Al Yankovic, perhaps better known as “Weird Al”, is one of the most well known singers and musicians in the world. He is of course most well known for his comedy songs that make light of pop culture, and the parodies he has come up with over the years. Plus, he is set to release a film he has written alongside Eric Appel, called “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” which stars Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe as himself.
Yankovic though like a lot of celebrities is a big car guy. He loves his automobiles. So when Jay Leno had the chance to have him on “Jay Leno’s Garage”, his CNBC show, he jumped at the opportunity. This was quite a special moment for Yankovic as when he joins Leno, the pair take a stroll down memory lane and Yankovic reminisces about a from his childhood, a Plymouth Belvedere, a car that has become one of the most popular affordable classic cars in the United States. Leno picks up Yankovic in the car as they take a trip in it and reflect on the past.
A Belvedere Station Wagon That Is Well Preserved
The Belvedere in question is a 1966 Belvedere Station Wagon that Leno picks Yankovic up in. Its original MSRP was some $2,700, but today it is worth around $5,000 in the condition Leno’s is in. They were the workhorse of the American middle class says Leno, and good, solid transportation. It has a 361 V8 engine under the hood, a lot of torque and rear seats that face out the back. It certainly isn’t a car that would be fuel efficient in today’s day and age!
This Belvedere has had a hard life, as evident by some smoke coming out of the back of it. It certainly is a true workhorse and is not exactly in “restored” condition. Leno reminisces about how the car reminds him of his youth, and it is at that point that he turns up to the house that Yankovic grew up in to pick the singer and music star up. This is another trip down memory lane for the star, as his school, Lynwood Middle School, is also right by his house, so before we get to the car, the memories are flooding back.
A Trip Down Memory Lane In The 1966 Belvedere
Yankovic’s own Belvedere was a 1964 model, in black with red upholstery. It also had a push-button transmission too, and the first song that Yankovic ever wrote that was actually played on radio was about his Belvedere. Some of you may know it, and that was “Belvedere Cruising”, recorded in Yankovic’s house back in 1976. The car certainly holds a special place in the heart of Yankovic. Yankovic remembers the crack in his windshield, the old radio and the upholstery. The memories come flooding right back for him.
Yankovic talks about how he has played the accordion since he was a kid, his parents telling him that he would be the fun of the party and a one-man band. Yankovic remembers how cool it was to hear his music on the radio when he was a young teenager, even if it didn’t give him the credit of his live performances! Yankovic is actually a very clever guy, and he even went to college to study architecture. It is a bit of a deviation from the music side of things, and as Yankovic jokes, it prepared him very well for his life in music.
No Better Place To Reminisce Than In A 1966 Belvedere
Yankovic also talks about his “Weird Al” name. It started out as a bit of an insult from his student days, but he decided to turn that into an advantage, and it empowered him, hence it became the name he used. Talking about cars, he mentions how he drove the Belvedere into the ground, which was his parents, and sold it for scrap metal, and he even saved the Belvedere badge that was on the back of the car. Nowadays, he drives a Tesla, something he says is much easier to maintain!
Talking About That First Ever Yankovic Song
Leno and Yankovic talk about the Belvedere song, how he whipped out the accordion and just played it. Yankovic brings his accordion along in the car and even plays the song for Leno in the car as they drive along. That is certainly one way to bring back all the memories! It is remarkable to think that the first ever record this hugely successful musical star performed was about an old Belvedere that his parents owned, and that he would one day drive for many years. Hearing it sung and played in an actual Belvedere is the icing on the cake with this trip into the past.
Source: CNBC Prime YouTube Channel