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{{Short description|2006 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{{Infobox single
{{Infobox song
| Name = White & Nerdy
| Artist = ] | name = White & Nerdy
| Album = ] | cover = White And Nerdy.jpg
| Released = September 12, 2006 | alt =
| Cover = White And Nerdy.jpg | type = single
| track_no = 1 | artist = ]
| B-side = "]" | album = ]
| Format = ], ], ] | B-side = ]
| released = September 12, 2006
| Recorded = July 22, 2006 at Westlake Recording Studios<ref name=whitenerdycard/>
| Genre = ], ] | recorded = July 22, 2006
| studio = Westlake Recording<ref name=whitenerdycard/>
| Length = 2:50
| genre =
| Writer = "Weird Al" Yankovic, ], ]
* ]
| Label = ]
* ]
| Producer = "Weird Al" Yankovic
* ]
| Certification = Platinum <small>(])</small>
| length = 2:50
| Last single = "]"<br>(2006)
| label = ]
| This single = "'''White & Nerdy'''"<br>(2006)
| Next single = "]"<br>(2006) | writer = *"Weird Al" Yankovic
* ]
| Misc = {{Extra track listing |
* ]
| Album = ]
| Type = single | producer = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| Tracks = | prev_title = ]
| prev_year = 2006
# "White & Nerdy"
| next_title = ]
| next_year = 2006
| misc = {{Extra track listing
| album = ]
| type = single
| tracks = {{hidden
| title = 12 tracks
| text =
# "'''White & Nerdy'''"
# "Pancreas" # "Pancreas"
# "]" # "]"
# "I'll Sue Ya" # "I'll Sue Ya"
# "]" # "]"
# "]" # "Virus Alert"
# "Confessions Part III" # "Confessions Part III"
# "]" # "Weasel Stomping Day"
# "]" # "Close But No Cigar"
# "]" # "Do I Creep You Out"
# "]" # "]"
# "]" # "]"
}} }}
}}
{{External music video|
{{YouTube|N9qYF9DZPdw|"White & Nerdy"}}}}
}} }}


"'''White & Nerdy'''" is the second single from ]'s album '']'', which was released on September 26, 2006. It parodies the song <!-- the song is just called "Ridin'", not "Ridin' Dirty". Yes, I know, that's weird. Please don't change this. -->"]" by ] and ]. The song both laments and revels in nerdiness, as recited by the subject who cannot "roll with the ]" because he is "just too ] and ]y", and includes constant references to stereotypically "nerdy" things, such as collecting ], playing ''] (D&D)'', and editing ], as well as stereotypically "white" things, like watching '']'', playing ], and eating "all my ]es with ]." It also includes Al at the Renaissance Fair and riding a Segway. "'''White & Nerdy'''" is the second single from ]'s album '']'', which was released on September 26, 2006. It parodies the song <!-- the song is just called "Ridin'", not "Ridin' Dirty". Yes, I know, that's weird. Please don't change this. -->"]" by ] and ]. The song both satirizes and celebrates ] culture, as recited by the subject, who cannot "roll with the ]" because he is "just too ] and ]y". It includes many references to activities stereotypically associated with nerds and/or white people, such as collecting ] and ], being fluent in ] and ], editing ], and playing '']''.

The song itself has won many accolades, including being Yankovic's first ] top 10 hit, peaking at #9. It was also certified platinum by the ], the first Yankovic single to achieve this feat. Chamillionaire himself also stated that he enjoyed the song.

==Track listing==

===CD single===
The following tracks are on the single:
# "White & Nerdy" &ndash; 2:50
# "Don't Download This Song" &ndash; 3:54

The promo single contains only "White & Nerdy".
I Edit Misplaced Pages


The song was Yankovic's only US ] top 10 song, peaking at No. 9, and his second to reach the top 20 in America after "]" peaked at No. 12 in 1984. "White & Nerdy" was certified platinum by the ] (RIAA), becoming Yankovic's first single to achieve this feat.
===Promo 12" single===
The following three songs were featured as triple A-sides on a 12" ]:
# "White & Nerdy" &ndash; 2:50
# "Confessions Part III" &ndash; 3:52
# "Trapped in the Drive-Thru" &ndash; 10:50.


