Iko, Iko - the Dixie Cups

[Webk1nzMaster]

the people who hit the dislike button thought it men't *i dislike the dislike buttom*

[Revengenz]

My dad brought me here

<3 u

[IAmTheWalrus199O]

The Movie "The Skeleton Key" Brought Me Here :)

[elderscroller2397]

Hangover brought me here.

[ChuChu353]

Happy Mardi Gras!

[pikkdogs]

the big question is if you do bet someone 5 bucks that someone else that they will kill that person dead, and they do, can you still collect the 5 dollars?

[whodatinda504]

This is very relevant to our culture, pride and dear love for our city. New Orleans forever... Happy Mardi Gras!

[rosebuddy47]

Love this song--always did but never knew the words till now.

Catchy as can be!!!!

[gzillag]

this is my jam

[sallysegovia23]

this song is on

JUST DANCE 3 :O

[RainbowDashBrony2233]

@sallysegovia23 2 just dance 2 and i like just dance version better

[xobeatlesforeverxo]

mission impossible 2 brought me here :3

[chronic566]

Hands up if you saw this in "Skeleton Key"

[alotXjustXme]

THIS IS AWSOME!!! AND catchy!

[thebadcarcrash]

Someone needs to make a Dubstep remix of this RIGHT NOW.

[RedRoosterRoad]

I like how they were just sat in the recording area, playing around with drum sticks and ashtrays and singing along.

[srikharrypotter]

cant believe, coca cola for drums. man the people who are still joined with their roots know how to make the best use of everything, music from anywhere. great these people were.

[Cherokee29able]

@srikharrypotter great these people still are, no matter what. Just look at their hearts! Here their songs! Look at the dance! I love it all!

[srikharrypotter]

Hey big brother from the north, yours is a wonderful culture, preserve it as possible. Far better than the remix songs.

Can you tell what jak a moo fee na ne means

[brendanskates4life]

hangover thats all i got to say

[noponat666]

The Belle Stars are the English group from the 80's which did a great version...

[KRxN11]

This is a significant part of our culture, a remnant of a once-mighty, a once-proud, a once-royal people that have now, unfortunately devolved into economic and cultural dependence. Let us celebrate by looking forward with our past as a reminder of what we can be-colourful people-with our own standards, our own aesthetics, our own goals, our own identities. krxn11

[Adamfulgence]

@KRxN11 Well said! Thank you!

[Ann3shoes]

@KRxN11 This song was really popular in the UK in the sixties, but I never knew what it was about until I read it here. Thank you. It was a great song too.

[mykulbee]

@KRxN11 Nothing but pride should be felt when this song is sung...love it!

[iBEkewll]

@mykulbee Ikr? And I feel sooo much of it.

[testamata01]

sapete forse come posso trovare la versione italiana della canzone? Conoscete forse il titolo o chi la canta?cmq il ritornello dice bella bella bella sai che t'amo....

[corbysf]

@testamata01 Non credo che la canzone è stata resa in italiano. Non è possibile tradurre adeguatamente.

Sarebbe come un americano cercando di cantare Fiky Fiky o Tanti Auguri di La Carra.

[corbysf]

@testamata01 L'ho trovato! Grazie mille! Non l'ho mai sentito parlare in italiano. La traduzione è diverso, forse perché le parole non avrebbe senso in italiano ... che non hanno senso in inglese sia! hahaha

Vado a mettere questo sulla mia pagina Facebook! Grazie ancora!

[laxgoat8]

chemistry song right hur...

[matt605]

the percussion heard is drumsticks on a coca-cola bottle

[dragardaragdra]

@matt605 wikipedia (i know...) says they are actually ashtrays... for the sound they make, i would go for ashtrays.. =)

[matt605]

@dragardaragdra sounds plausible too -- coca-cola and ash trays were certainly found in recording studios in 1965. The part about not knowing they were being recorded is consistent with what I've heard also.

[rocknrollchick60s]

SKELETON KEY!

