Customer Reviews

Bad Hair Day

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

What an excellent Al-bum! I have had it for about 5 years, and it is still one of my favorites. Look and see:

1. Amish Paradise: 5/5 Like "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi," Weird Al satirizes religion and religious beliefs in a humorous and respectful way.
2. Everything You Know Is Wrong: 4/5 Gotta love it!
3. Cavity Search: 2/5 This track just didn't work for me.
4. Calling in Sick: 4/5 Enjoyable.
5. The Alternative Polka: 4/5 We've come to expect a polka per album, and this is a fairly good one.
6. Since You've Been Gone: 5/5 "I feel like chewing on tinfoil."
7. Gump: 5/5 Summarizes the whole tale of "Forrest Gump" in a few minutes. Remined me of "The Saga Begins."
8. I'm So Sick of You: 4/5 Funny, yet gross. "I don't know many females who have habits of biting their toenails."
9. Syndicated Inc. 2/5 I get it, it's just not funny.
10. I remember Larry: 4/5 Weird Al as a psycho. Hilarious.
11. Phone Calls: 5/5 The best part was the Moe-Bart "Simpsons" sound bite.
12. The Night Santa Went Crazy: 5/5 Like he so oftenly does, Al has saved the best for last.

So that's 50/60, but I'm giving it a 5 for songs like "Amish Paridise" and "The Night Santa Went Crazy." This album seems to be more than the sum of its parts. I cannot wait for "Poodle Hat," which hits stores May 20th. Thank you for taking the time to read my review and feel free to leave me a helpful/not helpful feedback.

The continuing second wind streak of Weird Al Yankovic continues with Bad Hair Day, and you'll have a good funny bone day listening to this album.

"Amish Paradise" is a send-up of Coolio's "Gangsta Paradise" and the lyrics are on Amish life and attitudes of hard work, devotion to the Bible, pacifism, churning butter, and selling quilts to a humorous twist: "But if I finish all of my chores and you finish thine/then tonight we're gonna party like it's 1699." And on a boy who kicks him in the rear, he says "I just smiled at him and turned the other cheek/I really don't care, in fact I wish him well/'cause I'll be laughing my head off, when he's burning in hell." My head came off after that line. A great opener for the album.

"Everything You Know Is Wrong" is a crazy nonsense tune on weird happenings and dreams, such as being abducted into another dimension by Jamie Farr-like aliens. "Black is white, up is down, and short is long/and everything you thought was just so important doesn't matter." Very Marx Brothers chaotic.

No, "Cavity Song" is not about those airport searches by customs inspectors or cops. This parody of U2's "Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me". It's Al's observations at a dentists, with the outdated magazines, and dental treatment. However, the piercing sound of the dental drill is a bit disconcerting, send-up or not. And why not use "Numb me, drill me, floss me, bill me" for a title instead of "Cavity Search?" Oh well.

"Callin' In Sick" is a Nirvana-type song, kind of like "Lithium", and on the different things we can do by calling in sick and having that needed day off. "I could sit all day in my underwear watching 'Ernest Goes To Camp'/I could sit and count my hair/I could burp my Tupperware" Yeah, really useful.

"The Alternative Polka" shows that Al is still up on the music shift that took place in the mid-90's, when alternative became the new style. Song medley list: Beck's "Loser", Stone Temple Pilots' "Sex Type Thing", Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do", Nine Inch Nails' "Closer", R.E.M.'s "Bang And Blame", Alanis Morrisette's "You Oughta Know", Smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet On Butterfly Wings", Red Hot Chili Peppers' "My Friends", Foo Fighter's "I'll Stick Around", Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun", and Green Day's "Basket Case."

"Since You've Been Gone" is a doowop song describing how one feels when a loved one's gone, "It's like I've got a great big mouthful of cod liver oil" or "an ice cream headache that won't go away." And there is a punchline to this song.

