Bang the Drum All Day
| "Bang the Drum All Day" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. release | ||||
| Single by Todd Rundgren | ||||
| from the album The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | April 1983 | |||
| Recorded | 1982 at Utopia Sound Studios | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:38 | |||
| Label | Bearsville | |||
| Songwriter | Todd Rundgren | |||
| Producer | Todd Rundgren | |||
| Todd Rundgren singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Bang the Drum All Day" is a song from Todd Rundgren's 1982 album The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect, released as a single in April 1983. The lyrics describe, in the first person, the narrator's drive to play drums or improvised percussion to the exclusion of other activities such as work, play or education. All the instruments on this track are performed by Rundgren.
Rundgren would re-record the song live for subscribers to his PatroNet service. The new version was retitled "Bang on the Ukulele Daily", referring to Rundgren's decision to perform it in a Hawaiian style, accompanied only by a ukulele. "Bang on the Ukulele Daily" was included on his album One Long Year.
The song has become popular as an anti-work anthem or anthem of celebration.
In popular culture
The song is played in Lambeau Field after the Green Bay Packers score a touchdown.[2] A tradition that officially started in 1995, the song has become an iconic part of the Packers fan experience and is an unofficial Wisconsin celebratory anthem.[3]
Other sports teams have followed suit. It was similarly used by the Cincinnati Bengals in the early 2000s and brought back in 2017 as well as by the Indianapolis Colts until being replaced by The Black Keys' "Gold on the Ceiling". The St. Louis Rams also used the song as touchdown celebration music during home games played at the TWA Dome during their Super Bowl-winning 1999 season. In addition to being a touchdown song, the song was used as the goal song for the Edmonton Road Runners during the 2004-05 AHL season whenever they scored a goal at home in Rexall Place.[4][5]
Chart positions
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 86 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 63 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8] | 29 |
References
- ^ Sisario, Ben (November 2, 2004). "Todd Rundgren". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 707–708.
- ^ Wolfley, Bob (November 20, 2011). "Musician Rundgren happy his song is a big bang in Lambeau". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ "The Musical History of the Green Bay Packers: From Classic Rock to Bang on the Drum All Day – Low End Theory Club".
- ^ "Edmonton Road Runners Retro Goal Horn". YouTube. N2B Goal Horns. September 2, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
- ^ "Manitoba 3 - Edmonton 1". YouTube. OtherLittleMikey. November 17, 2006. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 17/7/1983 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
- ^ "Todd Rundgren Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
- ^ "Todd Rundgren Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2026.