Ricky (song)
Encyclopedia
"Ricky" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...

. It is a parody of "Mickey
Mickey (song)
"Mickey" is a 1982 U.S. new wave song recorded by singer and choreographer Toni Basil. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as "Kitty", it was first recorded by UK popular music group Racey during 1979...

" by Toni Basil
Toni Basil
Antonia Christina Basilotta , better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, filmmaker, film director, choreographer, and dancer, best known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.-Early life:Basil was born Antonia Christina...

. The song focuses on the show I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...

,
and ends with a segment of the theme from the show. The music video was Yankovic's first.

Track listing

The following tracks are on the single:
  1. "Ricky" – 2:35
  2. "Buckingham Blues" – 3:11


The promo single only contains "Ricky".

Music video

The music video was directed by Janet Greek
Janet Greek
Janet Greek is an American director and writer of film and television. She best known for her directorial work on the science fiction series Babylon 5.-Career:...

. It was filmed mostly in black and white and parodies the I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...

television show.
  • Yankovic plays the part of Ricky Ricardo
    Ricky Ricardo
    Enrique Alberto Fernando Ricardo y de Acha, III, a.k.a. Ricky Ricardo is a main character in the television show I Love Lucy, played by Desi Arnaz...

    , complete with affected Cuban accent. Yankovic appears minus his mustache, and with his hair slicked back, to more closely resemble Desi Arnaz
    Desi Arnaz
    Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer. While he gained international renown for leading a Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, he is probably best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the American TV series I Love Lucy, starring with Lucille Ball, to...

    . Interestingly, Al performs the part without his glasses. Since this was well before his laser eye surgery in the late 90s, it is unlikely he was able to see either properly or at all while performing, although he may have been wearing contact lenses.
  • Yankovic is also seen briefly in several scenes as himself with his band, playing the accordion and sporting his normal mustache and curly hair.
  • Tress MacNeille
    Tress MacNeille
    Tress MacNeille is an American voice actress best known for providing various voices on the animated series The Simpsons, Futurama, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Disney's House of Mouse, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rugrats, All Grown Up!, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Dave the...

     plays the part of Lucy, giving an impression of Lucille Ball
    Lucille Ball
    Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...

    's somewhat raspy voice and her usual shticks such as her unique way of crying.
  • The video (and song) ends with a segment of the I Love Lucy theme (played by guitarist Jim West
    Jim West (guitarist)
    James "Jim" "Kimo" West is a guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. West auditioned for Yankovic, after being introduced by Steve Jay, and the two have worked together ever since...

    ) rounding out with Ricky on accordion, followed by Ricky doing his "Huah! Huah! Huah!" trademark laugh.
  • This was Yankovic's first music video. The liner notes in The Ultimate Video Collection (a compilation DVD) suggest that Ricky "was arguably the first comedy video ever shown on MTV".
  • Near the end of the video, a cheerleader can be seen dancing in the crowd. This is a direct reference to the music video "Mickey
    Mickey (song)
    "Mickey" is a 1982 U.S. new wave song recorded by singer and choreographer Toni Basil. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as "Kitty", it was first recorded by UK popular music group Racey during 1979...

    " by Toni Basil
    Toni Basil
    Antonia Christina Basilotta , better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, filmmaker, film director, choreographer, and dancer, best known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.-Early life:Basil was born Antonia Christina...

    .
  • Dr. Demento
    Dr. Demento
    Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....

     makes a cameo appearance at the very end of the music video.

Chart positions

Chart (1983) Peak
Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 
63

See also

  • List of singles by "Weird Al" Yankovic
  • List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic
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