Bad Hair Day
Encyclopedia
Bad Hair Day is the 9th studio album
by "Weird Al" Yankovic
, released in 1996. This album was the third studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on Bad Hair Day are built around parodies and pastiches pop
and rock music
of the mid 1990s, targeting alternative rock
and hip-hop alike. Bad Hair Day sold 1,317,000 copies in the U.S. in 1996 alone. It is the highest sales tally for any comedy album in a single calendar year since Nielsen SoundScan
began tracking sales in 1991.
Peaking at number fourteen on the Billboard 200
, the album has sold over one million copies in the US and helped to cement Yankovic's career in the 90s. The album produced an array of hit comedy singles, including "Amish Paradise
", a parody of Coolio
's "Gangsta's Paradise
" and "Gump
", a parody of The Presidents of the United States of America
's "Lump
."
In 1993, Yankovic released his eighth album, titled Alapalooza. Although the record reached gold status and had its lead single
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form
in 1994, the album was panned by critics. After a 1994 box set
and greatest hits album, Yankovic returned to the studio to record his follow-up album.
."
The album's final track, "The Night Santa Went Crazy" tells the story of Santa snapping and embarking on a killing spree. Originally, the song had a different third verse, differing in the fact that, at the end of the song, Santa is killed by the SWAT
team. While Yankovic's record label made him re-record the song for the album, the "Extra Gory" version was released on the single for "Amish Paradise
." Another version was written for the Touring with Scissors
tour in 1999. It combines elements of the album version and the "Extra Gory" version. On October 27, 2009, The "Extra Gory" version of was finally released on the The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
.
medley
"The Alternative Polka". "The Alternative Polka" originally contained the chorus of Weezer
's song "Buddy Holly
" performed by Yankovic, but Weezer's front man Rivers Cuomo
requested its removal just before release. Yankovic was forced to physically cut the bit out of the medley, but Weezer was still thanked in the liner notes because the notes were already printed. On June 25, 2010, over fourteen years after the album's release, Yankovic released the "Buddy Holly" clip on his official YouTube
channel.
In addition to the five parodies on the album, "Weird Al" Yankovic had several parody ideas that were turned down. Originally, Yankovic wanted to turn The Offspring
's hit "Come Out and Play
" into a ode to clothing entitled "Laundry Day." Yankovic never approached The Offspring about releasing the parody, but Yankovic performed the song in concert from 1996 through 2000. Yankovic later approached, and received permission from, The Offspring to record a parody of their 1998 hit "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
" entitled "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
." The parody would later appear on Yankovic's 1999 album Running with Scissors
.
Yankovic also wanted to record a parody of The Beatles
's hit "Free as a Bird
" entitled "Gee, I'm a Nerd." Yankovic asked Paul McCartney, a supporter of Yankovic's work, if he could have permission to write and record a parody of "Free as a Bird." McCartney had no problem with the parody, but because "Free as a Bird" was written by John Lennon
, McCartney turned the decision over to Yoko Ono
, who denied permission, because she was uncomfortable with the parody idea.
Originally, "Cavity Search" and "Syndicated Inc." weren't supposed to appear on the album. Yankovic had intended to record a parody of the U2
song "Numb
" and a parody of The Rembrandts
's hit song "I'll Be There for You
". Yankovic originally wanted to parody "Numb" into "Green Eggs and Ham"; A song in which Yankovic recited various lines from the book of the same name
. U2 approved the parody, but Yankovic was unable to get permission from the estate of Dr. Seuss. Likewise, Yankovic had wanted to turn "I'll Be There for You" into "I'll Repair For You (Theme from Home Improvement)". The Rembrandts, much like U2, had okayed the parody. The problem, however, lay with the producers of "Friends
," who didn't want the theme song to get overexposed. All of the rejected parodies were later performed in concerts, including the Alapalooza
tour as well as the Bad Hair Tour.
Yankovic and the parody "Amish Paradise" caused a minor controversy after rapper Coolio said that Al had never asked for permission to record the parody. Although Yankovic traditionally secures permission from the artists he parodies, even though this is not legally required, as parodies are covered under fair use
guidelines, and was told by his record label that Coolio had given permission, Coolio later claimed that he had not given such permission, making a statement at the Grammys saying that he didn't appreciate Yankovic "desecrating" his song.
Speculation surfaced that Coolio had actually given permission but later claimed he had not in the fear that allowing the parody would not be seen as "cool", or that Yankovic's record label had lied to Yankovic in the hopes that the song would become popular. Yankovic later stated on VH1
's Behind the Music
that he had written a sincere letter of apology to Coolio which was never returned, and that Coolio never complained when he received his royalty
check from proceeds of the song. A series of photos taken at the XM Satellite Radio
booth at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show
, and a post on the "Ask Al" feature on Yankovic's website suggested that Yankovic and Coolio made amends. According to Al, he was as surprised as anyone when Coolio came over to chat.
Despite the album's mixed reception, the album's lead single, "Amish Paradise" was met with positive critical reception. The Rolling Stone Record Guide referred to the song as "gut-busting."
In 1996 alone, the album sold 1,317,000 copies, setting a record for the most copies a comedy album sold in a year during the Nielsen SoundScan era. On May 15, 1996 - two months after its initial release - the album was certified Platinum. As of July 1997, the album has sold 1.7 million copies. On May 15, 1996, Bad Hair Day was certified gold. On June 11, 1996, the album was certified platinum.
Other personnel
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
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...
, released in 1996. This album was the third studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on Bad Hair Day are built around parodies and pastiches pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
of the mid 1990s, targeting alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
and hip-hop alike. Bad Hair Day sold 1,317,000 copies in the U.S. in 1996 alone. It is the highest sales tally for any comedy album in a single calendar year since Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
began tracking sales in 1991.
Peaking at number fourteen on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, the album has sold over one million copies in the US and helped to cement Yankovic's career in the 90s. The album produced an array of hit comedy singles, including "Amish Paradise
Amish Paradise
"Amish Paradise" is a 1996 single by parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the hip hop song "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V....
", a parody of Coolio
Coolio
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. , better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.-Late 80s:He recorded two singles in the late 80s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me"...
's "Gangsta's Paradise
Gangsta's Paradise
Gangsta's Paradise is the second album by rapper Coolio, released on November 21, 1995. The album contained three hits: "Gangsta's Paradise", which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, "1, 2, 3, 4 ", which reached #5, and "Too Hot," which peaked at #24.-Track listing:-Samples and...
" and "Gump
Gump (song)
"Gump" is a song by American musical parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Lump" by The Presidents of the United States of America and also parodies the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. It is one of several Yankovic songs describing the events of a movie....
", a parody of The Presidents of the United States of America
The Presidents of the United States of America (band)
The Presidents of the United States of America, commonly referred to as Pot USA or "PUSA" or The Presidents, are a twice Grammy-nominated American alternative rock band. The band formed in Seattle, USA, in 1993. The three-piece group currently comprises vocalist and "basitarist" Chris Ballew,...
's "Lump
Lump (song)
"Lump" is a song by alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America. It was released in 1995 and featured on their self-titled debut album. The song reached #1 on Billboards Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1995. Later in the same year, it debuted on the Album Rock Tracks chart, and...
."
Background
After a lull in the late-80s, "Weird Al" Yankovic released the successful album Off the Deep End in 1992. The album was certified platinum. and produced the hit single, "Smells Like Nirvana", which peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.In 1993, Yankovic released his eighth album, titled Alapalooza. Although the record reached gold status and had its lead single
Jurassic Park (song)
"Jurassic Park" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "MacArthur Park" by Jimmy Webb , and is written as a humorous take on the film of the same name.-Track listing:The following tracks are on the single:...
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form
Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video
The Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to performers, directors, and producers of quality short form music videos...
in 1994, the album was panned by critics. After a 1994 box set
Permanent Record: Al in the Box
Permanent Record: Al in the Box is a four disc compilation boxed set of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It features his favorite songs from his first eight studio albums, plus alternate versions of "My Bologna", "Happy Birthday", "UHF", and the previously unavailable new single, "Headline News"...
and greatest hits album, Yankovic returned to the studio to record his follow-up album.
Production
In November 1994 Yankovic entered the recording studio to begin the first leg of the Bad Hair Day sessions. Four original songs were recorded—"Callin' In Sick," "Everything You Know Is Wrong," "I Remember Larry," and "The Night Santa Went CrazyThe Night Santa Went Crazy
"The Night Santa Went Crazy" is an original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The darkly humorous Christmas song is performed as a style parody of "Black Gold" by Soul Asylum, with melodic references to "Mama I'm Comin' Home" by Ozzy Osbourne and "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake...
."
Originals
"I Remember Larry" tells the tale of a neighborhood bully who, after a myriad of pranks, is brutally murdered by the narrator. At the 3:10, the song contains a backmasked message, which, when reversed, reads “Wow, you must have an awful lot of free time on your hands.”The album's final track, "The Night Santa Went Crazy" tells the story of Santa snapping and embarking on a killing spree. Originally, the song had a different third verse, differing in the fact that, at the end of the song, Santa is killed by the SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
team. While Yankovic's record label made him re-record the song for the album, the "Extra Gory" version was released on the single for "Amish Paradise
Amish Paradise
"Amish Paradise" is a 1996 single by parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the hip hop song "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V....
." Another version was written for the Touring with Scissors
Running with Scissors (album)
Running with Scissors is the 10th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 29, 1999. The album contains the hit single "The Saga Begins", a parody of Don McLean's song "American Pie".-Details:...
tour in 1999. It combines elements of the album version and the "Extra Gory" version. On October 27, 2009, The "Extra Gory" version of was finally released on the The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic is a two disc compilation album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. A limited edition "3.0" version of the album has a third disc. It is published by Sony Music's Legacy Recordings as part of their The Essential series...
.
Parodies
On February 21, 1995, Yankovic began recording the parodies and polka medley for Bad Hair day. The first song recorded during this second leg was the pop polkaPolka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
medley
Medley
-Sports:*Medley swimming, races requiring multiple swimming styles*Medley relay races at track meets-Music:*Medley , multiple pieces strung together*"Medley" -People:...
"The Alternative Polka". "The Alternative Polka" originally contained the chorus of Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
's song "Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly (song)
"Buddy Holly" is a song by the rock group Weezer, written by Rivers Cuomo. It was released as the second single from the band's debut album Weezer in 1994. The single was released on what would have been Buddy Holly's 58th birthday. The lyrics reference the song's 1950s namesake and actress Mary...
" performed by Yankovic, but Weezer's front man Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
requested its removal just before release. Yankovic was forced to physically cut the bit out of the medley, but Weezer was still thanked in the liner notes because the notes were already printed. On June 25, 2010, over fourteen years after the album's release, Yankovic released the "Buddy Holly" clip on his official YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel.
In addition to the five parodies on the album, "Weird Al" Yankovic had several parody ideas that were turned down. Originally, Yankovic wanted to turn The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
's hit "Come Out and Play
Come Out and Play (song)
"Come Out and Play" is a song by the Californian punk rock group The Offspring. It is the seventh track on their third album Smash and was released as the first single from that album. The song was the second single to be released by the band, following "I'll Be Waiting/Blackball"...
" into a ode to clothing entitled "Laundry Day." Yankovic never approached The Offspring about releasing the parody, but Yankovic performed the song in concert from 1996 through 2000. Yankovic later approached, and received permission from, The Offspring to record a parody of their 1998 hit "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)
-Australia CD Maxi:-Europe CD Maxi:-Composition and lyrics:Beginning with a sample of the pseudo-German nonsense phrase "Gunter glieben glauchen globen" from Def Leppard's song "Rock of Ages," chanted as a replacement for the traditional "1, 2, 3, 4" to start the recording, the song ridicules a...
" entitled "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
"Pretty Fly for a Rabbi" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Pretty Fly " by The Offspring, and it was released from the 1999 album Running with Scissors. The song was released exclusively in Australia as a single.. Tress MacNeille performs the line "How ya doin' Bernie?"...
." The parody would later appear on Yankovic's 1999 album Running with Scissors
Running with Scissors (album)
Running with Scissors is the 10th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 29, 1999. The album contains the hit single "The Saga Begins", a parody of Don McLean's song "American Pie".-Details:...
.
Yankovic also wanted to record a parody of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
's hit "Free as a Bird
Free as a Bird
"Free as a Bird" is a song originally composed and recorded in 1977 as a home demo by John Lennon. In 1995 a studio version of the recording incorporating contributions from Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr was released as a single by The Beatles.The single was released as part of...
