List of "Weird Al" Yankovic polka medleys

Medleys of cover songs in polka style are a distinguishing part of the catalog of American musician, satirist, parodist, and songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. They have appeared on twelve of his fourteen albums; his self-titled debut album and Even Worse do not contain medleys.

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. Yankovic has been known to say that converting these songs to polka was "...the way God intended."^[1] 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."^[2] 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."^[1] Yankovic has always asked permission from every artist whose songs compose a medley due to royalties issues.^[3] He acknowledged some influence of Spike Jones in the medleys, such as the sound effects.^[4]

Two of Yankovic's polka medleys, "Hooked on Polkas" and "Polka Power!" were released as singles in Japan and Germany respectively. "Polka Your Eyes Out" and "Polkas on 45" were also the only polkas to appear on a greatest hits album and "Polka Face" is the only polka to have an official video released for it.

"Polkas on 45"

"Polkas on 45" is Yankovic's first 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 60s and 70s rather than contemporary songs, though "Polkas on 45" includes some of the latter. 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:

• "Beer Barrel Polka" by Jaromír Vejvoda
• "Jocko Homo" by Devo
• "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple
• "Sex (I'm A...)" by Berlin
• "Hey Jude" by The Beatles
• "L.A. Woman" by The Doors
• "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly
• "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix
• "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads
• "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner
• "Bubbles in the Wine" by Bob Calame (1913–1967), Lawrence Welk's long-standing theme song
• "Every Breath You Take" by The Police
• "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash
• "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones
• "My Generation" by The Who
• "Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Hooked on Polkas"

"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. This is the first polka medley to use "Shave and a Haircut", which is heard at the end of "Ear Booker Polka". (Other Yankovic polka medleys that have used "Shave and a Haircut" include "The Alternative Polka", "Polka Power!", "Polkarama!", and "Polka Face".)

The following songs are contained in the medley:

• "Twelfth Street Rag" by Euday L. Bowman
• "State of Shock" by The Jacksons and Mick Jagger
• "Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top
• "What's Love Got to Do with It" by Tina Turner
• "Method of Modern Love" by Hall & Oates
• "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes
• "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister
• "99 Luftballons" by Nena
• "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins
• "The Reflex" by Duran Duran
• "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)" by Quiet Riot
• "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
• "Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Single track listing

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

"Polka Party!"

"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:

• "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel
• "Sussudio" by Phil Collins
• "Party All the Time" by Eddie Murphy
• "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie
• "Freeway of Love" by Aretha Franklin
• "What You Need" by INXS
• "Harlem Shuffle" by The Rolling Stones, originally by Bob & Earl
• "Venus" by Bananarama, originally by Shocking Blue
• "Nasty" by Janet Jackson
• "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco
• "Shout" by Tears for Fears
• "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna
• "Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"The Hot Rocks Polka"

"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. Almost all of the songs in "The Hot Rocks Polka" medley are songs by The Rolling Stones (the exception being "Ear Booker Polka"). 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:

• "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)"
• "Brown Sugar"
• "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
• "Honky Tonk Women"
• "Under My Thumb"
• "Ruby Tuesday"
• "Miss You"
• "Sympathy for the Devil"
• "Get Off of My Cloud"
• "Shattered"
• "Let's Spend the Night Together"
• "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
• "Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Polka Your Eyes Out"

"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 originally performed in 1991 on the Dr. Demento show.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

• "Cradle of Love" by Billy Idol
• "Tom's Diner" by DNA featuring Suzanne Vega
• "Love Shack" by The B-52's
• "Clarinet Polka" by A. Humpfat
• "Pump Up the Jam" by Technotronic
• "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M.
• "Unbelievable" by EMF
• "Do Me!" by Bell Biv DeVoe
• "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
• "The Humpty Dance" by Digital Underground
• "Cherry Pie" by Warrant
• "Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson
• "I Touch Myself" by Divinyls
• "Dr. Feelgood" by Mötley Crüe
• "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice
• "Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Bohemian Polka"

"Bohemian Polka" is a polka rendition of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". Yankovic's official website has categorized "Bohemian Polka" as a polka medley.^[5]

The following songs are contained in the medley:

• "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
• "Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"The Alternative Polka"

"The Alternative Polka" is the sixth 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:

• "Loser" by Beck
• "Sex Type Thing" by Stone Temple Pilots
• "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow
• "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails
• "Bang and Blame" by R.E.M.
• "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette
• "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" by The Smashing Pumpkins
• "My Friends" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• "I'll Stick Around" by Foo Fighters
• "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden
• "Basket Case" by Green Day
• "Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

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.^[6] Weezer later allowed Al to include their hit "Beverly Hills" in the polka medley from Straight Outta Lynwood. On August 22, 2009, Al released the "unmixed, physically-deleted-from-the-master-tape 'Buddy Holly' polka" on Twitter.^[7][8][9]

"Polka Power!"