==Production and writing== ==Production and writing==
Although Yankovic usually records his songs with his band, the backing tracks for "White and Nerdy" were recorded by guitarist ]—who handled the synthesizer production—and ]—who recorded the drums. The backing musicians recorded their respective tracks at their home studios. Yankovic added his rap vocals later at Westlake Studio in Los Angeles, California.<ref name=whitenerdycard>{{Citation|last=Yankovic|first=Alfred | work = 'Weird Al' Yankovic Official Limited Edition Trading Cards|publisher = ] | title = White & Nerdy | number = 77|year=2013}}</ref>

While Yankovic usually records his songs together with his band, the backing tracks for "White and Nerdy" were completely recorded by guitarist ]—who handled the synthesizer production—and ]—who was tasked with recording the drums. The two musicians recorded their specific tracks at their home studios. The finished audio tracks were then brought to Westlake Studio in Los Angeles, California, where Yankovic added his rap vocals.<ref name=whitenerdycard>{{Citation|last=Yankovic|first=Alfred |publisher = ] | title = White & Nerdy | work = 'Weird Al' Yankovic Official Limited Edition Trading Cards| number = 77|year=2013}}</ref> No editing was used for the rapid-fire lyrics.


==Music video== ==Music video==
The single has an accompanying ], which was recorded in ]. The video, loosely parodying the video for ]'s '']'' and following the song's lyrics, shows Yankovic, dressed as a stereotypical nerd with a button-up shirt, dress slacks, and horn-rimmed glasses (see also ] or ]), attempting to fit in with the "gangsters" but instead either scaring them away, causing them to ] (shown on the scene where Yankovic is riding on a ] in the park), or to direct him away from their group and instead towards a herd of other nerds (shown when Yankovic is in a bowling alley). These scenes include shots that directly parody the "Ridin'" video, including similar outfits by both artists. Yankovic is seen at night dancing in front of a set of road flares arranged in the form of ], similar to the shot of Chamillionaire in front of the figure of a lizard, his personal logo. Another repeated scene shows Yankovic along with ]&mdash;the "whitest guy I could think of", according to Yankovic<ref>Robert Berry, Robert (September 27, 2006). . retrocrush.com.</ref>&mdash;dancing in front of ], mimicking shots of Chamillionaire and ] from the "Ridin'" video. Whereas Chamillionaire's video ends with the artist ] to the camera, "White & Nerdy" ends with Yankovic giving a mistaken version of the ] (his thumb is against the side of his hand instead of perpendicular). The single has an accompanying music video, which was recorded in ]. The video, loosely parodying the video for ]'s "]" and following the song's lyrics, shows Yankovic, dressed as a stereotypical nerd with a buttoned-up ], dress slacks, and ] attempting to fit in with the "gangsters" (the first ones being ] and ]),<ref name="vulture 12videos">{{cite web | url = https://www.vulture.com/2014/07/history-behind-12-great-weird-al-videos.html | title = The History Behind 12 Great Weird Al Videos | first= Alex | last = Suskind | date = July 15, 2014 | access-date = July 24, 2019 | work = ] }}</ref> in a blue 1967 Chevy Impala convertible but instead either scaring them away, causing them to ], or to direct him away from their group and instead towards a herd of other "nerds". These scenes include shots that directly parody the "Ridin'" video, including similar outfits by both artists. Yankovic is seen at night dancing in front of a set of road flares arranged in the form of ], similar to the shot of Chamillionaire in front of the figure of a lizard, his personal logo. Another repeated scene shows Yankovic along with ]—the "whitest guy I could think of", according to Yankovic<ref>{{cite web |last=Berry |first=Robert |date=September 27, 2006 |url=http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2006/weirdal/index.html |title=The Weird Al Yankovic Interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220045444/http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2006/weirdal/index.html |archive-date=2016-02-20 |publisher=retrocrush.com}}</ref>—dancing in front of the ], mimicking shots of Chamillionaire and ] from the "Ridin'" video. Yankovic had found Osmond to be eager to be in the video, having memorized the song before recording as well as having his various moves already figured out before filming.<ref name="vulture 12videos"/>


