"Weird Al" Yankovic

Solo Artist

Photo: Kyle Cassidy · CC BY-SA 4.0
Active 1976-present
Origin Downey, California
Albums 14
Tracks 163
Most frequent collaborator Rick Derringer · 68 tracks
Genres ComedyParodyComedy Rock
Artist
92%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 150 of 163 tracks

Does "Weird Al" Yankovic write his own songs?

More than people assume. He is credited on 151 of the 163 tracks across fourteen albums and is the only writer on 85 of them. The parodies share credit with the writers of the original song, and the twelve polka medleys carry no credit for him at all.

By the Numbers

14
Studio Albums
163
Tracks Credited
92%
Self-Written
50
Years Active
225
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 150 / 163 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 163 tracks: how many "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

"Weird Al" Yankovic has a writing credit92%
52%
40%
8%
Sole author85tracks52%
Co-written65tracks40%
Outside writers13tracks8%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
"Weird Al" Yankovic's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 163 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)92%
Composer (music)92%
Producer58%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

"Weird Al" Yankovic's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 92%
100%
91%
82%
80%
100%
92%
91%
100%
92%
92%
92%
92%
92%
92%
1983"Weird Al" Yankovic
1984"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
1985Dare to Be Stupid
1986Polka Party!
1988Even Worse
1989UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff
1992Off the Deep End
1993Alapalooza
1996Bad Hair Day
1999Running with Scissors
2003Poodle Hat
2006Straight Outta Lynwood
2011Alpocalypse
2014Mandatory Fun
Early · 91% written
Mid · 93% written
Late · 92% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

91%
1980s
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D +4 more
94%
1990s
Off the Deep End, Alapalooza +2 more
92%
2000s
Poodle Hat, Straight Outta Lynwood
92%
2010s
Alpocalypse, Mandatory Fun

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where "Weird Al" Yankovic sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

"Weird Al" Yankovic
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Reba McEntire6%
Ricky Martin25%
New Kids on the Block38%
Cyndi Lauper60%
UB4071%
Heart84%
Barenaked Ladies100%
92%"Weird Al" Yankovic
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Ricky
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Written by Mike Chapman, Nicky Chinn, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
Eat It
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
Written by Michael Jackson, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
King of Suede
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
Written by Sting, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Gordon Sumner, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
I Lost on Jeopardy
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
Written by Greg Kihn, Steve Wright, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Gregory Kihn, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
Like a Surgeon
Dare to Be Stupid
Written by Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly, "Weird Al" Yankovic, William Steinberg, Thomas Kelly, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
Fat
Even Worse
Written by Michael Jackson, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
Smells Like Nirvana
Off the Deep End
Written by Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, "Weird Al" Yankovic, David Grohl, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
Amish Paradise
Bad Hair Day
Written by Coolio, Doug Rasheed, L.V., Stevie Wonder, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Artis Ivey Jr., Larry Sanders, Stevland Morris, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
White & Nerdy
Straight Outta Lynwood
Written by Chamillionaire, Juan Salinas, Oscar Salinas, Krayzie Bone, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Hakeem Seriki, Anthony Henderson, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote
Canadian Idiot
Straight Outta Lynwood
Written by Billie Joe Armstrong, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Co-wrote

Discography 14 albums

All fourteen studio albums, including the 1989 UHF soundtrack, which the discography lists as a studio album. The compilations, live records and box sets sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

