Weird Al Yankovic Dare To Be Stupid CD

Personnel: Weird Al Yankovic (vocals, accordion, keyboards, Theremin, background vocals); Jimmy West (guitar, background vocals); Rick Derringer (guitar); Steve Jay (banjo, bass guitar, background vocals); Gary Herbig (clarinet, saxophone); Joel Peskin (clarinet); Warren Luening (trumpet); Tommy Johnson (tuba); Sonny Burke (piano); Pat Regan (synthesizer); Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz (drums, percussion); Al Viola (scratches); The Waters Sisters (background vocals).
Illustrator: Lou Beach.
Photographer: Dennis Keeley.
Unknown Contributor Role: Mike Kieffer.
Dare to Be Stupid begins with what is perhaps Weird Al Yankovic's best parody ever, the brilliant and cutting "Like a Surgeon." Turning the tacky Madonna hit inside out and upside down, Yankovic comes up with a hilarious satire of the medical profession. Although the implications were probably missed by the none too bright Madonna, and may not have even been intentional on the part of Yankovic, it was a rich idea to use his parody to ridicule a serious subject rather than just take another poke at junk food or game shows. The record's title track follows, and it is the best of Yankovic's original songs that had been recorded so far. Any song that begins with a request to put down your chain saw can't be all bad. One of the best tracks is the amazing medley "Hooked on Polkas" that concludes the album. Yankovic goes for broke here, his slick band barely keeping up with him as he drags all manner of hit parade schlock through the harmonic wringer washer known as the accordion. It's a hell of a trip, including references to Z.Z. Top as well as disco and punk rock, and accomplishes more musically in less than four minutes than an entire evening with the likes of Brave Combo. Rick Derringer put the whole production together expertly. ~ Eugene Chadbourne
It is true that Weird Al Yankovic went into this third album with a huge hit behind him, the first of several satires of Michael Jackson he would be involved in, entitled "Eat It." And it is also true that only someone who is missing important brain cells would suggest this artist's original songs are any good, although there are a few small signs of improvement here on Dare to Be Stupid. Yet the notion that the latter material was given free reign over the course of this album, neglecting the parody songs that had made Yankovic rich and famous, is pure poppycock. The album begins with what is perhaps his best parody ever, the brilliant and cutting "Like a Surgeon." Turning the tacky Madonna hit inside out and upside down, Yankovic comes up with a hilarious satire of the medical profession. By now it was required that his videos be even funnier than the recordings they promoted, and a case could be made that the video of "Like a Surgeon" is really where the action is, however enjoyable the song itself may be. Although the implications were probably missed by the none too bright Madonna, and may not have even been intentional on the part of Yankovic, it was a rich idea to use his parody to ridicule a serious subject rather than just take another poke at junk food or game shows. The record's title track follows, and it is the best of Yankovic's original songs that had been recorded so far, although that isn't saying much. Any song that begins with a request to put down your chain saw can't be all bad. It was material that was supposedly aimed at 11 year olds, but although there was limited use of the expression "dare to be stupid" to encourage stupidity, what else, among this age group, few children have ever been heard were humming this song or any of the other originals that are featured on this record. One of the best tracks is the amazing medley "Hooked on Polkas" that concludes the album. Yankovic goes for broke here, his slick band barely keeping up with him as he drags all manner of hit parade schlock through the harmonic wringer washer known as the accordion. It's a hell of a trip, including references to Z.Z. Top a