] on ].]] ] on ].]]
Further interspersed among these shots are additional shots of Yankovic demonstrating his "white and nerdy" life, some cases depicting more than just the statements in the lyrics. One scene shows Yankovic vandalizing the ] page for ], replacing it with the words (in excessively large type) "YOU SUCK!", referencing his recent trouble with the company in getting permission to release "]", a parody of ]'s song "]".<ref name="Herald">{{cite news|last=Adams |first=Cameron |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20523843-5006024,00.html |title=Weird Al Yankovic |newspaper=] |date=October 5, 2006}}{{dead link|date=August 2011}}</ref> Fans of the video have replicated the action depicted in the video several times.<ref name="AtlanticHistory"> History of ] showing vandalism caused by the Music Video</ref> The video shows a fictional ] card, with questions that include the location of "]", on what page ] would die in ], and the number of Wicket men there are on a ] team.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/09/28/weird-al-not-one-to-neglect-the-details/ | title = "Weird Al" Yankovic: Not One to Neglect the Details | publisher = '']'' | date = 2006-09-28 | accessdate = 2009-06-30 | first = Elizabeth | last = Goodman |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080406072923/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/09/28/weird-al-not-one-to-neglect-the-details/ |archivedate=2008-04-06}}</ref> Yankovic is shown making a shady deal with a thug in a back alley to acquire a ] ] copy of the '']''.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/16/entertainment/ca-starwars16 | title = 'Star Wars Holiday Special': May the farce be with you. | publisher = '']'' | first = Donald | last = Liebenson | date = 2008-11-16 | accessdate = 2009-06-30}}</ref> When Yankovic is on his ] page in the video, 'White and Nerdy has 27 friends' can be seen at the top of the computer screen (], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]). This is a continuation of his usual trend of putting the number 27 somewhere in his videos. The ] Al spreads on a sandwich in the video is labelled "Pest Foods" mayonnaise, parodying ] mayonnaise. Also, when Yankovic says, "Even made a homepage for my dog, yo," the music video shows a website devoted to his dog, Foofie. Further interspersed among these shots are additional shots of Yankovic demonstrating his "white and nerdy" life. One scene shows Yankovic ] the ] page for ], replacing it with the words (in a large font size) "YOU SUCK!", referencing his then-recent trouble with the company in getting permission to release "]", a parody of ]'s song "]".<ref name="Herald">{{cite news|last=Adams |first=Cameron |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20523843-5006024,00.html |title=Weird Al Yankovic |newspaper=] |date=October 5, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312053314/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20523843-5006024,00.html |archive-date=March 12, 2007 }}</ref> Fans of the video have replicated the action depicted in the video several times. The video shows a fictional ] card, with questions that include the location of the largest ball of twine (a reference to his song "])", on what page ] would die in ], and the number of Wicket men there are on a ] team (there are five).<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/09/28/weird-al-not-one-to-neglect-the-details/ | title = 'Weird Al' Yankovic: Not One to Neglect the Details | magazine = ] | date = 2006-09-28 | access-date = 2009-06-30 | first = Elizabeth | last = Goodman | url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406072923/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/09/28/weird-al-not-one-to-neglect-the-details/ |archive-date=2008-04-06}}</ref>


The video includes other cameos. The Impala's "OG4LIFE" license plate refers to ]'s 1991 album '']''. ], whom Yankovic had known for some time, appears in front of a wall display of action figures. Green also provided a number of the props for the video.<ref name="vulture 12videos"/> ], a regular on '']'' who also previously appeared in "]", plays the woman who receives a ] as a present. Other actors were recruited by Yankovic through his ] page, from which he received extras who said they would appear for free. The video's comic book store is ] in ], ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenapplecomics.com/orchard/wierdal/index.php |title=Check it out!! Golden Apple is featured in Weird Al's "Straight Outta Lynwood" music video... |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928083014/http://www.goldenapplecomics.com/orchard/wierdal/index.php |archive-date=2007-09-28}}</ref>
In addition to Osmond, there are other cameos in the video. ] and ] of '']'' appear in the blue 1967 ] convertible at the beginning of the video, two "gangsters" that are scared away by Yankovic's nerdiness. The license plate on the Impala reads "OG4LIFE", a reference to ] 1991 album ]. ] appears in front of a wall display of action figures; Green has a huge personal collection of action figures (including ]) that are stored in a large storage unit he shares with Hugh Sterbakov.
<ref>Picirilli, Mark (July 1, 2005). . kid4life.com.</ref> ], a regular on '']'' and who previously appeared in "]", appears as the woman who receives a ] as a Christmas present. Other actors were personally recruited by Yankovic through a post on his ] page, from which he received several interested extras that said they would appear for free.


