Claire Thompson
The Chicken Dance is a well-known drinking and dancing song composed by Swiss accordionist Werner Thomas in the 1950s. The song, originally called Der Ententanz or The Duck Dance, has had several name changes and has been recorded by various artists, sparking a debate about who owns its copyright. While Thomas is often listed as the sole composer, some recordings credit additional composers, and a Belgian company acquired rights to the song after adding lyrics in the 1970s. The song's popularity spans from Europe to North America, with over 140 versions recorded and approximately 40 million records pressed worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Name of the Song | Der Ententanz (The Duck Dance) |
| Composer | Werner Thomas |
| 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 |
| Origin Country | Switzerland |
| Year of Composition | 1950s |
| Publisher | Eurovox Music |
| US Publisher | September Music |
| UK Publisher | Valentine Music |
| Netherlands Publisher | Benelux Music |
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What You'll Learn
The song was composed by Werner Thomas in the 1950s
The song that would become the world-famous "Chicken Dance" was composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s. Thomas, who tended a flock of ducks and geese, composed the song for accordion in Davos, Switzerland, when he was in his 20s. The tune was originally named "Der Ententanz", which translates to "The Duck Dance". The name was inspired by Thomas's observation of skiers in Switzerland's famous ski resorts, whose hand movements and gestures resembled those of a duck to him.
Over the next few years, Thomas revised the melody and created a dance to accompany it. The dance was inspired not by chickens, but by skiers, with certain hand movements evoking "the beak of a duck" for Thomas. In the early 1970s, Belgian music producer Louis Julien van Rijmenant heard Thomas playing his tune in a hotel in Davos, Switzerland. This led to a Belgian company adding lyrics to the song in the 1970s and securing the rights to it.
The song and its accompanying dance gained popularity in German clubs and restaurants, and it began to be played by oompah bands worldwide. In 1980, a Dutch band recorded the song, and this version spread globally, with various countries creating their own versions in different languages. The French version, "La Danse des Canards", became the second-bestselling song of all time in France.
In 1981, the song was introduced to the United States during the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oktoberfest by the Heilbronn Band from Germany. The song and dance were performed by a dancer in a chicken costume, which is said to have given the "Chicken Dance" its American name. Since then, the "Chicken Dance" has become a cultural phenomenon, featured at parties, weddings, sporting events, and festivals worldwide. Over 140 versions of the song have been recorded, with an estimated 40 million records or more pressed.
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It was originally called Der Ententanz or The Duck Dance
The song that would later be known as the "Chicken Dance" was originally composed for accordion in the 1950s in Davos, Switzerland, by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas. Thomas tended a flock of ducks and geese, so the tune was first named "Der Ententanz", which translates to "The Duck Dance". Thomas spent the next few years revising the melody and creating a dance to accompany it. The dance moves he devised were inspired not by chickens but by skiers, whose hand movements, to him, resembled "the beak of a duck". Other gestures, such as flapping wings and waddling feet, were also incorporated into the routine.
In the early 1970s, Belgian music producer Louis Julien van Rijmenant heard Thomas playing "Der Ententanz" at a hotel in Davos. Sometime later in the same decade, a Belgian company added lyrics to the song, thereby securing the rights to it. In the late 1970s, the song acquired the name "Vogeltanz" (Bird Dance) or "Vogerltanz" (Little Bird Dance or Birdie Dance), although these names never became popular in Germany.
In 1980, a Dutch band recorded the song, and this version spread around the world. Various countries then developed their own versions, in their own languages or with new lyrics. In 1981, the song and its dance were performed during the Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest. A local television station provided a chicken costume for a dancer at the festival, which is said to have given the "Chicken Dance" its American name.
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The song has had over 140 versions recorded worldwide
The "Chicken Dance" has had over 140 versions recorded worldwide, with an estimated 40 million records pressed. The song is known by many names and has been recorded in various languages with different lyrics. For instance, in Australia, it is known as "The Birdie Dance", in St. Louis, Missouri, it is called "The Ducky Dance", and in France, it is considered a duck dance and is called "La Danse des Canards".
