Amish Paradise Article Index for
Amish
Website Links For
Amish
 

Information About

Amish Paradise




  Cover nocovergif
  Artist "Weird Al" Yankovic
  From Album Bad Hair Day
  Released March 12, 1996
  Format CD, cassette
  Recorded January 15, 1996
  Genre Comedy
  Length 3:20
  Label Scotti Brothers
  "" class="copylinks" target="_blank">Writer =
  Producer "Weird Al" Yankovic
  Chart Position # 53 USA
  Last Single '''')<br />(1994)
  This Single '''Amish Paradise'''<br />(1996)
  Next Single '' Gump ''<br />(1996)


"Amish Paradise" is "Weird Al" Yankovic 's parody of the rap/hip-hop song " Gangsta's Paradise " by Coolio . Found on the album '' Bad Hair Day '', it turns the original "Gangsta's Paradise," in which the narrator laments his dangerous way of life, on its head by presenting an Amish man praising his relatively tedious and unsophisticated existence.

Although Yankovic traditionally secures permission from the artists he parodies (even though this is not legally required), and was told by his record label that Coolio had given permission, Coolio later claimed that he had not given such permission. This created a minor controversy, as speculation surfaced that Coolio had actually given permission but later claimed he hadn't in the fear that allowing the parody wouldn't be seen as "cool," or that Yankovic's record label lied to Yankovic in the hopes that the song would become popular. Yankovic later stated on VH-1 '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 suggests that Yankovic and Coolio may have made amends. {Link without Title}


TRACK LISTING

The following tracks are on the CD single.

# "Amish Paradise" – 3:20
# "Everything You Know Is Wrong" – 3:46
# "The Night Santa Went Crazy (Extra Gory Version)" – 3:59
# "Dare To Be Stupid (Instrumental)" – 3:25

The cassette single only contains "Amish Paradise" and "Everything You Know Is Wrong."


MUSIC VIDEO


The ," a movie which has served as an inspiration for several of Yankovic's jokes.

The video shows many aspects of regular Amish life, such as Churning Butter and Raising A Barn . However, when the barn is raised, the frame falls towards Yankovic, who is standing where a gap in the frame is. He has acknowledged that this gag is a Buster Keaton "ripoff/homage" {Link without Title}


SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINKS