Claire Thompson
Robot Chicken is an American stop-motion sketch comedy television series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich. The show is known for its fast-paced satire and unique animation style, using stop-motion and claymation techniques to bring toys to life. The end theme song of Robot Chicken has caught the attention of many viewers, with its distinctive clucking sounds and catchy tune. The song is a unique rendition of The Gonk from George Romero's 1978 film Dawn of the Dead. This ending theme has become a memorable part of the show's quirky charm, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Song | The Gonk |
| Type of Tune | Clucking |
| TV Show | Robot Chicken |
| Genre | Stop-motion animation, sketch comedy |
| Year | 2005 |
| Creators | Seth Green and Matthew Senreich |
| Theme Song Performer | Les Claypool of Primus |
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What You'll Learn
The song is called The Gonk
The song that Robot Chicken sings at the end is called "The Gonk". Robot Chicken is an American adult stop-motion animated sketch comedy television series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich. The song is an unused track that was made for the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead. The show's theme song was composed and performed by Les Claypool of Primus. The end theme of the show is a portion of the infamous Musak named "The Gonk" from George Romero's Dawn of the Dead, clucked by a chorus of chickens.
The song "The Gonk" has become infamous in popular culture, with many people recognising it as the distinctive end theme to Robot Chicken. The song has also taken on a life of its own, with various covers and remixes appearing online and in other media. It has become a well-known example of the use of Musak, or background music, in film and television.
The use of "The Gonk" as the end theme for Robot Chicken is a clever nod to the show's satirical and absurdist tone. The song's light and playful melody, combined with the clucking vocals, creates a humorous and light-hearted atmosphere that aligns with the show's playful use of stop-motion animation and sketch comedy.
The choice to use an unused track from a horror film, Dawn of the Dead, as the end theme for a comedy series also showcases the show's ability to subvert expectations and play with genre conventions. This juxtaposition of horror and comedy in the choice of end theme is indicative of the show's unique blend of humour and satire, often skewering pop culture characters and celebrities.
"The Gonk" has become an iconic part of Robot Chicken, with its catchy melody and unique vocals leaving a lasting impression on viewers. The song's popularity has endured, even as the show has evolved and changed over multiple seasons, and it remains a memorable aspect of the show's legacy.
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It's from the film Dawn of the Dead
The song that plays at the end of Robot Chicken is a variation of "The Gonk", which was originally composed by Herbert Chappell in 1965 for the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead. The song was performed in chicken clucks for the Robot Chicken series.
"The Gonk" was first released on the Dawn of the Dead soundtrack, alongside other songs such as "Cause I'm a Man", written by Cliff Twemlow and Peter Taylor under the pen name Peter Reno and recorded by the Pretty Things under the name "Electric Banana". The original score for Dawn of the Dead was recorded by Goblin, longtime collaborators of Dario Argento. Goblin's score features heavily in the European cut of the film, but other edits use a mix of the Goblin score and stock music.
The Dawn of the Dead film, directed by George A. Romero, is considered by many to be the best of Romero's "Dead" films. The film explores the apocalyptic effects of a "zombie epidemic" on society and includes subtext involving American consumerism and materialism, as well as comments on news media and racism. The film's end credits song, "The Gonk", has been used in many references to the film, including Shaun of the Dead and Robot Chicken.
The Robot Chicken end theme is a variation of "The Gonk", performed with chicken clucks, which has led to some people believing that the last "bawk" of the song is actually someone swearing. This has been described as a "clever way to sneak it onto TV". The song has also been described as scary and funny, with some viewers changing the channel when it came on due to the presence of their parents. Despite this, it has clearly left an impression on viewers, with some singing along to it and even using it as their ringtone.
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The show's theme song was composed and performed by Les Claypool
The ending theme song of the TV show Robot Chicken is a portion of the infamous Musak named The Gonk from George Romero's 1978 film Dawn of the Dead. The song is clucked by a chorus of chickens.
Claypool's unique playing style mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends, and slapping. He has been recognised by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest bassists of all time. In addition to his work with Primus, Claypool has been involved in numerous side projects and collaborations with other renowned musicians.