The video was leaked onto ] on September 17, 2006, one day before the planned official release date on ]. Due to the leak, the premiere was canceled, and AOL silently slipped the video onto their website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yankovic.org/blog/2006/09/18/premiere-cancelled/|title=Premiere cancelled|publisher=Yankovic.org|date=2006-09-18|access-date=2016-09-19|archive-date=2014-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714195239/http://yankovic.org/blog/2006/09/18/premiere-cancelled/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{cn|date=December 2022}} ] started airing the video in "large rotation" on September 20, 2006; the video debuted at #5 on their Top 20 countdown.<ref name="official">. weirdal.com.</ref>
The comic book store featured in the video is ], located in ], ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenapplecomics.com/orchard/wierdal/index.php |title=Check it out!! Golden Apple is featured in Weird Al's "Straight Outta Lynwood" music video... |publisher=] |date= |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070928083014/http://www.goldenapplecomics.com/orchard/wierdal/index.php |archivedate=2007-09-28}}</ref> while the ] is located on ] in ].


=== Fan-made video ===
Also in the comic book store, he is wearing a yellow T-shirt that says "] is my homeboy," a parody of the "Jesus is my homeboy" T-shirt design.
] solicited online members to make a ] video for "White & Nerdy". The video was released in late 2006.<ref>. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506203514/http://music.yahoo.com/ar-269394-videos--Weird-Al-Yankovic |date=2007-05-06 }} Yahoo!.</ref>


==Live performances==
The video was leaked onto ] on September 17, 2006, just one day before the video was planned to be officially released at 9 PM ] at ].com. Due to the leak, the premiere was canceled, and AOL silently slipped the video onto their website hours <!-- What does the word 'hours' mean? Does it mean very shortly before, as is 'just hours before' or a long time before, as in 'HOURS before!'? --> before the premiere was set to take place.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} ] started airing the video in "large rotation" on September 20, 2006, and it debuted at #5 on their Top 20 countdown.<ref name="official">. weirdal.com.</ref> It is available to watch on Yankovic's MySpace page, as well as on several other video hosting sites and P2P theaters.
<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] with his band, Jay Leno, Penélope Cruz, and John Stamos after finishing his performance of "White and Nerdy".]] -->On November 2, 2006, Yankovic performed "White & Nerdy" live on '']''. (He rode a ] as he came on stage.) It was his first public live performance of the song; various background vocals from the original recording are played to allow him time to breathe during the fast-paced lyrics. Since then, however, his band has provided live background vocals. On December 3, he performed the song live at the ] "Big In '06" Awards. Since 2007, Yankovic has performed the song on each one of his tours,<ref>{{cite web|title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Set Lists|url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/set-lists/|website=WeirdAl.com|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> entering the stage on a Segway and wearing his hoodie and bandana from the video rather than using his "nerd" look. His band members maintain the "nerdy" outfits.<ref>{{cite web|title="White & Nerdy" performed during "Alpocalypse Tour" on July 4, 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Loo897Ux930 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/Loo897Ux930 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|via=YouTube| date=5 July 2012 |access-date=8 October 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Other videos===

====Fan-made video====
] solicited online members to make a ] video for "White & Nerdy". The video was released in late 2006.<ref>. Yahoo.com.</ref>

====Live performances====
<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] with his band, Jay Leno, Penélope Cruz, and John Stamos after finishing his performance of "White and Nerdy".]] -->On November 2, 2006, Yankovic performed "White & Nerdy" live on '']''. (He rode a ] as he came on stage.) It was his first public live performance of the song; various background vocals from the original recording are played to allow him time to breathe during the fast-paced lyrics. Since then, however, his band has provided live background vocals. On December 3, he performed the song live at the ] "Big In '06" Awards. Yankovic performed the song during his 2007 tour, using a Segway instead of a bike during the performance as in the video, but with different "nerdy" outfits than those used in the video.


