Weird Al Yankovic on iron lungs, flossing and karaoke

Brian Donaldson

16 September 2015

Set to unleash his Mandatory tour, the comedy song star takes our First & Last quiz

Back in 1985, when The List was a mere magazine toddler being gently encouraged into the print world, Weird Al Yankovic was releasing his third comedy album. Now back on tour, he tells us who he’d thank when he wins that inevitable Oscar …

First thing you think of when someone says the year '1985'

Dare to Be Stupid: that was my album that came out in 1985.

Last thing you want to be reminded of about 1985

I should have put all my money into Apple stock back then.

First record you ever bought

FM & AM by George Carlin.

Last extravagant purchase you made

Grande soy caramel macchiato.

First movie you ever went on a date to

The Jerk.

Last time you cried

At the movies, watching the ending of Inside Out.

First thing you do when you’ve got time off work

Play games with my daughter.

Last great meal you cooked

I make a pretty darn good bean burrito.

First crush

Marilyn Juanita Vukelich.

Last book you read

Mo’ Meta Blues by Ahmir Thompson.

First great piece of advice you were given

Don’t pick that, it’ll never heal.

Last time you were starstruck

Meeting Paul McCartney.

First thing you’d do if you ran the country

Delegate my authority to much more competent people.

Last meal on earth: what would it be

Pani Puri and strawberry cobbler.

First film you saw that really moved you

The Maltese Bippy.

Last lie you told

I lied that The Maltese Bippy really moved me.

First song you’ll sing at karaoke

I avoid karaoke like the plague.

Last time you exploited your position to get something

A couple weeks ago, I was standing on the kitchen counter and I figured since I was already up there, I might as well get the salad bowls down from the top cupboard.

First time you realised you were famous

The day after ‘Eat It’ went into heavy rotation on MTV, I noticed people pointing at me as I waited in line at a fast-food place.

Last time someone criticised your work

My concerts get reviewed pretty much every night and I’ve been reading the articles online. Thankfully, they’re all pretty positive!

First three words your friends would use to describe you

‘Well, Al is … ‘

Last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it

I did NOT need that iron lung.

First concert you ever attended

Elton John at the Los Angeles Forum, circa 1975.

Last time you bought someone flowers

My wife, for Mother’s Day.

First object you’d save from your burning home

My computer hard drive.

Last funny thing you saw online

My friend Mike just posted a hilarious video on Instagram.

First job

Accordion teacher and part-time repo man.

Last person you fantasized about

My wife.

First word you spoke

Can’t remember, but I’m going to guess ‘ostensibly’.

Last crime you committed

Jaywalking.

First book you read for a second time

If I Ran the Circus by Dr Seuss.

Last song at your funeral

‘Karn Evil 9’ by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

First person you’d thank in an award acceptance speech

The brilliant casting director that had the foresight to hire me for that Oscar-winning movie.

Last thing you recommended to someone

Flossing.

First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning

Where am I?

Last thing you think of before you go to sleep

Did I remember to floss?