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{{Short description|1996 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic}}
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{{Infobox single
{{more citations needed|date=May 2018}}
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| Name = Spy Hard
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{{Infobox song
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| Cover = Spy Hard Single.jpg
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| name = Spy Hard
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| Artist = [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]
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| cover = Spy Hard Single.jpg
| from Album = <!-- none -->
| Released = May 21, 1996
| alt =
| Format = [[CD single|CD]]
| type = single
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| artist = [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]
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| Recorded = March 27, 1996
| album =
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| Genre = [[Comedy music| Comedy]]
| released = May 21, 1996
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| Length = 2:49
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| recorded = March 27, 1996
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| Label = [[Scotti Brothers Records|Scotti Brothers]]
| studio =
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| Writer = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| venue =
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| Producer = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| genre =
| Last single = "[[Gump (song)|Gump]]"<br />(1996)
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* [[Comedy music|Comedy]]
| This single = "'''Spy Hard'''"<br />(1996)
* [[orchestral pop]]
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| Next single = "[[The Night Santa Went Crazy]]"<br />(1996)
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| length = 2:49
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| label = [[Scotti Brothers Records|Scotti Brothers]]
⚫
| writer = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| producer = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| prev_title = Gump
| prev_year = 1996
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| next_title = [[The Night Santa Went Crazy]]
| next_year = 1996
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|F7KMMxAQp8I|"Spy Hard"}}}}
}}
}}


"'''Spy Hard'''" is a song by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] used as the theme song to [[Spy Hard|the film of the same name]]. The song was originally released as a [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] on the "[[Gump (song)|Gump]]" single, and was later re-released as its own single; however, it has never appeared on one of Yankovic's studio albums.
"'''Spy Hard'''" is a song by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] used as the theme song to [[Spy Hard|the film of the same name]]. The song was originally released as a [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] on the "Gump" single, and was later re-released as its own single. It has never appeared on one of Yankovic's studio albums, but was included as a track on the Medium Rarities disc of his ''[[Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic|Squeeze Box]]'' boxed set.<ref name="squeezeboxpledgepage">{{cite web|title="Weird Al" Yankovic: Squeeze Box|url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/weirdalyankovic|publisher=[[Pledge Music]]|accessdate=January 12, 2017|date=January 12, 2017|archivedate=January 13, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113144720/http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/weirdalyankovic}}</ref>


==Music video==
==Music video==
The opening title sequence to the actual film ''Spy Hard'' is a parody of the title sequences from the [[James Bond]] films designed by [[Maurice Binder]] - specifically 1965's ''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]'', complete with multiple colored backgrounds, silhouetted figures, and "wavy" text. The song itself was a parody of songs used during such James Bond title sequences, complete with an orchestra (conducted by [[Bill Conti]], who composed the music for the 1981 Bond film ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'') and spy-themed lyrics.
The opening title sequence to the actual film ''[[Spy Hard]]'' is a [[pastiche]] of the title sequences from the [[James Bond]] films designed by [[Maurice Binder]]—specifically 1965's ''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]'', complete with multiple colored backgrounds, silhouetted figures, and "wavy" text. The song itself was a pastiche of songs used during James Bond title sequences, complete with an orchestra (conducted by [[Bill Conti]], who composed the music for the 1981 Bond film ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'') and spy-themed lyrics.


An [[urban legend]] states that during the recording of the theme to ''Thunderball'', [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] held the song's final note long enough to pass out; in this film, Yankovic holds it long enough to make his head explode. Originally, Yankovic had planned to loop the note to the required length, but in the studio, he discovered he was able to hold the note long enough that no looping was required.
An [[urban legend]] states that during the recording of the [[Thunderball (soundtrack)|theme]] to ''Thunderball'', [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] held the song's final note long enough to pass out; in this film, Yankovic holds it long enough to make his head explode. Originally, Yankovic had planned to loop the note to the required length, but in the studio, he discovered he was able to hold the note long enough that no looping was required.<ref>{{cite web|title="Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ask Al Archive (in section "Ask Al" Q&As for June 1999)|url=http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0699 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006123424/http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0699 |archive-date=2014-10-06 |accessdate=January 10, 2022|date=June 1999}}</ref>


During the music video, Yankovic interacts with the titles twice. The first time occurs when the film's title is smacked away by Yankovic as he rises up into the shot. The second time, Yankovic glances towards his name as he is credited for the opening titles, proudly smirking immediately after. These are the only titles to appear in the video included on music video collections.
During the music video, Yankovic interacts with the titles twice. The first time occurs when the film's title is smacked away by Yankovic as he rises up into the shot. The second time, Yankovic glances towards his name as he is credited for the opening titles, proudly smirking immediately after. These are the only titles to appear in the video included on music video collections.


