Spy Hard (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Spy Hard (Theme from the Motion Picture Spy Hard)


Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
from Album =
Released = May 21, 1996
Format = CD
Recorded = March 27, 1996
Genre = Comedy
Length = 2:49
Label = Scotti Brothers
Writer = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Producer = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Chart position =
Last single = "Gump"
(1996)
This single = "Spy Hard"
(1996)
Next single = "The Night Santa Went Crazy"
(1996)"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, however it has never appeared on one of Yankovic's studio albums. The "Spy Hard" single featured only the song itself with no B-sides.

Track listing

The following tracks are on the promotion single:
# "Spy Hard" (Theme from the Motion Picture "Spy Hard") – 2:49

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, 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 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.

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 . 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 (except his own) and titles had to be taken out. Another version of the opening title sequence was released that contained multiple clips from the actual film.

Unreleased version

There is a slightly 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" / That's the theme for "Spy Hard!" to "The name of this movie was "Spy Hard" / They called it "Spy Hard" / You just saw "Spy Hard" / That's the end of "Spy Hard!" This version has never been commercially released.

ee also

*List of singles by "Weird Al" Yankovic
*List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic

References

* [http://www.weirdal.com "Weird Al's" Official Page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/weirdal Al's Official MySpace Page]