The animated sitcom Family Guy is well known for its humorous gags, cutaway jokes, and pop culture references. One especially memorable episode that has lived on in pop culture infamy is the season 7 episode “I Dream of Jesus”, which heavily features the iconic song “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen. This episode first aired in 2008 and has since become a fan favorite due to its ridiculous and absurd premise involving the song “Surfin’ Bird”.
Summary of the Episode
The main plot of the episode involves Peter Griffin becoming obsessed with Surfin’ Bird after watching a Family Guy rerun that featured the song. He finds it insanely catchy and constantly sings it, driving his family crazy. Peter even replaces regular words in sentences with “Surfin’ Bird” and sings it instead of speaking normally.
Peter’s Surfin’ Bird obsession leads him to buy dozens of Surfin’ Bird records. He visits the record store frequently to get his fix, befriending the clerks working there. However, the store eventually runs out of the record, leaving Peter distraught.
Meanwhile, Brian and Stewie discover the identity of the elusive lead singer of The Trashmen, the band that sings Surfin’ Bird. They learn it is a man named Bingo, who now goes by Steve and lives a quiet life in a farmhouse.
Peter, Brian and Stewie track Bingo/Steve down to his home and pester him to sing Surfin’ Bird. Steve refuses at first but eventually relents after being tied up and forced to listen to Peter’s terrible singing.
After Steve performs Surfin’ Bird properly, Peter is finally satisfied and his obsession comes to an end. The episode closes with Peter thanking Steve for returning Surfin’ Bird to its former glory.
Impact of the Episode
While silly on the surface, this episode made a surprising cultural impact that is still felt today. Most significantly, it sparked a huge resurgence of interest in the 60s hit Surfin’ Bird and introduced it to a whole new generation.
After the episode aired, Surfin’ Bird re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart over 40 years after its initial release. It also led to renewed interest in The Trashmen and more young people discovering their discography.
Beyond the song itself, the episode also popularized the “Surfin’ Bird” meme and video remixes. Peter’s “the bird is the word” catchphrase became widely quoted and parodied. People would replace words in sentences with “bird” just like Peter did in the show.
On YouTube, the Family Guy Surfin’ Bird scene has amassed over 20 million views and inspired countless remixes. People have edited the clip to feature different songs like All Star by Smash Mouth in place of Surfin’ Bird. The absurdity of Peter’s obsession clearly struck a chord.
Overall, this silly cartoon episode succeeded in bringing a vintage 60s rock tune back into the mainstream for a while. It shows the unexpected power that an animated show like Family Guy can have in influencing pop culture. The Surfin’ Bird craze might have been short-lived, but it remains one of the most memorable parts of Family Guy’s long run.
Origin and History of Surfin’ Bird
To understand this episode, it helps to know the history of the Surfin’ Bird song itself. Surfin’ Bird was released in 1963 by the American garage rock band The Trashmen. The song’s composition is credited to Al Frazier, Carl White, Sonny Harris, and Turner Wilson, who were members of the rhythm and blues vocal group The Rivingtons.
The origins of Surfin’ Bird can be traced back to The Rivingtons’ 1963 songs Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow and Bird is the Word. These two tracks featured a catchy nonsensical vocal riff that went “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “Bird bird bird, bird is the word.”
The Trashmen essentially combined these two riffs together to create Surfin’ Bird. They added in surf rock guitar and their own lyrics on top. The somewhat repetitive but very addictive song structure was born.
When it was released as a single, Surfin’ Bird became a surprise hit and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It remained on the chart for 14 weeks and helped launch The Trashmen to stardom for a brief period. They were unable to capture that same level of success again, however.
In the following decades, Surfin’ Bird’s popularity faded but it remained a cult favorite in rock and punk circles. Then over 40 years later, Family Guy triggered a new viral craze around the song that exposed it to younger audiences. The timeless, infectious quality of the surf rock jam has continued to find new listeners even today.
Review and Analysis of the Episode
Looking at the full episode itself, there are a few key things that likely contributed to its enduring popularity and impact:
Peter’s Exaggerated Obsession
Peter Griffin’s over-the-top fixation on Surfin’ Bird is so absurd that it makes for hilarious comedy. His nonstop singing quickly goes from being annoying to being downright maddening both for his family and viewers. The ridiculous lengths Peter goes to in order to get his Surfin’ Bird fix are totally unrelatable yet funny.