"Lump" by the Presidents of the United States of America is turned into "Gump", about that guy and his boxful of chocolates, you know that guy who "told JFK he had to p--" and who "went to the White House and showed LBJ his b-tt."
"I'm So Sick Of You" is a list of irritating things that really get on one's nerves. The girl here is someone with no class, manners, hygiene, someone so low on the food chain. Someone who snores when they're wide awake, bites their toenails, and uses a guy's razor to shave their back hair? Al, quick, DUMP HER NOW!

The TV junkie song "Syndicated Inc." based on Soul Asylum's "Misery" shows Al hasn't lost his TV songs touch.

"I Remember Larry" is a song about the title character, someone who did all sorts of bad stuff to Al, like putting Ben Gay in his jockstrap, giving him Ex-lax brownies, dumped toxic waste on his lawn. Well, Al gets even with him in a cruel but well-deserved way-in fact that's what I'd do--if I was in a nice mood.

"Don't go makin' phony calls/please stick to the seven-digit numbers you're used to" go the chorus of "Phony Calls", based on TLC's "Waterfalls" on a prank phone caller. He uses a clip from the Simpsons, where Bart asks for "Mike Rotch." and the bartender asks for...

"Like a big fat drunk disgruntled Yuletide Rambo/And he smiled as he said with a twinkle in his eye, 'Merry Christmas to all..now you're all gonna die!" "The Night Santa Went Crazy" is a Soul Asylum-type ballad about Santa having snapped, going postal and taking it out on the reindeer: "And he ground up poor Rudolph into reindeer sausage/He got Dancer and Prancer with an old German Luger/and he slashed up Dasher just like Freddie Krueger." The funniest Christmas song since "Christmas At Ground Zero."

Probably my third favourite Weird Al album, after Dare To Be Stupid and Off The Deep End.

I will start by saying that before Running With Scissors came out in 1999, this was Weird Al Yankovics best album. It has everything youd ever want in a Weird Al recording, plus a little bit more; i.e. controversy. Remember Coolio claiming he didnt give Al permission to parody his one-hit wonderful Gangstas Paradise? Huh. I find it hard to believe that Al would just go ahead and do it anyway (hes not that kind of guy), but thats neither here nor there, really. Whats done is done, and in that you have one of the most surprising popularities to come out of 1996. Along with the controversial Amish Paradise you get a number more parodies and even some great originals that often go overlooked. Heres an overview:

1. Amish Paradise - 5/5 - arguably Als best parody to date. I have always wondered what the Amish think of this, and if they know its not intended to hurt anyone. Anyway its a classic parody with endless laughs.

2. Everything You Know Is Wrong - 4/5 - an eminent original with a chorus that becomes embedded in your mind for days on end. Fast-paced with excerpts including anything from a rabid wolverine to Colonel Sanders.

3. Cavity Search - 5/5 - anyone whos ever been to the dentist can appreciate this one. Takes U2s Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me and replaces it (fittingly) with numb me / drill me / floss me / bill me. A definite hidden gem.

4. Callin In Sick - 4/5 - again, theres got to be millions who can relate to the basis here. On a day off, you may not do the same things as Al (watch Ernest Goes To Camp or count your hair), but you can laugh at the song.

5. The Alternative Polka - 5/5 - uses Beck, STP, Sheryl Crow, NIN, Alanis Morissette, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Green Day to make Als best Polka song to date. Awesome.

6. Since Youve Been Gone - 5/5 - even at just 1:22, its still one of the best. Again its very hard to relate, but impossible not to laugh. Highlight quote: Im feeling like I stuck my hand inside a blender and turned it on. Heartfelt...

7. Gump - 5/5 - if you have not seen Forest Gump you will not understand this song. It uses The Presidents Of The United States Of Americas smash Lump to build an everlasting gem even Tom Hanks could appreciate.