The song's ubiquity can be attributed to its catchy and infectious melody, described by its composer, Werner Thomas, as a "stupid little thing" that implants itself in people's minds. The song's popularity is such that it has been used to raise funds for charitable causes. In 2009, a radio station in Ottawa played the song continuously until 389 tickets for the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime were purchased for CA$100 each, raising funds for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
The "Chicken Dance" has also been a commercial success for those associated with it. In the 1990s, the song became a cash cow for Mills, who owned the rights to the song, with income from television commercials alone surging to approximately $50,000 in 2000. The song's composer, Werner Thomas, has also benefited from its success, noting that whenever he hears it played, he knows his "next beer has been paid for".
The song's popularity extends beyond just recordings, with people performing the associated dance at parties, weddings, sports events, and festivals. The dance was introduced to the United States during the 1981 Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest by the Heilbronn Band from Germany, and it has since become a well-known tradition at American Oktoberfest events. The dance is so popular that it has even been performed to attempt a world record, as seen during a fundraiser for the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in 2010.
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A Belgian company secured the rights to the song in the 1970s
The "Chicken Dance" is a well-known song and dance that has become popular across the world. The song was originally composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s in Davos, Switzerland. Thomas tended a flock of ducks and geese, so he named the tune "Der Ententanz", which means "The Duck Dance".
In the early 1970s, Belgian music producer Louis Julien van Rijmenant heard Thomas playing the song at a hotel in Davos. A Belgian company secured the rights to the song in the 1970s by adding lyrics. This version was recorded by a Dutch band in 1980, and it quickly spread around the world. Various countries created their own versions, with new lyrics or translations into different languages.
The song and dance became popular in the United States in 1981, when a German band played it at the Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest. The band taught the crowd the dance, and a chicken costume was provided for a dancer, which is said to have given the song its American name, "The Chicken Dance". The song has since become a staple at weddings, parties, and sporting events in the US and beyond.
The popularity of the "Chicken Dance" has led to numerous recordings and releases by different artists. Over 140 versions of the song have been recorded, and it is estimated that over 40 million records have been pressed. The song has also been used in television commercials, bringing significant income to those who hold the rights.
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It's known as The Chicken Dance in the US
The song and dance phenomenon known as the Chicken Dance in the US was composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s. The original name of the song was "Der Ententanz", which translates to "The Duck Dance". Thomas tended a flock of ducks and geese, and the dance moves he devised to accompany the tune were inspired by the hand movements of skiers, which he thought resembled "the beak of a duck".
The song was introduced to the United States in 1981 during the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oktoberfest by the Heilbronn Band from Germany. It is said that the song got its American name at this festival when a dancer wore a chicken costume. The song and dance have since become a familiar feature of American culture, particularly at weddings and events with polka music.
The Chicken Dance has also spawned numerous recorded versions, with over 140 renditions released worldwide, including some on Walt Disney Records. The song has been so successful that it has been a significant source of income for those associated with it, including musician Mills, who released a compilation record of the song that became a commercial success.
The song's publishing rights are managed by Eurovox Music worldwide, except for the US, the UK, and the Netherlands, which are managed by sub-publishers. Despite the song's ubiquity and success, Thomas remained appreciative of its success. In an interview, he noted that whenever he heard "The Chicken Dance" being played, he knew his "next beer had been paid for".
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Frequently asked questions
The copyright for the song is managed by Eurovox Music worldwide, except for the US, UK and the Netherlands, where it is managed by September Music, Valentine Music and Benelux Music, respectively.
The song was composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s.
The original name of the song was "Der Ententanz", which means "The Duck Dance".
The song got its name from a festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a German band played "Dance Little Bird" and taught the crowd the Duck Dance. The event organizers provided a chicken costume for a dancer, which is said to have given the song its American name.
The Chicken Dance song became extremely popular, with over 140 versions recorded worldwide, totalling an estimated 40 million records or more. It has been featured in television commercials and played at weddings, parties, and sporting events.
