The phrase “the bird is the word” originated as a catchphrase from the 1963 song “Surfin’ Bird” by the American rock band The Trashmen. The song became a hit single, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1964. With its repetitive lyrics and infectious surf rock sound, “Surfin’ Bird” gained popularity in the 1960s and has since become a cult classic. But where exactly did this quirky and memorable phrase come from? Let’s take a deep dive into the history and origin of “the bird is the word.”
The Trashmen and “Surfin’ Bird”
“Surfin’ Bird” was written and recorded by the Minneapolis garage rock band The Trashmen in 1963. The Trashmen formed in 1962 and were heavily influenced by surf rock bands like The Ventures and Dick Dale and the Del-Tones. In 1963, they decided to record a cover of two songs originally released by the R&B vocal group The Rivingtons in 1963: “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word.”
The Trashmen combined elements from The Rivingtons’ two songs to create their hit track “Surfin’ Bird.” The main guitar riff and chorus of “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” can be heard along with the “the bird is the word” phrase from the other Rivingtons song. The Trashmen added in their own improvised vocal noises and shouts like “papa-oom-mow-mow!” to create a wild, frenetic surf rock song.
When “Surfin’ Bird” was released as a single in late 1963, the bizarre song became an unexpected nationwide hit. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1964, sold over one million copies, and gained significant radio airplay across the country. With its repetitive hook of “the bird is the word,” the Trashmen cemented the catchphrase into popular culture.
The Rivingtons and “The Bird’s the Word”
The Rivingtons were a Doo-Wop and R&B vocal quartet from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1962, the group was originally named The Sharps but soon changed their name to The Rivingtons. The founding members included Al Frazier, Carl White, John “Sonny” Harris, and Turner “Rocky” Wilson.
In 1963, The Rivingtons released the novelty songs “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word” on the Ladera Records label. Both tracks were written by the group’s pianist and saxophonist Frazier along with Harris and White.
“The Bird’s the Word” featured a rhythmic piano riff and upbeat Doo-Wop vocal harmonies from the group. The lead hook was the repetitive phrase “the bird is the word,” sung in falsetto by Harris. This quirky song introduced the popular catchphrase that would soon be adopted by The Trashmen.
While “The Bird’s the Word” only reached No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Rivingtons, the song had a major influence as the origin source for The Trashmen’s much bigger hit “Surfin’ Bird” the same year.
Use of “The Bird is the Word” in Pop Culture
After becoming a charting pop hit in 1964, “the bird is the word” took flight as a piece of pop culture Americana. The phrase from The Trashmen’s “Surfin’ Bird” song has been referenced, quoted, and parodied in numerous films, TV shows, and other media over the decades. Here are some notable examples:
Family Guy
In the Fox animated sitcom Family Guy, the giant anthropomorphic bird character Peter Griffin is obsessed with “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen. Various episodes feature Peter constantly singing “the bird is the word” lyrics, annoying those around him. This became a running gag and tribute to the pop culture impact of the song.
Full House
In a 1989 episode of the sitcom Full House called “Joey’s New Friend,” Joey Gladstone (played by Dave Coulier) constantly sings “the bird is the word” to irritate the other characters. Coulier even performed part of “Surfin’ Bird,” complete with his cartoonish imitations of the Trashmen’s vocal noises.
Space Jam
In the 1996 live action/animation hybrid film Space Jam starring Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes characters, one scene features the Tasmanian Devil singing his own rendition of “Surfin’ Bird.” This nod to the song helped it find popularity with younger audiences in the ’90s.
Grammy Awards
“Surfin’ Bird” by the Trashmen was nominated for two Grammy Awards following its release in 1964, for Best Rock & Roll Recording and Best Contemporary (R&R) Performance – Group (Vocal or Instrumental). While it did not win either category, the nominations acknowledged the major impact of the song in popular music at the time.
Chappelle’s Show
In a 2004 sketch on this Comedy Central series, Dave Chappelle performs an enthusiastic dance routine to a techno remix of “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen. The moment went viral and introduced the song to many 2000s viewers.
Other examples
“The bird is the word” has also been referenced in movies like Surf’s Up and Meet the Parents, TV shows like American Dad!, The Simpsons, and Teen Titans Go!, and songs by the Ramones (“It’s Not My Place”), Snoop Dogg (“The Bidness”) and more. The phrase remains ingrained in pop culture thanks to its catchy and absurd origination in The Trashmen’s 1963 hit.
Covers and Sampling of “Surfin’ Bird”
Beyond its pop culture homages and parodies, The Trashmen’s iconic “Surfin’ Bird” song has inspired numerous professional covers and samplings over the past six decades. Here are some notable remakes and samples of the surf rock classic:
Artist | Song | Year |
---|---|---|
The Cramps | “Surfin’ Bird” | 1986 |
The Ramones | “California Sun/Surfin’ Bird” | 1987 |
Sugar Ray | “Surfin’ Bird” | 1997 |
Reel Big Fish | “Surfin’ Bird” | 1998 |
Pennywise | “Surfin’ Bird” | 2008 |
Snoop Dogg | “The Bidness” | 2011 |
As this table shows, iconic punk bands like The Ramones and influential rappers like Snoop Dogg have kept “the bird is the word” alive through continued covers and sampling of The Trashmen’s hit. Versions by 1980s punk group The Cramps and 1990s ska-punk band Reel Big Fish in particular have introduced “Surfin’ Bird” to younger generations. The song has proven itself as a timeless, highly coverable track.
Why “Surfin’ Bird” Became a Hit in 1964
Looking back with modern perspective, the success of The Trashmen’s “Surfin’ Bird” may seem inexplicable. The ramshackle, chaotic song combines two obscure R&B tunes into a frenzied surf rock track with somewhat nonsensical lyrics. So why did it strike such a chord and reach No. 4 on the pop charts in 1964?
A few key factors help explain the initial popularity of “Surfin’ Bird”:
The rise of surf rock
Instrumental surf rock bands like The Ventures and Dick Dale had mainstream hits in the early 1960s. The Trashmen rode this wave and added vocals and a punchy rhythm.
The dance craze era
Novelty dance songs like “The Twist” were hugely popular in the early ’60s. The energetic “Surfin’ Bird” fit right into this trend.
Garage rock origins
Though raw and low-budget, the recording had an authentic, rebellious garage rock sound that resonated.
Repetition of the hook
The constant repeating of “the bird is the word” made it memorable and fun to sing along to.
Lack of competition
There were no other major hit songs quite like it at the time, so it stood out on radio stations catering to the younger demographics.
While its success may have been somewhat Novelty and fleeting at the time, “Surfin’ Bird” has certainly stood the test of time over six decades later.
Conclusion
More than just a relic of early 1960s rock, the catchphrase “the bird is the word” has had a rare staying power few could have predicted when it first graced the airwaves. The Trashmen certainly struck pop culture gold when they released their “Surfin’ Bird” amalgam of R&B tunes into an iconic surf rock anthem. Through countless covers, samples, homages, and references across all genres of media, the original song’s declaration that “the bird is the word” lives on for new generations to discover. So the next time you find yourself blurting out this quirky phrase, you can thank the sonic collision of surf rock and Doo-Wop that introduced it to the world. As Peter Griffin and many others have reaffirmed, no matter what else happens, the bird will always be the word.