8. Im So Sick Of You - 2/5 - the only song here I skip over. Listen to Since Youve Been Gone instead.

9. Syndicated Inc. - 4/5 - I will say I have not heard Soul Asylums Misery. Nevertheless, I do enjoy this song. Al talks about his love for 15+ television shows including Regis & Kathy Lee and M*A*S*H*, to name a few. Sung beautifully.

10. I Remember Larry - 3.5/5 - another decent original. There are plentiful laughs to be had, but it just doesnt compare to Everything You Know Is Wrong. Highlight quote: ...all those brownies he made with the ex-lax inside.

11. Phony Calls - 4.5/5 - TLCs Waterfalls is given a whole new twist. We can relate to just about everything. And if not, we can just as easily laugh away. But we couldve done without the Bart Simpson Mike Rotch part. And is there really phone police?

12. The Night Santa Went Crazy - 5/5 - * warning: do not let your children hear this * I have to admit, this one might not be as good as Christmas At Ground Zero, but its still awesome. Very imaginative, very funny. Also, if you want a bit more craziness, try the Extra Gory version on the Amish Paradise single.

You know how much you love Weird Al Yankovic; or, for that matter, how much you dont. If you let this album slip through your fingertips you are making a huge mistake. The most popular tunes here are clearly Amish Paradise and Gump, but the real treasures are found in the songs you dont know. For example, both Since Youve Been Gone--even at 1:22--and Everything You Know Is Wrong have the potential to be among your favorites. And lets not forget the songs that ANYONE can relate to, Cavity Search, Callin In Sick, and even Phony Calls. Every single song here is good and even with Im So Sick Of You I can still give Bad Hair Day 5 stars and feel good about it. Oh and on another positive note, The Alternative Polka outdoes every other polka/pop mix that Al has done. Stop procrastinating and pick up one of the funniest albums of the 90s and runner up to Running With Scissors for the best Weird Al Yankovic album to date.

WOW! What an awesome cd! I just bought this the other day and I also have five others but this I think is the best!! I tell you what I think of the songs. Amish Paradise= HAHAHAHA! The best on the album! Love the lyrics! "A local boy kicked me in the butt last week" Hilarious! Everything you know is wrong= One of al's best oringonal. It is a song about about apsoloutly nothing. Al just rambles on about anything funny. This is so funny! Cavity Search= I think weird al was mostly parodying U2 not the song. U2 has a annoying sound to there lyrics. Weird al takes this and makes it more annoying. It's ok. Callin in sick today= Pretty fuinny, but the only reason I listen to it is for the number 27 at the beginning! Alternative polka= Al could do a little better on this polka Since you been gone= FUNNY!! I love the ending! Also listen to al (It might be the band) in the back going doo wop doo bee da doo wop. It is so funny!! Gump= Parody of lump. It is THE BEST! IT HAS THE BEST BEAT ON THE WHOLE CD!!!! It is a great song!! I'm so sick of you= Good song. Your in for some giggles. Syndicated inc.= It's ok.. I guess. I remember larry= I love this song!! Just hope larry dosn't escape from that bag and come to this town!! Phony Calls= EXELLENT! This is a great song! It is well put together. The night santa went crazy= Funny! Al's second best origonal! A little gory.But it is funny gore!

That is all! Overall it's his best cd yet! Runnin with scissors is also pretty good. But nothin compares to bad hair day!

This is the best cd ever made it mocks out other bands and also people and it's so creative and so funny.....i hope u like it as much as i do!

All the song on this album rule.I think that all his albums are good and you should buy this funny as hell album bad hair day.

