Weird Music History
Today in Music History: Happy 60th to Weird Al
'Weird Al' Yankovic performs in Los Angeles
Alfred Matthew Yankovic, better known as "Weird Al" was born today in 1959,
making him 60 years old. Yankovic is known for his parody-style music which
lampoons pop culture and contemporary artists. HIs favorite instrument is the
accordion and he has a predilection for polka. Yankovic is one of a very few
artists to land a Top 40 hit on the Hot 100 each decade since the '80s, with
comedic jabs at Michael Jackson (1984: "Eat It," #12), Nirvana (1992: "Smells
Like Nirvana," #35), Chamillionaire (2006: "White And Nerdy," #9), and Robin
Thicke (2014: "Word Crimes," #39). In addition to recording his albums - of
which he's made 14 - Yankovic wrote and starred in the film "UHF" (1989) and
the television series "The Weird Al Show" (1997).
Think you know everything there is to know about music? Prepare to be blown away as we take a look at some of the most interesting, unbelievable facts about musicians and the music industry.
01 A piano’s frame is of iron.
02 The Seikilos Epitaph is the oldest musical composition in the world.
03 The world’s largest performing rock band included 953 musicians.
04 Japan’s Folk Music and Dance Association assembled the world’s largest shamisen ensemble.
05 Simon Desorgher assembled the most number of chimes as a single musical instrument.
06 David Stanley and The Music Man Project assembled the world’s biggest triangle ensemble.
07 The world’s longest concert by multiple artists took place from March 17 to April 5, 2017.
08 The largest erhu ensemble assembled in Raoyang, China, on October 19, 2019.
09 Hong Kong hosted the largest harmonica ensemble on November 13, 2009.
10 The record for the world’s longest marathon drumming by an entire team is 3 days, 8 hours, and 2 minutes.
11 The most number of people to play a single piano at the same time is 23 people.
12 Thomas Silkman has changed the most number of guitar strings in a single hour.
13 Daddy Yankee is the first Latin artist to become Number One on Spotify.
14 The song Despacito holds seven world records of its own.
15 Elvis Presley is still the best-selling solo artist in the world.
16 AKB 48 is the world’s largest pop group.
17 There are 8 notes in music.
18 There are five kinds of musical instruments.
19 Orchestras have no set number or composition.
20 Conductors select the instruments an orchestra includes.
Japan’s Folk Music and Dance Association assembled the world’s largest shamisen ensemble.
The shamisen is a traditional Japanese musical
instrument that looks like a violin. The 1,911
participants all used the Tsugaru Shamisen in
their performance. It took place in Tokyo, Japan,
on October 23, 2016, and lasted 6 minutes and 5
seconds.