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The Ententanz, literally the duck dance, was written by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s and grew into one of the world's most played party tunes. English-speaking countries know it as the Chicken Dance, complete with the beak, wing and tail-wagging moves. Oktoberfest bands carried it across Europe while wedding DJs and sports arenas made it a crowd ritual in America. Decades later the bouncy melody still fills dance floors, which is why short clips of it circulate as a go-to funny dance cue online.
About this sound
The Ententanz, or Chicken Dance, is the famous oom-pah polka with the quacking melody. It plays over silly dances, Oktoberfest clips and wedding fails.
This 17-second clip captures the heart of the Ententanz, the tune the rest of the world calls the Chicken Dance. A bouncy oom-pah brass and accordion backing drives the melody while the famous quack-quack phrasing bounces on top, bright, silly and instantly recognisable. It sounds like a Bavarian beer tent crossed with a children's party, all stomping rhythm and waddling charm. Dropped under a video, it turns any awkward shuffle into a full dance routine and makes viewers grin before the punchline even lands.