"Weird Al" Yankovic163 tracks
RD68Rick Derringer, 68 tracks 3Pharrell Williams, 3 tracks 2Michael Jackson, 2 tracks 2Sting, 2 tracks on The Police's page 2Gordon Sumner, 2 tracks RC2Ritchie Cordell, 2 tracks T2T.I., 2 tracks CH2Clifford Harris Jr., 2 tracks on T.I.'s page MC1Mike Chapman, 1 track NC1Nicky Chinn, 1 track AM1Alan Merrill, 1 track JH1Jake Hooker, 1 track TP1Tom Petty, 1 track MC1Mike Campbell, 1 track on Tom Petty's page DF1Doug Fieger, 1 track BA1Berton Averre, 1 track JD1John Deacon, 1 track on Queen's page WY1While Yankovic wrote new lyrics for the song, 1 track OF1on February 2, 1 track HT1he transferred copyright of the parody to John Deacon. This is reflected in the liner notes for the album itself, 1 track WL1which lists only Deacon as the parody's writer., 1 track G1group="nb", 1 track ID1Ivan Doroschuk, 1 track SS1Sherwood Schwartz, 1 track FD1Frank De Vol, 1 track GK1Greg Kihn, 1 track SW1Steve Wright, 1 track GK1Gregory Kihn, 1 track FS1Frankie Sullivan, 1 track on Survivor's page JP1Jim Peterik, 1 track on Survivor's page FS1Frank Sullivan, 1 track JP1James Peterik, 1 track BS1Billy Steinberg, 1 track TK1Tom Kelly, 1 track WS1William Steinberg, 1 track TK1Thomas Kelly, 1 track CH1Chris Hayes, 1 track HL1Huey Lewis, 1 track CH1Christopher Hayes, 1 track HC1Hugh Cregg III, 1 track RD1Ray Davies, 1 track RD1Raymond Davies, 1 track SW1Stan Worth, 1 track SA1Sheldon Allman, 1 track RH1Robert Hazard, 1 track DH1Dan Hartman, 1 track CM1Charlie Midnight, 1 track AY1Alfred Yankovic, 1 track DH1Daniel Hartman, 1 track RP1Robert Palmer, 1 track PW1Peter Wolf, 1 track IW1Ina Wolf, 1 track DH1Daryl Hohl, 1 track MJ1Mick Jagger, 1 track on The Rolling Stones's page DS1David Stewart, 1 track MJ1Michael Jagger, 1 track RC1Rudy Clark, 1 track TJ1Tommy James, 1 track BG1Bo Gentry, 1 track BB1Bobby Bloom, 1 track RB1Robert Bloom, 1 track MK1Mark Knopfler, 1 track PH1Paul Henning, 1 track DV1Delicious Vinyl, 1 track MR1Michael Ross, 1 track MD1Matthew Dike, 1 track RG1Roland Gift, 1 track DS1David Steele, 1 track BB1Bill Berry, 1 track on R.E.M.'s page PB1Peter Buck, 1 track on R.E.M.'s page MM1Mike Mills, 1 track on R.E.M.'s page MS1Michael Stipe, 1 track on R.E.M.'s page WB1William Berry, 1 track MM1Michael Mills, 1 track JS1John Stipe, 1 track KC1Kurt Cobain, 1 track on Nirvana's page DG1Dave Grohl, 1 track on Nirvana's page KN1Krist Novoselic, 1 track on Nirvana's page DG1David Grohl, 1 track MH1MC Hammer, 1 track RJ1Rick James, 1 track AM1Alonzo Miller, 1 track SB1Stanley Burrell, 1 track JJ1James Johnson Jr., 1 track MS1Maurice Starr, 1 track LJ1Larry Johnson, 1 track CC1Christian Carlos Warren, 1 track GM1Gerardo Mejia, 1 track AS1Alberto Slezynger, 1 track RS1Rosa Soy, 1 track FF1Frank Farian, 1 track BN1B. Nail, 1 track DW1Diane Warren, 1 track JW1Jimmy Webb, 1 track AK1Anthony Kiedis, 1 track on Red Hot Chili Peppers's page JF1John Frusciante, 1 track on Red Hot Chili Peppers's page F1Flea, 1 track on Red Hot Chili Peppers's page CS1Chad Smith, 1 track on Red Hot Chili Peppers's page M"1Michael "Flea" Balzary, 1 track DV1Don Von Tress, 1 track ST1Steven Tyler, 1 track on Aerosmith's page JP1Joe Perry, 1 track on Aerosmith's page MH1Mark Hudson, 1 track AP1Anthony Pereira, 1 track FM1Freddie Mercury, 1 track on Queen's page C1Coolio, 1 track DR1Doug Rasheed, 1 track L1L.V., 1 track SW1Stevie Wonder, 1 track AI1Artis Ivey Jr., 1 track LS1Larry Sanders, 1 track SM1Stevland Morris, 1 track B1Bono, 1 track on U2's page TE1The Edge, 1 track on U2's page AC1Adam Clayton, 1 track on U2's page LM1Larry Mullen Jr., 1 track on U2's page PH1Paul Hewson, 1 track DE1David Evans, 1 track LM1Laurence Mullen Jr., 1 track CB1Chris Ballew, 1 track CB1Christopher Ballew, 1 track DP1Dave Pirner, 1 track DP1David Pirner, 1 track ME1Marqueze Etheridge, 1 track LL1Lisa Lopes, 1 track on TLC's page ON1Organized Noize, 1 track DM1Don McLean, 1 track DM1Donald McLean III, 1 track DH1Dexter Holland, 1 track on The Offspring's page BH1Bryan Holland, 1 track ER1Ed Robertson, 1 track on Barenaked Ladies's page SC1Sean Combs, 1 track on Puff Daddy's page SL1Sheek Louch, 1 track J1Jadakiss, 1 track SP1Styles P, 1 track TN1The Notorious B.I.G., 1 track LK1Lil' Kim, 1 track D1D-Dot, 1 track SJ1Sean Jacobs, 1 track JP1Jason Phillips, 1 track DS1David Styles, 1 track CW1Christopher Wallace, 1 track on The Notorious B.I.G.'s page DA1Deric Angelettie, 1 track SP1Steve Perry, 1 track on Journey's page SP1Stephen Perry, 1 track BB1Bass Brothers, 1 track E1Eminem, 1 track LR1Luis Resto, 1 track JB1Jeffrey Bass, 1 track MM1Marshall Mathers III, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 218. RD Rick Derringer · RC Ritchie Cordell