[safireparmar2011]

WICKEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD­DDDDDDDDDDDD

[VvAnarchangelvV]

A band in England, I wish I could remember the name, did a version imo slightly better than this one in the mid-to-late 80s, in that it had women singing in unison for the main vocal line and punchier secondary vocals (the Hey Now! comes through nicely, but the O-o-o is sadly lost)

The Suggestions may link to Cyndi Lauper but I recommend the Belle Stars version more, seeing as the Brit version seems to be unavailable

[1tinytatertot]

Another one of those songs you can't get out of your head for days!!LOL Thanks for this, I forgot it even existed. Nice flashback. <3

[llouw11]

That song is so catchy!

[Tinymoezzy]

being 3 and double dutch skipping rope with my sisters... best song to hear right now.

[LuxAzazel]

The Skeleton Key !! :-)

[Academic1Researcher]

Vive la louisiane et sa culture.

[ArthurStern]

Hiya Adamfulgence,

thank you for youtubing this amazing song.

The chorus puzzled me. I learned it could be an extinct trade language used by Native Americans, African Americans and Europeans in the Gulf Coast region, and/or having roots in the Haitian slave culture, and/or of predominately West African origin.

But nobody knows what it really means.

So being puzzled by this chorus is a fate we all have to share. :-)

[Adamfulgence]

@ArthurStern Thanks! I appreciate that. :-))

[kittyroxzsoxz1998]

<3 this song



[BettorOffSingle]

This song has quite a history!

[Aleksgillacerda]

American God's Soundtrakc

[KedViper]

@Aleksgillacerda Eh, I read it. That's why I looked it up.

[theairforcewifey]

I will always love this song!!

[ttalpyar]

thanks for posting

[pbrt09]

love the song but not all the word are correct.

[MissCriss1978]

@pbrt09

Post the discrepencies! (I value authenticity)

[Adamfulgence]

@MissCriss1978 Hi! I can't believe 3 months have passed. I honestly couldn't get to these comments sooner. I am curious about what you meant by discrepancies. Could you clarify? Thanks.

[Sheven718]

@Adamfulgence hi, i had this 45 back in the day, it was issued here in the UK on "red bird", if i remember rightly it had a great "b" side but i cant for the life of me remember what it was called, any chance you know ?, many thanks for posting, really nice to hear it again, regards dave

[Adamfulgence]

@Sheven718 Here's what I've found: SINGLE(s): (1)The Dixie Cups: A-side: "Iko Iko" B-side: "Gee, Baby, Gee" (a) Red Bird Records, 7-Inch, Vinyl, 45rpm Single, #RB10-024, US-1965. (2)The Dixie Cups: A-side: "Iko Iko" B-side: "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" (a) Barry Records 7-Inch, Vinyl, 45rpm Single, #B-3334X, Canada-1965. (b) Vogue Records, 7-Inch, Vinyl, 45rpm Single, #DV-14343, Germany-1965.

[Sheven718]

@Adamfulgence thats it ! brilliant ! gee baby gee ! thanks a million, i just couldn't call it back, but now you've said its all come back to me, they actually played the "b" side more than "iko iko"in the alnighter i used to go to back in the 60s, i'm going to look it up now and play it to death ha ha once again, many thanks for taking the trouble, all the best, regards dave

[lamourlupus]

Cindy Lauper sang this one, but this one is the better version. Variety is the spice of life.

[coyoteroadkill]

Loved the video. Had no idea this was a Mardi Gras song.

Many people wonder why African-Americans dress-up in feathers for Mardi Gras and call themselves Indian tribes. This was in fact started back in the 19th century in celebration of their Native American ancestors. Local natives weren't racist and many African Americans have some Choctaw, Chickasaw or other native blood.

[emaula3]

Awesome song.



[bentley692]

who cares it's great song sexy and it is a mean to enjoy

[DeeDeegurlee]

mardi gras is actually african-french

[GezzaOhagan]

im coming up put down your cup before i jack your swagger jagger

[laviliterthefirst]

the words are real words not non-sense representing english words and thinking that this is not the case is ignorent

[jimbomacaroni]

One of the best you- tube efforts I've seen and I've seen alot. Excellent sound and colors and detail info, not to mention lyrics!! Adding to my favs list. It reminded me of Carnival in Grenada in which we were fortunate to "participate" afew years back. Thanx.

