Rockapella is an American a … Read Full Bio ↴Download "A-Punk" from Rockapella HERE.
Rockapella is an American a cappella musical group best known for their series of Folgers Coffee commercials and the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? theme song. "Rockapella" is a portmanteau of "rock" and "a cappella". In addition to original vocal music, the group also perform a cappella covers of pop songs.
The original group members consisted of Brown University alumni Elliott Kerman, David Stix, Sean Altman, and Steve Keyes, who started performing together sheerly out of their love for music. Stix left the group early on and was replaced with Charlie Evett. After having performed on New York City street corners for passers-by the group met a producer who found them a spot on the television show Spike & Co.: Do It A Cappella, hosted by Spike Lee. It was this show that put them in the national spotlight.
The text "All sounds provided by the voices and appendages of Rockapella," the central idea of the group, appears on the group's label debut, Don't Tell Me You Do.
None of the original members of Rockapella currently remain in the group. Founding members Sean Altman and Steve Keyes, Rockapella alum Charlie Evett, and non-Rockapella-related baritone Kevin Weist now comprise an a cappella group called The GrooveBarbers. They can be seen on a current nationwide television ad for Astelin nasal spray as 'The Astelins'. Founding member Elliott Kerman, is working independently on jazz music compilations.
Frequently, songs downloaded on file-sharing programs are mis-tagged as Rockapella, when they are instead by other a cappella artists, including collegiate groups, Moxy Früvous, The Nylons, and Da Vinci's Notebook, as well as for other, less similar acts, such as Eddie From Ohio, or They Might Be Giants.
On December 11th, 2009 Rockapella made a free version of "White Christmas" available for download on Rockapella.com.
Members:
Current
* Charles S. ("Scott") Leonard (high tenor, joined 1991)
* Jeff T. Thacher (vocal percussion, joined 1993)
* George W. Baldi (bass, joined 2002)
* John K. Brown (baritone, joined 2004)
* Steven Dorian (tenor, joined 2010)
Former
* David Stix (bass, member 1986-1987)
* Charlie Evett (bass, member 1987-1988)
* Steve Keyes (high tenor, member 1986-1991)
* Sean D. Altman (tenor, member 1986-1997)
* Barry S. Carl (bass, member 1989-2002)
* Elliott S. Kerman (baritone, member 1986-2004)
* Kevin R. Wright (tenor, joined 1997)
Zombie Jamboree
Rockapella Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes my friends
Hey, Back to back, ha ha ha ha, hey, belly to belly
It was a zombie jamboree
Took place in the New York cemetery
Oh, it was a zombie jamboree
Took place in the New York cemetery
Zombies from all parts of the island
Some of them are great Calypsonians
Since the season was carnival
They got together in bacchanal
And they were singing
Back to back, ghoul, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Back to back, oh oh oh, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
One female zombie she wouldn't behave
See how's she's dancing out of the grave
In one hand she's holding a quart of rum
The other hand is knocking a conga drum
You know the lead singer starts to make his rhyme
While the other zombie is rockin' in time
One bystander, he had this to say
"It was a trip to see the zombies break away"
Shah! And they were singing
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Back to back, oh, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
And they were singing
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Oh, back to back, oh oh oh, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
Hey hey, back to back, everyone we sing, back to back
And belly to belly then back to back
One two three four
Hey, what a zombie jamboree
From Times Square to the Statue of Liberty
Uptown, downtown zombie jamboree
Whoa whoa whoa, yeah yeah
There's a high-wire zombie 'tween the World Trades
A King Kong zombie on the Empire State
But the biggest zombies Tokyo to Rome
The zombies who call the city home
Hah, what they do, huh
Back to back, ghoul, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Back to back, oh oh oh, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
And they were singing
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
But I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Back to back, ha ha, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
I need the chorus
Back to back, ghoul, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already, yeah
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
Back to back, hey
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Back to back, ha, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
Sing the chorus
Back to back, whoah, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Back to back, ha ha, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
Do the limbo
Back to back to back to back to belly
I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
One more time, yeah
Back to back, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already, yeah
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
The lyrics of Rockapella's "Zombie Jamboree" describe a lively party held by zombies in a New York cemetery. Zombies from all over the island gather in bacchanal to celebrate carnival season. One female zombie stands out as she dances out of her grave while holding a quart of rum in one hand and knocking a conga drum with the other. The lead zombie sings his rhyme, and another zombie rocks in time with the music. A bystander is amazed to see the zombies break away and start to dance. The song's chorus repeats the phrase "back to back, belly to belly" and emphasizes that the zombies don't care that they are already dead.
