, hip hop, and R&B songs. This was the last polka to feature Warren Leuning on the trumpet before his death in 2012.

The following songs are contained in the medley:{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBQypXiZ0-s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/NBQypXiZ0-s |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Live performance of 2010 polka medley|website=YouTube|date=30 June 2010 |access-date=August 11, 2010}}{{cbignore}}

The title is a reference to Lady Gaga's song "Poker Face".

On September 25, 2011, Comedy Central's website Jokes.com premiered an animated music video for this polka medley.[http://comedians.jokes.com/-weird-al--yankovic/videos/weird-al-yankovic---polka-face] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927225131/http://comedians.jokes.com/-weird-al--yankovic/videos/weird-al-yankovic---polka-face|date=September 27, 2011}}

The video features a distinctive animation style for each of the segments of the parody. Some are Flash-animated ("Right Round", "Baby", "Blame It", "Break Your Heart", and "I Kissed a Girl"), created by Wachtenheim/Marianetti Animation of TV Funhouse. Others contain cut-out ("Fireflies"), hand-drawn ("Down"), stop-motion ("Womanizer"), and experimental scribbling animation ("Replay").

=Weekly chart positions=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"| Chart (2011)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"|US Comedy Digital Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2011-07-09/comedy-digital-tracks|title=Comedy Digital Tracks: July 7, 2014|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 8, 2014}}

|6

"Now That's What I Call Polka!"

{{Infobox song

| name = Now That's What I Call Polka!

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album = Mandatory Fun

| released = {{Start date|2014|07|15}}

| recorded = April 15, 2014

| genre = * Comedy

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=06}}

| label = RCA

}}

"Now That's What I Call Polka!" is the twelfth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appears on his 2014 album Mandatory Fun, and the title of the medley is the parody of compilation album series Now That's What I Call Music!. Wayne Bergeron replaces the late Warren Leuning on trumpet.

The following songs are included in the medley:Mandatory Fun (liner notes). "Weird Al" Yankovic. RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2014.

=Weekly chart positions=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"| Chart (2014)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"|US Comedy Digital Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2014-08-02/comedy-digital-tracks|title=Comedy Digital Tracks: August 2, 2014|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 8, 2014}}

|4

"The Hamilton Polka"

{{Infobox song

| name = The Hamilton Polka

| cover = Hamiltonpolkaweirdal.jpg

| type = single

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| album =

| released = {{Start date|2018|03|01}}

| recorded = February 13, 2018

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=5|s=01}}

| label = Atlantic{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDSRgetfkAU |title= The Hamilton Polka |website= YouTube |date= March 1, 2018 |access-date= July 4, 2024}}

| writer = Lin-Manuel Miranda

| prev_title = Captain Underpants Theme Song

| prev_year = 2017

| next_title = Who's Gonna Stop Me

| next_year = 2020

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|oNEdEDbhTQw|"The Hamilton Polka"}}}}

}}

"The Hamilton Polka" is the thirteenth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic, and the first not to be recorded for a studio album of his. It was released on March 1, 2018, as a digital single and is composed primarily of songs from the Broadway musical Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and based on the life of Alexander Hamilton.{{cite web|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|title=Lin-Manuel Miranda, 'Weird Al' Yankovic Talk New 'Hamilton Polka'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/lin-manuel-miranda-weird-al-yankovic-on-hamilton-polka-w517343|website=Rolling Stone|access-date=March 5, 2018|date=March 2, 2018}} The song was released as part of Miranda's "Hamildrop" series.{{cite web|last1=Miranda|first1=Lin-Manuel|title=Hamilton's Hamildrops|url=http://www.hamildrops.com/|website=Hamildrops|access-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180305154418/http://www.hamildrops.com/|archive-date=March 5, 2018|url-status=live}}

The following songs are included in the medley:

"Polkamania!"

{{Infobox song

| name = Polkamania!

| type = single

| artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

| released = {{Start date|2024|07|19}}

| recorded = June 4, 2024

| genre =

| label = Ear Booker

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=06}}

| prev_title = Now You Know

| prev_year = 2022

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|y0ZoX4dBvwk|"Polkamania!"}}}}

}}

"Polkamania!" is the fourteenth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on July 19, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C9ci1R6JyDG/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=www.instagram.com}} On the same day, an animated music video was premiered in the same style of the music video for "Polka Face" featuring animations by Bill Plympton, Vivienne Medrano, Liam Lynch, Victor Yerrid, Cyriak, Wachtenheim/Marianetti Animation, and Ryan Krzak (notable for his popular, fan-made animated music videos for other "Weird Al" songs), as well as numerous other artists.{{cite web |title="Weird Al" Yankovic - Polkamania! (Official Music Video) | date=19 July 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ZoX4dBvwk |via=YouTube |access-date=July 19, 2024}} The medley consists of number-one Billboard Hot 100 hits in the ten years since Yankovic released Mandatory Fun.{{cite web |title='Weird Al' Covers Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish & More in New Song, 'Polkamania |url=https://warm1069.com/weird-al-covers-taylor-swift-billie-eilish-more-in-new-song-polkamania/ |website=warm1069.com|date=22 July 2024 }}

The following songs are included in the medley:

{{Clear}}Notes:

  • According to an interview, Yankovic wanted to include a verse of "Kill Bill" by SZA, but received no response from her.{{cite web | url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/weird-al-yankovic-polkamania-interview-sza | title="Weird Al" Yankovic Returns with a Decade's Worth of Polka Parodies — but Sadly No SZA │ Exclaim! }} The lyrics, though, were mistakenly left in on Apple Music between "Thank U, Next" and "Shake It Off".
  • Another song considered was "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter, but the song was left out due to not hitting number one while Yankovic was working on the medley.{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/weird-al-polkamania-sabrina-carpenter-michael-jackson-389628a124d4d07e4267b17a661e1936 | title=Weird al on new music, Sabrina Carpenter, a decade of 'Mandatory Fun' and 40 years of 'Eat It' | website=Associated Press News | date=19 July 2024 }}

Others

Reception

Yankovic's polka medleys are often well-received by fans, with some calling them "a staple of his albums" and "often featured as a highlight for fans of his unique musical style and comedic sensibilities".{{Cite web |title='Weird Al' Yankovic: Now That's What I Call Polka (Music Video 2020) - Plot |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28506327/plotsummary/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}} However, some polka musicians such as The Dreadnoughts have criticized them, saying that they "unwittingly [teach] the next two generations that polka is just a mashup comedy style".{{Cite web |last=Dreadnoughts |first=The |date=2022-02-21 |title=Polka Might Actually Die |url=https://thedreadnoughts.substack.com/p/polka-might-actually-die |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=Roll And Go: Dreadnoughts Blog}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{"Weird Al" Yankovic}}

{{Authority control}}

Polka medleys

Yankovic

Yankovic

Yankovic

Category:Articles with quotation marks in the title