How Do We Satire The North Korea Situation? Bring In Weird Al Yankovic

Graham Pierrepoint

Escalating tension between North Korea and the US is driving the media to breaking point – there has been considerably strong rhetoric from either side of the coin, with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang allegedly continuing to test certain missiles which could reach America – and with US President Donald Trump advising that he is ready to fight back against the reclusive state should any action be taken against US shores. It’s a situation that could get very scary indeed – it does rather echo some of the rumblings during the Cold War and certainly some of the more unnerving talk of nuclear holocaust during the 80s – but, as always, satire finds a way through to help make light of such a dire situation. Who do you call on to help make this chaotic time that little bit lighter? Who else?

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic is widely regarded as the king of comedy music – he’s been recording song parodies and satirical tunes since the late 70s and early 80s, and as such he has been a regular fixture on MTV and mainstream media ever since. Despite a career spanning almost 40 years, the star only recently scored his first US Billboard number one album with ‘Mandatory Fun’ – spawning parodies of Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ (titled ‘Tacky’), Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines (‘Word Crimes’) and many more. This week, John Oliver invited Yankovic onto Last Week Tonight in an episode largely centered around North Korea – and with it, the accordion-playing funnyman launched into an exclusive tune recorded in light of current tensions between the US and Pyongyang.

'Weird Al' Yankovic - The North Korea Polka

Entitled ‘Please Don’t Nuke Us, North Korea’, the song has become a viral hit online, and is still available to view in its entirety on YouTube. The song, poised as a tongue-in-cheek message to Kim Jong Un to refrain from taking military action against the States, comprised of classic Yankovic wit and rhymes – this is, after all, the man who brought us ‘Christmas at Ground Zero’ and more besides.

Satire has never been stronger – and while the world may currently seem like it is lampooning itself far better than our comedians and entertainment personalities, it is encouraging that even our most enduring stars are still willing to take a jab or two at current events so that we may swallow them a little easier!