Fast Food Rockers

Last updated

Fast Food Rockers
Origin Folkestone, England
Genres Bubblegum pop, novelty
Years active2003–2004, 2024-
LabelsBetter the Devil
Past membersMartin Rycroft
Lucy Meggitt
Ria Scott

The Fast Food Rockers are a British pop group known briefly for their novelty music. The band met at a fast-food convention in Folkestone in the summer of 2003. [1]

Contents

Career

Their most successful hit was their 2003 release "Fast Food Song", which parodies the traditional folk melody "A Ram Sam Sam". The Dutch DJ Eric Dikeb claims to have made a Dutch song out of that traditional melody in 2001, called "Pizzahaha", explaining that at that moment, he was taking part in the Dutch television show Big Diet, in which contestants had to lose as much weight as they could over a few months. Dikeb further claims to have come up with the idea to use the names of his favourite fast-food restaurants in the song. Pizzahaha did not make it to the Dutch charts, but in Belgium the band Dynamite made a big hit out of it, with a Belgian version called "De Pizzadans". It also topped the charts in Germany, called "Burgerdance", by DJ Ötzi. [2]

The Fast Food Rockers' version, adapted by Mike Stock, Steve Crosby and Sandy Rass, was the first release of independent record label Better The Devil Records. In June 2003 it reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart, despite the criticism of cultural analysts who lamented the "collapse of culture into product placement". [3] The single would go on to sell 150,000 copies in the UK, and was in the year-end Top 40. [4] Their second single, "Say Cheese (Smile Please)", reached #10.

After their attempt at a Christmas single only reached #25, and an album that failed to make the charts, the group disbanded in March 2004. After the disbandment, the band members found non-music-related jobs, [5] and in 2006, former band member Martin Rycroft left his job as a bartender to take part in the Channel 4/E4 show Boys Will Be Girls, [6] where three former male popstars (including Russ Spencer from Scooch) tried to convincingly create a new girl band by former Brother Beyond star Nathan Moore.

In 2003, rumours surfaced that the band did not sing on their own records. However, in an interview with CBBC Newsround , Meggitt stated she "trained for three years at a performing arts school, Ria's been in the business for a long time, Martin's been in the business for a long time and we're very proud to say we do sing on [this] song". [1]

In April 2024 the group announced they reunited, with the first public performance from them in 21 years being at the Lincoln Pride festival [7]

Discography

Albums

TitleDetails
It's Never Easy Being Cheesy

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[8]
AUS
[9]
SCO
[10]
"Fast Food Song"20032561It's Never Easy Being Cheesy
"Say Cheese (Smile Please)"10-10
"I Love Christmas"25-22Non-album single

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fast Food Song</span> 2003 single by Fast Food Rockers

"Fast Food Song" is a song made famous by British-based band Fast Food Rockers, although it existed long before they recorded it, as a popular children's playground song. The chorus is based on the Moroccan folk tune "A Ram Sam Sam" and mentions fast food restaurant chains McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bis (Scottish band)</span> Scottish indie pop band

Bis are a Scottish indie pop band composed of Steven Clark, John Clark, and Amanda MacKinnon, formed in 1994. The band's name, rhyming with 'this', derives from "black iron skyline", a lyric from the song "Twilight of a Champion" by The The.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Scientist (song)</span> 2002 single by Coldplay

"The Scientist" is a song by British rock band Coldplay. The song was written collaboratively by all the band members for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. It is built around a piano ballad, with lyrics telling the story about a man's desire to love and an apology. The song was released in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2002 as the second single from A Rush of Blood to the Head and reached number 10 in the UK Charts. It was released in the United States on 15 April 2003 as the third single and reached number 18 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 34 on the Adult Top 40 chart.

<i>Busted</i> (2002 Busted album) 2002 studio album by Busted

Busted is the self-titled debut album by English pop rock band Busted. It was released in the UK in September 2002 and peaked at number 2 the following January after the success of second single "Year 3000", which reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Five singles were released from the album: "What I Go to School For", "Year 3000", "You Said No", "Hurra, hurra, die Schule brennt" and "Sleeping with the Light On".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Flag (Dido song)</span> Song by English singer-songwriter Dido

"White Flag" is a song by English singer-songwriter Dido, released as the lead single from her second studio album, Life for Rent (2003). The song was first released to US radio on 7 July 2003 and was issued in the United Kingdom as a physical single on 1 September 2003. The song performed well on record charts around the world, peaking at number one in Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Portugal. In Dido's native UK, it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, and in the United States, it climbed to number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Sunshine</i> (S Club 7 album) 2001 studio album by S Club 7

Sunshine is the third studio album by English pop group S Club 7. It was released on 26 November 2001 and features the hit singles "Don't Stop Movin'", "You", "Have You Ever" and "Never Had a Dream Come True"—all bar "You" peaking at number one before the album's release. The album debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart in December 2001, selling more in its first week (136,000) than any of their other albums. It was later certified 2× Platinum after selling over 600,000 copies. Sunshine was the last album that featured Paul Cattermole as he announced his departure from the group in March 2002. The album peaked at number thirteen in New Zealand. The album also charted at number five on the 2001 UK year-end chart. The album was never released in the US, despite their success with previous album, 7, which was certified gold after peaking at number sixty-nine on the Billboard 200.

