Bad Hair Day

Bad Hair Day
Studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic
Released	March 12, 1996
Recorded	Nov-Dec 1994, Nov 1995, Jan 1996.
Genre	Comedy, Parody, Gangsta rap, Alternative rock, Grunge, Polka, Doo-wop, Post-grunge, R&B, Christmas rock
Length	38:14
Label	Scotti Bros.
Producer	"Weird Al" Yankovic
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
"Weird Al" Yankovic chronology
The TV Album (1995) Bad Hair Day (1996) Running with Scissors (1999)
Singles from Bad Hair Day
"Amish Paradise" Released: March 12, 1996 "Gump" Released: May 7, 1996 "The Night Santa Went Crazy" Released: November 26, 1996

Bad Hair Day is the ninth album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1996. (see 1996 in music). It includes the hit single, "Amish Paradise", a parody of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise".

Refused parodies

Yankovic had three main parody ideas that were refused. They include:

• A parody of The Offspring's hit "Come Out and Play" entitled "Laundry Day." Yankovic approached The Offspring about recording a parody of their first big hit. However, they were unimpressed by the song, stating that it was "silly." Yankovic did perform the song in concert from 1996 through 2000.^[1] Interestingly enough, The Offspring later allowed Yankovic to record a parody of "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" on his next album.
• 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 it was "too early."^[2]
• A parody of The Rembrandts's song "I'll Be There for You" entitled "I'll Repair for You." Yankovic reportedly got permission from The Rembrandts to record the song, but permission was denied by the Friends producers because they didn't want their song "overexposed." ^[3] Yankovic performed the song in concert in 1996 and 1997, joking that he had written it as the theme song for Home Improvement, but the producers turned it down because "apparently it sounded too much like some other TV show theme song."

Track listing

Outtakes

Notes

• Rap star Coolio was unhappy with “Amish Paradise,” a parody of his 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which he felt was too serious for parody. Yankovic said that he had been given permission by the record company representing Coolio to parody the song. Yet, when the song was released, the rapper denied giving sanction stating, “I felt that my song was too serious. I hope they sell a lot of records, just stay away from me.” In response, Yankovic wrote Coolio a letter of apology for the misunderstanding. To date, Coolio has not responded and no legal action has been taken.
• This album was the last one to feature Yankovic's old look (before his LASIK eye surgery), as well as the last to be released under the Scotti Bros. label, before his move to Volcano Records.
• Bad Hair Day was originally going to be released in 1995, but it was later bumped back to 1996 due to production delays.
• On some copies of this album, the copyright is 1994, 1995, and/or 1996.
• In the "Thank You" section of the liner notes, Weezer is thanked in the middle of the list of bands who were sampled for The Alternative Polka, hinting at the relatively unknown fact that Weezer's "Buddy Holly" was originally included (and recorded) in the medley but had to be physically cut out because Weezer denied permission at the last second. The clip was played at AlFest 2009.
• Some copies of the Bad Hair Day CD accidentally used the Alapalooza CD art instead of the initial Bad Hair Day CD art.
• The version of "The Night Santa Went Crazy" featured as the B-side of "Amish Paradise" is listed as the "Extra Gory Version." In it, the closing lyrics are drastically different. Instead of Santa doing time in a federal prison, he is gunned down by a SWAT sniper and the elves are not given postal jobs; instead, they have to stand in line at the unemployment agency. Mrs. Claus still negotiates the movie rights.

Credits

• "Weird Al" Yankovic - accordion, keyboards, vocals
• Hank Azaria - Voice of Moe Szyslak
• Nancy Cartwright - Voice of Bart Simpson
• Gary Herbig - bass saxophone
• Steve Jay - bass, background vocals
• Tommy Johnson - tuba
• Warren Luening - trumpet
• Joel Peskin - clarinet
• Lisa Popeil - background vocals
• Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz - percussion, drums
• Rubén Valtierra - keyboards
• Jim West - guitar, background vocals

Production

• Producer: "Weird Al" Yankovic
• Engineer: Tony Papa
• Assistant engineer: Colin Sauers
• Mixing: Tony Papa
• Mastering: Bernie Grundman
• Arranger: "Weird Al" Yankovic
• Art direction: Doug Haverty
• Photography: Carl Studna

Charts

Album

Singles

See also

• Uncombable hair syndrome

References

1. ^ "Weird Al" Yankovic: Concert Set Lists
2. ^ http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0499 Aska Al 1999
3. ^ "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ask Al Archive

External links

• Official website