[claudioegalaz]

canción culia xd

[Queenartprincess]

i got this from just dance 2 lol.

[only1king]

That song lyrics came from our African American ancestors during slavery in Louisiana. They couldn't sing a song about freedom or the White masters were going to kill them, so they had to make up some crazy words for "hey now, I am going free one day, I am going free one day, I am going free one day". Simply like that.

[Byzantea]

@only1king That is so incorrect its not even funny. This song comes from rival native american themed groups within cajun culture. It's about rival groups. Hence the colour differences. The original composer and the Dixie Cups had a major squabble over rights to who actually wrote the song. The song was COMPOSED by a man in the mid-late 1900's.

[FunnyMisses]

this song is soooooo catchy, i cant help but to get off my ass and dance! xD

[CivitoRoz]

watch Treme for a wonderful look into the New Orleans Indian culture.

[richgscott0809]

Why did you prohibit embedding? Your video contains great insight into the nature and origin of the song. I would love to share it with my friends and listeners.

[riogurls]

very nice!!!! Im singin along but dont no wat im sayin!!! haha :D

[MrMidwestgreg]

Dr. John explained this this song quite well with literal translations of the words. Adds a little more depth for better appreciation. All in all, a great song then & now.

[killah385]

I've noticed that New Orleans'  'Mardi Gras' is quite similar to the Bahamian 'Junkanoo' in terms of costume wearing... very interesting.

[sabrinagirl1231]

lol my dog was wagin' it tail in perfect rythm with the song! :0}

[lu4y4pants]

I think my dad knows all the words to this song. He's a Caucasian man from Chicago. O_O

[Byzantea]

@lu4y4pants that means nothing. this song is famous as hell.

[lu4y4pants]

@Byzantea True.

[volatilewerewolf]

This is the best version~

[havanawel]

i love. 

[havanawel]

i love Iko iko.

[havanawel]

this video is the best, sorry i want to tell in spanish i am a cuban guy, and i think this is the best soon i ger this year o my god, esta cancion es la mejor mi sueno es aser una cancion con esta cansion, pero en espanol, chao y suerte a todos.

[cctrunner6]

This version owns all the pop versions done of this song

[lickmy20]

I love this song and have been searching for it for years, does anyone know where I can download it from???

[bangpow10]

@lickmy20 listen to youtube .com

[caramount]

@lickmy20 convert it from youtube. just google youtube to mp3

[younggressy]

song so old

[lu4y4pants]

@younggressy It has aged well. :)

[anumpeshi]

THIS SONG IS AN ANCIENT CHOCTAW SONG,THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THE CHOCTAW FLAG IN THIS VIDEO,GHOSTDANCERS,OKCHA 2011

THE CHOCTAWS TODAY LEAD THE MARDI GRAS,IN BEAUTIFUL REGALIA,BEAUTY LOST AND FORGOTTEN BY TE MASSES,BUT NOT BY THE CHOCTAWS ETERNAL BLOOD

[anumpeshi]

THIS SONG IS AN ANCIENT CHOCTAW SONG,THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THE CHOCTAW FLAG IN THIS VIDEO,GHOSTDANCERS,OKCHA 2011

[renoandkailover]

Eindelijk gevonden!!!! Jeeej, thnx!!!

[kuronekochan1992]

i'm from Trinidad & Tobago and we Love carnival but i think i really would love to go to new Orleans for Mardi Gras ...

It seems like itll be damn fun :)

[crelady]

@kuronekochan1992 Ohh baby it is!

[Nerdhot]

Reminds me of what Native Americans do, very beautiful.

[2007frodo]

love that music! great thanks!!

[rgorsline4]

the hangover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ollieaudie13]

UHHHH, whet in the hell are they saying

[briant420]

@ollieaudie13 It's a Nawlins thing.

[ollieaudie13]

This is the song from just dance two!!!

[TheMsPhoto]

Mardi Gras! I love it , in Louisiana. It's a party ever day!

