[1989] Rockapella • Zombie Jamboree

[@jonwilob6458]

By far this is the best vocal version of this song! Good job.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Made famous by Harry Belafonte in the 50s, this frenetic version is hard to beat.

[@CeilingFanBlades]

My mom has this exact version of this song on a CD that she made, so I’ve been looking for it everywhere because it’s my favorite song on the CD. Thank you so much for uploading it! I think this is the best version of the song.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

It's a magical performance that outdoes even Mr Belafonte hisself!

[@Mina_Bennington]

Sean Altman is such an amazing singer. Love him.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Very much under-appreciated. To perform unaccompanied by instruments and belt out a tune like these cats is the ultimate test of a vocal group.

[@sweetlife031]

I had eyes for him since Carmen Sandiego - his voice is unforgettable 🙂

[@Mina_Bennington]

@@sweetlife031 Same here! Yep, his voice is unforgettable and, honestly, everything else about him is unforgettable too! :)

[@sweetlife031]

Sean - tenor Scott- higher tenor Elliot- baritone Big Barry- bass

[@Mina_Bennington]

@@sweetlife031 yep! They're such talented guys!

[@jheselchannel5574]

I've stopped watching van helsing to search this song😅 Great i love it🥰

[@MrMuppetLover]

A rewritten version of this song was used in one of the clues for the first episode of WITWICS.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

I think Rockapella--or at least some of the group--performed in that show?

[@JohnDoe-gf8wt]

I’d like to take this opportunity to plug this channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYe5nIaijdFnZ7M

[@ryang3331]

@@dreadINAbabylonyes they did

[@dreadINAbabylon]

@@ryang3331 Talented chaps.

[@kink124]

WHY IS THIS SO CATCHY?

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Everyone likes an undead party.

[@MigPlz91LivestreamOnly]

This is what good music sounds like

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Truly... and they did it live, in one take, and no accompanying instruments.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

This should be played during Six Flags Horror Fest.😊😊

[@chaikagome9725]

This is the first time for me to see this video. Thank you.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Glad you like it. Not a well-known song and the footage is pretty rare.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

This should the National song of Louisana and New Orleans.😊😊😂😂

[@sykorkafandub]

Hey, Back to back, ha ha ha ha, hey, belly to belly 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

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Nicely rendered.

[@sykorkafandub]

@@dreadINAbabylon :D

[@rajarshiraychaudhuri3106]

I miss Belafonte going " A lot of world leaders' talkinh about war!" Miss Brlafonte, period!

[@dreadINAbabylon]

One of the great entertainers of the 20th century! And I don't give that one up lightly.

[@ottagol1985]

Didn't know they made a music video for this rendition.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

It comes from TV special Spike Lee made. I re-synched their live performance using the recorded version of the song.

[@SFM777]

Are they the original rockapellas? I just knew about them few months ago, but I don't think this is them..

[@dreadINAbabylon]

These are the originals. The line-up has changed a bit over the years since they released this song in 1989. Keep in mind this classic calypso track is much older than these cats--it dates back to the 50s. However, Rockapella brings such zest and vibrancy--albeit sans instruments--that the infectiousness of the performance cannot be denied.

[@borarem]

Barry Carl, was not an original member. The first 3 on the left are.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Quite right--I was thinking original in the sense that this was the line-up when they did this cover in 1989. Thanks for the correction--keeps me honest.

[@SFM777]

Thank u so much. I love them all... old and new members❤

[@dreadINAbabylon]

True... all superb vocalists.

[@tracychristenson177]

What show is this clip from? I know I saw it as a kid, and there were other songs on it, but I can't remember what it was.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

"Spike & Co.: Do It A-Cappella", 1990 PBS TV music special. (See my clip's end-credits for further details.)

[@countcoupblessings979]

This stuff is sad day kryptonite !

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Even puts a smile on the undead.

[@bananaman9717]

Insert Twin Towers Reference Here

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Yep, written long before 911.

[@leighburton832]

Why did they sing that song on "Where in the world is Carmen Santiago?"

[@dreadINAbabylon]

Because it's a TV show theme they probably got good coin for it. Cats just earning a living, my guess.

[@jeddi20]

This is a remake

[@dreadINAbabylon]

It's been redone many times. The most famous version is Harry Belafonte's in the 50s.

[@bfish89ryuhayabusa]

@@dreadINAbabylon I think he means this isn't the audio that goes with the video. This is a later version with Scott Leonard, who (despite having a more powerful and consistent voice) never went for the high note in the limbo bit.

[@dreadINAbabylon]

@@bfish89ryuhayabusa If you check out my end credits I've noted the original is live. I've dubbed over the live performance & re-syched with the studio version only because the original clip's audio track is terribly degraded and doesn't do the group justice. When I first saw this PBS special in 1990 they sounded fantastic live. If it's any consolation, when I first posted this clip the lead singer approved, quipping that the only reason I could re-sych the audio respectably was due to his consistent vocal phrasing! And, not for nothing, the studio version is considerably longer which means more music to zombie around to.

[@blotter64]

@@bfish89ryuhayabusa Wow, great catch! And way to go @funkEsavage you know them and got permission to make this. It's the version I love best too!

[@brotendo]

@@dreadINAbabylon This was uploaded more recently with improved audio quality kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKbUmZmJlrZmqcU