Amish Paradise
Encyclopedia
"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. (which itself is a reworking of the Stevie Wonder
song "Pastime Paradise"). Featured on the album Bad Hair Day
, it turns the original "Gangster's Paradise," in which the narrator laments his dangerous way of life, on its head by presenting an Amish
man praising his relatively plain and uncomplicated existence.
The promo single only contains "Amish Paradise." The cassette single only contains "Amish Paradise" and "Everything You Know Is Wrong."
guidelines), and was told by his record label that Coolio had given permission, Coolio later claimed that he had not given such permission (and in fact publicly expressed disgust saying that Al's parody "desecrated the song"). This created a minor controversy, as 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
suggests that Yankovic and Coolio may have made amends. According to Al, he was as surprised as anyone when Coolio came over to chat.
" music video, although several concepts have been parodied. These include:
"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...
. It is a parody of the hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
song "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"...
featuring L.V. (which itself is a reworking of the Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
song "Pastime Paradise"). Featured on the album Bad Hair Day
Bad Hair Day
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...
, it turns the original "Gangster's Paradise," in which the narrator laments his dangerous way of life, on its head by presenting 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 praising his relatively plain and uncomplicated existence.
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 StupidDare To Be Stupid (song)"Dare to Be Stupid" is an original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a musical pastiche of the band Devo.Shortly after the song was released, Yankovic received a letter from Mark Mothersbaugh congratulating him on writing "the perfect Devo song". In an interview on VH1's Behind The Music,...
(Instrumental)" – 3:25
The promo single only contains "Amish Paradise." The cassette single only contains "Amish Paradise" and "Everything You Know Is Wrong."
Controversy
Although Yankovic traditionally secures permission from the artists he parodies (even though this may not be legally required, as parodies are covered under fair useFair 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 (and in fact publicly expressed disgust saying that Al's parody "desecrated the song"). This created a minor controversy, as 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...
suggests that Yankovic and Coolio may have made amends. According to Al, he was as surprised as anyone when Coolio came over to chat.
Music video
The music video for "Amish Paradise" is very similar to the "Gangsta's ParadiseGangsta'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...
" music video, although several concepts have been parodied. These include:
- When Yankovic states that AmishAmishThe Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
shun electricityElectricityElectricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
, several Amish stomp on electronic devices (CDs, floppy disks, laptops, a Slim WhitmanSlim WhitmanOttis Dewey Whitman, Jr. , known professionally as Slim Whitman, is an American country music singer and songwriter, known for his yodelling abilities. He has sold in excess of 120 million albums in unit sales and has had numerous successful recordings...
LP albumLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, etc.). - When Yankovic says he is up at 4:30 in the morning milking cows, he is shown milking a cow directly into a bowl of cereal instead of a milk pail. A box of Corn Flakes can be seen next to him.
- In the next scene, when Jebediah is "feeding the chickens" he is giving them pizza.
- The line "Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1699," is a parody of Prince'sPrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
"19991999 (song)"1999" is a song by Prince, the title track from his 1982 album of the same name. The song is one of Prince's best-known, and a defining moment in his rise to superstar status....
". Prince has consistently refused to let Weird Al parody his songs. - When Al is churning butter, a woman walks by, and he is seen churning faster.
- When the man is sawing and checking his "sundial" watch, the man behind him is playing golf (the follow-through of which resembles the use of a scythe).
- When Al says "We sell quilts at discount price," a wooden booth is shown selling quilts, with a sign that says "Our prices art insane!!!Crazy EddieCrazy Eddie is the name of a consumer electronics retailer conducting business through the internet and by telephone. The venture is the most recent to be doing business under the Crazy Eddie name, with the most well known being a chain of retail stores that operated throughout New York, New...
" - At one point Al is seen reading a fake Lancaster, PA newspaper, with the headline "Much Butter Was Churned". This is a homage to the film WitnessWitness (1985 film)Witness is a 1985 American thriller film directed by Peter Weir and starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. The screenplay by William Kelley, Pamela Wallace, and Earl W...
