Yoda (song)
Encyclopedia
"Yoda" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the song "Lola
" by The Kinks
. Written and inspired by the events of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
, the song is told from the point of view of Jedi-in-training
Luke Skywalker
, and concerns his dealings with Jedi Master Yoda
on the planet Dagobah
. It is featured on Weird Al's third album, Dare to Be Stupid.
space opera
The Empire Strikes Back
. The film introduced the character of Yoda
, the ancient Jedi Master who trains Luke in the ways of The Force
following the demise of Obi-Wan Kenobi
. Indeed, Yankovic later sarcastically remarked that, "Prior to The Empire Strikes Back, the thought of writing a song about Yoda had never occurred to me."
After the success of the movie, Yankovic toyed with the idea of writing a song based on the break-out character, but was unable to find a suitable song. "I remember I was toying around with the idea of writing a song about him." Yankovic remembers, "I was still in college at the time, and a friend of mine named Mike suggested that I do the song to the tune of 'Lola
' -- which I couldn't believe that I hadn't thought of myself, since I was such a huge Kinks fan."
Yankovic wrote and recorded a version of the song, using only an accordion, on a 4-track cassette Portastudio
. This version of "Yoda" was a hit on the "Dr. Demento Show," and even managed to hit, and hold onto, number one on the Funny Five countdown for several weeks. This early demo was later released on one of Dr. Demento
's Basement Tapes.
. When Yankovic asked why he hadn't given him permission, Davies remarked that he had never been asked. Davies immediately gave Yankovic permission to record the song, and the song was later released on Yankovic's third album Dare to Be Stupid
. Ever since then, Al has directly asked the songwriters for permission whenever possible.
The commercial release of the song doesn't feature accordion, and is truer, musically, to the original song. Yankovic later remarked, "It's kind of a backlash from the first album, where we had accordion on everything. It just became a little overwhelming to me."
Nevertheless, the song has gone on to be one of Yankovic's most famous parodies and a fan favorite. Although it was left off his first greatest hits album, the song was featured on the second volume, the box set Permanent Record
, and the 2009 compilation The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
. The song has appeared in other media. In the "Time Machine" episode of The Weird Al Show
, Al and his band performed the song for Harvey. The song also appeared on Radio Disney: Kid Jams
.
, Alapalooza
, Bad Hair Day
, Running with Scissors
, Poodle Hat
, and Alpocalypse
. Starting with the Touring with Scissors tour in 1999, the song has been preceded by that album's Star Wars
-themed single, "The Saga Begins
." For the Straight Outta Lynwood
tour, the band moved both songs to the middle of the set, and instead the finale was Albuquerque
. For his tour beginning June 2010, "Yoda" has again been played as his final encore. While the album version of "Yoda" uses the same instrumentation as "Lola", Yankovic will often add accordion
accompaniment to the song when performing live; this can be seen on the video release "Weird Al" Yankovic Live!.
Since 1991, an a cappella
chant (affectionately nicknamed the "Yoda chant") has been present during performances of this song. Midway through the song's performance, the band slowly ceases playing and goes into the chant, which Yankovic wrote himself. Originally the chant consisted mainly of mnemonic syllables used by Indian tabla players, which Al thought sounded interesting, accompanied by synchronized movements from the band. It has changed over the years, and currently includes, among other things, a piece of the classic Hawaiian War Chant
, a few phrases from The Trashmen
's "The Bird Is The Word," and "Big Shoes" written by Al's bass player Steve Jay, with lyrics in the Djerma
language. For his tour beginning June 2010, a few lines from Grim Grinning Ghosts
have been added as part of the chant. For concerts in Australia the Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi chant is added.
Lola (song)
"Lola" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by The Kinks which details a romantic encounter between a young man and a transvestite he meets in a club in Soho, London....
" by The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. Written and inspired by the events of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
, the song is told from the point of view of Jedi-in-training
Jedi
The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars universe and the series's main protagonists. The Jedi use a power called the Force and weapons called lightsabers, which emit a controlled energy flow in the shape of a sword, in order to serve and protect the Republic and the galaxy at large from conflict...
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
, and concerns his dealings with Jedi Master Yoda
Yoda
Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...
on the planet Dagobah
Dagobah
Dagobah is a fictional planet in the Star Wars films, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It also makes an appearance in a deleted scene from Revenge of the Sith....
. It is featured on Weird Al's third album, Dare to Be Stupid.
