Weird Al's peculiar times

When Weird Al Yankovic hits the stage in Watertown on Monday at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds Arena, he'll be competing with fireworks across the way at the Watertown Wizards' baseball park. But Mr. Yankovic is used to such clamorous competition as of late.

The musician/comedian who became famous for such musical parodies as "My Bologna" (from The Knack's "My Sharona") and "I Love Rocky Road" (from Joan Jett and the Blackheart's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll") said he finds his specialty being diluted by YouTube, which allows people to easily upload their own parody videos for the world to see.

But that just inspires Mr. Yankovic to stay on his game, as the foremost song parodist from the MTV era competes in the YouTube era.

"I'll do whatever I can to be the best," Mr. Yankovic said last week from a tour stop in New York City. The tour runs through September.

Alfred Matthew Yankovic, 51, was born in Lynwood, Calif. He began playing accordion at age 7 and in his early teens became a fan of the "Dr. Demento" radio show, drawing inspiration from the parodies of Allan Sherman and the musical comedy of Spike Jones, Tom Lehrer and Stan Freberg.

Mr. Yankovic, a three-time Grammy winner, became a staple of the "Dr. Demento" playlist. After graduating from high school, he studied architecture in college at California Polytechnic State University, where he joined the campus radio station and adopted the name "Weird Al."

His first hit was 1979's "My Bologna." After graduating in 1980, he had a hit with "Another One Rides the Bus," a parody of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust."

Mr. Yankovic's debut album in 1983 featured "Ricky" inspired by Toni Basil's hit "Mickey." It became his first big MTV hit.

Mr. Yankovic's second album contained "Eat It," based on Michael Jackson's "Beat It." Mr. Yankovic's video mocked the "Beat It" video scene-for-scene, and opens with: "How come you always such a fussy young man? Don't want no Cap'n Crunch, don't want no Raisin Bran."

Other popular tunes by Mr. Yankovic include "I Lost on Jeopardy" (a send-up of Greg Kihn Band's "Jeopardy"), "Like a Surgeon" (from Madonna's "Like a Virgin"), "King of Suede" (from the Police's "King of Pain") and "Amish Paradise" (from the Coolio hit "Gangsta's Paradise").

In 2006, his "White & Nerdy" (a parody of Chamillionaire's "Ridin'") went platinum and spawned a music video that was number one for five straight weeks on iTunes and VH-1.

Mr. Yankovic said he's working on a new album that is three-quarters done and should be completed in the fall.

He's also working on a children's book, partially inspired by his 7-year-old daughter. "When I Grow Up" will be published by HarperCollins in the winter of 2011.

Mr. Yankovic said that young spirit reflected in his book is what he likes most about his job.

"I don't have to grow up," he said. "I don't have to be an adult. I've always been passionate about music and comedy and I feel blessed to be able to do both for a living."

He said his concerts are "family friendly" with that mix of comedy and music along with several costume changes. He travels with the same band he's had since the early 1980s, he said. Half the concert is parodies and the other half is original material.

Mr. Yankovic said he listens to music for pleasure, not just for comedic inspiration.

"Icanlisten to music without thinking, 'How can I screw this one up?'" he said. "I can turn off that part of my brain."

For pleasure he enjoys independent/alternative music.

"Something left of center," he said.

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THE DETAILS

WHAT: Weird Al Yankovic

WHERE/WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds Arena in Watertown.

COST: Tickets are $35 and $50. Advance tickets are available at Big Apple Music, 119 Sand St.; Bolton's Pharmacy, 128 W. Main St.; and at The Soundgarden, Armory Square, Syracuse. Tickets also may be purchased online at www.ampentertainment.net.