This WAS LEGENDARY! | "Weird Al" Yankovic - The Saga Begins (Official Video) (REACTION)

[@theeternalsw0rd]

Fun fact: According to an article by AARP, Don McLean admitted that his kids were big fans of Weird Al, and played this song on repeat so much around the house that he almost sang Weird Al's lyrics instead of his own when performing American Pie.

[@Osma777]

I do this all the time. I'm not super familiar with American Pie (I'm not QUITE that old), but I know the chorus enough to get it stuck in my head all the time, and I tend to accidently mix the lyrics up between the two constantly.

[@jlinkous05]

Don hated the attention and had hoped his song would be the last performance that he'd ever have to do. So I can understand his love for the parody!

[@alricaneshama]

LMFAO

[@skygazer858]

@@Osma777 I am quite that old and I do it too. 😆

[@marciusnhasty]

​@@Osma777 When I've discovered this video Madonna's cover was all over MTV and I didn't know it's a cover or that this video predates her version of American Pie. I simply thought he's covering Madonna again just as he did Michael more than once.

[@mrkelso]

"Smells Like Nirvana", Cliff! As a lyricist, it's right in your pocket!

[@kingmasterlord]

but it's _hard_ to bargle nawdle zouss

[@simplysmile712]

My favorite Weird Al song!

[@JohnPaul-hm2ys]

A great request.

[@lynette.]

Fantastic call.

[@calililylookeylou266]

Smells like Nirvana music video AND in Concert same with Like a surgeon & Dare to be Stupid

[@krystarobinson8219]

Seeing this in concert is the best thing ever. He has people dressed up as Storm Troopers. Also, in the line "I'm still here and he's a ghost", he carries out the word "he" for a while. He changes the length every time he preforms it.

[@ProfCoyote]

Not just any people, each city he goes to he and his people have reached out to whatever local branch of the 501st (IE the creme de la creme of Star Wars cosplayers) to do the honor guard.

[@XboxJohnBrown]

In order to prep for this song to come out right as the movie came out, Al caught up on the books and was reading plot speculations and was eventually able to get an early screening. He was such a Star Wars nerd that he didn’t have to change much of anything

[@ingiford175]

Came here to say this

[@fullmetalcrusader]

Me too lol

[@jlinkous05]

He wrote the song before the screening. Once he watched it, he was like "Pretty close!" and had to revise very few lines.

[@thenathanhaines]

He had to send the lyrics to Lucasfilm to get clearance to release it. Needless to say, the negotiations _were_ short.

[@GaryRPeters]

@@thenathanhaines Al shot first.

[@matthewteague623]

It's not just that he made the lyrics fit so seemlessly into the original tune. It's also that the emotion of the original tune perfectly fits. You know Anakin is this young kid, with all the potential anyone in the Galaxy could ever ask for. And you know it's going to end badly. That keeps the bittersweetness of the original "day the music died."

[@LoveClassicMusic0205]

This song is Weird Al's masterpiece. He managed to tell the entire story of the movie in five minutes, all the while making the lyrics fit to the music of American Pie. Genius.

[@Rainbow.Pegacorn.Cosplay]

How many people can make "midichlorians" sound musically poetic?

[@mikeanderson1722]

@@Rainbow.Pegacorn.Cosplay The grammy for best use of the word 'prepubescent' in a song goes to...

[@JamieS1992]

i feel like his best is white and nerdy

[@whichway-557]

well said my friend

[@Zboy707]

He is a genius. And from Obi Wans perspective. Next level.

[@Dajokaz]

Hey Cliff, to keep in the Star Wars theme : Weird Al "Yoda" ! It's hilarious and awesome ! ✌️👍

[@baskervillebee6097]

Yoda and Luke Song Bad Lip Reading "Seagulls Stop It"

[@tommc3622]

🎶"I saw the little runt sitting there on a log in the middle of a swamp down on Dagobagh..."🎶

[@Dajokaz]

@@tommc3622 hey! No spoilers!!! 😉

[@LadyDragonborn]

@@baskervillebee6097 OMG Seagulls… I haven’t watched that in forever. It’s epic. I’m off to reacquaint myself with that masterpiece! Oh, and I second Weird Al’s “Yoda”

[@this.is.a.username]

don't forget Star Wars Gangsta Rap

[@ZenSponge]

Them: There are no bards in Star Wars! Weird Al: Hold my accordion.