<i>Seeing Double</i> (album) 2002 studio album by S Club

Seeing Double is the fourth studio album from S Club. It was the only album to be released under the name "S Club", after the group was rebranded when Paul Cattermole left the group in June 2002 after his departure announcement in March. It was used as the main musical influence to the film of the same name released in April 2003. Despite good reviews and reception, the album only managed to reach number 17 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clocks (song)</span> 2003 single by Coldplay

"Clocks" is a song by British rock band Coldplay, released on 17 March 2003 via Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom. It was written and composed as a collaboration among all the members of the band for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. The song is built around a piano riff, and features cryptic lyrics concerning themes of contrast and urgency. Several remixes of the track exist, and its riff has been widely sampled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life Got Cold</span> 2003 single by Girls Aloud

"Life Got Cold" is a song by British girl group Girls Aloud, taken from their debut album Sound of the Underground (2003). The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania. Noel Gallagher of Oasis received a writing credit due to similarities with Oasis' "Wonderwall".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Said No</span> 2003 single by Busted

"You Said No" is a song by English pop punk band Busted. It was released on 21 April 2003 as the third single from their debut studio album, Busted (2002). The song was written by band members James Bourne, and Charlie Simpson, and was produced by Robson and Graham Stewart. "You Said No" became Busted's first song to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something Kinda Ooooh</span> 2006 single by Girls Aloud

"Something Kinda Ooooh" is a song by British-Irish all-female pop group Girls Aloud, taken from their first greatest hits collection The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits (2006). The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania. Inspired by 1980s pop and George Michael, "Something Kinda Ooooh" was released as a single in October 2006. It returned Girls Aloud to the top three of the UK Singles Chart for the first time in two years. It also made Girls Aloud the first British act to debut in the top five on the chart based on legal download sales alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Come to Me</span> 2003 single by Atomic Kitten

"If You Come to Me" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by Julian Gallagher, Martin Harrington, Ash Howes, Sharon Murphy, and Richard "Biff" Stannard for their third studio album, Ladies Night (2003). Production was helmed by Gallagher and Stannard, with Harrington and Howes credited as additional producers. Recording of "If You Come to Me" took place at Stannard's recording studio, Biffco, in Dublin, Ireland. A romantic, soulful uptempo ballad, which the band labeled "classic Atomic Kitten", it talks about a woman's desire to be with her partner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Cries</span> 2004 single by Liberty X

"Everybody Cries" is the third and final single to be released from English-Irish pop-group Liberty X's second studio album, Being Somebody. The single was released on 12 January 2004, peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number 24 on the Irish Singles Chart. The single only spent a further two weeks on the British chart before falling out of the top 40 completely. It was the band's last single with V2 Records, after being dropped by label boss Richard Branson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">On My Knees (The 411 song)</span> 2004 single by the 411

"On My Knees" is the debut single of British R&B girl group the 411, released on 17 May 2004 and included on their first album, Between the Sheets (2004). The song samples "Ain't My Style" by the Main Ingredient and features guest vocals from American rapper Ghostface Killah. On the UK Singles Chart, the song reached number four and spent 10 weeks in the UK top 75. It also charted in nine other countries in Europe and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colourblind (Darius Campbell song)</span> 2002 single by Darius

"Colourblind" is the debut single of Scottish singer-songwriter Darius, who finished third on the first series of Pop Idol in 2002. It is the first song taken from his debut solo album, Dive In (2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rushes (song)</span> 2002 single by Darius Danesh

"Rushes" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Darius. It was his second single release and was taken from his 2002 debut album, Dive In. "Rushes" was released on 25 November 2002, reaching number five on the UK Singles Chart and number 37 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Right Moves (OneRepublic song)</span> 2009 single by OneRepublic

"All the Right Moves" is the lead single by American band OneRepublic from their second studio album Waking Up (2009). It was released to mainstream radio on September 24, 2009 and released for digital download on October 6, 2009. It is the band's first single of the album for all countries except Austria and Germany, where "Secrets" serves as the first single from the new album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightning (song)</span> 2011 single by the Wanted

"Lightning" is a song by British-Irish boy band the Wanted, taken as the third single from their second studio album, Battleground. It was released on 16 October 2011. The song was written by Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Ed Drewett, the same team responsible for the band's number-one single, "Glad You Came". The song debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart, behind Rihanna's "We Found Love". The single was originally intended for release in the United States, following the success of "Glad You Came", and a promotional remix single was issued, however, its release was cancelled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everglow (song)</span> 2016 single by Coldplay

"Everglow" is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It is the fourth track from their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams. It features uncredited vocals by Gwyneth Paltrow, who at the time was married to Chris Martin despite their separation being announced in 2014. The track premiered during Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show on 26 November 2015, and originally made available as a promotional single for the album on 27 November 2015. Variance ranked it among the best songs of the year.

"Say Cheese (Smile Please)" is a song by British bubblegum pop group Fast Food Rockers, released as a single on 6 October 2003 in the United Kingdom. The single debuted and peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

References

  1. 1 2 "CBBC Newsround | MUSIC | Full interview: Fast Food Rockers". BBC News. 13 October 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  2. "Emimusicpub.com". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
  3. Stuart Jeffries (28 June 2003). "Stuart Jeffries: Pizza pop | Global". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  4. "ChartsPlus YE2003" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. "CBBC Newsround | MUSIC | The Fast Food Rockers are axed". BBC News. 31 March 2004. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  6. "Channel4.com". Archived from the original on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2006.
  7. Jackpot ButtonLewis (18 August 2024). The Fast Food Rockers - Lincoln Pride 2024 Full 21 Years Anniversary Reunion Performance . Retrieved 19 August 2024 via YouTube.
  8. "FAST FOOD ROCKERS | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  9. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 100.
  10. Peak positions on the Scottish Singles Chart:

Band

Members

Songwriters and producers