Claire Thompson
The Chicken Dance is a well-known drinking and dancing song at American Oktoberfest events and weddings. The song was composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s. The dance moves are inspired by the movements of ducks, and the song was originally known as Der Ententanz or The Duck Dance. However, the name Chicken Dance became popular after a German band played the song at Tulsa, Oklahoma's Oktoberfest in 1981, with a person in a chicken suit demonstrating the dance moves. Since then, the song has become a worldwide sensation, with over 140 versions recorded and 40 million copies sold worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original name | Der Ententanz or Duck Dance |
| Other names | 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, O Baile dos Passarinhos, Il Ballo del Qua Qua, Check Out the Chicken, Dance Little Bird, De Vogeltjesdans, Ja, wenn wir alle Englein wären, The Ducky Dance, The Birdie Dance, The Chicken Dance King |
| Origin | Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas |
| Year | 1955 or 1957 |
| Inspiration | Movement of ducks and skiers |
| Choreography | Flapping arms, wiggling hips, clapping, spinning, swinging |
| Popularity | Over 140 versions recorded worldwide, 40 million copies sold |
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What You'll Learn
The song's original name and meaning
The song "Chicken Dance" has been called the most annoying song of all time, but it has also brought smiles to many faces. The song was originally called Der Ententanz, which means "The Duck Dance". It was composed by Swiss accordionist Werner Thomas in 1957, though he claimed that the tune first came to him in 1955. He spent the next few years revising the melody and creating a dance to go with it.
Thomas's avian inspiration came from his pet ducks and geese, whose excited quacking and flapping inspired the song's iconic movements. He also drew inspiration from skiers, noting that their hand movements resembled "the beak of a duck", and that their gestures reminded him of flapping wings and waddling feet. The song was originally performed in ski resorts for tourists and was later adapted into a playful series of movements that mimicked both ducks and skiers.
The song's original name, "Der Ententanz", reflects its duck-inspired origins. The name was later changed to "Chicken Dance" when the song was introduced to the United States at the 1981 Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest. The name change occurred because the organizers could only find a chicken suit, not a duck suit, for the dancer to wear during the performance. The song's movements, which involve flapping arms and wiggling hips, are more reminiscent of ducks than chickens, which do not typically wiggle their tails.
Despite its humble beginnings, the "Chicken Dance" has become a worldwide sensation, with over 140 versions recorded worldwide and an estimated 40 million copies sold. It is a staple of Oktoberfest celebrations and a popular choice for weddings, particularly in cultures that include polka music. The song has been called infectious, with its simple melody and dance moves sticking in people's minds and bringing joy to audiences around the globe.
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How the dance was created
The "Chicken Dance" was created in the 1950s by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas from Davos, Switzerland. The song, originally called "Der Ententanz" or "The Duck Dance", was inspired by Thomas's interest in birdwatching and the movements of ducks as they swam around a local pond. Thomas first composed the melody, which he later tweaked over several years, and then developed a dance to go with it. The dance moves were inspired by the hand movements of skiers, which reminded Thomas of "the beak of a duck", as well as the flapping of wings and waddling of feet.
In the 1960s, the song gained popularity in Swiss ski resorts and almost topped the charts in England and the Netherlands. In 1973, Belgian music producer Louis Julien van Rijmenant heard Thomas perform the song while vacationing in Switzerland. He obtained the notes, produced the melody on a synthesizer, and released it under the title "Tchip Tchip". This version became a hit in Europe, selling over a million copies and spawning dozens of covers in various languages.
In the early 1980s, the song crossed the Atlantic and began to gain popularity in the United States, particularly in cities with large polka-loving communities such as Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Austin. American audiences started calling it "The Chicken Dance", and it became particularly associated with a festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a German band played the song at the 1981 Oktoberfest. The event organizers had planned for a person in a duck suit to lead the crowd in the dance, but they were unable to find a duck suit and had to settle for a chicken suit instead. This version of the dance, with a person dressed as a chicken, became known as "The Chicken Dance" and has since become a staple of Oktoberfest celebrations in the US.
The song has also been released by other musicians under different names, including "El Baile de los Pajaritos" by Spanish accordionist María Jesus Grados Ventura, "Tralalala" by Frederik in Finland, "Il ballo del Qua Qua" by Italian musicians Al Bano and Romina Power, and "La Danse des Canards" by French musicians René Simard and Nathalie Simard. In 1982, Milwaukee-based organist and polka composer Bob Kames recorded his own version on the Hammond organ, releasing it as "Dance Little Bird" or "The Chicken Dance". Kames became known as "The Chicken Dance King" and performed the song live at hundreds of festivals.