The song's upbeat melody, coupled with its macabre imagery, has made it an enduring favorite for generations. From the song's upbeat and distinctive calypso rhythm to its catchy lyrics, it's a song that sticks in your head once you've heard it. "Zombie Jamboree" has been covered by numerous artists over the years and has been a staple of Halloween parties and themed events.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Back to back, ha ha ha ha, hey, belly to belly
The zombies are excited to be together and singing.
It was a zombie jamboree
Took place in the New York cemetery
Oh, it was a zombie jamboree
Took place in the New York cemetery
The zombies have gathered in the New York cemetery to sing and have fun.
Zombies from all parts of the island
Some of them are great Calypsonians
Since the season was carnival
They got together in bacchanal
And they were singing
Zombies from all over the island, including some skilled Calypsonians, have come together during carnival season to party and sing.
One female zombie she wouldn't behave
See how's she's dancing out of the grave
In one hand she's holding a quart of rum
The other hand is knocking a conga drum
One female zombie is dancing out of her grave and holding a quart of rum in one hand and playing a conga drum with the other.
You know the lead singer starts to make his rhyme
While the other zombie is rockin' in time
One bystander, he had this to say
'It was a trip to see the zombies break away'
Shah! And they were singing
The lead singer is rhyming while the other zombies dance in time. One bystander is impressed with the performance and comments on how it was a unique experience. The zombies continue singing.
Hey hey, back to back, everyone we sing, back to back
And belly to belly then back to back
One two three four
The zombies continue singing and dancing, moving back to back and belly to belly and then back to back again. They count off 'one two three four' to keep the rhythm.
Hey, what a zombie jamboree
From Times Square to the Statue of Liberty
Uptown, downtown zombie jamboree
Whoa whoa whoa, yeah yeah
The zombies are having a jamboree that spans from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty, involving both uptown and downtown areas of New York. They are having a great time.
There's a high-wire zombie 'tween the World Trades
A King Kong zombie on the Empire State
But the biggest zombies Tokyo to Rome
The zombies who call the city home
Hah, what they do, huh
Amidst the festivities, there are some strange sights, including a high-wire zombie between the World Trade Center towers and a 'King Kong' zombie on top of the Empire State Building. But the biggest zombies are those who inhabit the city from Tokyo to Rome. They are having fun and don't care what others think.
Sing the chorus
The zombies encourage others to join them in singing the chorus.
Do the limbo
Back to back to back to back to belly
I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
The zombies start doing the limbo, moving back to back, then moving their backs down to their bellies. They don't care if they get stuck, because they are already dead. They continue singing.
One more time, yeah
Back to back, belly to belly
Well, I don't give a damn 'cause I'm stone dead already, yeah
Back to back, mon, belly to belly
It's a zombie jamboree
The zombies sing the chorus one more time, moving back to back and then belly to belly. They repeat that they are already dead and don't care, and that they are having a zombie jamboree.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Conrad Eugene Mauge Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SnowPanda2681
I grew up listening to this song with my dad. We used to turn it up and annoy my mom with it so much. I played this for him as he was passing away last week he even sang along with me for a little bit before he ended up passing. I will always love this song and the memories that it holds.
@thelmamaria
My ten year old and I listen to this daily all the time all day 😩love it so much
@AwfulWaffle8474
I worked at an amusement park and every Halloween I'd hear this song 100x a day.
@ReneiYarrow
That still wouldn’t be enough for me 😂❤
@hannahdawg6829
I worked at an amusement park for one season and I WISH this was one of the songs that was on the park's Halloween Playlist instead of Thriller, Remains of the Day, and the God damn Monster Mash over and over and over. And because we were so short staffed I would be there for more than 12 hours every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so 12+ hours of this would have been less aggrevating XD
@matthewferrone
Bet you got an ear worm and kept singing this am I right?
@Bear2U
This is how you properly play a finely tuned hand 😉
@mikeggg5671
Grew up with Carmen Sandiego, and I watched this whole thing on VHS, and was exposed to an amazing world beyond the confines of my Pennsylvania town by my erudite grandmother.
I miss those times, and I miss her.
@teamkayos01
Same Chester/West Chester for me
@andrewbores5985
First time I've seen/heard this in 30yrs. Wow!