[@CorvusCorone68]

hear me out: accordion in a cantina performance. or at a Hutt's palace

[@sophiet1576]

I've seen Weird Al sing this in concert. He wears the same outfit on stage and he's joined by the 501 legion all dresses as storm troopers, Darth Vader and C3P0 and sometimes Boba Fete. They dance while Al sings. The background is a million twinkling lights. Weird Al puts on one hell of a show.

[@yvonnesanders4308]

The best synopsis of star wars there is

[@Swift96]

Check out "Foil" next. It's a parody of "Royals" by Lorde.

[@mpaynew]

My understanding is he wrote this and published it before the movie came out. He guessed so well that they looked into who leaked the script to him.

[@mpaynew]

The song was recorded on April 20, 1999, and the movie was released on May 19, 1999

[@therealduz-t6762]

Came here to say the same thing.

[@The_One_In_Black]

Via Wookieepedia: "Lucasfilm declined Yankovic a look at the script due to the high secrecy of the film, so the musician had to search "all the leaked info I could about the movie from all the various Star Wars websites, and was able to piece together the basic plot of the movie." Still, the final mix of "The Saga Begins" was held until after Yankovic had seen an advance charity screening of the film."

[@AnotherWun]

Wanted to bring that up too.

[@thenathanhaines]

​@@The_One_In_BlackThat's because Al is more interested in being a pro than in flexing. He nailed it with this one.

[@davehendren4996]

I think you would appreciate the song “Bob”. The entire song is palindromes. Not only is each line the same backwards and forwards he also makes them rhyme. Lyrical Genius!

[@russb24]

It would be helpful to prepare by watching the video for Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" first to get the full impact of the parody.

[@chriswhinery925]

Yes for a guy who pays so much attention to lyrics Bob would be a great choice! Very clever song.

[@signa8]

Aw, you shouldn't have spoiled it

[@davehendren4996]

@@signa8 In this case, I don’t think I spoiled anything. If you know what your in for, I think it helps you appreciate the genius of it all the more. I’ve seen other reactors struggle with the song because they were spending all their time trying to figure out the lyrics rather than just enjoying the work. But in most other cases you would be right.

[@spddiesel]

Fun fact: supposedly the guy with the cane at the end of the video (that never shows his face) is actually Bob Dylan.

[@charlesdailey6028]

"Tacky" is definitely one of my favorites and it has a lot of celebrity cameos.

[@ItsMe-cz1pi]

"Foil", one of his best

[@Stonn2222]

Love that one!

[@KevynJacobs]

May The Weird Be With You.

[@ShizuruNakatsu]

Also do Yoda! I went to a Weird Al concert here in Ireland a few years ago, and he did both Star Wars songs and it was amazing! He wears all the costumes on stage too.

[@lyianx]

I never had the chance to go to a Weird Al Concert, but ive heard its a hellofa show.

[@russb24]

Shout out to Al's band, who have been with him a very long time and can seemingly cover any song ever written in any genre. You can see them here in the club scene. I can't tell if the one playing Sidious is his regular pianist, but I assume so.

[@mustangdebbie56]

That's his keyboardist, Ruben Valtierra. The drummer, Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, has been with Al since 1980. Jim "Kimo" West and Steve Jay, guitar and bass, joined in 1983. Ruben joined in 92 so he's the "new guy". They are all in the video and are still performing with him. They just finished their latest tour.

[@adamhegge9063]

I just realized that he's foreshadowing the clone wars at the end!

[@tonybunch8921]

Weird Al is a perfectionist. I'm sure that you may have noticed that through his vocal, musical, and stylistic mimicry of the original source material. If you want to see some stellar physical style and dance mimicry, along with his usual wit and intelligent lyrics I suggest "Living With a Hernia".

