WEIRD AL YANKOVIC TO GET SPACEY WITH `AMERICAN PIE' (EMBARGOED

WEIRD AL YANKOVIC TO GET SPACEY WITH `AMERICAN PIE' (EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:30 A.M. EDT)

LOS ANGELES (Wireless Flash) -- Weird Al Yankovic is spacier than ever these days. The musical satirist is about to release his first new CD in three years, and the title song, "The Saga Begins" consists of the plot of "The Phantom Menace" set to the melody of Don McLean's "American Pie." Yankovic won't reveal the song's lyrics until the video makes its official premiere this Friday (June 25) on the internet, but he offers this hint: the chorus begins with "My, my, this Anakin guy/ May be Vader/ Someday later/ Now he's just a small fry." This isn't Yankovic's first stab at "Star Wars". He also lampooned a version of "Lola" titled "Yoda" that reportedly was a favorite of "Star Wars" creator George Lucas. The new CD, titled "Weird Al Yankovic: The Saga Begins," also spoofs songs by The Cherry Poppin' Daddies, The Offspring, Puff Daddy and The Barenaked Ladies.

CONTACT: Weird Al Yankovic, ****; Arrange with Sheryl Northrup; LA; (818) 703-1520; website for video debut is: http://www.sagabegins.com