List of "Weird Al" Yankovic polka medleys

"Polka Medleys" are the trademark of American singer, musician, satirist, parodist, songwriter, and accordionist "Weird Al" Yankovic. They have appeared on nine of his twelve albums. Only his debut album ""Weird Al" Yankovic", "Even Worse", and "Alapalooza" do not contain a true medley (although the latter contains a polka version of "Bohemian Rhapsody"). The medleys are composed of various songs, each one reinterpreted as a polka, 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." Because the polkas have become a staple of Yankovic's albums, he has said he tries to include one on each album because "fans would be rioting in the streets, I think, if I didn't do a polka medley."

Yankovic always asks permission to every artist in the medley, especially due to royalties issues, [ [http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#1298 Ask Al: December 1998] ] and acknowledged some influence of Spike Jones in the medleys, such as the sound effects. [ [http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0699 Ask Al: June 1998] ]

Two of Yankovic's singles, "Hooked on Polkas" and "Polka Power!" were released as singles in Japan and Germany respectively.

Polkas on 45

Infobox Song
Name = Polkas on 45
Type = Song
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
track_no = 6
Recorded = December 13, 1983
Released = February 28, 1984
Format = Cassette, CD, Vinyl (12")
Genre = Comedy
Length = 4:23
Label = Scotti Brothers
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Polkas on 45" is the first polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appeared on his second album ""Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D". Its title is a reference to Dutch novelty medley act Stars on 45. It was based on an earlier medley he performed in 1982 while promoting his debut album, ""Weird Al" Yankovic".

The following songs are contained in the medley:
*"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
*"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

Notes

*A pre-album version of "Polkas on 45", from a concert in 1983, included "Der Komissar" between "Smoke On The Water" and "Sex (I'm A...)", "1999" by Prince and "Bad Boys Get Spanked" in place of "Burning Down the House", and "She Blinded Me With Science" and "Stairway To Heaven" in place of "Should I stay or Should I Go", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", and "My Generation".
*The intro that segues into "Jocko Homo" is an up-tempo version of the "Beer Barrel Polka".

Hooked on Polkas

Infobox Single
Name = Hooked on Polkas


Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = Dare to Be Stupid
Released = June 18, 1985
Format = Cassette, CD, Vinyl (12")
track_no = 11
Recorded = March 25, 1985
Genre = Comedy
Length = 3:51
Label = Scotti Brothers
Last single = "One More Minute" (1985)
This single = "Hooked on Polkas" (1985)
Next single = "Dare to Be Stupid" (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 exclusively 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 was 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!", and "Polkarama!")

The following songs are contained in the medley:
*"12th Street Rag" by Pee Wee Hunt
*"State of Shock" by Mick Jagger & Tina Turner, originally by The Jacksons
*"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
*"Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" by Quiet Riot
*"Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
*"Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Track listing

The following songs are on the Japanese single:

#"Hooked on Polkas" - 3:51
#"I Want a New Duck" - 3:01

Polka Party!

Infobox Song
Name = Polka Party!
Type = Song
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = Polka Party!
Released = October 21, 1986
Format = Cassette, CD, Vinyl (12")
track_no = 5
Recorded = August 28, 1986
Genre = Comedy
Length = 3:15
Label = Scotti Brothers"Polka Party!" was the third polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appeared on his fourth album, "Polka Party!". Due to the fact that "Polka Party!" (the album) was a commercial failure, "Polka Party!" (the song) is one of Yankovic's least known medleys.Fact|date=October 2008

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

Infobox Song
Name = The Hot Rocks Polka
Type = Song
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = UHF
track_no = 5
from Album = UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack And Other Stuff
Released = July 18, 1989
Format = Cassette, CD, Vinyl (12" & 7")
Recorded = May 25, 1989
Genre = Comedy
Length = 4:50
Label = Scotti Brothers"The Hot Rocks Polka" is the fourth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appeared 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. The title of the song refers to "Hot Rocks 1964-1971", a greatest hits album of The Rolling Stones.

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

Infobox Song
Name = Polka Your Eyes Out
track_no = 4
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = Off the Deep End
Recorded = January 27, 1992
Released = April, 1992
Format = Cassette, CD
Genre = Comedy
Length = 3:50
Label = Scotti Brothers"Polka Your Eyes Out" is the fifth polka medley by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was included on his 1992 album, "Off the Deep End". It is the only polka medley to date which appears on one of Al's greatest hits albums. 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 Suzanne Vega
*"Love Shack" by The B-52's
*"Clarinet Polka" (Public domain)
*"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

Infobox Song
Name = Bohemian Polka
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = Alapalooza
Released = October 5, 1993
track_no = 12
Recorded = July 17, 1993
Format = Cassette, CD
Genre = Comedy
Length = 3:39
Label = Scotti Brothers

"Bohemian Polka" is a polka rendition of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"; at the time of the album's production, "Rhapsody"'s use in the comedy movie "Wayne's World" (as well as the recent death of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury) had returned the song to popularity. As "Bohemian Polka" contains a polka cover of just one complete song, it is arguably not an official medley. "Bohemian Polka" does, however, mix "Bohemian Rhapsody" with original polka elements from the "Ear Booker Polka". Yankovic's official website has categorized "Bohemian Polka" as a polka medley.