[@norbertzillatron3456]

Other movie summaries to "classic" tunes: "Jurassic Park" kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZmXq6mHm6mbn5I "Ode To A Superhero" kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3O7eqSrhreEl6s "Yoda" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJXYaXxnnLykoZY

[@livvyweimar7362]

Next has to be "Yoda" sung to the tune of "Lola"

[@Capt_Hangry]

I recommend Smells Like Nirvana or Tacky next. But all of his stuff is great

[@AuthorTLGray]

Loved it. Am enjoying this Weird Al adventure with you. Smells Like Nirvana.

[@billtroxell7583]

I'm a huge SW fan myself and this was a great song that lived up to the fans exepections, I think. AL the myth, the Legend

[@chrismaverick9828]

I would add immense, endless props to ANY band who can play this song. The drum part alone is a small treatise in schizophrenic psychosis. The fact that Al's band has been doing all these various songs of all different types FOR DECADES makes them possibly the most technically skilled band in history. If they don't get Rock Hall status at the end of the day then it is not a museum worth speaking of.

[@heathergarnham9555]

When my boss is getting on my nerves i always think 'stick it in your pointy ear'

[@neolithiumproduction]

Weird Al is still around in fact. One of his recent parodies I love is "Party in the CIA" which is a parody of Miley's "Party in the USA". Other great songs of his are "Smells like Nirvana", which the Nirvana crew adored, and "Tacky", which was done with several comedians.

[@karlbecker8775]

If you want something relatable, meaning you recognize the original song, you would like Tacky or Party In The CIA. If you feel silly and just want something fun, Trapped In The Drive-Thru or Albuquerque. Loving the reactions, dude!

[@chrislambert9903]

I don't think he's ready for Albuquerque

[@karlbecker8775]

@@chrislambert9903 LOL! I don't think any of us were.

[@kekkomartin5848]

#1 You should do "Yoda" a parody of "Lola" by the Kinks. #2 Darth Maul appears at the end of Solo...which is well after he supposedly died

[@michaelernst3731]

You should see his Other Star Wars song based on the song: Lola, called: Yoda. Al also did this song before the first move released based all on rumors and leaks.

[@chrismaverick9828]

If I'm not mistaken, this video marked Weird Al's transition from the afro'ed glasses nerd to what is, even my straight-assed self can admit, a verifiable hunk of a musician. He fit the part perfectly and it kind of marked a turning point in his career where he went from cheap parody to serious parody. It was stunning to see him without the hair and glasses, and he's been rocking it ever since.

[@robertheuston6351]

I did hear somewhere that Don Maclean who wrote “American pie”, actually finds himself singing this sometimes live instead of his own song.

[@ShizuruNakatsu]

I've been waiting for this. Time for Trapped in the Drive-Thru!

[@moodyblues1273]

Weird Al sure has a great voice. Genius!

[@Sharonmarshall66]

YES. Must do his and his band's whole catalogue.

[@frizzman1991]

The ability to fully recap a movie to the tune of a famous song and make it sound REALLY good is just talent at an unbelievable level.

[@emyconker]

Impossible not to sing along. This earworm sticks around dude.

[@paulquaife7974]

The only problem with weird Al is once you hear his version you can not hear the og with out singing his lyrics

[@RJLupin-zu9xv]

Don McLean has had this problem on stage. No joke.

[@MrDekasOne]

It's legitimately amazing how well he tells the story of the movie while fitting it to the song

[@johnmorghuhn8505]

"Bedrock Anthem" is a great song as well

[@salsonny]

Genius.

[@cjghanem7169]

My favorite part of Weird Al concerts, and especially this song, is there will be people of all ages. 6 to 70. Grandma's. Little kids. Parents. Teens. And everyone sings this song. We all know it. How many concerts can pull such a range of people together.

[@ellenreed5236]

I’ve seen him at least 10 times since 1992 (he even sang to me once! ) and I have always been impressed by the quality of his performance and the wide range of his fans. He is the ultimate showman!

[@zachschendt7201]

He is criminally underrated

[@capstan50g]

This has to be Weird Al's magnum opus. So lore-accurate and also so funny! Great reaction, Cliff!