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The song's spread across the world
The song, originally called "Der Ententanz" or "The Duck Dance", was composed by Swiss accordionist Werner Thomas in 1957. Thomas was inspired by the movement of ducks and skiers, which he observed at a Swiss ski resort. The song's dance moves involve tucking your hands into your armpits and flapping them like a chicken, wiggling your shoulders and hips, and clapping.
The song's popularity spread across Europe, with various musicians releasing their own versions. In 1980, the Dutch band De Electronica released an instrumental version called "De Vogeltjesdans" or "Dance, Little Bird", which became a hit in the Dutch charts. In 1981, the song was released in Spain as "El Baile de los Pajaritos" by María Jesus Grados Ventura, in Finland as "Tralalala" by Frederik, and in Italy as "Il ballo del Qua Qua" by Al Bano and Romina Power. That same year, a French recording by René Simard and Nathalie Simard was released as "La Danse des Canards".
The song then crossed the Atlantic to North America, where it was introduced to the United States at the 1981 Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest by the Heilbronn Band from Germany. The song was played as "Dance Little Bird", and a person in a chicken suit (as a duck suit could not be found) showed the crowd the dance moves. This marked the point where the song became known as "The Chicken Dance" in the US. In 1982, Milwaukee-based organist and polka composer Bob Kames recorded and released his version as "Dance Little Bird" or "The Chicken Dance", which became a huge success, selling 300,000 copies in Poland alone.
The song has since become a worldwide sensation, with over 140 versions recorded and an estimated 40 million records pressed. It is a staple at celebrations and festivals, particularly Oktoberfest, and is known by various names, including "The Birdie Song", "The Bird Dance", "The Chicken Song", and "The Ducky Dance".
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The song's commercial success
The Chicken Dance, also known 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, O Baile dos Passarinhos, Il Ballo del Qua Qua, Check Out the Chicken, Dance Little Bird, and many other names, has become a worldwide phenomenon. Originally composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s, the song has taken on a life of its own, spreading across the globe and undergoing numerous adaptations and interpretations.
One of the key moments in the song's commercial trajectory was its introduction to the United States in 1981 during the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oktoberfest. The performance by the German band, Heilbronn Band, included a person in a chicken suit demonstrating the dance moves, which inadvertently contributed to the song's association with chickens. This performance sparked a craze for the song in the US, with various musicians releasing their versions and the song gaining popularity at weddings, festivals, and other celebrations.
The Chicken Dance's commercial success is a testament to its ability to bring joy and entertainment to people of all ages and cultures. Despite its simple melody and lyrics, the song has become an international sensation, uniting people in celebration and creating lasting memories. Whether loved or hated, the Chicken Dance has undeniably etched itself into the fabric of popular culture, continuing to spread its wings and entertain generations to come.
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The dance's choreography
The Chicken Dance, also known as the Bird Dance, is a simple dance with choreography based on the movements of a chicken or duck. The dance became popular in the 1980s, but its origins can be traced back to the 1950s when it was created by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas.
During the refrain, the dancer can lock arms with a partner and spin in opposite directions. They may also switch arms and directions or partners halfway through. Another variation is the "swing out," where the pair holds hands, leans back, and rotates in place first clockwise and then counterclockwise. When performed in a circle or square dance formation, the group can simply rotate the circle in one direction and then shift direction halfway through.
The dance is often performed with dancers wearing bird costumes, adding to the playful and entertaining nature of the routine. This tradition dates back to the song's early performances, where musicians would wear bird costumes while playing the song.
The Chicken Dance has become a staple at celebrations and events, particularly Oktoberfest, weddings, and festivals. Its simple and memorable choreography, along with its catchy tune, has contributed to its widespread popularity and enduring legacy.
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Frequently asked questions
The Chicken Dance is a song and dance that became popular in the US in the 1980s. It is a staple at school parties, bar mitzvahs, weddings, and Oktoberfest celebrations.
The song was composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s. The dance moves were inspired by the movements of skiers, which Thomas compared to those of a bird. The original name of the song was "Der Ententanz", or "The Duck Dance".
The song became known as the Chicken Dance in 1981 at the annual Oktoberfest in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The German band performing the song wanted to engage the audience with a duck costume but could only find a chicken suit, and so the Chicken Dance was born.
The dancer tucks their hands into their armpits and flaps them like a chicken, then wiggles their shoulders and/or hips (tail feathers) while descending for two beats. The dancer then claps four times.