==Awards and accolades== ==Awards and accolades==
The song became Yankovic's first career Top 10 hit on the ], a record 23 years after his first appearance on the Hot 100 chart with "]" in 1983. It peaked at #9, beating his previous #12 peak for 1984's "]". This was also his first Top 40 single since 1992's "]".<ref name="top10">{{cite web |url=http://www.weirdal.com/ |title=Official "Weird Al" Website |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061110030434/http://weirdal.com/home.htm |archivedate=2006-11-10 |quote="White & Nerdy" erupted on the Billboard singles charts at #28 (as the "Hot Shot Debut") and then rocketed to #9 the next week, making it Al's very first Top 10 single! Thanks, everybody, for giving Al his highest-charting album and single of all time!}}</ref> It peaked on the ] chart at #5. Both the song and the music video reached #1 at the U.S. and Australian ], and peaked at #1 on ]'s top 20 video countdown. Both "White & Nerdy" and '']'' were ], and later ], by the ].<ref name="official"/> This marks the first time any one of Yankovic's singles has been certified platinum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS |title=Gold & Platinum Program / Searchable Database |publisher=]}} ''(search term: Nerdy)''</ref> The song became Yankovic's first career Top 10 hit on the ], a record 23 years after his first appearance on the Hot 100 chart with "]" in 1983. It debuted at #28 on the Hot 100 (that week's "Hot Shot Debut"), and peaked at #9 the following week, beating his previous #12 peak for 1984's "]". It spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100, including 5 weeks in the Top 20 and 10 weeks in the Top 40.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://billboard.elpee.jp/single/White%20%26%20Nerdy/%22Weird%20Al%22%20Yankovic/ | title=Billboard Database }}</ref> This was also his first Top 40 single since 1992's "]".<ref name="top10">{{cite web |url=http://www.weirdal.com/ |title=Official 'Weird Al' Website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110030434/http://weirdal.com/home.htm |archive-date=2006-11-10 |quote="White & Nerdy" erupted on the Billboard singles charts at #28 (as the "Hot Shot Debut") and then rocketed to #9 the next week, making it Al's very first Top 10 single! Thanks, everybody, for giving Al his highest-charting album and single of all time!}}</ref> It peaked on the ] chart at #5. Both the song and the music video reached #1 at the U.S. and Australian ], and peaked at #1 on ]'s top 20 video countdown. Both "White & Nerdy" and '']'' were ], and later ], by the ].<ref name="official"/> This marks the first time any one of Yankovic's singles has been certified platinum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS |title=Gold & Platinum Program / Searchable Database |publisher=]}} ''(search term: Nerdy)''</ref>


==Reaction from Chamillionaire== ==Reaction from Chamillionaire==
Chamillionaire placed "White & Nerdy" on his ] page, commenting that he enjoyed the parody.<ref name="MTVNews.com story">Reid, Shaheem; Dukes, Rahman (September 11, 2006). . MTV.</ref> In an interview, Chamillionaire complimented Yankovic's ] ability, saying, "He's actually rapping pretty good on it, it's crazy ... I didn't know he could rap like that."<ref name="MTVNews.com story"/> Yankovic stated that Chamillionaire approached and thanked him on the red carpet after "Ridin'" won the Grammy award for ] at the ] and said that the parody "made it undeniable that was the rap song of the year".<ref name="npr weekend edition">{{cite web | url = https://www.npr.org/2014/07/12/329873481/weird-al-yankovic-on-parody-in-the-age-of-youtube | title = 'Weird Al' Yankovic On Parody In The Age Of YouTube | date = July 12, 2014 | access-date = July 12, 2014 | publisher = ] }}</ref>


==Track listing==
Chamillionaire himself put "White & Nerdy" on his official ] page, and commented that he enjoys the parody.<ref name="MTVNews.com story">Reid, Shaheem; Dukes, Rahman (September 11, 2006). . MTV.com.</ref> In an interview, he also stated he was pleasantly surprised by "Weird Al"'s ] ability, saying: "He's actually rapping pretty good on it, it's crazy ... I didn't know he could rap like that."<ref name="MTVNews.com story"/>
# "White & Nerdy"&nbsp;– 2:50
# "Don't Download This Song"&nbsp;– 3:54