[ollieaudie13]

this song is WEIRD

[21Hosey]

@ollieaudie13 LOL no doubt! But weird in a good way, right? So simple and effective. This is good weird.

[TheMsPhoto]

This song rocks!

[livyyyyyyyyyy]

i cant find the right  one i cant understand it

[etebas12]

wow, makes me feel real good.

.

[bootsamou]

Wow ~ Great to hear this one again after 45yrs or so !

Reminds me so much of Radio London in it's very early days ~ they used to play this a lot. This & "Paper Tiger".

Thanx for the lyrics too ~ never was sure of the exact words.

[erinluvscheese]

This is one my favorite Mardi Gras songs!!!!!!!! I listen to every year durin Mardi Gras parades

[ekos012]

The (choris) lyrics to Iko Iko were chants that James Crawford heard at Mardi Gras and wrote phonetically. These are the the actual words, translation, and origination according to Ian Cully : AKOUT! AKOUT! (Listen! Listen! - Creole), AKOUT! AKOUT! AN DEYE (Listen! Listen! At the rear - Creole), CHOKMA FINHA (It's very good - American Indian) AN DAN DEYE (at the rear - Creole), CHOKMA FINHA-ANE (It's (a) very good - American Indian, Year - (ANE) Creole). Hope you like this.

[Kemmetmau]

@ekos012 You said "American Indian". Which Native American language is it? Do you know? *is curious*

[ekos012]

@Kemmetmau You asked if I knew which American Indian language was used in the chant that Iko Iko has in the choris. It is believed to be Mobilian Jargon, a Chickasaw-Choctaw trade language.

[Kemmetmau]

@ekos012 Thanks! 

[greenlegsandspam]

I heard this song in an ad for 20 century fox when i was 5. And for years i thought this was in english, and i felt really stupid that i couldn't understand what they were saying

[adlinn23]

I went to Louisiana once... still haven't recover from it the most amazing place on earth...the creole, the voodoo ,the bayou, the cajuns, Anne Rice, people talking to me in a french that date from the 18th century the list goes on if you are from there add me as I love everything, anyone who is from there god bless Louisiana for keeping all the traditions alive ...incredible place

[asnaes]

@adlinn23 Awesome place!

[666cfc]

my king is green!

[aschemann15]

this is a good oldies song

[harmonicmenace]

thumbs up LOUISIANA brought you here......IKO (AKOUT)!

[TranceAddictify]

What was the reason this song was used in the Skeleton Key... did it curse you or something?

[fuzzybunny1023]

Thumbs UP if the hangover brought you here :)))

[free2astroboy]

@fuzzybunny1023 as a matter of fact,...

[fuzzybunny1023]

@free2astroboy omg this is my new jam! lol the hangover 2 comes out on my b day may 26th!!

[giver12321]

@fuzzybunny1023 

[shineyx95]

the hats :'( i want one

[mssavannabieber]

i love the dance frm iko iko on just dance 2!!

[tgramful]

I listened to the James "Sugar Boy" Crawford version this morning (from 1953) and now it seems to be gone from Youtube...

[Adamfulgence]

Thanks for the info! 

[jdinph]

I listened to this clip after having read the book "Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era" by Ken Emerson, 2005. See pgs 218-219 for details about the Dixie Cups session that produced this recording.

[RadioActiveOnion7777]

My flag boy and your flag boy are sitting by the fire

Your flag boy tells me flag boy

"I'm gunna set your face on fire"

[MissGermanii09]

this song is on a german advertising an since i have heard this i just can't stop dancing ! :D

[MadameNaturelle]

@MissGermanii09 Alpro Soya Werbung ;DDD Mir gehts genauso!

[MissGermanii09]

@MadameNaturelle Ja genau :D

[Bones0077]

I'm wearing all green today...ladies.

[PennimanLewisYancey]

VERY nicely done!

[bonezillion]

The Skeleton Key anyone?

[MoonMJTHCB]

@bonezillion That's how I found this song. eheh

[whyboy0121]

bessssssssssssssssssssssssssss­sssssssssssssssssssssssssssstt­tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt­tttttttttttttttt song

[NewOrleansCrazy]

Always feels like Mardi Gras when I hear this song. Man! I love my city. <3

[hoschiro]

best version

[TuranixTV]

alpro soja.. mhh. so ich geh jetzt counter strike spielen ...

