Synopsis

"Weird Al" Yankovic plays a swaggering gangster enjoying the spoils of organized crime in a smoky, old-fashioned nightclub. Surrounded by sharply dressed patrons, performers, and lavish details, he boasts about his wealth, power, luxury cars, endless women, and privileged lifestyle. The comic performance is intercut with scenes from the 1984 crime spoof "Johnny Dangerously," giving the video the feel of a promotional gangster musical while matching the song's deliberately excessive portrait of criminal success.

Factoids & Trivia

• "This Is the Life" was commissioned as the theme song for the 1984 crime comedy "Johnny Dangerously." It was released as a single in November 1984 and later appeared on Yankovic's 1985 album "Dare to Be Stupid."

• The video was designed specifically to promote "Johnny Dangerously," combining Yankovic's newly filmed gangster performance with clips from the movie, including appearances by Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Peter Boyle, and Dom DeLuise.

• Two versions of the video circulated. When "The Compleat Al" was assembled, the rights to the movie footage could not be secured, so stock footage was substituted. The original version, with scenes from "Johnny Dangerously" intact, was released later after the rights were obtained.

• The song also faced a separate home-video rights issue. The VHS release of "Johnny Dangerously" used Cole Porter's "Let's Misbehave" instead, while "This Is the Life" was restored for the movie's DVD release in 2002.

• Unlike many of Yankovic's better-known videos, the clip is not a parody of a specific pop song. Its humor comes from presenting an absurdly boastful gangster persona in the style of a vintage crime musical.