Bang the Drum All Day
Encyclopedia
"Bang the Drum All Day" is a 1983
song by Todd Rundgren
. The lyrics describe in first person, the singer's drive to "bang the drum all day" to the exclusion of everything else. All the instruments on this track are performed by Rundgren. The song has become popular as an anti-work anthem or anthem of celebration.
Rundgren would re-record the song live for subscribers to his Patronet service. The new version was retitled "Bang the Ukelele Daily," referring to Rundgren's decision to perform it in a Hawaiian
style, accompanied only by a ukelele. "Bang the Ukelele Daily" was included on his album One Long Year
.
as his union heads-up theme. Boston conservative talk host Howie Carr
also plays a snippet to poke fun at the Occupy Wall Street movement, which has featured many drummers (and workers and residents have complained about the incessant drumming at the gatherings, at all hours of the day and night.)
Radio stations WMJI
and WDJX
in the United States and 89.7 Sun FM in Canada have used this song for their morning programs. 96.5 WKLH
, a classic-rock station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, plays the song every Friday at exactly 5 p.m. to signal the start of the weekend. WXLP 96.9
in Davenport, Iowa
at 7am every Friday during the Dwyer and Michaels
Show plays the song to signal the end of the week.WFBQ Q-95
in Indianapolis
, home of Bob & Tom, also plays this song every Friday afternoon. When Las Vegas, Nevada
radio station 96.3 KKLZ was a classic rock station, it would play it at 5PM Fridays to ring in the weekend, though their version of the song usually had other sound effects thrown in.
The song is referenced in the videogame The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
by the popular scamp merchant, Creeper, showing his lack of mercantile drive. Appropriately, the character is standing next to a guarskin drum.
The song also makes an appearance in an episode of the U.S. version of The Office
, when manager Michael Scott says he wants to "bang on this mug all day" while tapping a World's Best Boss coffee mug.
It is very popular at sporting events. The most famous use of the song is at Lambeau Field
, as it is played after every Green Bay Packers
touchdown. This started at Green Bay
in 1985 after Packer players heard the song on the Mr. Bill and Uncle Mike morning show on local radio station WIXX and requested a copy of the song. It has since spread to other teams around the NFL. The Los Angeles Dodgers
also play the song when a run is scored. The song is also featured in the videogame Madden 11
.
It is used as the Friday morning theme song by Philadelphia NBC
affiliate
station NBC 10 at the end of every broadcast.
An altered version of the song's chorus was used to promote a late 1990s contest
on radio station WYYY
in Syracuse, New York
. The game was called "Beat the Buzzer" and the modified lyrics were "I don't want to work/I want to play Beat the Buzzer all day."
Since 2009, it is heard in TV commercials for Carnival Cruise Lines
.
The American Forces Network
(AFN) media network uses this song in a commercial promoting its programming lineup displaying various clips from children's television shows. On WGOW FM 102.3,a talk radio station in Chattanooga TN, former afternoon host Jay "The Jammer"
Scott used the song as his closing theme at the end of his show each day.
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
song by Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
. The lyrics describe in first person, the singer's drive to "bang the drum all day" to the exclusion of everything else. All the instruments on this track are performed by Rundgren. The song has become popular as an anti-work anthem or anthem of celebration.
Rundgren would re-record the song live for subscribers to his Patronet service. The new version was retitled "Bang the Ukelele Daily," referring to Rundgren's decision to perform it in a Hawaiian
Hawaiian
Hawaiian may refer to:* People from Hawaii* Hawaiian language* Native Hawaiians* The Hawaiians, a football team in the World Football League from 1974 to 1975* Hawaiian Airlines, a commercial airline* Hawaiian music...
style, accompanied only by a ukelele. "Bang the Ukelele Daily" was included on his album One Long Year
One Long Year
One Long Year is Todd Rundgren's seventeenth album, released in 2000. It is composed of recordings that were released initially only to subscribers to Rundgren's online Patronet facility, as well as other miscellany.-Track listing:...
.
Uses
The song is used by conservative talk radio host Jim QuinnJim Quinn
Jim Quinn is an American radio talk show host based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His program, The War Room with Quinn and Rose, is aired on 12 stations across the U.S. and is also heard on XM Satellite Radio Channel 166 from 6–9 a.m...
as his union heads-up theme. Boston conservative talk host Howie Carr
Howie Carr
Howard Louis "Howie" Carr, Jr. is an American journalist, author, and conservative radio talk-show host based in Boston with a listening audience rooted in New England.-Radio:...
also plays a snippet to poke fun at the Occupy Wall Street movement, which has featured many drummers (and workers and residents have complained about the incessant drumming at the gatherings, at all hours of the day and night.)