[@danytaylor8971]

It's one of the only songs where he doesn't continuously change the words on the chorus, and I think it's exactly so that we start singing it at the end with him just like you did 😁

[@DravenGal]

"Tacky" is a rather under rated one, I feel...

[@RJLupin-zu9xv]

You get to see his band in this video. The drummer (Bermuda Schwartz) has been with him since 1980. Steve and Jim (Bass and Guitar) have been with him since 1982. They all still call Rubén (the piano player) the "new guy" since he only just joined in 1991.

[@Leannabananaism]

Genius

[@DScotsman1]

Another one that would blow your mind would be Perform This Way. Simply crazy!

[@berjo516]

Trapped in the Drive-Thru is my personal favorite. I memorized all the lyrics when I was a kid and still remember majority of them almost 20 years later.

[@southrnsweety88]

Excellent song!

[@cameronjadewallace]

I agree, I listen to it at least five to 50 times a week. I sing it at work all the time.

[@cathyg6164]

I love weird Al

[@atdynax]

I was 13 when Episode 1 was in theaters, and i drove there, 20 km, twice just to see the pod race.

[@car_tag]

I think you're almost ready for Albuquerque. There's a fan movie version on KZbin with a crapton of views. It is something some won't appreciate without being more accustomed to his music.

[@chrislambert9903]

Almost ready but not quite ready yet

[@russb24]

One of my favorite Weird Al songs in 2020 was "Germs", a mashup of a few Nine Inch Nails songs. I'll let you figure out why.

[@michaelbaumert9533]

'Foil' is another one that's pretty good.

[@zoetercy9208]

Pretty good. Foil is amazing!!!!

[@CaddyJim]

*Weird Al (Stuck in the Drive-Thru)*

[@thesuminer]

I personally love Ode to a Superhero

[@Jon_from_LI]

I'd love to be in the audience during Al's concert. You know as well as I do that the entire audience will be singing in the chorus of each and every one of his songs.

[@EbonRaven]

I'd love to see you react to Weird Al's "Your Horoscope for Today". It's one of my favorite of his silly songs. :)

[@nahiag]

What's even crazier is that this video was made before the movie came out. The amout of research about leaked info is amazing, he even attended a tour if I remember correctly.

[@shawnjohnson9763]

Foil is absolutely hilarious. It takes a dark turn halfway through, but it's a riot.

[@Av3rageD4D]

Thanks Cliff! Appreciate you and taking your time to bring us content. Gotta do “Smells like Nirvana” as others have mentioned. See ya soon 😄

[@knitMuse]

My son saw the movies in the cinema when he was fairly young. When the fight scene with Maul came on, all he could say (rather loudly) was "Oh no! He's lost his pants!!!". The whole theater chuckled at that.

[@Haightread]

Great reaction! Glad you're a SW nerd too! Let's get old school with the Weird Al and do "The Night Santa Went Crazy"!

[@decentpotatoes]

My speech teacher literally (in class) said “Let’s ignore the last three movies, they’re not cannon, they’re fan fiction.”

[@mikehayman904]

My first (of 3) times meeting Weird Al was him promoting the cd this song was on at an autograph session at a local Walmart. He's such a nice guy in person. If you go to a show and want an autograph, he'll stick around until everyone in line is done and actually have a conversation with everyone.

[@stevebeeson4297]

Bro do trapped in the drive thru

[@mogwiawolf4354]

grew up listening to this and watching the video as well

[@lightheartreactions4829]

Absolutely, more Weird Al!!!

[@darylcaouette7615]

Al wrote the lyrics from just watching the trailers for the movie. He went to see the movie after writing the lyrics. Al was dead balls accurate without viewing the movie..

[@sabrinaevans8746]

Weird Al raised me my kids and now my grandkids on his nonstop brilliant song writing

[@Alyumic]

I would like to tell you that this song came out barely a month before the phantom menace which is why it's called the saga begins so it's crazy how well he's able to tell the story

[@PrincessBunhead]

I was a junior in high school when this came out, kids who weren't Star Wars fans were singing this while walking through the halls at school. Between the Special Edition Star Wars and The Phantom Menace release, Star Wars took over my high school years.