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The catalogue splits three ways. On 85 tracks he is the only writer, which are the originals and the style pastiches nobody else has a claim on. On 66 more he shares with the writers of the song he is parodying, which is how "Eat It" carries Michael Jackson's name and "Smells Like Nirvana" carries Kurt Cobain's. Then there are the 12 accordion polka medleys, credited to various writers and not to him at all.

Quick Facts

  • His share151 of the 163 album tracks carry his name
  • Alone 85 timesMore than half the catalogue is his and his only
  • The parodies66 tracks share credit with the original songwriters
  • The polkas12 medleys carry no Yankovic writing credit at all
  • GrammysFive wins and eleven further nominations
  • Number oneMandatory Fun, 32 years into his career

Creative Fingerprint

A parodist who writes more of his own songs than the ones he borrows.

The Story

Yankovic is credited on 151 of the 163 album tracks and writes 85 of them alone. The 12 with no credit are the polka medleys, where he arranges everybody else's hits and claims none of them.

Awards & Recognition

Five Grammy Awards, with eleven further nominations
Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for Mandatory Fun (57th Annual Grammy Awards)

Frequently Asked Questions "Weird Al" Yankovic

Does "Weird Al" Yankovic write his own songs?
More than people assume. He is credited on 151 of the 163 tracks across fourteen albums and is the only writer on 85 of them. The parodies share credit with the writers of the original song, and the twelve polka medleys carry no credit for him at all.
Who is credited on a parody?
Yankovic and the writers of the song being parodied. "Eat It" credits him with Michael Jackson, "Smells Like Nirvana" with Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl.
What are the polka medleys?
Accordion medleys of recent hits, one on almost every album since 1984. Twelve of them exist and none carries a Yankovic writing credit, because he wrote none of the songs in them.
Which songs are entirely his?
Eighty five of them, including "Dare to Be Stupid", "One More Minute", "You Don't Love Me Anymore" and "Albuquerque". These are the originals and style pastiches rather than parodies of specific songs.
How many albums has he released?
Fourteen studio albums between 1983 and 2014, counting the 1989 UHF soundtrack, which the discography lists as a studio album.
Which single did best in America?
"White & Nerdy" reached number 9 on the Hot 100 and "Eat It" number 12.
Has he won Grammys?
Five, with eleven further nominations. Mandatory Fun won Best Comedy Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
Did he ever have a number one album?
Mandatory Fun in 2014, 32 years into his recording career, and it is his only one.
Does he need permission to make a parody?
Legally the parodies could qualify as fair use, but he has always asked the original artist first as a matter of practice.
Who produced his records?
Rick Derringer produced the first six albums. Yankovic has produced everything from Off the Deep End in 1992 onwards.

Sources

Wikipedia: "Weird Al" Yankovic Wikipedia: "Weird Al" Yankovic discography