[urbex2007]

great song, i heard it and it took a while keying in all the words - then your video showed so I'm quite pleased!

[ERINMAC1000]

this is so catchy

[SC1337]

an american classic

[sharonkiss96]

ich liebe das lied

[MsBarbieDuck]

SWEEEEEET Head dresses! omg

[thecolaratlady]

Everyone that got displaced, Lets all storm new orleans in 2013, new orleans will host the superbowl on feb 3, mardi gras day will be feb 12

[mareckbamf]

The greatest use of the base drum of any song ever.

[intheveins2000]

Singing this in class even know you don't know the song? Just sing what you kow.

[vixorz1207]

is it just me, or do they sound very bored while singing this?

[jjarndell]

@vixorz1207They were bored. Apparently they were just goofing around between songs in the recording studio and sang a version of 'Jock-a-Mo', that their Grandmother knew from the 50's. Drumsticks and ashtrays and they didn't know they were being recorded. Accidental hit.

[xXM1RR0RXx]

the hangover

[JTilolai]

@xXM1RR0RXx I heard this first time in 'The Skeleton Key'

[3FunnyGurls]

love this song play it on just dance 2!!!!!!!!~sydney

[RoxyGirl858]

hheehehe  I plated this on JustDance2

[sonicnjie]

@RoxyGirl858 meee tooooo

[wanagi006]

beau, merci de signaler ceci. il est par M. crawford que l'âme du mardi gras bat musicalement dans l'ensemble de l'Amérique

[AnnHattieAnn]

Terrific vid for the song. Great job, Adamfulgence. Thanks a mil' for the post.  Love it.

[kamgx]

like this if your here because of the alpro soya advert :')

[royal5th]

I really don't think it's about killing. I think it's more about the rivalry between tribes. I live close to New Orleans and I don't think anybody really knows.

[cyalatrgator]

It does sound like they're singing about killing!!.

[Evitah57]

my dad and I would always sing this song lol

[bushbabe9]

jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-ne what does that mean??

[frederickus]

@bushbabe9 - Jock a mo is Giaccomo - the devil. Jock-a-mo Fe-na-ne is like "Devil stay away". This song is about war.

[bushbabe9]

@frederickus ohh really war.. hmmk the song is so catchy hahah we dance to this at a christian school hahah

[wanagi006]

@frederickus you don't speak choctaw do ya? chokoma is a greeting. it was bastardized into creole speak long ago.

[didleybopp]

@wanagi006 True - but Chokma more than just "a greeting", not "hello" - more like "it’s good" Here in UK people say "Alright" instead of Hi. Modern trans of Iko Iko: "Listen up! Listen up! Listen up at the back! All real good at the back! Alright, good year!” Iko = Ecoute in Fr.; Creole: Akout with soft t An dey = Should be “An Deye”, Creole For En Derriere Finha = a Choctaw modifier like "very" Ane = Creole for Ans, year xDiana Cultural Detective

[badgerdiggs]

@didleybopp Thank you for that! I am old enough that I remember this song when it was new- and this explanation is very plausible! Thank you!

[LionsOfMercy]

@didleybopp o.O WOW. (I *love* it when people can do something like this!!) Thank you so much for the time and the smarts!

[HariPuttar1]

JOCKOMO FINA NEY!!!

[ListentoShells]

Wonderful! And I love the regalia! :) God bless.

[JessieBabbiie716]

ummm...this is a killing song...if u actually here the words or just read the lyrics



[alvajaid]

i like the just dance 2 game version of the song!!  wAy BeTtEr

[bushbabe9]

@alvajaid yeah mate same here lol

[poisonvenom39]

the skeleton key brought me here

[dorkysmile390]

@poisonvenom39 me too....but stay away from "The Conjure of Sacrifice".......my mind was blown and i couldnt sleep due to nightmares.....

[EtDje010]

@poisonvenom39 lmao same here!

[bbbartolo]

great combo of dazzling images and music. loved it all.