Early success
"Yoda" was originally written by "Weird Al" Yankovic during the initial run of the 1980 American epicEpic film
An epic is a genre of film that emphasizes human drama on a grand scale. Epics are more ambitious in scope than other film genres, and their ambitious nature helps to differentiate them from similar genres such as the period piece or adventure film...
space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. The film introduced the character of Yoda
Yoda
Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...
, the ancient Jedi Master who trains Luke in the ways of The Force
Force (Star Wars)
The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Mentioned in the first film in the series, it is integral to all subsequent incarnations of Star Wars, including the expanded universe of comic books, novels, and...
following the demise of Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of several primary characters in the Star Wars series. Along with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in all six Star Wars films...
. Indeed, Yankovic later sarcastically remarked that, "Prior to The Empire Strikes Back, the thought of writing a song about Yoda had never occurred to me."
After the success of the movie, Yankovic toyed with the idea of writing a song based on the break-out character, but was unable to find a suitable song. "I remember I was toying around with the idea of writing a song about him." Yankovic remembers, "I was still in college at the time, and a friend of mine named Mike suggested that I do the song to the tune of 'Lola
Lola (song)
"Lola" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by The Kinks which details a romantic encounter between a young man and a transvestite he meets in a club in Soho, London....
' -- which I couldn't believe that I hadn't thought of myself, since I was such a huge Kinks fan."
Yankovic wrote and recorded a version of the song, using only an accordion, on a 4-track cassette Portastudio
Portastudio
The TASCAM Portastudio was the world's first four track recorder based on a standard compact audio cassette tape.When the original Portastudio 144 made its debut in 1979 it was a revolutionary creative tool...
. This version of "Yoda" was a hit on the "Dr. Demento Show," and even managed to hit, and hold onto, number one on the Funny Five countdown for several weeks. This early demo was later released on one of Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
's Basement Tapes.
Obtaining permission
After the large success of the demo version, Yankovic desired to put the song on one of his albums. However, the immensely complex process of getting permission from both George Lucas and the publishers of the Kinks' "Lola" delayed the release of the song for about five years. Eventually, after Lucas gave Yankovic permission, the song's publishers turned Al down. The song may have remained unreleased for some time had it not been for a chance encounter Yankovic had with the song's original songwriter, Ray DaviesRay Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
. When Yankovic asked why he hadn't given him permission, Davies remarked that he had never been asked. Davies immediately gave Yankovic permission to record the song, and the song was later released on Yankovic's third album Dare to Be Stupid
Dare to Be Stupid
Dare to Be Stupid is the third studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1985. The album was one of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
. Ever since then, Al has directly asked the songwriters for permission whenever possible.
The commercial release of the song doesn't feature accordion, and is truer, musically, to the original song. Yankovic later remarked, "It's kind of a backlash from the first album, where we had accordion on everything. It just became a little overwhelming to me."
Continuing popularity
After Dare to Be Stupid was released, Yankovic considered "Yoda" little more than a "cool album track" and less of a potential single due to the age of both the Star Wars movie and the original song. In addition, a video for the project was out of the question, as the majority of the album's video budget went to the then-current "Like a Virgin" parody. When asked why a video wasn't made, Yankovic also speculated that the legal and monetary requirements to make a decent video for "Yoda" would have made the project impractical.Nevertheless, the song has gone on to be one of Yankovic's most famous parodies and a fan favorite. Although it was left off his first greatest hits album, the song was featured on the second volume, the box set Permanent Record
Permanent Record: Al in the Box
Permanent Record: Al in the Box is a four disc compilation boxed set of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It features his favorite songs from his first eight studio albums, plus alternate versions of "My Bologna", "Happy Birthday", "UHF", and the previously unavailable new single, "Headline News"...
, and the 2009 compilation The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic is a two disc compilation album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. A limited edition "3.0" version of the album has a third disc. It is published by Sony Music's Legacy Recordings as part of their The Essential series...
. The song has appeared in other media. In the "Time Machine" episode of The Weird Al Show
The Weird Al Show
The Weird Al Show is a television show hosted by "Weird Al" Yankovic. Produced in association with Dick Clark Productions, it aired Saturday mornings on the CBS TV network from September to December 1997. The show was released on DVD on August 15, 2006...
, Al and his band performed the song for Harvey. The song also appeared on Radio Disney: Kid Jams
Radio Disney: Kid Jams
Radio Disney: Kid Jams is the first album in the Radio Disney Jams Series. It is a compilation of artists whose songs are played on Radio Disney.- Track listing :...
