''Excuses for Bad Behavior'' is a two-part album series by
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard (born June 6, 1955) is an American actress, singer, comedian and author. She first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy, where she often critiqued celebrity culture and political figures.
She is perhaps b ...
. The first album was released in 1994 while the second was released in 2004.
Part one
''Excuses for Bad Behavior (Part One)'' is a combination of spoken comedy bits, comedic songs, and pop/rock music.
Co-written and co-produced by Bernhard's longtime collaborator Mitch Kaplan, the album features Bernhard singing originals and standards. Disco classic "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" begins with a vocal solo and is then translated to a modern dance song. "Manic Superstar" combines the song "Everything's Alright" from the musical ''
Jesus Christ Superstar
''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with ...
'' and the song "
Manic Depression
Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with ...
" by
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
. "Sympathy For the Devil" by the
Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
is also covered.
Comedic bits include the spoken word "The Letter", in which Bernhard reads a fictional letter from a lesbian fan who has "heard" the album in question ("Jesus Christ, why is she singing?"). "Christmas" is a story of holidays past told by a Jewish woman who never actually experienced them. Other songs have a comedic edge, such as "Prophecies", a spoof on 1-900 psychic hotlines.
The album was released on a smaller independent label and did moderately well, but is currently unavailable for mainstream purchase. Plans for a special two-disc re-release (made exclusively available on Bernhard's website) have been posted there for over a year, but no product has been offered yet.
Reception
Track listing
#"Excuses For Bad Behavior"
#"
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" is a 1978 song by American disco/ R&B singer Sylvester. It was written by James Wirrick and Sylvester, and released as the second single from Sylvester's fourth album, '' Step II'' (1978). The song was already ...
"
#"Manic Superstar"
#"(I'm Waiting)"
#"Who Knew?!"
#"Innocence"
#"The Letter"
#"Lonely Town"
#"Christmas"
#"Prophecies"
#"
Sympathy For The Devil
"Sympathy for the Devil" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones and the opening track from the band's 1968 album ''Beggars Banquet''. The song is a product of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' songwriting partnership.
It is consi ...
"
#"Manhattan"
#"Phone Sex (Do You Want Me Tonight?)"
#"(I'm Waiting)"
#"
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the second single from his fourth studio album, ''Still Crazy After All These Years'' (1975), released on Columbia Records. Backing vocals on the single ...
"
#"
La Lupe
Lupe Victoria YolĂ Raymond (23 December 1936 – 29 February 1992), better known as La Lupe, was a Cuban singer of boleros, guarachas and Latin soul, known for her energetic, sometimes controversial performances. Following the release of her ...
"
#"The Woman I Could've Been"
#"The Way You Make Me Feel"
Part two
''Excuses for Bad Behavior (Part Two)'', like Part One, is a combination of spoken comedy bits, comedic songs, and pop/country/rock music. Unlike Part One, the album was not released by a major label. It was sold on burned CD-Rs by Bernhard at her live shows and via her website.
Bernhard announced in 1995 that she had no interest in making a (Part 2), despite the title of (Part 1
and that rather the title was simply a "tongue-in-cheek twist on" the
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKa ...
albums ''
Use Your Illusion
''Use Your Illusion'' is a 1998 compilation album by American rock band Guns N' Roses, drawing from the ''Use Your Illusion I'' and '' II'' studio albums. It was only released in the United States, and was primarily sold at Walmart and Kmart, t ...
I'' & ''II''
The album deals heavily with politics, including discussions about
9/11
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial ...
. In "The Dixie Chicks", Bernhard sings:
"The Dixie Chicks were wrong, then right. I can't comprehend what is true. You tell me something, then take it back. Why the hell do you support Iraq?" The political controversy that surrounded The Dixie Chicks is discussed. A small tour was launched to accompany the release. They would later become friends; Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks appeared at several of Bernhard's performances of her later show ''
Everything Bad & Beautiful'', and the group and Bernhard appeared in a Christmas commercial for
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing and accessories retailing company owned by multinational corporation Gap Inc. It has corporate operations in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The largest of the Old Navy stores are its ...
.
Track listing
# Here I Go Again
# Crazy Day In The Valley
# Surreal With Love
# High Alert At
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
# Invitations
# Recent Tragic Events
#
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice ( ; born November 14, 1954) is an American diplomat and political scientist who is the current director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as the 66th Uni ...
#
The Dixie Chicks
The Chicks (previously known as Dixie Chicks) are an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. Since 1995, the band has consisted of Natalie Maines (lead vocals, guitar) and sisters Martie Maguire (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar) and E ...
# 30th High School Reunion
# Arizona
# Can't You See
# Cicely Bernhard: Platinum Member
# Canadian Mishigas
#
Dylan's Candy Bar
Dylan's Candy Bar is a chain of boutique candy shops and candy supplier currently located in New York City; East Hampton, New York; Los Angeles, Chicago, Honolulu and The Bahamas, as well as several US airports and in wholesale venues around the ...
# Making Out With
Britney
# Every Comes & Goes
#
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour (c. 150824 October 1537) was List of English consorts, Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII of England from their Wives of Henry VIII, marriage on 30 May 1536 until her death the next year. She became queen followi ...
# What's Up With Comme?
#
What's Going On
#
Little Red Corvette
"Little Red Corvette" is a song by American recording artist Prince. The song combines a Linn LM-1 beat and slow synth buildup with a rock chorus, over which Prince, using several automobile metaphors, recalls a one-night stand with a beautiful pro ...
References
{{Authority control
1994 albums
2004 albums
Album series
Sandra Bernhard albums
Pop albums by American artists
1990s comedy albums
2000s comedy albums