For a few years now, my partner and I have been eager to take our soon-to-be 13-year-old daughter to her very first live concert. We thought she’d love to see legends like Paul McCartney (she adored The Beatles when she was younger), Imagine Dragons (definitely more her style), or even Taylor Swift (hey, she’s a solid role model). But no, she turned them all down and opted for—wait for it—Weird Al Yankovic.
“Really?” I asked, a bit perplexed. “Why him?”
“Because he’s hilarious and super nerdy,” she replied. “My friends and I are obsessed with ‘Word Crimes.’”
It turns out my daughter isn’t alone in her love for Weird Al. His Mandatory Fun tour has been selling out at venues across the country, including the one we attended in the D.C. suburbs last June. Surprisingly, even though I’ve never heard his songs on the radio, my daughter and the entire audience—myself included—could sing along to just about every track.
Maybe it’s because Weird Al has been a staple of pop culture for decades. He’s been referenced on shows like The Big Bang Theory and has made guest appearances in nearly every animated series my daughter has seen—like The Simpsons, Adventure Time, and even some classic Scooby Doo episodes from her childhood.
As for me, I have my own memories of Weird Al, especially the first time I heard “My Bologna.” At 15, when “My Sharona” was all the rage, I was struck by its boldness, its suggestive drumbeat feeling almost like a mating call. So, who thought to turn it into a song about a sandwich? Then came “I Love Rocky Road” and “Eat It,” and everything clicked. Weird Al was my first introduction to parody, and it seems my daughter has picked up on sarcasm and parody much earlier than I did—though I suppose that’s not surprising since she’s been reading Mad magazine since she was 11!
When we arrived at the concert, she wanted to check out the “merch,” and boy, was there a line! It was longer than any I’d seen at concerts featuring Robert Plant or the Rolling Stones. The venue was packed with parents and their tweens, and I spotted a few of her schoolmates, confirming that this was the place to be for middle schoolers.
As we settled into our seats, my daughter, who usually has the attention span of a gnat, was practically vibrating with anticipation. “When does it start?” she asked repeatedly. And when Weird Al burst onto the stage singing “Tacky,” it was impossible not to grin. I glanced at her, and she was doing exactly what every other kid was doing—capturing the moment on her phone.
Throughout the show, I noticed that Weird Al had traded in his usual Hawaiian shirt for a series of elaborate costumes. When he and the band appeared dressed as DEVO, I had a fleeting hope that she might recognize them, thanks to Weird Al. Spoiler alert: she didn’t. However, she knew the stories behind “Eat It” and “Another One Rides The Bus.” Our family favorite is “Smells Like Nirvana,” and I was relieved she actually knew about Nirvana and Kurt Cobain, all thanks to Weird Al. At one point, I overheard her asking my partner, “Did you ever see Nirvana?” He had, and for once, she was impressed—what a twist!
The final song before the encore was “Word Crimes,” a clever take on how texting and spell check are ruining grammar for a generation. I told her her English teacher should show that video in class. “She has,” my daughter replied. No wonder kids adore Weird Al!
After the concert, we made a pit stop for merch, and unsurprisingly, my Mad magazine enthusiast picked out a T-shirt featuring Weird Al and Alfred E. Neuman.
On the ride home, I asked if she’d be interested in attending another concert in the future. “Maybe,” she said, “if Weird Al comes back here again.”
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In summary, my daughter’s first concert experience was a delightful surprise, highlighting the joy of discovering music together, even when it’s not what I expected. Who knew Weird Al could be such a hit?