In the 6th grade, everybody in music class had to bring in a song and write a report about it. This was the song I brought in and the whole class laughed, including the teacher
Different video. The bird dance was in a video that starts out with the Bandstand clip and alters the ending with a different guy doing a bird dance. The guy doesn't even look the same as the original singer at the beginning.
The greatness of this song, it's simplicity, it's driving beat, classic lyric, this is thee epitome of the three chord song isn't it?? Mere words can't describe how great of a classic garage rock tune this is...
@@hockeyman1054 I have already explained the meaning, but I trie again. This trash would not be a hit if it not had trigger words for the Manchuria candidate or MK Ultra victim....for the target object for the patsy assassin of JFK. The right candidate would react to hear the word birds=JFK to be taken out. The whole song is code word for the patsy, who would be blamed for the murder, while the real people and CIA do the real assassin. Did you know that Lee Oswald (working for the CIA) though he was set up to kill Castro...but to late he found out that to be wrong...he acted on this song...why do you else believe this obviously trash song went world wide?? Do you even understand the lyrics?
I was always impressed by the drumming in this song. It was released in the middle of the surfing music era dominated by the Beach Boys and the Atlantics. I have loved this song all of my life.
I was just thinking the same thing earlier today RonHoward! Punk rock in 63! If y'all haven't yet, look up "Talk Talk" by Music Machine, from 66 I believe. Some more early signs of punk rock.
Allan Survo they should know do you know about the bird cause everybody knows that the bird is the word bird bird bird bird is the word hey don't you know about the cause everybody knows that the bird is the WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The song was a combination of two R&B hits by The Rivingtons, "The Bird's the Word" and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". Early pressings of the single credit the Trashmen's drummer and vocalist Steve Wahrer as the composer, but following a threat from The Rivingtons' legal counsel, the writing credit was removed from Wahrer and transferred to the members of The Rivingtons...
I had R. Lee Ermy sign my dvd of Full Metal Jacket back in the day. I complemented him on his performance in Siege of Firebase Gloria. I asked him what his favorite war movie was. He said Platoon was his favorite, he said it was the most realistic adaptation of what it was like in Vietnam.
"Worst song ever?!" You kiddin' me? This is the ultimate rockin' tune, dude! TURN IT UP! I dare you to ride along the California coast on a sunny day with ALL your windows down and sing it at the top of your lungs. If you do, nothing will ever bother you again, for now YOU... are the Surfin' Bird! Can I get a WITNESS!
+314rft I danced this song millions times! since 52 years ago until today, the family guy you talk about, must be the one on t.v. because over the course in this lifetime when you get old (I am 63 years old) you separate the home responsibilities, and that crazy dude you forge inside, when you are teen, is going to stay with you until you die, or become 100 years old!
michael stefano: this song is the combination of two great success songs: the number one is Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow, sang by the Rivingtons and the second The Bird's The World - sang by the same: The Rivingtons
Any one else out there that was 8 years old in '63, teaching younger sister and friends to sing and dance this? I'm 65 now, taught my granddaughter. Gramma, let's do it again she says. Taught her the Name Game, all songs thru my young days. 2021 and still bad ass, young in heart 😊
When I was a kid living in (or is that on?) Staten Island, I'll never forget the first time I heard "Surfin' Bird," which was one of those few teen hits so demented and frantic that my mother wasn't sure what the hell it was, but I loved it, still do. Nobody really makes genuine novelty numbers anymore, but back in 1963 they were everywhere though few became million-sellers like this one did, and on a small Minnesota label. As for ripping off the Rivingtons...so what? Back then we knew who they were, and we dug their stuff, too, and as for 'stealing from blacks,' well...as Ringo once said, 'everybody nicks from somebody' or something like that, and it's true. Unless you believe the Platters invented their kind of ballad-pop, or the Flamingos' "I Only Have Eyes For You" was written and produced by blacks. Color should be a non-issue when it comes to music, there are too many cooks involved in the making of every stew to pick it to pieces. Either you dig the music or you don't; personally, I adhere to the 'steak to the plate' philosophy: if I love it I don't care where it came from or what was done to get it to me (beyond personal interest, that is). It either works for you or it doesn't.