==Personnel==
* ] – lead and backing vocals
* ] – keyboard programming
* ] – drum programming<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=The Essential 'Weird Al' Yankovic|title-link=The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic|year=2009 |first=Stephen |last=Thompson|type=Liner Notes |publisher=Legacy Recordings|location=New York, NY}}</ref>


==Chart positions== ==Chart positions==
{{col-begin}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{{col-break}}
!Chart (2006–07)
===Weekly===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for "White & Nerdy"
!Chart (2006–2007)
!Peak<br>position !Peak<br>position
|- |-
!scope="row"|Australian Digital Track Chart (])<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue877.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20061219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20061220-0000/issue877.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-12-19|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 January 2007|date=January 1, 2007|publisher=]|issue=877|access-date=September 26, 2014}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|align="left"|]<ref>. ''finnishcharts.com''. eMedia Jungen.</ref>
|align="center"|12
|-
!scope="row"|Canadian Digital Songs<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-canada-digital-songs/2006-11-04|title=Canadian Digital Songs|date=November 4, 2006|magazine=]|access-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref>
|align="center"|9
|-
!scope="row"|]<ref>. ''finnishcharts.com''. eMedia Jungen.</ref>
|align="center"|14 |align="center"|14
|- |-
!scope="row"|]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21542/weird-al-yankovic|title=Weird Al Yankovic|website=]|access-date=July 16, 2023}}</ref>
|align="left"|]
|align="center"|80 |align="center"|80
|- |-
!scope="row"|US ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-10-21|title=The Hot 100 Chart (2006-10-21)|magazine=]|date=2 January 2013|access-date=June 17, 2020}}</ref>
|align="left"|U.S. ]
|align="center"|9 |align="center"|9
|} |}
{{col-break}}
===Year-end===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Year-end chart performance for "White & Nerdy"
!Chart (2006)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Swedish Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=20060001 |title=Årslista Singlar – År 2006 |language=sv |publisher=Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041639/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=20060001 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|align=center|90
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "White & Nerdy"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Yankovic|title=White|award=Platinum|digital=true|note=Digital|relyear=2006|certyear=2008|accessdate=July 20, 2021|refname=RIAA}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Yankovic|title=White|award=Gold|digital=true|note=Mastertone|relyear=2006|certyear=2007|accessdate=July 20, 2021|refname=RIAA1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Comedy|Hip hop|2000s}} {{Portal|Comedy}}
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] - a song with a similar topic; also by Yankovic * "]" – a song with a similar topic, also by Yankovic
*] * ]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* (archive). * (archive).
*{{Youtube|N9qYF9DZPdw|"Weird Al" Yankovic - White & Nerdy (Official 4K Video)}}

* Music video <!-- do not add link to unofficial postings of the video—these are copyright infringements] -->
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Latest revision as of 12:35, 13 December 2024

2006 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
"White & Nerdy"
Single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
from the album Straight Outta Lynwood
B-side"Don't Download This Song"
ReleasedSeptember 12, 2006
RecordedJuly 22, 2006
StudioWestlake Recording
Genre
Length2:50
LabelVolcano
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic singles chronology
"Don't Download This Song"
(2006) 		"White & Nerdy"
(2006) 		"Canadian Idiot"
(2006)
Straight Outta Lynwood track listing
12 tracks
  1. "White & Nerdy"
  2. "Pancreas"
  3. "Canadian Idiot"
  4. "I'll Sue Ya"
  5. "Polkarama!"
  6. "Virus Alert"
  7. "Confessions Part III"
  8. "Weasel Stomping Day"
  9. "Close But No Cigar"
  10. "Do I Creep You Out"
  11. "Trapped in the Drive-Thru"
  12. "Don't Download This Song"
Music video
"White & Nerdy" on YouTube

"White & Nerdy" is the second single from "Weird Al" Yankovic's album Straight Outta Lynwood, which was released on September 26, 2006. It parodies the song "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone. The song both satirizes and celebrates nerd culture, as recited by the subject, who cannot "roll with the gangstas" because he is "just too white and nerdy". It includes many references to activities stereotypically associated with nerds and/or white people, such as collecting comic books and action figures, being fluent in JavaScript and Klingon, editing Misplaced Pages, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

The song was Yankovic's only US Billboard Hot 100 top 10 song, peaking at No. 9, and his second to reach the top 20 in America after "Eat It" peaked at No. 12 in 1984. "White & Nerdy" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), becoming Yankovic's first single to achieve this feat.