.
Live performances
In concert, "Yoda" has been played at the end of every show for the tours promoting Yankovic's albums Dare to Be Stupid, Off The Deep EndOff the Deep End
Off the Deep End is the seventh studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1992. This album was the first album self-produced by Yankovic, after six albums with Rick Derringer. Recorded between June 1990 and January 1992, the album was a follow-up to the unsuccessful soundtrack to Yankovic's...
, Alapalooza
Alapalooza
Alapalooza is the eighth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1993. The cover sleeve is a spoof on the movie poster of the hit movie Jurassic Park. The name is a parody of the music festival Lollapalooza....
, Bad Hair Day
Bad Hair Day
Bad Hair Day is the 9th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1996. This album was the third studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on Bad Hair Day are built around parodies and pastiches pop and rock music of the mid 1990s, targeting alternative rock and hip-hop...
, Running with Scissors
Running with Scissors (album)
Running with Scissors is the 10th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 29, 1999. The album contains the hit single "The Saga Begins", a parody of Don McLean's song "American Pie".-Details:...
, Poodle Hat
Poodle Hat
Poodle Hat is the Grammy Award-winning 11th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on May 20, 2003 on Volcano Records. The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200. The album was released on an Enhanced CD...
, and Alpocalypse
Alpocalypse
Alpocalypse is the thirteenth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 21, 2011. It is his first studio release in almost five years, following the release of Straight Outta Lynwood in 2006. It is also his first studio album since 1989's UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and...
. Starting with the Touring with Scissors tour in 1999, the song has been preceded by that album's Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
-themed single, "The Saga Begins
The Saga Begins
"The Saga Begins" is a parody by "Weird Al" Yankovic of "American Pie" by Don McLean, released from the 1999 album Running with Scissors, and later appearing on the compilation album entitled The Saga Begins...
." For the Straight Outta Lynwood
Straight Outta Lynwood
Straight Outta Lynwood is the 12th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on September 26, 2006 in the U.S. by Volcano, on September 30, 2006 in Australia, on October 3 in Canada, on October 6, 2006 in New Zealand, November 13, 2006 in the United Kingdom, and November 24, 2006 in...
tour, the band moved both songs to the middle of the set, and instead the finale was Albuquerque
Albuquerque (song)
"Albuquerque" is the last song of "Weird Al" Yankovic's Running with Scissors album. At 11 minutes and 22 seconds, it is the longest song Yankovic has ever released on any of his official studio albums....
. For his tour beginning June 2010, "Yoda" has again been played as his final encore. While the album version of "Yoda" uses the same instrumentation as "Lola", Yankovic will often add accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
accompaniment to the song when performing live; this can be seen on the video release "Weird Al" Yankovic Live!.
Since 1991, an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
chant (affectionately nicknamed the "Yoda chant") has been present during performances of this song. Midway through the song's performance, the band slowly ceases playing and goes into the chant, which Yankovic wrote himself. Originally the chant consisted mainly of mnemonic syllables used by Indian tabla players, which Al thought sounded interesting, accompanied by synchronized movements from the band. It has changed over the years, and currently includes, among other things, a piece of the classic Hawaiian War Chant
Hawaiian War Chant
"Hawaiian War Chant" was an American popular song whose original melody and lyrics were written in the 1860s by Prince Leleiohoku. The original title of the song was Kaua I Ka Huahua`i or "We Two in the Spray." It was not written as a chant, and the Hawaiian lyrics describe a clandestine meeting...
, a few phrases from The Trashmen
The Trashmen
The Trashmen are a rock and roll band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1962. The group's original lineup was Tony Andreason on lead guitar and vocals, Dal Winslow on guitar and vocals, Steve Wahrer on drums and vocals, and Bob Reed on bass guitar...
's "The Bird Is The Word," and "Big Shoes" written by Al's bass player Steve Jay, with lyrics in the Djerma
Djerma
The Zarma people , are a people of westernmost Niger and adjacent areas of Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria. The Zarma language is one of the Songhai languages, a branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family...
language. For his tour beginning June 2010, a few lines from Grim Grinning Ghosts
Grim Grinning Ghosts
"Grim Grinning Ghosts" is the theme song for the Haunted Mansion attractions at Disney theme parks. It was composed by Buddy Baker, with lyrics written by X Atencio...
have been added as part of the chant. For concerts in Australia the Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi chant is added.