Iko Iko

Album

Belle Stars, The

Label

Capitol Records

Genre

Film Soundtrack

Media Type

45s

Duration

2:49

Composer(s)

Barbara Hawkins;Rosa Hawkins;Joan Johnson

Entered Chart

Mar 4, 1989

Peak Date

May 13, 1989

Released

1982

Recorded

1982

Catalog #

Capitol B-44343

B-Side

Las Vegas Hans Zimmer

Original Artist

James "Sugar Boy" Crawford and his Cane Cutters

"Iko Iko" (/ˈaɪkoʊ ˈaɪkoʊ/) is a much-covered song from New Orleans, United States, originally titled "Jock-A-Mo" when released in 1953. The song tells of a parade collision between two tribes of Mardi Gras Indians, and the traditional confrontation. The song, under the original title "Jock-A-Mo", was written and released in 1953 as a single by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford and his Cane Cutters, but it failed to make the charts. It was subsequently covered many times, most notably by the British group the Belle Stars in 1982. The song was first made popular as "Iko Iko" in 1965 by an American girl group, the Dixie Cups, who scored an international hit with it. In 1967, as part of a lawsuit settlement between Crawford and the Dixie Cups, the trio were given part songwriting credit for the song. In 1972, Dr. John had a minor hit with his version of "Iko Iko". In the UK, two competing versions of the song were released in 1982—one by the all-female group the Belle Stars and the other by Scottish singer Natasha England. While the Belle Stars' version peaked at 35 in the UK, Natasha's version reached the top 10. However, the Belle Stars version later reached the US Top 20 after being included in the 1988 film Rain Man. Cyndi Lauper covered the song in 1986. The Grateful Dead began incorporating “Iko Iko” into their live shows in 1977.[1] The song became a staple of their many tours throughout the 1980s, with the band playing it over 180 times until Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995.[2] "Iko Iko" became a European hit again in 2001 after being covered by the German dance act Captain Jack. An adaptation by Papua New Guinea artist Justin Wellington under the title "Iko Iko (My Bestie)", featuring the Solomon Island duo Small Jam, became an international hit in 2021 after a successful TikTok challenge. In 1982, the British all-female band the Belle Stars had a minor UK chart hit with their cover of "Iko Iko", which reached number 35. The track was produced by Brian Tench and was also featured on the band's eponymous debut album, The Belle Stars, which reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart. The single was released almost simultaneously as the Natasha England version, which went on to be a Top 10 hit. However, after it was included on the soundtrack to the 1988 film Rain Man, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, the Belle Stars version was released in the US, hitting No. 14 and No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 charts, respectively. The single was issued on Capitol Records. Their version of the song is in the opening scene of the film. The Belle Stars version was also included in the 1997 film Knockin' on Heaven's Door and The Hangover in 2009.

My grand-ma and your grand-ma
Were sit-tin' by the fire.
My grand-ma told your grand-ma
"I'm gon-na set your flag on fire"

Talk-in' 'bout
Hey now ! Hey now ! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né
Jock-a-mo fee na-né

Look at my king all dressed in red
I-ko, I-ko, un-day
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead
Jock-a-mo fee na-né

Talk-in' 'bout
Hey now ! Hey now ! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né
Jock-a-mo fee na-né

My flag boy and your flag boy were
Sit-tin' by the fire
My flag boy told your flag boy
"I'm gon-na set your flag on fire"

Talk-in' 'bout
Hey now ! Hey now ! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né
Jock-a-mo fee na-né

See that guy all dressed in green?
I-ko, I-KO, un-day
He's not a man
He's a lov-in' ma-chine
Jock-a mo fee na-né

Talk-in' 'bout
Hey now ! Hey now ! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né
Jock-a-mo fee na-né