Endless Repetition of Surfin’ Bird
A big part of what makes this episode work so well is the constant repetition of Surfin’ Bird. The song plays over and over throughout the entire 30 minutes, both diegetically and non-diegetically. The writers knew that the repetitive and catchy Surfin’ Bird riff was funny in its own right. By showcasing it so prominently, they maximized the humor.
Cutaway Gags
Family Guy is known for its trademark cutaway gags that transition away from the main plot. This episode features several great Surfin’ Bird inspired cutaways. In one scene, Peter goes back in time to convince The Rivingtons to combine Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow and Bird is the Word. The absurdity of the cutaway perfectly suits the ridiculousness of the whole premise.
Comedic Escalation
As the episode progresses, Peter’s obsession gets more and more severe, and the situation escalates into greater absurdity. This comedic escalation of taking the joke way too far is signature Family Guy. Peter’s outlandish behavior, like tying up Bingo/Steve to force him to sing, adds to the hilarity.
Pop Culture References
Family Guy is known for packing tons of pop culture references into each episode. This one sees the characters travel to the house from The Beverly Hillbillies sitcom to find Bingo. Additionally, Peter communicates with Bingo through music in a parody of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. These gags help enhance the comic effect.
The Power of Repetition
In the end, the core reason this episode succeeded is the repetitive Surfin’ Bird gag itself. The song is so catchy, silly, and infectious that it holds up to repeat humorous use. It remains funny no matter how many times we hear Peter sing “the bird is the word.” This repetition creates an unforgettable episode built entirely around one silly joke.
Legacy
Over 15 years later, the impact of this episode is still felt through the continued popularity of its Surfin’ Bird meme. Anytime someone replaces words with “bird”, quotes Peter’s lines, or shares a Surfin’ Bird remix video, they are referencing this classic episode.
For Family Guy, the episode affirmed the show’s status as a sharer and distributor of obscure pop culture. The series has a knack for dredging up forgotten old songs, toys, TV shows, and movies and reintroducing them to the mainstream.
Surfin’ Bird experienced a full-on revival because of this one episode. For The Trashmen, it brought their one-hit wonder back from obscurity decades later along with renewed interest in their other work.
Above all, the episode cemented Surfin’ Bird’s reputation as one of the most addictive, annoying, and downright silly songs ever recorded. The Trashmen created a true earworm for the ages, one that clearly stands the test of time if it can be memed to high heaven by modern audiences. Thanks to Family Guy, the bird continues to be the word.
Other Notable Surfin’ Bird References
While the Family Guy episode provided the biggest boost, Surfin’ Bird has appeared in other notable films, TV shows, and media over the decades as well:
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
In a memorable scene, a gunner sings along to Surfin’ Bird during the Vietnam War while shooting at enemy combatants. Director Stanley Kubrick’s use made the song seem oddly dark and added to the film’s statement on war.
Meet the Feebles (1989)
Peter Jackson included Surfin’ Bird in this macabre musical black comedy about disturbed puppet characters. A hippo character sings it while killing all his fellow cast members with machine gun fire.
Happy Gilmore (1996)
Adam Sandler included the song briefly in one of his most iconic comedies. In a montage scene, Happy Gilmore sings along to Surfin’ Bird while golfing as part of his training regimen.
The Simpsons (1997)
The Simpsons – a fellow classic animated sitcom – featured the song in the episode “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show.” Homer sings Surfin’ Bird as he walks down the street in a scene parodying Happy Gilmore.
Year | Movie/Show | Context |
---|---|---|
1987 | Full Metal Jacket | Gunner sings it during battle |
1989 | Meet the Feebles | Sung while killing cast members |
1996 | Happy Gilmore | Happy sings it while golf training |
1997 | The Simpsons | Homer sings it parodying Happy Gilmore |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Family Guy episode “I Dream of Jesus” provided one of the most memorable and hilarious showcases of Surfin’ Bird in pop culture history. Peter Griffin’s unhinged obsession perfectly matched the song’s repetitive ridiculousness. This episode brought the obscure 60s rock tune back into the mainstream and sparked an enduring meme.
For over 50 years now, The Trashmen’s Surfin’ Bird continues to captivate listeners and entertain audiences thanks to its undeniably catchy beat and nonsense lyrics. Both younger and older generations have embraced this surf rock classic in large part due to Peter Griffin’s antics. When we hear someone sing “the bird is the word,” we have this iconic and absurd cartoon episode to thank. Through memes and remixes, the bird will likely surf on forever.