Arguably, the best part of "Weird Al" Yankovic's recent "Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour" is the cover songs the rock legend has incorporated into his set.
And some might say—uh, isn't every song 'Weird Al' does a cover? And we would remark, no. They're parodies. "Weird Al's satirical reworking of other songs' lyrics—and his original 'style parodies' of such artists as Frank Zappa, DEVO, They Might Be Giants, and Talking Heads—have delighted many throughout his career. So it's odd and quite remarkable to watch him do a straight, honest cover of another person's song, like he's done with a Paul Simonclassic.
In the video that TikTok user Melissa Redford uploaded on Sept. 21, Yankovic speaks to the audience about how some people feel "awkward" around him. "They don't know how to address me, they don't know what to call me," he says, admitting that some "social anxiety" might trip people up.
@melissa_redfordReplying to @corporate crime exorcist ?? #weirdalyankovic #weirdal #concert #lasvegas #vegas I filmed this at the “Weird Al” Yankovic concert June 16, 2025 in Las Vegas “you can call me AL”
♬ original sound - Melissa Redford"I want to do a little public service [announcement] for you right now," he says, first claiming that he "wrote a song" about how to address him. In truth, Yankovic and his band kick into a version of "You Can Call Me Al," a song from Paul Simon's 1986 album, Graceland.
Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" depicts the narrator going through a midlife crisis as well as an existential one. According to American Songwriter, Simon and his then-wife, Peggy Harper, were hosting a party when, at the end of the night, Boulez said his goodbyes. "Thank you, Al," the conductor reportedly said, "and give my best to Betty."
(Though another account states it was Boulez who hosted the party, and introduced Simon and his wife to his guests as "Al and Betty.”)
After initially struggling on the charts, "You Can Call Me Al" peaked at No. 23, thanks to a boost following Graceland winning Album of the Year at the 1987 Grammy Awards. The video features Chevy Chase lip-syncing the words, often to Simon's chagrin.
In 2024, Simon revealed that he'd retired from performing "You Can Call Me Al" due to his hearing loss. Paul said he had about "six percent [hearing] left in his ear," telling CBS Morningsthat he needs to use multiple monitors to hear properly during shows.
So, louder songs are gone. "I'm going through my repertoire and reducing a lot of the choices I make to acoustic versions," he said. "It's all much quieter. It's not 'You Can Call Me Al.' That's gone. I can't do that one."
What Songs Has 'Weird Al' Covered On Tour?
Yanovic has covered a plethora of songs on this most recent tour: The Box Tops' "The Letter," Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman," The Doobie Brothers' "China Groove," and George Harrison's "What Is Life," just to name a few. On July 24, "Weird Al" did a version of The Turtles' "Happy Together" with help from Puddles Pity Party.
Puddles Pity Party, the alter-ego of Mike Geier, also joined Primus to cover one of Black Sabbath's beloved hits in a makeshift tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. The "Prince of Darkness" died on July 22, weeks after he performed his final show.
Though Yankovic never did a direct parody of an Ozzy song, he did mention The Osbournes positively ("Home of depravity? No, they live happily") in "Couch Potato," his parody of Eminem's"Lose Yourself."
Related: Rapper Once Feuded with 'Weird Al' Yankovic Over Parody of Hit Song Released 30 Years Ago
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