Weird Al wants respect for parodies

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Weird Al Yankovic doesn't think parodies get as much respect as they deserve.

"Parody is often denigrated as the lowest form of comedy," says Yankovic, a veteran parodist who's just released a new album, "Straight Outta Lynwood." "People think, 'My 6-year-old nephew makes up funny words to songs.' And it is very easy to do parody; it's just not easy to do it well and do it consistently.

"I put a lot of quality into my work and that my parodies appeal to a wide audience and are repeatable enough you can listen to them over and over. I think my fans understand that and appreciate it."

Yankovic has been making hit parodies since recasting the Knack's "My Sharona" as "My Bologna" in 1979. "Straight Outta Lynwood" features skewed takes on recent hits by Chamillionaire, Green Day, Usher and R. Kelly.