" entitled "Gee, I'm a Nerd." Yankovic asked Paul McCartney, a supporter of Yankovic's work, if he could have permission to write and record a parody of "Free as a Bird." McCartney had no problem with the parody, but because "Free as a Bird" was written by John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, McCartney turned the decision over to Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
, who denied permission, because she was uncomfortable with the parody idea.
Originally, "Cavity Search" and "Syndicated Inc." weren't supposed to appear on the album. Yankovic had intended to record a parody of the U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
song "Numb
Numb (U2 song)
"Numb" is a song by rock band U2. It is the third track from their 1993 album Zooropa and was released in June 1993 as the album's first single. The song features a monotonous mantra of "don't" commands spoken by guitarist The Edge amidst a backdrop of various sound effects and samples...
" and a parody of The Rembrandts
The Rembrandts
The Rembrandts are an American pop-rock duo formed by Phil Solem and Danny Wilde in 1989. They had previously worked together as members of Great Buildings in 1981...
's hit song "I'll Be There for You
I'll Be There for You (Rembrandts song)
"I'll Be There for You" is a song recorded by the American pop rock duo The Rembrandts. It is best known as the theme song to the American sitcom Friends, which premiered during 1994 and ended in 2004...
". Yankovic originally wanted to parody "Numb" into "Green Eggs and Ham"; A song in which Yankovic recited various lines from the book of the same name
Green Eggs and Ham
Green Eggs and Ham is a best-selling and critically acclaimed book by Dr. Seuss, first published on August 12, 1960. As of 2001, according to Publishers Weekly, it was the fourth-best-selling English-language children's book of all time....
. U2 approved the parody, but Yankovic was unable to get permission from the estate of Dr. Seuss. Likewise, Yankovic had wanted to turn "I'll Be There for You" into "I'll Repair For You (Theme from Home Improvement)". The Rembrandts, much like U2, had okayed the parody. The problem, however, lay with the producers of "Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
," who didn't want the theme song to get overexposed. All of the rejected parodies were later performed in concerts, including the Alapalooza
Alapalooza
Alapalooza is the eighth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1993. The cover sleeve is a spoof on the movie poster of the hit movie Jurassic Park. The name is a parody of the music festival Lollapalooza....
tour as well as the Bad Hair Tour.
Controversy
Fair use
Fair use is a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work. In United States copyright law, fair use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders...
guidelines, and was told by his record label that Coolio had given permission, Coolio later claimed that he had not given such permission, making a statement at the Grammys saying that he didn't appreciate Yankovic "desecrating" his song.
Speculation surfaced that Coolio had actually given permission but later claimed he had not in the fear that allowing the parody would not be seen as "cool", or that Yankovic's record label had lied to Yankovic in the hopes that the song would become popular. Yankovic later stated on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Behind the Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
that he had written a sincere letter of apology to Coolio which was never returned, and that Coolio never complained when he received his royalty
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
check from proceeds of the song. A series of photos taken at the XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
booth at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
, and a post on the "Ask Al" feature on Yankovic's website suggested that Yankovic and Coolio made amends. According to Al, he was as surprised as anyone when Coolio came over to chat.
Critical reception
Critical response to Bad Hair Day was mixed. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, of Allmusic criticized the lack of humor on the album saying "the music on Bad Hair Day not only lacks the humor, it lacks the impish energy that made Weird Al's first albums such fun." Conversely, Daily Vault reviewer Christopher Thelen praised the album, saying, "What [Bad Hair Day] did was remind us all not only that Yankovic was still slugging it out, but that he was more talented than ever, and deserved our attention."Despite the album's mixed reception, the album's lead single, "Amish Paradise" was met with positive critical reception. The Rolling Stone Record Guide referred to the song as "gut-busting."
Commercial performance
Bad Hair Day was released March 12, 1996, and eventually became Yankovic's best selling album. The album debuted at number 28 on the Billboard 200 on March 30, 1996. Four weeks later, on April 27, 1996, it peaked at number 14. The album's last reported sales position was at number 182 on April 19, 1997. The album remained on the chart for a total of 56 weeks, making it Yankovics longest-charting album.In 1996 alone, the album sold 1,317,000 copies, setting a record for the most copies a comedy album sold in a year during the Nielsen SoundScan era. On May 15, 1996 - two months after its initial release - the album was certified Platinum. As of July 1997, the album has sold 1.7 million copies. On May 15, 1996, Bad Hair Day was certified gold. On June 11, 1996, the album was certified platinum.