Production and writing

Although Yankovic usually records his songs with his band, the backing tracks for "White and Nerdy" were recorded by guitarist Jim West—who handled the synthesizer production—and Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz—who recorded the drums. The backing musicians recorded their respective tracks at their home studios. Yankovic added his rap vocals later at Westlake Studio in Los Angeles, California.

Music video

The single has an accompanying music video, which was recorded in high definition. The video, loosely parodying the video for Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" and following the song's lyrics, shows Yankovic, dressed as a stereotypical nerd with a buttoned-up polo shirt, dress slacks, and horn-rimmed glasses attempting to fit in with the "gangsters" (the first ones being Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele), in a blue 1967 Chevy Impala convertible but instead either scaring them away, causing them to flip him the bird, or to direct him away from their group and instead towards a herd of other "nerds". These scenes include shots that directly parody the "Ridin'" video, including similar outfits by both artists. Yankovic is seen at night dancing in front of a set of road flares arranged in the form of Pac-Man, similar to the shot of Chamillionaire in front of the figure of a lizard, his personal logo. Another repeated scene shows Yankovic along with Donny Osmond—the "whitest guy I could think of", according to Yankovic—dancing in front of the Schrödinger equation, mimicking shots of Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone from the "Ridin'" video. Yankovic had found Osmond to be eager to be in the video, having memorized the song before recording as well as having his various moves already figured out before filming.

Al depicted expressing his opinion about Atlantic Records on Misplaced Pages.

Further interspersed among these shots are additional shots of Yankovic demonstrating his "white and nerdy" life. One scene shows Yankovic vandalizing the Misplaced Pages page for Atlantic Records, replacing it with the words (in a large font size) "YOU SUCK!", referencing his then-recent trouble with the company in getting permission to release "You're Pitiful", a parody of James Blunt's song "You're Beautiful". Fans of the video have replicated the action depicted in the video several times. The video shows a fictional Trivial Pursuit card, with questions that include the location of the largest ball of twine (a reference to his song "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota)", on what page Harry Potter would die in the next book, and the number of Wicket men there are on a 43-Man Squamish team (there are five).

The video includes other cameos. The Impala's "OG4LIFE" license plate refers to Ice-T's 1991 album Original Gangster. Seth Green, whom Yankovic had known for some time, appears in front of a wall display of action figures. Green also provided a number of the props for the video. Judy Tenuta, a regular on The Weird Al Show who also previously appeared in "Headline News", plays the woman who receives a surge protector as a present. Other actors were recruited by Yankovic through his MySpace page, from which he received extras who said they would appear for free. The video's comic book store is Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles, California.

The video was leaked onto YouTube on September 17, 2006, one day before the planned official release date on AOL. Due to the leak, the premiere was canceled, and AOL silently slipped the video onto their website. VH1 started airing the video in "large rotation" on September 20, 2006; the video debuted at #5 on their Top 20 countdown.

Fan-made video

Yahoo! Music solicited online members to make a fans-only video for "White & Nerdy". The video was released in late 2006.

Live performances

On November 2, 2006, Yankovic performed "White & Nerdy" live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. (He rode a Segway as he came on stage.) It was his first public live performance of the song; various background vocals from the original recording are played to allow him time to breathe during the fast-paced lyrics. Since then, however, his band has provided live background vocals. On December 3, he performed the song live at the VH1 "Big In '06" Awards. Since 2007, Yankovic has performed the song on each one of his tours, entering the stage on a Segway and wearing his hoodie and bandana from the video rather than using his "nerd" look. His band members maintain the "nerdy" outfits.

Awards and accolades

The song became Yankovic's first career Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, a record 23 years after his first appearance on the Hot 100 chart with "Ricky" in 1983. It debuted at #28 on the Hot 100 (that week's "Hot Shot Debut"), and peaked at #9 the following week, beating his previous #12 peak for 1984's "Eat It". It spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100, including 5 weeks in the Top 20 and 10 weeks in the Top 40. This was also his first Top 40 single since 1992's "Smells Like Nirvana". It peaked on the Hot Digital Songs chart at #5. Both the song and the music video reached #1 at the U.S. and Australian iTunes Store, and peaked at #1 on VH1's top 20 video countdown. Both "White & Nerdy" and Straight Outta Lynwood were certified gold, and later platinum, by the RIAA. This marks the first time any one of Yankovic's singles has been certified platinum.