, which takes place in Lancaster County, home to perhaps the most well-known Amish communities. - In one part, two boys are looking at a supposed Amish pornPORNPorn is a common short form for pornography. It may also refer to:* Progressive outer retinal necrosis, a disease of the retina* PORN, a French industrial rock band...
magazine (the cover slogan says "Plow My Field!"), but in the centerfold all the woman is showing is her shin (this, anyway, is considered to be very scandalous among the Amish). - When the "Am-lets" are on Yankovic's knee, they each have a beard, even though they appear to be about 6 years old.
- Al's face is seen, with him sweating more every time a close up is taken to mock how L.V. is sweating profusely in Coolio's video
- When Yankovic states he's "scoring points for the afterlifeAfterlifeThe afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
," he takes off his hat to reveal a hairstyle very similar to that seen on the cover of Bad Hair Day. These are both parodies of CoolioCoolioArtis 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 trademark hairstyle. - On the back of the carriage just before the sign reading, "Welcome to Lancaster," there's a "bumper" sticker stating, "How am I driving?" Other signs are seen saying among other things "BE GOOD".
- The man in white shirt and glasses attempting to use the vintage telephone (and in turn being coated with dust) is fashioned after a photograph of 60's comedian Allan Sherman.
- The lyrics "No phone, no lights, no motorcar - not a single luxury... like Robinson CrusoeRobinson CrusoeRobinson Crusoe is a novel by Daniel Defoe that was first published in 1719. Epistolary, confessional, and didactic in form, the book is a fictional autobiography of the title character—a castaway who spends 28 years on a remote tropical island near Trinidad, encountering cannibals, captives, and...
, it's primitive as can be" are originally from the closing theme song to Gilligan's IslandGilligan's IslandGilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
. - Near the very end, Yankovic is shown walking away from a barn while everything around him moves backwards in a rewinding fashion; for this effect, the scene was recorded normally while Weird Al lip syncs the words backwards (so when the scene is shown backwards, his face syncs with the song itself). The inspiration for this scene was the video for the rap group Pharcyde's DropDrop (song)"Drop" is a single by alternative hip-hop group The Pharcyde, released in 1995 as the first single for the group's second album, Labcabincalifornia. The single contains a vocal sample of the Beastie Boys song "The New Style", using the titular "mmm.......
, which was filmed in the same manner, and the backwards scene performed in the movie, "Top Secret!Top Secret!Top Secret! is a 1984 comedy film directed by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. It stars Val Kilmer , Lucy Gutteridge, Omar Sharif, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough and Jeremy Kemp. The film is a parody of the GDR era and Elvis films...
" - The video features Florence HendersonFlorence HendersonFlorence Agnes Henderson is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role of Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974...
in the role originally portrayed by Michelle PfeifferMichelle PfeifferMichelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress. She made her film debut in 1980 in The Hollywood Knights, but first garnered mainstream attention with her performance in Brian De Palma's Scarface . Pfeiffer has won numerous awards for her work...
. Reportedly, Henderson jumped at the chance to be featured in the parody, after seeing the Coolio video. - Al's parents Nick and Mary Yankovic are featured in the music video
- The video shows many aspects of regular Amish life, such as raising a barn (the scene directly parodies WitnessWitness (1985 film)Witness is a 1985 American thriller film directed by Peter Weir and starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. The screenplay by William Kelley, Pamela Wallace, and Earl W...
). 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 KeatonBuster KeatonJoseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
homage. Keaton performed this stunt in Steamboat Bill Jr.Steamboat Bill Jr.Steamboat Bill Jr. is a 1928 feature-length comedy silent film featuring Buster Keaton. Released by United Artists, the film is the last product of Keaton's independent production team and set of gag writers. It was not a box-office success and proved to be the last picture Keaton would make for...
Chart positions
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 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... |
53 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales Hot 100 Singles Sales The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the... |
22 |