Canadian Idiot

"Canadian Idiot" is a 2006 song and single by "Weird Al" Yankovic from his album Straight Outta Lynwood. It is a parody of Green Day's "American Idiot".

"Canadian Idiot"
Single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
from the album Straight Outta Lynwood
ReleasedSeptember 12, 2006
RecordedFebruary 19, 2005
Genre
Length2:23
LabelVolcano
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic singles chronology
"White & Nerdy"
(2006)		 "Canadian Idiot"
(2006)		 "Whatever You Like"
(2008)
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
Canadian Idiot MuchMusic contest winner on YouTube

The song is mostly a sarcastic parody of the stereotypical American view of the Canadian way of life. Yankovic pokes fun at an accentuated Canadian dialect and the Canadians' love of ice hockey, beer, macaroni and cheese, and doughnuts. At the end of the song, he says that the Canadians are "up to something" and calls for a "preemptive strike".

Release

"Canadian Idiot" was never meant to be released as a single in the United States, but showed up on the Billboard charts nonetheless. It reached No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] Although it was not released as a tangible single in the U.S.,[2] promo CDs were pressed in Australia and shipped to radio stations to play.[3]

Live performances

The song is performed in Yankovic's 2007 Straight Outta Lynwood Tour. The song was first performed in Canada on June 20, 2007 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After the song Yankovic bellowed, "That was the first time we've played that song in Canada, thanks for not killing us." For the song's live performances, Yankovic and the band used to wear black collared shirts and red ties, similar to what Billie Joe Armstrong wore in all American Idiot-related band photos, tours and music videos. His current performances feature a red and white maple leaf jacket.[4] Yankovic has also sung the "Call of the Loon" (the signature tune of Bob and Doug McKenzie on SCTV) during the main guitar riff in his live shows.

Music video

MuchMusic ran a contest for the song on their website, which ended December 27, 2006. Entrants had to submit a video of themselves being the "ultimate Canadian idiot." Five winning clips were to be shown on Much on Demand.[5] The project was canceled due to lack of submissions.[6] Later, an update brought the project back, and the five finalists received digital cameras and a personalized recording from Yankovic himself.

Chart positions
Chart (2006) Peak
Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 82
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 57

See also

References
  1. Music: Top 100 Songs
  2. "Straight Outta Lynwood Singles History". Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  3. "Canadian Idiot" Australian Promo CD
  4. ""Weird Al" Yankovic - "Canadian Idiot" (Live in Del Mar 7-4-12)". YouTube. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. Archived December 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Archived January 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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