[@JesterGambit]

“Trapped in the Drive Thru,”is one of my favorites.

[@scottamann2445]

Watch a live concert version of this. He adds on to it in more hilarious ways. Also, check out Al’s song “Yoda”, a parody of “Lola” by the Kinks. It was written around the time of Empire Strikes Back. My favorite Star Wars movie and one of my favorite Al songs.

[@matthewteague623]

Sheev Palpatine on piano is just perfection.

[@petrosinella]

When I saw Al perform this song in concert, after the line, "and in the end some gungans died," a bunch of people cheered. 😂

[@roadkillontheweb2873]

Al is a national treasure

[@SpiderJAAM]

Weird Al it's incredibly talented, he gives everything in him to make his parodies as great as they can be. Please check "Couch Potato", it's another rap parody and it's amazing.

[@LadyDragonborn]

YES!!!! So glad you loved this one. It’s definitely in the Top 5 of his parodies. Believe me when I tell you that you will find yourself singing the chorus for the next few weeks 😝 Next up: please do Foil and Trapped In The Drive Thru!

[@lindahansen45]

Please more Weird Al. Just found your channel, btw. Very well done :)

[@thecrowing182]

Little known fact Al called that Qui-gon would come back as a force ghost and all the other force ghosts.

[@hilarymol6607]

YES. YES YES YES. I'm geeked that you enjoyed this one. I loved the original. I loved the Weird Al version. They're inextricably linked in my head at this point. (By the way, I feel ancient now, since the first movie I ever saw in the theater was the original Star Wars. My dad took me in 1977 when I was three.)

[@garryandjanepannell8594]

Love them too! I've got you beat by a decade and maybe a couple of years though.🤫(Don't tell)

[@anonymouscali7966]

You definitely need to check out Stephen Lynch: Priest, Craig, D&D, Special Olympics

[@redoctober00]

I get so many chills from this song...

[@MG-fh7su]

Hell yes. Do "since you've been gone" next !!!

[@penismightier9278]

The last line of that song is fucking brutal. I love that so much.

[@MG-fh7su]

@penismightier9278 it's the best line in a song ever. And I relate to it soo hard these days lol

[@TrekBeatTK]

Back in the day this song had its own website which was a parody of the Star Wars website design of the time. A lot of fans were also shocked by Al suddenly having no mustache.

[@becksullivan4796]

I too am a major Star Wars fan. Saw the first movie when it originally came out and knew movies had changed for me forever! As a fan of Al as well I loved this song and his attention to the story! Amazing!!!

[@wasabi19821]

Love how at the end he has 6M clones, lol😂

[@johnsmithfakename8422]

Legend says Weird Al made this video after watching ONLY the trailer for the movie.

[@matthewkreps3352]

Iirc, this was the piano player's first music video as part of Al's band. And it's the first time Al plays the Guitar.

[@geoffreynolds3157]

I listened to this song so much growing up that I cant even hear American Pie without singing this song.

[@spornge]

I CANNOT BELIEVE NO ONE HAS Mentioned YODA; done to the kinks : Lola

[@arpaul89]

More Weird Al - The Night Santa Went Crazy - Headline News

[@Brazbit]

The song that got me into Weird Al was also a Star Wars song, "Yoda" (a parody of "LOLA" a song by the Kinks that came out in 1970). One particular line in that song predicts the future of the franchise and used to make me laugh, until it ended up coming true with the Disney sequels at which time it became a case of be careful what you wish for.

[@hotrod7868]

He does a version of the Backstreet Boys. I want it that Way. But it’s about eBay.

[@ShineboxPhil]

He made this entire video based on info before the movie came out. It's amazing how accurate he was.

[@Cerinaya]

I have been listening to Weird Al for decades. My brother had a tape of the UHF soundtrack and I listened to that tape so many times I'm surprised it wasn't worn out. His parodies are great.

[@KarenHess25]

I’m not a Star Wars fan and have only seen the original movie, but I love this parody. I keep watching your reaction as the amusement and joy is written all over your face. Weird Al is a lyrical/musical genius.