I have a bunch of songs from the Trashmen that I've collected over the years, and let me tell you, they kicked ass. Seriously. They were really, really good. Total rock out.
It takes talent moving those lips and making those noises.Good job!That song should win an academy award for best song.I love the the 1960's.I wish they play old rock and roll again from the 50's and 60's like they used to.
I was only 2 when this came out but have loved this for what seems like forever... I remember my parents bought me the greatest hits of the 60's, 70's and this was on the record and I think I drove everyone crazy playing this... Love it still....
No description needed! it speaks for its self! LOVE it! I remember seeing it on tv when I was 9 .loved it then and still do.I remember my parents reaction to it too!
Hmm... that's odd.... I thought that would be big news... there seems to be an absence of a certain ornithological piece...a headline regarding mass awareness of a certain avian variety; it was my understanding that everyone had heard....
aporo pomare OH WELL THE BIRD, BIRD, BIRD, BIRD BIRD IS THE WORD. OH WELL THE BIRD, BIRD, BIRD, BIRD BIRD IS THE WORD. OH WELL THE BIRD, BIRD, BIRD, BIRD BIRD IS THE WORD. OH WELL THE BIRD, BIRD, BIRD, BIRD BIRD IS THE WORD. BRIAN DON'T YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BIRD? WELL PETER IS GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE BIRD. OH WELL THE BIRD, BIRD, BIRD, BIRD BIRD IS THE WORD. OH WELL THE BIRD... SURFINNN BIRD.
The greatest musical Artist of all time. A treasure to the music industry. His artistic music made me feel something that resonated within me - Joy A true genius……
I can't believe I thought of this song AND found it. I was watching a ventriloquist with a bird dummy. I started thinking "bird, bird, bird......", then recalling some song that did that for lyrics in a song. So I can't believe I found this. I haven't heard this in ages!!!! Wow!! This is great stuff!!!
Yes, the song is a reworking of two Rivingtons tunes, "The Bird Is The Word" and "Papa Oom Mow Mow." "Surfin' Bird" (Garrett 4002) broke the week of December 7, 1963 and peaked at #4 over a 13 week chart run. There were two follow-ups: "Bird Dance Beat" (Garrett 4003) which reached #30 over a seven week run beginning February 8, 1964 and "Bad News" (Garrett 4005) which reached #124 over a two-week run starting May 15, 1964.
Still listen to it 2020 ... I found this on the 1995 Maxi-CD, CHARLY LOWNOISE & MENTAL THEO, "The Bird 1995", where the Netherland DJ-Heads covered this Thing into Gabber and Hardcore Techno !!! Better Music than the Shit of today !! #CLASSICHits
i remember this song as a kid. i wonder then, and still do now, just how in the world did he make his voice sound like. special sound effects , if it even existed back then, was in its infancy. hahaha listening to this song, and watching this dude still makes me smile. thanks for posting this one here. it excited every one i knew once upon a time.
Such a bad ass song. Takes me right to teenage years and Full Metal Jacket. But damn bro the band could backed you up so much more. It's not what you say, it's how you say...plus, your bros are right behind ya ready to back you up. But still the energy this song has...being there when it was first written musta been dope. ROCK N ROLL baby!!!!
I like the part of Dick Clark's interview where he asks the guy about the origins of the song and the band name and the Trash man stated "we came up with it while looking through a stack of records". It's so awesome that the guy could look 50 years in the future and make sure he told the truth about the Rivingtons and their song...'Bird is the Word". The RU-vid time machine strikes again.
I bought this song on a 45 record when it came out with my allowance money. I was only 10 years old. I still dig it today. Too bad when this did this video that they didn`t show the whole band instead of just the lead singer.
I remember this song very well in early '64. I couldn't believe how crazy it was ( and still is ) when I first heard it, but it's one of those songs that's so bad it's actually good. If that makes sense. Which of course it probably doesn't. lol