Track listing
The track listing, parodies, and polka song are as follows:| Track | Title | Length | (Style) Parody of | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Amish Paradise Amish Paradise "Amish Paradise" is a 1996 single by parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the hip hop song "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V.... " |
3:20 | "Gangsta's Paradise' Gangsta's Paradise (song) "Gangsta's Paradise" is a rap song by Coolio featuring L.V.. The song was released on the Coolio album Gangsta's Paradise, as well as the Dangerous Minds soundtrack in 1995. Coolio was awarded a Grammy for the song/album... " by Coolio Coolio Artis Leon Ivey Jr. , better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.-Late 80s:He recorded two singles in the late 80s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me"... |
About an Amish Amish The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches... man who raps about his lifestyle. |
| 2 | "Everything You Know Is Wrong" | 3:48 | Style parody of They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are... |
About an unusual sequence of events. |
| 3 | "Cavity Search" | 4:19 | "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" is a 1995 single by U2 from the Batman Forever soundtrack album. A number-one single in their home country of Ireland, the single reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Billboard Album Rock... " by U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music... |
About a man’s painful visit to the dentist. |
| 4 | "Callin' in Sick" | 3:40 | Style parody of Nirvana Nirvana (band) Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987... , specifically "Come as You Are" and "Lithium" |
About a lazy man faking illness to skip work. |
| 5 | "The Alternative Polka" (Polka medley, arr. Yankovic) | 4:50 | Polka Medley | A polka medley including the following songs in order:
|
| 6 | "Since You've Been Gone" | 1:22 | Original | A cappella A cappella A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato... song discussing a man’s feelings after a break-up, at the end, ironically saying, “I feel almost as bad as I did, when you were still here. |
| 7 | "Gump Gump (song) "Gump" is a song by American musical parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Lump" by The Presidents of the United States of America and also parodies the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. It is one of several Yankovic songs describing the events of a movie.... " |
2:10 | "Lump Lump (song) "Lump" is a song by alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America. It was released in 1995 and featured on their self-titled debut album. The song reached #1 on Billboards Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1995. Later in the same year, it debuted on the Album Rock Tracks chart, and... " by The Presidents of the United States of America The Presidents of the United States of America (band) The Presidents of the United States of America, commonly referred to as Pot USA or "PUSA" or The Presidents, are a twice Grammy-nominated American alternative rock band. The band formed in Seattle, USA, in 1993. The three-piece group currently comprises vocalist and "basitarist" Chris Ballew,... |
About the story of Forrest Gump Forrest Gump Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise... . |
| 8 | "I’m So Sick of You" | 3:26 | Style parody of Elvis Costello Elvis Costello Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader... |
About the singer’s girlfriend and her odious personal habits. |
| 9 | "Syndicated Inc." | 3:54 | "Misery Misery (Soul Asylum song) "Misery" is a 1995 song performed by the Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum. Although Let Your Dim Light Shine critically suffered in comparison to its predecessor, Grave Dancers Union, the single, "Misery", reached number 20 on The Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in... " by Soul Asylum Soul Asylum Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in... |
About a family’s devotion to syndicated television. |
| 10 | "I Remember Larry" | 3:56 | Style Parody of Hilly Michaels Hilly Michaels Hilly Michaels, also known as Hilly Boy Michaels is an American drummer and musician, best known for playing drums with Sparks in the 70's and his two solo albums from the early 80's, Calling All Girls and Lumia .- History :His first music experience came with playing in a band called Joy,... |
About a cruel neighborhood prankster named Larry and how much the singer misses him until it is revealed that the singer was the one who murdered him. Contains a backmasked message at 3:10, “Wow, you must have an awful lot of free time on your hands”. |
| 11 | "Phony Calls" | 3:22 | "Waterfalls" by TLC TLC (band) TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats... |
About the dangers of prank calling. Contains an audio clip from The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie... featuring one of Bart Simpson Bart Simpson Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987... ’s many prank calls to Moe’s Tavern from the episode "Blood Feud". |
| 12 | "The Night Santa Went Crazy The Night Santa Went Crazy "The Night Santa Went Crazy" is an original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The darkly humorous Christmas song is performed as a style parody of "Black Gold" by Soul Asylum, with melodic references to "Mama I'm Comin' Home" by Ozzy Osbourne and "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake... " |
