"Shama Lama Ding Dong" is a song written by and performed by fictional band
Otis Day and the Knights in the 1978 film ''
National Lampoon's Animal House''. Although Otis Day was portrayed by
DeWayne Jessie in the film, the lead vocals were actually performed by
Lloyd G. Williams, with backing vocals provided by Melvin Britt and Sidney Juston.
A version of the song, by
beach music
Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, and to a lesser extent, Beach pop, is a regional genre of music in the United States which developed from rock/ R&B and pop music of the 1950s and 1960s. Beach music is most closely associate ...
group
Band of Oz, won People's Choice Song of the Year at the 1995 Carolina Beach Music Awards. It was also covered by
John Mellencamp
John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his catchy brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrumen ...
as the B-side of his 1987 single "
Cherry Bomb." It also is often covered by the
jam band
A jam band is a musical group whose concerts (and live albums) are characterized by lengthy improvisational " jams." These include extended musical improvisation over rhythmic grooves and chord patterns, and long sets of music which often ...
Goose
A goose ( : geese) is a bird of any of several waterfowl species in the family Anatidae. This group comprises the genera '' Anser'' (the grey geese and white geese) and ''Branta'' (the black geese). Some other birds, mostly related to the ...
.
The song was included on two albums by the
University of California Men's Octet. It has also been performed and recorded by the
Dartmouth Aires at
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native ...
, the school on which ''Animal House'' was modeled.
Dartmouth Undying: A Tribute to Our Alma Mater
, Dartmouth Aires, retrieved 2011-01-09.
See also
*"Rama Lama Ding Dong", a 1957 song by The Edsels
*"Shamma Lamma Ding Dong", a track on the 2004 jazz album ''Enter the Mowo!'' by Mocean Worker
Mocean Worker (pronounced "motion worker") is the recording alias of jazz musician and producer Adam Dorn.
Biography
Philadelphia native Adam Dorn is the son of renowned jazz and R'n'B producer Joel Dorn. He grew up around the jazz and R&B disc ...
*"Shama Lama Ding Dong", a song performed live by Goose_(American_band)
Goose is an American jam band from Norwalk, Connecticut. The band consists of Peter Anspach, Jeff Arevalo, Ben Atkind, Rick Mitarotonda, and Trevor Weeks.
History
Goose was formed in 2014 by singer and guitarist Rick Mitarotonda, drummer Ben ...
in their live concerts.
*"Shama Lama Ding-Dong", a song performed live by Rats & Star (Japanese Band) in their live concerts.
References
{{Authority control
Songs written for films
1978 songs
Rhythm and blues songs
John Mellencamp songs
Onomatopoeia