The Ice Cream Flavor Weird Al Once Sang About
Alfred Yankovic, who is best known by his stage name Weird Al, is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Weird Al made his grand entrance into the entertainment business while attending California Polytechnic State University in the late '70s, when he rewrote the lyrics to "My Sharona" by The Knack. The result was "My Bologna," per his official website.
As his fans around the globe are well aware, Weird Al isn't like most mainstream artists. His fame stems from his talent to turn popular songs into quirky, lampooned masterpieces. From "Eat It" to "Amish Paradise" to "Smells Like Nirvana," Yankovic's discography is filled to the brim with wordplay, humor, and the notably distinctive sound of the accordion, his go-to instrument.
One of Weird Al's greatest hits of all time tells the story of a young man with an infatuation for a particular flavor of ice cream. Hint: While the true origin of the immortal frozen treat has been up for debate for generations, Mental Floss explains that its name most likely refers to the devastating 1929 stock market crash, which led to the Great Depression. Weird Al didn't allude to the bleak meaning behind the flavor, but instead put its acclaimed deliciousness in the spotlight.
'I Love Rocky Road' is a tasty spin on Joan Jett's '80s chart topper
The cult favorite flavor in question is, of course, Rocky Road, a medley of chocolate ice cream, gooey marshmallows, and crunchy nuts. Weird Al's 1983 single "I Love Rocky Road" is a silly little polka-rock ditty that pays sweet homage to the 1981 classic "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, according to Songfacts.
The track is sung in a similar melody as the Blackhearts' longstanding hit, with lyrics that can make any ice cream lover drool. To give you a taste, the epic chorus recites, "Baby, I love rocky road / So weren't you gonna buy half a gallon, baby / I love rocky road / So have another triple scoop with me!" The song's music video, which primarily takes place in a rural ice cream parlor, even features Al sporting a black leather jacket, neck scarf, and Chuck Taylors, just like the forever-legendary Jett herself wears in her own video. However, instead of strumming a Gibson, Al rocks out on his beloved squeezebox.
So, how do the Blackhearts feel about "Rocky Road?" When Jett was asked about the parody during an online interview with fans, her response was brief but brutally honest: "We didn't love it."