This is the only Weird Al CD I have, but I have heard others. This is the best one! Here is what I think of the tracks: Amish Paradise: Great parody of Amish folk and Gangsta Paradise! Everything You Know is Wrong: Very fast paced, but it seemed like it had too many lyrics in one line. Cavity Search: A painful song, but very true(cause all of my teeth have fillings!) I love the drilling sounds! Callin' in Sick: Very funny. Inspiration for rainy days. Alternative Polka: Good polka, but too many different songs on one track. Since You've Been Gone: Funny, and the ending will surprise you. Gump: Awsome parody of Lump AND Forrest Gump! I'm So Sick of You: If you can visualize this song, it is a scary piture! Syndicated Incorporated: Great tune! The "...MASH and All in the Family...the Munsters and Mayberry R.F.D..."line is my favorite line on the WHOLE CD! I Remember Larry: Like "Since You've Been Gone", the ending is funny. I don't blame him! Phony Calls: Exellent parody of Waterfalls! I love the Simpsons interlude in the middle. The Night Santa Went Crazy: A disturbing song, but EXTREMELY FUNNY! My Advice: Buy this CD!

"Bad Hair Day" was the album that convinced me that even if "Weird Al" Yankovic was not getting older I certainly was. What gave it away was that I was out of the loop enough that I did not recognize "Phony Calls" as being a parody (I had over 1000 CDs at that time, I was listening to them instead of watching MTV for new things to buy). "Amish Paradise" became the most controversial song ever because Coolio insisted he did not give "Weird Al" permission to do the parody in what I believe to be a bit of revisionist history provoked by the wicked transformation of the gangsta song into an ode to the backwards way of the Amish. "Gump" is so direct that it tends to get overlooked for working in all the major elements of the Oscar winning film, while "Cavity Search" crosses the line by adding the most hated instrument in the world, a dentist's drill, into the musical mix. As for "Phony Calls," my hatred of telemarketers and other strangers calling me on my phone makes it impossible for me to appreciate this one in the way it was attended. "Everything Your Know Is Wrong" is one of the better original "Weird Al" songs and the really only decent one of the quartet offered up this time around, and the album does off one of the best "Weird Al" polka medleys ever with "Alternative Polka." If there was just one more really good original song or decent parody I would bump this up to five stars, but "Bad Hair Day" falls short by my rudimentary calculations.

Amish Paradise was the first song after a three year "Weird Al" drought and it was worth the wait. It is about living in an Amish community and is a parody of the one hit wonder Coolio's Gangster's Paradise. Other great parodies are Cavity Search (parody of Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me) which sounds pretty similar to U2. This song does have a dental drill solo which some people find squeamish. Gump (parody of Lump) is a sensational song about the movie of the same name. Syndicated Inc. (parody of Misery) is about the syndicated American television shows. The final parody is Phony Calls (parody of Waterfalls). I never liked the TLC original song so this didn't do much for me. Simpson fans will find a classic prank call by Bart to Moe in this song.

The original songs on this album are what make it a classic "Weird Al" album though. Callin' in Sick is about avoiding work. Since You've Been Gone is funny song about a guy singing about his girl who has left. I'm So Sick of You is another great song where Al tells life like it actually is. Those of you sick of soppy love songs will love this one. I Remember Larry is about a neighbourhood bully. Everything You Know Is Wrong is the least good of the originals. One of the most famous and popular songs ever written is also the final track on this album. That song is the Night Santa Went Crazy about Santa working out he is getting gypped and taking vengeance. You will pull it out every Christmas for the family to sing along to.

This album also has really good photo artwork of Al. It is a must buy for anyone, even if your not a "Weird Al" fan.

AMISH PARADISE:5/5 Best song on the album. Very funny
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG:5/5 Really good song
CAVITY SEARCH:1/5 Boring song
CALLIN' IN SICK:4/5 Good song
THE ALTERNATIVE POLKA: 3/5 An ok polka
SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE: 4/5 Good song but to short
GUMP: 5/5 Very good song
I'M SO SICK OF YOU:4/5 Good song
SYNDICATED INC:4/5 Another good song
I REMEBER LARRY: 5/5 Very good song
PHONY CALLS: 3/5 Ok songs gets pretty boring
THE NIGHT SANTA WENT CRAZY: 5/5 Second best on the alum Very good and funny