The "Chicken Dance", also known and recorded as Der Ententanz, Tchip Tchip, Vogerltanz, the Bird Song, the Chicken Song, the Birdie Song, the Bird Dance, Danse des Canards, the Duck Dance, El Baile de los Pajaritos, Il Ballo del Qua Qua, Check Out the Chicken, or Dance Little Bird, is an oom-pah song; its associated fad dance is now[when?] a contemporary dance throughout the Western world. The song was composed by accordion player Werner Thomas from Davos, Switzerland, in the 1950s. Show
The Chicken Dance is a well-known drinking and dancing song at American Oktoberfest events. It is also a popular dance at weddings, particularly in the regions of Texas that were settled by German and Czech immigrants, and who retain a strong love of polka music. Over 140 versions have been recorded worldwide, including some that were released by Walt Disney Records, together making an estimated 40,000,000 records or more pressed. Composer credits and publishing rights[edit]The original name of the song was "Der Ententanz" (The Duck Dance), by the Swiss accordionist Werner Thomas. He played it in restaurants and hotels from the 1950s through the 1960s. During one of Thomas' performances, the Belgian music producer Louis van Rymenant heard the song. Van Rymenant had some lyrics created and in 1970 released it to the public through his publishing company Intervox Music (later co-publishing with his other company Eurovox Music) without much success. It first became a world-wide hit from 1980 through 1982, and was recorded in many countries. On some recorded releases of the music Werner Thomas is listed as the sole composer, while on others other composers are listed, e.g., as "Thomas/Rendall/Hoes." The name Renell refers to Van Rymenant, who was listed as co-author under the pen name of Terry Rendall. The name Hoes refers to the Dutch singer/producer Johnny Hoes, who re-arranged the song for the Electronicas recording (which was released on Hoes' own record label, Telstar Records). Eurovox Music now manages the publishing rights worldwide, except for the US (September Music), UK (Valentine Music) and the Netherlands (Benelux Music), sub-publishers. Description of the dance[edit]A crowd doing the beak-opening movement of Chicken Dance at the Ballard Seafood Festival in 2007 The wing-flapping movement The origin of the dance moves set to the music is not known. The piece is often notated in cut time and the key of C major. It begins with repeated dominant chords before moving into the main theme. The secondary theme features a contrasting rhythm. The two themes alternate. In some versions tempo shifts are introduced to confuse and amuse the dancers, and the final repetition of the main theme is often played as one continuous accelerando.[1] The dance step has five discrete moves. The first four moves are done in place and are repeated throughout each verse:
The fifth move persists throughout the refrain and involves the dancer and a partner.
The performance of one or more dancers in bird costumes leading a crowd in the dance is quite common. A 1981 video recording of the Tweets performing the song before a live television audience in the UK shows all of the "musicians" in large, mascot-style bird costumes, miming to the recording, while a group of British teens perform the dance in a line behind them. Since then, many state fairs, Oktoberfests, German culture festivals, and even weddings feature at least one dancer in a bird costume. The live performances by Bob Kames throughout the upper Midwest during the 1980s and 1990s almost always featured bird-costumed dance leaders. Lyrics[edit]European versions of the song from the 1980s often have complete sets of lyrics, but British, Canadian, American, and Australian versions are generally instrumentals, although there may be very simple lyrics such as, With a little bit of this, And a little bit of that, You shake your tail, And then you clap. Alternative lyrics are "I don't want to be a chicken, I don't want to be a duck, So I wiggle my butt, Quack, quack, quack, quack!" At American Oktoberfests that feature live band performances, the hand and body gestures are usually performed without lyrics, but the four hand-claps may be accompanied by the rowdily shouted words, "We want more beer!" Notable recordings and title changes[edit]
Notable live performances[edit]Chicken Dance with costumed performer at an Oktoberfest in 2007 Ozseeker the Clown doing the Chicken Dance at a Municipal Band concert in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 2010
In popular culture[edit]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
What is the chicken dance song called?The "Chicken Dance", also known and recorded as Der Ententanz, Tchip Tchip, Vogerltanz, the Bird Song, the Chicken Song, the Birdie Song, the Bird Dance, Danse des Canards, the Duck Dance, El Baile de los Pajaritos, Il Ballo del Qua Qua, Check Out the Chicken, or Dance Little Bird, is an oom-pah song; its associated ...
Why is the chicken dance played at weddings?With Romanian culture having a plethora of wedding traditions, the chicken dance is certainly one of the most eccentric and is meant to be a fertility ritual for the newlyweds.
Where is the chicken dance from?A German band decided to play the song at the 1981 Tulsa Oktoberfest. Organizers tried to find a duck costume for the dance, but could only find a chicken costume from a local TV station. Eventually, “The Duck Dance” became the chicken dance. History was made here in Tulsa.
Is the chicken dance German?Written in 1957 and called Der Ententanz (The Duck Dance) by Swiss composer Werner Thomas, the song could be heard in beer tents all over Switzerland and Germany in the 1960s. A Belgium music producer first recorded the song as a folksy fun tune in 1973.
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