“Weird Al” Yankovic was a staple of my youth; helping develop my nascent sense of humor and proving that geeks have a place in society. Though I’m still jarred by his lack of mustache these days, I’m happy to see he’s managed to remain relevant and keep putting out content. To wit: the video you see above, which Al confirms is composed of actual footage from his childhood. Of course, what he doesn’t tell you up front is that he’s provided his own silly narrative to go along with it.
It’s really funny and worth the watch, but what really stood out for me were all the elements of that bygone era (“Weird Al” was born in 1959): the “water missile of death”, which only a generation tenderly unaware of the dangers of its own entertainments could have produced; elephant rides, surely a sign that PETA had not yet been formed; receiving a pack of white paper as a gift, something surely quite valuable in itself those days, and actually something I could use myself; and of course the fashions, the fashions!
A big thank you to Al, for making these great movies available. It’s important to remember where we came from to know where we’re going. It’s barely conceivable to think of trotting out my old videos 40 years from now, when surely watching anything on a simple 2D screen will seem hopelessly antiquated to my grandchildren, who will roll their eyes in disbelief and embarrassment. As tough as these times are to us, I look forward to the day when I’ll be able to look back and laugh, like “Weird Al” has. Though it may be difficult to consider, we’re living the Good Old Days right now, and if we don’t acknowledge what we have, we’ll miss it when it’s gone.