Radio stations WMJI
WMJI
WMJI — branded Majic 105.7 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio broadcasting a classic hits format. The station serves Cleveland, Akron and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio....
and WDJX
WDJX
WDJX is a Contemporary Hit Radio radio station located in Louisville, Kentucky. The station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast on 99.7 FM with a effective radiated power of 24 kW.-Station history:...
in the United States and 89.7 Sun FM in Canada have used this song for their morning programs. 96.5 WKLH
WKLH
WKLH is a classic rock-formatted radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The station is owned by Saga Communications.-History:The station received its Federal Communications Commission license on November 30, 1955...
, a classic-rock station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, plays the song every Friday at exactly 5 p.m. to signal the start of the weekend. WXLP 96.9
WXLP
WXLP is a Quad Cities area commercial Classic Hits radio station, licensed to Moline, Illinois. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, with studios located in Davenport, Iowa ....
in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
at 7am every Friday during the Dwyer and Michaels
Dwyer and Michaels
Greg Dwyer and Bill Obenauf, aka Bill Michaels, are the radio personalities and website authors known as Dwyer and Michaels. On air together since the late 1980s, they write, host and produce a popular morning show in the U.S. Midwest currently running on WXLP-FM in the Quad Cities. Their show was...
Show plays the song to signal the end of the week.WFBQ Q-95
WFBQ
WFBQ is a radio station in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, owned by Clear Channel Communications. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 94.7 MHz, FM channel 234. The studios are located at 6161 Fall Creek Road on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The transmitter and antenna are...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, home of Bob & Tom, also plays this song every Friday afternoon. When Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
radio station 96.3 KKLZ was a classic rock station, it would play it at 5PM Fridays to ring in the weekend, though their version of the song usually had other sound effects thrown in.
The song is referenced in the videogame The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, often simply referred to as Morrowind, is a single-player computer role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, and published by Bethesda Softworks and Ubisoft. It is the third installment in The Elder Scrolls series of games, following The Elder Scrolls...
by the popular scamp merchant, Creeper, showing his lack of mercantile drive. Appropriately, the character is standing next to a guarskin drum.
The song also makes an appearance in an episode of the U.S. version of The Office
The Office (US TV series)
The Office is an American comedy television series broadcast by NBC. An adaptation of the original BBC series of the same name, it depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company...
, when manager Michael Scott says he wants to "bang on this mug all day" while tapping a World's Best Boss coffee mug.
It is very popular at sporting events. The most famous use of the song is at Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
, as it is played after every Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
touchdown. This started at Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
in 1985 after Packer players heard the song on the Mr. Bill and Uncle Mike morning show on local radio station WIXX and requested a copy of the song. It has since spread to other teams around the NFL. The Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
also play the song when a run is scored. The song is also featured in the videogame Madden 11
Madden NFL 11
Madden NFL 11 is an American football video game based on the National Football League published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 22nd annual installment in the bestselling Madden NFL video game franchise. It was released on August 10, 2010 in North America, and on August 13 in...
.
It is used as the Friday morning theme song by Philadelphia NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate
Affiliate
An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity.- Corporate structure :A corporation may be referred to as an affiliate of another when it is related to it but not strictly controlled by it, as with a subsidiary relationship, or when it is desired to avoid...
station NBC 10 at the end of every broadcast.
An altered version of the song's chorus was used to promote a late 1990s contest
Competition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
on radio station WYYY
WYYY
WYYY is a Lite Adult Contemporary formatted radio station licensed to Syracuse, New York. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 94.5 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW.-History:...
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. The game was called "Beat the Buzzer" and the modified lyrics were "I don't want to work/I want to play Beat the Buzzer all day."
Since 2009, it is heard in TV commercials for Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Doral, Florida, a suburb of Miami in the United States. Originally an independent company founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company is now one of eleven cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc...
.
The American Forces Network
American Forces Network
The American Forces Network is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces American Forces Radio and Television Service for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide...
(AFN) media network uses this song in a commercial promoting its programming lineup displaying various clips from children's television shows. On WGOW FM 102.3,a talk radio station in Chattanooga TN, former afternoon host Jay "The Jammer"
Scott used the song as his closing theme at the end of his show each day.
Covers
- Bad MannersBad MannersBad Manners are an English 2 Tone ska band. They quickly became the novelty favourites of the UK pop scene through their bald outsized frontman's on-stage antics, earning early exposure through their Top of The Pops exploits and an appearance in the live film documentary, Dance Craze.They were at...
covered "Bang on the Drum All Day" on their 1983 album, Mental Notes. - A cover of the song is used as part of the soundtrack to the Pixar Play ParadePixar Play ParadePixar Play Parade is a parade at Disney's California Adventure. The parade features floats and characters based on Disney-Pixar films such as Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille. In a first for the Disneyland Resort, the floats feature small water jets that shoot water into the crowd of...
at Disney California Adventure.