4:03 | Style Parody of ”Black Gold” by Soul Asylum Soul Asylum Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in... and "Mama I'm Coming Home" by Ozzy Osbourne Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal... |
A Christmas Christmas Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days... -themed song about Santa Claus Santa Claus Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus... finally snapping and embarking on a killing spree. |
Outtakes
| Song | Length | Release(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Spy Hard" | 2:48 | B-side of "Gump Gump (song) "Gump" is a song by American musical parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Lump" by The Presidents of the United States of America and also parodies the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. It is one of several Yankovic songs describing the events of a movie.... " Later released as its own single |
| "The Night Santa Went Crazy (Extra Gory Version) The Night Santa Went Crazy "The Night Santa Went Crazy" is an original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The darkly humorous Christmas song is performed as a style parody of "Black Gold" by Soul Asylum, with melodic references to "Mama I'm Comin' Home" by Ozzy Osbourne and "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake... " |
4:02 | B-side of "Amish Paradise Amish Paradise "Amish Paradise" is a 1996 single by parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the hip hop song "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V.... " Later released on The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic is a two disc compilation album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. A limited edition "3.0" version of the album has a third disc. It is published by Sony Music's Legacy Recordings as part of their The Essential series... |
Charts
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
14 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US 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... |
||
| 1996 | "Amish Paradise Amish Paradise "Amish Paradise" is a 1996 single by parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the hip hop song "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V.... " |
53 |
| 1996 | "Gump Gump (song) "Gump" is a song by American musical parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Lump" by The Presidents of the United States of America and also parodies the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. It is one of several Yankovic songs describing the events of a movie.... " |
102 |
Credits and personnel
Band members and production- "Weird" Al Yankovic – accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, background vocals, producer, arranger - Steve JaySteve JayEugene Stephen "Steve" Jay is a bass guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic.Jay was born in Florida. He auditioned for Yankovic after answering an ad in the newspaper, and the two have worked together ever since...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, background vocals - Jon "Bermuda" SchwartzJon Schwartz (drummer)Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz is a drummer best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. The two met while recording "Another One Rides the Bus" at the Dr. Demento show on September 14, 1980...
- percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Rubén ValtierraRubén ValtierraRubén Valtierra is the keyboardist best known for working with "Weird Al" Yankovic. The two met at the Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary special in October 1991. Shortly after, Yankovic invited him to join his band as a touring keyboardist, and they have worked together ever since...
- keyboards - Jim WestJim 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...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, background vocals - Tony Papa - Engineer, mixer
- Colin Sauers - Assistant engineer
- Bernie Grundman - mastering
- Doug Haverty - Art direction
- Carl Studna - Photography
Other personnel
- Hank AzariaHank AzariaHenry Albert "Hank" Azaria is an American film, television and stage actor, director, voice actor, and comedian. He is noted for being one of the principal voice actors on the animated television series The Simpsons , on which he performs the voices of Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief...
- Voice of Moe SzyslakMoe SzyslakMomar / Morris "Moe" Szyslak is a fictional character in the American animated television series, The Simpsons. He is voiced by Hank Azaria and first appeared in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"... - Nancy CartwrightNancy CartwrightNancy Campbell Cartwright is an American film and television actress, comedian and voice artist. She is best known for her long-running role as Bart Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons...
- Voice of Bart SimpsonBart SimpsonBartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987... - Gary Herbig - bass saxophoneBass saxophoneThe bass saxophone is the second largest member of the saxophone family. Its design is similar to that of the baritone saxophone, with a loop of tubing near the mouthpiece. It was the first type of saxophone presented to the public, when Adolphe Sax exhibited a bass saxophone in C at an exhibition...
- Tommy Johnson - tubaTubaThe tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
- Warren Luening - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Joel Peskin - clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
- Lisa Popeil - background vocals