New York, July 19: Ten years ago, “Weird Al” Yankovic made history, as he is wont to do. “Mandatory Fun,” his 14th and final studio album, hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was not only unprecedented for Yankovic, but unprecedented for his genre as a whole: Never before had a comedy album reached the top spot. And in the decade since, it has never happened again.
“I know it feels ironic to decide to stop making albums after having had a number one album,” Yankovic told The Associated Press over Zoom. “But I just like the freedom of being able to really use whatever I want, whenever I want, and not have to be beholden to a label.”
As an exercise of that freedom, and to celebrate 10 years of “Mandatory Fun,” Yankovic has released a new polka medley, “Polkamania!,” a creative cover of some of the biggest songs of the last decade: Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” Adele’s “Hello,” Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Disney’s “Encanto,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire,” Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP,” Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” and Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.”
The interview, in which Yankovic discusses the anniversary, the new song, and just what makes the accordion a funny instrument, has been edited for clarity and brevity.