Reaction from Chamillionaire

Chamillionaire placed "White & Nerdy" on his MySpace page, commenting that he enjoyed the parody. In an interview, Chamillionaire complimented Yankovic's rapping ability, saying, "He's actually rapping pretty good on it, it's crazy ... I didn't know he could rap like that." Yankovic stated that Chamillionaire approached and thanked him on the red carpet after "Ridin'" won the Grammy award for Best Rap Song at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards and said that the parody "made it undeniable that was the rap song of the year".

Track listing

  1. "White & Nerdy" – 2:50
  2. "Don't Download This Song" – 3:54

Personnel

Chart positions

Weekly

Weekly chart performance for "White & Nerdy"
Chart (2006–2007) Peak
position
Australian Digital Track Chart (ARIA) 12
Canadian Digital Songs 9
Swedish Singles Chart 14
UK Singles Chart 80
US Billboard Hot 100 9

Year-end

Year-end chart performance for "White & Nerdy"
Chart (2006) Position
Swedish Singles Chart 90

Certifications

Certifications for "White & Nerdy"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)
Digital 		Platinum 1,000,000
United States (RIAA)
Mastertone 		Gold 500,000

Sales figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ Yankovic, Alfred (2013), "White & Nerdy", 'Weird Al' Yankovic Official Limited Edition Trading Cards, no. 77, Volcano Records
  2. ^ Suskind, Alex (July 15, 2014). "The History Behind 12 Great Weird Al Videos". Vulture. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  3. Berry, Robert (September 27, 2006). "The Weird Al Yankovic Interview". retrocrush.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-20.
  4. Adams, Cameron (October 5, 2006). "Weird Al Yankovic". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007.
  5. Goodman, Elizabeth (2006-09-28). "'Weird Al' Yankovic: Not One to Neglect the Details". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  6. "Check it out!! Golden Apple is featured in Weird Al's "Straight Outta Lynwood" music video..." Golden Apple Comics. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
  7. "Premiere cancelled". Yankovic.org. 2006-09-18. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  8. ^ "The Official 'Weird Al' Yankovic Web Site". weirdal.com.
  9. "Weird Al Yankovic Music Videos on Yahoo! Music". Archived 2007-05-06 at the Wayback Machine Yahoo!.
  10. ""Weird Al" Yankovic: Set Lists". WeirdAl.com. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  11. ""White & Nerdy" performed during "Alpocalypse Tour" on July 4, 2012". 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 8 October 2015 – via YouTube.
  12. "Billboard Database".
  13. "Official 'Weird Al' Website". Archived from the original on 2006-11-10. "White & Nerdy" erupted on the Billboard singles charts at #28 (as the "Hot Shot Debut") and then rocketed to #9 the next week, making it Al's very first Top 10 single! Thanks, everybody, for giving Al his highest-charting album and single of all time!
  14. "Gold & Platinum Program / Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. (search term: Nerdy)
  15. ^ Reid, Shaheem; Dukes, Rahman (September 11, 2006). "Mixtape Monday". MTV.
  16. "'Weird Al' Yankovic On Parody In The Age Of YouTube". NPR. July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  17. Thompson, Stephen (2009). The Essential 'Weird Al' Yankovic (Liner Notes). New York, NY: Legacy Recordings.
  18. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 January 2007" (PDF) (877). Pandora Archive. January 1, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-12-19. Retrieved September 26, 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. "Canadian Digital Songs". Billboard. November 4, 2006. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  20. "Weird Al Yankovic – White & Nerdy (Song) – Swedish (SE)". finnishcharts.com. eMedia Jungen.
  21. "Weird Al Yankovic". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  22. "The Hot 100 Chart (2006-10-21)". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  23. "Årslista Singlar – År 2006" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  24. "American single certifications – Yankovic – White". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  25. "American single certifications – Yankovic – White". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 20, 2021.

External links

"Weird Al" Yankovic
Studio albums
Soundtrack albums
EPs
Compilations
Songs
Videography
Tours
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