One of Claypool's notable solo efforts is his 2006 album, "Of Whales and Woe", which features the Robot Chicken theme music as a track. The song "Robot Chicken" is included in this album, showcasing Claypool's talent and creativity in composing and performing the theme for the beloved stop-motion animation series.
Les Claypool's involvement in the Robot Chicken theme song adds to his impressive body of work in the music industry, solidifying his place as a versatile and influential artist.
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The show is an American adult stop-motion animated sketch comedy
Robot Chicken is an American adult stop-motion animated sketch comedy television series. The show was created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich and premiered on Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim on February 20, 2005, at 11:30 p.m. EST. The show is known for its rapid-fire channel flips and twisted takes on pop culture, bringing action figures to life in three-dimensional worlds through stop-motion animation. The series has had multiple seasons, with the eleventh and most recent season premiering on September 7, 2021, at 12:00 a.m. EDT.
The show's unique name, "Robot Chicken," was inspired by a dish on the menu at a West Hollywood Chinese restaurant, Kung Pao Bistro, where Green and Senreich had dined. The show's theme song was composed and performed by Les Claypool of Primus, and the ending theme is a portion of the infamous Musak named The Gonk from George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead," clucked by a chorus of chickens. This has been described as bawked to the tune of The Gonk.
The show's logo features a stoopid monkey, which is Seth Green and Matthew Senreich's entity card, aka production company. Each monkey is created by artist/actor Adam Talbott, with the monkey engaged in a different activity at the end of each episode. Robot Chicken has also partnered with various brands to produce television advertisements, including KFC, Burger King, and Kellogg's Pop-Tarts.
The show has received widespread recognition, with all episodes from seasons 1-11 available on Max and HBO Max. Additionally, Robot Chicken has released DVDs in various regions, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the US. The show has also aired on TBS and Adult Swim, further expanding its reach to a diverse audience.
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The show was created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich
The song that plays at the end of Robot Chicken is a clucking version of "The Gonk", an unused track from George Romero's 1978 film Dawn of the Dead. The song was composed and performed by Les Claypool of Primus, and the clucking version is performed by a chorus of chickens.
Robot Chicken is an American stop-motion animated sketch comedy television series that was created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich. The show was inspired by Twisted ToyFare Theater, a humorous photo comic strip that appeared in the now-defunct ToyFare: The Toy Magazine, which Senreich, along with Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root, had previously written for. Seth Green, an avid action figure collector and fan of the magazine, struck up a correspondence with Senreich, who was the editor of ToyFare Magazine. The two hit it off due to their shared interests.
Green and Senreich pitched Robot Chicken as a television series, with the name "Robot Chicken" inspired by a dish on the menu at a West Hollywood Chinese restaurant, Kung Pao Bistro, which they frequently dined at. The series first appeared as "Sweet J Presents", produced for the Sony website Screenblast.com in 2001. The show ended after 12 episodes and returned to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in 2005 as Robot Chicken. The show is known for its fast-paced satire and old-school stop-motion animation, with action figures finding new life as players in frenetic sketch-comedy vignettes that skewer TV, movies, music, and celebrity. Robot Chicken has won two Annie Awards and six Emmy Awards.
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Frequently asked questions
The end theme of the show is a portion of the infamous Musak named The Gonk from George Romero's Dawn of the Dead, clucked by a chorus of chickens.
The show's theme song was composed and performed by Les Claypool of Primus.
Robot Chicken is an American adult stop-motion animated sketch comedy television series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich for Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim.
As editor of ToyFare Magazine, Matthew Senreich corresponded with Seth Green, an avid action figure collector and fan of the magazine. The two became friends due to their mutual interests. Later, Green came up with the idea for a stop-motion action/adventure segment featuring toys modeled after himself and Conan O'Brien for a Late Night with Conan O'Brien appearance. He called Senreich and asked for his involvement.
Robot Chicken remained unnamed well into the production process as many of the names the creators suggested were turned down due to copyright and legal reasons. Finally, Senreich and Green seized upon a menu item from a local Chinese restaurant they patronized for takeout while writing the series.