"Polka Power!" is the seventh 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. The song was released as a single in Germany.

The following songs are contained in the medley:

• "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls
• "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger
• "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" by Pras featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa
• "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by the Backstreet Boys
• "Walkin' on the Sun" by Smash Mouth
• "Intergalactic" by the Beastie Boys
• "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba
• "Ray of Light" by Madonna
• "Push" by Matchbox Twenty
• "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind
• "The Dope Show" by Marilyn Manson
• "MMMBop" by Hanson
• "Sex and Candy" by Marcy Playground
• "Closing Time" by Semisonic
• "W.A.Y. Moby Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Angry White Boy Polka"

The "Angry White Boy Polka" is the eighth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appears on his 2003 album Poodle Hat and consists of nu metal, rap metal, garage rock and rap tracks performed primarily by white male vocalists, however the frontmen from groups System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, and P.O.D. are multi-racial.

The following are contained in the medley:

• "Last Resort" by Papa Roach
• "Chop Suey!" by System of a Down
• "Get Free" by The Vines
• "Hate to Say I Told You So" by The Hives
• "Fell in Love with a Girl" by The White Stripes
• "Last Nite" by The Strokes
• "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed
• "Renegades of Funk" by Rage Against the Machine, originally by Afrika Bambaataa
• "My Way" by Limp Bizkit
• "Outside" by Staind
• "Bawitdaba" by Kid Rock
• "Youth of the Nation" by P.O.D.
• "The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem
• "Poodle Hat Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Clips from the music videos of each song are compiled in the video for "Angry White Boy Polka".

"Polkarama!"

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

The following songs are contained in the medley:

• "Chicken Dance" by Werner Thomas
• "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas
• "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand
• "Beverly Hills" by Weezer
• "Speed of Sound" by Coldplay
• "Float On" by Modest Mouse
• "Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz featuring De La Soul
• "Don't Cha" by Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
• "Somebody Told Me" by The Killers
• "Slither" by Velvet Revolver
• "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent featuring Olivia
• "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell
• "Pon de Replay" by Rihanna
• "Gold Digger" by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
• "The Nina Bobina Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Notes

• "Polkarama!" was used as the set opener for Yankovic's 2007-08 Straight Outta Lynwood tour.^[10]
• 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.^[11]

"Polka Face"

"Polka Face" is the tenth Weird Al polka medley. It was performed in concert in 2010, and was released on the 2011 album Alpocalypse. The medley consists of recent dance-pop, hip hop, and R&B songs. The following songs are contained in the medley:^[13]

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.^[14]

The video features a distinctive animation style for each of the segments of the parody. Some of them are crude: Flash-animated, for example ("Right Round", "Baby", "Blame It", "Break Your Heart", and "I Kissed a Girl"); some others feature cut-out ("Fireflies"), hand-drawn ("Down") and experimental scribbling animation ("Replay"), while only one used stop-motion animation ("Womanizer").

Weekly chart positions

"Now That's What I Call Polka!"

"Now That's What I Call Polka!" is the eleventh 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!. The following songs are included in the medley:^[16]

Weekly chart positions

Other polka medleys

• A 1986 television special "Weird Al's Guide to the Grammys" featured Al and fellow accordionist Frankie Yankovic (no relation) performing a short polka medley of Grammy nominees. It included the songs "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen, "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits, "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley, "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News and "We Are the World" by USA for Africa.^[18]
• The uncut version of the "Alternative Polka" (including the "Buddy Holly" verse) was scheduled to be released on the "Gump" single, but it wasn't included. However, on August 22, 2009, Yankovic released the "Buddy Holly" portion of The Alternative Polka on Twitter.^[19]
• In 1992, Yankovic recorded an original non-medley polka song, entitled Polka Patterns, for the PBS Kids show, Square One Television.
• In 2000, Yankovic recorded an original non-medley polka song, entitled "Polkamon", for the Pokémon: The Movie 2000 soundtrack.
• In 2014, Yankovic performed two songs resembling a polka (one being "The Goof Off") in a guest appearance in Pinkie Pride, an episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

See also

• List of songs recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic

References