The following songs are contained in the medley:
*"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
*"Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

The Alternative Polka

Infobox Song
Name = The Alternative Polka
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = Bad Hair Day
Released = March 12, 1996
track_no = 5
Format = Cassette, CD
Recorded = January 3, 1996
Genre = Alternative rock, comedy
Length = 4:50
Label = Scotti Brothers

"The Alternative Polka" is the sixth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appeared on his 1996 album, "Bad Hair Day". The medley is primarily consists of alternative rock songs, and the title is a take on the genre's name.

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 interpolation of the Weezer song "Buddy Holly" between "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" & "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://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0796 Ask Al: July/August 1996] " retrieved on September 15, 2007] Weezer later allowed Al to include their hit "Beverly Hills" in the polka medley on "Straight Outta Lynwood".
*The "Closer" section of the polka was censored using humorous sound effects. The first line is "I wanna (poink) you like an animal" and the second is "I wanna (bong) you like an animal".

Polka Power!

Infobox Single
Name = Polka Power!
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic


Album = Running with Scissors
Released = June 29, 1999
track_no = 7
Recorded = April 20, 1999
Format = Cassette, CD
Genre = Comedy/Rock
Length = 4:21
Label = Volcano
Last single = "It's All about the Pentiums"
(1999)
This single = "Polka Power!"
(1999)
Next single = "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi"
(1999)

"Polka Power!" is the seventh polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appeared on his 1999 album "Running with Scissors". The song was exclusively 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, Ol' Dirty Bastard & 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

Track listing

The following songs are on the German single:

# "Polka Power!" - 4:21

Angry White Boy Polka

Infobox Song
Name = Angry White Boy Polka
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = Poodle Hat
Released = May 20, 2003
track_no = 5
Format = Cassette, CD
Recorded = March 21, 2003
Genre = Comedy
Length = 5:04
Label = Volcano

The "Angry White Boy Polka" is the eighth polka medley recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It appeared on his 2003 album "Poodle Hat".

It is mainly comprised of nu metal and alternative rock, capped off with a polka-fied version of rapper, and titular "angry white boy", Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady".

The following songs 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
*"W.A.Y. Moby Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Notes

*During the "Last Resort" segment, the word "fuck" is replaced with a slide whistle sound effect.
*During the "Down with the Sickness" segment, the phrase "you fucker" is replaced with a short silence, then "Get up!"

Polkarama!

Infobox Song
Name = Polkarama!
Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = Straight Outta Lynwood
Released = September 24, 2006
Format = Cassette, CD
track_no = 5
Recorded = April 12, 2006
Genre = Comedy
Length = 4:17
Label = Volcano

"Polkarama!" is the ninth, and to this date, latest 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 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
*"Don't Cha" by Pussycat Dolls
*"Somebody Told Me" by The Killers
*"Slither" by Velvet Revolver
*"Candy Shop" by 50 Cent
*"Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg
*"Pon de Replay" by Rihanna
*"Gold Digger" by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
*"W.A.Y. Moby Polka by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Notes

*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://www.weirdal.com/aa.htm | work = | title = Ask Al June 9, 2007 | accessdate = 2008-02-07 ]

*Yankovic includes the radio edit of "Gold Digger," singing the line "she ain't messing with no broke, broke," rather than the unedited "she ain't messing with no broke niggas," line.

Other Polka Medleys

*A 1982 polka medley is believed to be the first official Yankovic polka medley. It included parts of the songs "Jocko Homo" by DEVO, "Homosapien" by Pete Shelley, "Sex Junkie" by Plasmatics, "TV O.D.", "Bad Boys Get Spanked" by The Pretenders, "TV Party" by Black Flag, "Janitor", and "People Who Died" by Jim Carroll. ("Jocko Homo" was later re-used in the "Polkas On 45".)
*An extended version of "Polkas On 45" containing parts of "Der Komissar" (Falco), "1999" (Prince), "Bad Boys Get Spanked", "She Blinded Me With Science" (Thomas Dolby), and "Stairway to Heaven" (Led Zeppelin) was performed in concert in 1984.
*The uncut version of the "Alternative Polka" (including the "Buddy Holly" verse) was scheduled to be released on the "Gump" single.Fact|date=October 2008 However it wasn't included, and to this day remains unreleased.
*In 2000, Yankovic recorded an original non-medley polka song, entitled "Polkamon", for the "" soundtrack.

ee also

*List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic
*Polkamon

References