The sequence was later included on ''[["Weird Al" Yankovic: The Videos]]'', then again on ''[["Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection]]''. While he had permission to include the title sequence (which he had directed), he did not have permission to use the actual printed credits from the film. Therefore, all names and titles had to be taken out, thus making the video slightly confusing. When released on ''"Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection'' the title of the film and his credit were put back in. Another version of the opening title sequence was released that contained multiple clips from the actual film.
The sequence was later included on ''"Weird Al" Yankovic: The Videos'', then again on ''"Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection''. While he had permission to include the title sequence (which he had directed), he did not have permission to use the actual printed credits from the film. Therefore, all names and titles had to be taken out, thus making the video slightly confusing, looking like Yankovic was smacking thin air and glancing at nothing and smirking for no reason (this is the version Yankovic has on his YouTube channel). When released on ''"Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection'' the title of the film and his credit were put back in. Another version of the opening title sequence was released that contained multiple clips from the actual film.


==Unreleased version==
==End credits version==
There is an alternate version of the song, which is played during the end credits of ''Spy Hard'' where the lyrics are changed from "The name of this movie is ''Spy Hard'' / They call it ''Spy Hard'' / You're watching ''Spy Hard'' / It's the theme from ''Spy Hard!''" to "The name of this movie was ''Spy Hard'' / They called it ''Spy Hard'' / You just saw ''Spy Hard'' / It's the end of ''Spy Hard!''" This version has never been commercially released.
There is an alternate version of the song, which is played during the end credits of ''Spy Hard'' where the lyrics are changed from "The name of this movie is ''Spy Hard'' / They call it ''Spy Hard'' / You're watching ''Spy Hard'' / It's the theme from ''Spy Hard!''" to "The name of this movie was ''Spy Hard'' / They called it ''Spy Hard'' / You just saw ''Spy Hard'' / It's the end of ''Spy Hard!''" This version has never been commercially released.


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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.weirdal.com "Weird Al's" Official Page]
*[http://www.myspace.com/weirdal Al's Official MySpace Page]


{{"Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{{"Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:"Weird Al" Yankovic songs]]
[[Category:"Weird Al" Yankovic songs]]
[[Category:1996 singles]]
[[Category:1996 singles]]
[[Category:Songs about spies]]
[[Category:James Bond parodies]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by "Weird Al" Yankovic]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by "Weird Al" Yankovic]]
[[Category:Songs written by "Weird Al" Yankovic]]
[[Category:Songs written by "Weird Al" Yankovic]]
[[Category:Songs from films]]
[[Category:Songs written for films]]
[[Category:1996 songs]]
[[Category:Scotti Brothers Records singles]]

Latest revision as of 13:59, 12 December 2023

"Spy Hard"
Single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
ReleasedMay 21, 1996
RecordedMarch 27, 1996
Genre
Length2:49
LabelScotti Brothers
Songwriter(s)"Weird Al" Yankovic
Producer(s)"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic singles chronology
"Gump"
(1996) 		"Spy Hard"
(1996) 		"The Night Santa Went Crazy"
(1996)
Music video
"Spy Hard" on YouTube

"Spy Hard" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic used as the theme song to the film of the same name. The song was originally released as a B-side on the "Gump" single, and was later re-released as its own single. It has never appeared on one of Yankovic's studio albums, but was included as a track on the Medium Rarities disc of his Squeeze Box boxed set.[1]

Music video

[edit]

The opening title sequence to the actual film Spy Hard is a pastiche of the title sequences from the James Bond films designed by Maurice Binder—specifically 1965's Thunderball, complete with multiple colored backgrounds, silhouetted figures, and "wavy" text. The song itself was a pastiche of songs used during James Bond title sequences, complete with an orchestra (conducted by Bill Conti, who composed the music for the 1981 Bond film For Your Eyes Only) and spy-themed lyrics.

An urban legend states that during the recording of the theme to Thunderball, Tom Jones held the song's final note long enough to pass out; in this film, Yankovic holds it long enough to make his head explode. Originally, Yankovic had planned to loop the note to the required length, but in the studio, he discovered he was able to hold the note long enough that no looping was required.[2]

During the music video, Yankovic interacts with the titles twice. The first time occurs when the film's title is smacked away by Yankovic as he rises up into the shot. The second time, Yankovic glances towards his name as he is credited for the opening titles, proudly smirking immediately after. These are the only titles to appear in the video included on music video collections.

The sequence was later included on "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Videos, then again on "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection. While he had permission to include the title sequence (which he had directed), he did not have permission to use the actual printed credits from the film. Therefore, all names and titles had to be taken out, thus making the video slightly confusing, looking like Yankovic was smacking thin air and glancing at nothing and smirking for no reason (this is the version Yankovic has on his YouTube channel). When released on "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection the title of the film and his credit were put back in. Another version of the opening title sequence was released that contained multiple clips from the actual film.

End credits version

[edit]

There is an alternate version of the song, which is played during the end credits of Spy Hard where the lyrics are changed from "The name of this movie is Spy Hard / They call it Spy Hard / You're watching Spy Hard / It's the theme from Spy Hard!" to "The name of this movie was Spy Hard / They called it Spy Hard / You just saw Spy Hard / It's the end of Spy Hard!" This version has never been commercially released.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ""Weird Al" Yankovic: Squeeze Box". Pledge Music. January 12, 2017. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  2. ^ ""Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ask Al Archive (in section "Ask Al" Q&As for June 1999)". June 1999. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
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