Here Comes the King
Encyclopedia
Here Comes the King is a well-known advertising jingle
written for Budweiser
, whose slogan is "The King of beers." Budweiser is the flagship brand of the Anheuser-Busch
brewery.
Copyrighted in 1971, the music and lyrics are by Steve Karmen, who also wrote six other jingles for Anheuser-Busch. The song is often heard as the theme for the brand's winter-themed TV commercials featuring the Budweiser Clydesdale
horses pulling the Budweiser beer wagon.
The song concludes with a reference to the brand's earlier well-known jingle, "When You Say Budweiser, You've Said It All" (see below):
The underlying instrumental is imitative of a stereotypical German band. Its style resembles the famous Coca-Cola
jingle "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
" in that it begins with a lone voice, joined by another singer, and eventually a choral group (Both songs can be heard on the CD, Tee Vee Toons: The Commercials). Many of the lines are punctuated at the end by a double drumbeat.
The award-winning anthem was a hit from the moment it first aired. Sonny & Cher
recorded a song titled, "When You Say Love", written by two country songwriters using the tune of this jingle, and it reached Number 32 on the Billboard chart in 1972 (Karmen successfully sued the songwriters for copyright infringement). In 1976 and 1977, the Budweiser company were sponsors for Lou Rawls
' live shows, and Rawls could be heard at the time singing on television commercials for the company.
Lyric:
A Budweiser commercial featuring the jingle appears in the 1977 film, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind
", on Roy Neary's TV, as he models Devil's Tower in his living room.
home games and at different times during the game (mainly when the team is in a rally). During the period when Anheuser-Busch owned the Cardinals, it was played instead of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game
" during the seventh-inning stretch
. It is also played at St. Louis Blues home games. Saint Louis University
also takes to playing the song during half-time of home basketball games. The SLU pep-band plays the song while the student section sings the lyrics.
The tuba section of the Florida State University Marching Chiefs, The Royal Flush, plays "Here Comes the King" while entering any time that they perform as a section.
Georgia Tech bands play "When You Say Bud" regularly at GT sporting and alumni events. The band first played the song in 1970 as a tribute to then-head coach Bud Carson, and the tradition has remained strong. "Bud" is played between the 3rd and 4th quarters at football games, during the second half of Tech basketball games, as well as during volleyball matches, and as part of the 7th inning stretch in baseball games.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison
's band also plays the song at sporting events, changing the last line to "When you say WIS-CON-SIN, you've said it all!" The song has been known to sway the upper deck of Camp Randall Stadium
because fans dance the polka when the song is played.
Also, the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band of Boise State University plays the song at various events, usually following the school's fight song. Keith Stein, the owner of the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in Boise is a prominent supporter of Boise State University and the band hall bears his name.
The Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band
once played this song when they received sponsorship from the local Anheuser-Busch distributor. Since then the campus and stadium have gone dry and the song has fallen out of favor. The alumni band still plays the song in recognition of the past.
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
written for Budweiser
Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)
Budweiser is a 5.0% abv American-style lager introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch and one of the highest selling beers in the United States. It is made with up to 30% rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the world...
, whose slogan is "The King of beers." Budweiser is the flagship brand of the Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
brewery.
Copyrighted in 1971, the music and lyrics are by Steve Karmen, who also wrote six other jingles for Anheuser-Busch. The song is often heard as the theme for the brand's winter-themed TV commercials featuring the Budweiser Clydesdale
Clydesdale (breed)
The Clydesdale is a breed of draught horse derived from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named after that region. Although originally one of the smaller breeds of draught horses, it is now a tall breed. Often bay in colour, they show significant white markings due to the presence of...
horses pulling the Budweiser beer wagon.
Lyrics
Partial lyric:- Here comes the King, here comes the Big Number One
- Budweiser Beer is Beer that's second to none
- The King is calling, so loud and clear
- There's only one Budweiser Beer
- There's only one Budweiser Beer
The song concludes with a reference to the brand's earlier well-known jingle, "When You Say Budweiser, You've Said It All" (see below):
- When you say Bud you've said it all
- When you say Bud you've said it all
"When You Say Budweiser, You've Said It All"
The Budweiser jingle, "When You Say Budweiser, You've Said It All," also with music and lyrics by Steve Karmen, was published a year earlier in 1970, and part of its lyric inspired "Here Comes the King."The underlying instrumental is imitative of a stereotypical German band. Its style resembles the famous Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
jingle "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing " is a popular song which originated as a jingle in the groundbreaking 1971 "Hilltop" television commercial for Coca-Cola. The song, produced by Billy Davis and performed by The New Seekers, portrayed a positive message of hope and love sung by a multicultural...
" in that it begins with a lone voice, joined by another singer, and eventually a choral group (Both songs can be heard on the CD, Tee Vee Toons: The Commercials). Many of the lines are punctuated at the end by a double drumbeat.
The award-winning anthem was a hit from the moment it first aired. Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher were an American pop music duo, actors, singers and entertainers made up of husband-and-wife team Sonny and Cher Bono in the 1960s and 1970s. The couple started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector....
recorded a song titled, "When You Say Love", written by two country songwriters using the tune of this jingle, and it reached Number 32 on the Billboard chart in 1972 (Karmen successfully sued the songwriters for copyright infringement). In 1976 and 1977, the Budweiser company were sponsors for Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls
Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
' live shows, and Rawls could be heard at the time singing on television commercials for the company.
Lyric:
- When you say "Bud"
- You've said a lot of things nobody else can say
- When you say "Bud"
- You've gone as far as you can go to get the very best
- When you say "Bud"
- You've said the word that means you like to do it all
- When you say "Bud"
- It means you want the beer that's got a taste that's number one
- When you say "Bud"
- You tell the world you know what makes it all the way
- When you say "Bud"
- You say you care enough to only want the King of Beers
- There is no other one
- There's only something less
- Because the King of Beers
- Is leading all the rest
- When you say "Bud-weis-er"
- You've said it all!
A Budweiser commercial featuring the jingle appears in the 1977 film, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, and Cary Guffey...
", on Roy Neary's TV, as he models Devil's Tower in his living room.
Popular culture
"Here Comes the King" can be heard at the end of the 7th inning during all St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
home games and at different times during the game (mainly when the team is in a rally). During the period when Anheuser-Busch owned the Cardinals, it was played instead of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. The song is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of...
" during the seventh-inning stretch
Seventh-inning stretch
The seventh-inning stretch is a tradition in baseball that takes place between the halves of the seventh inning of any game – in the middle of the seventh inning. Fans generally stand up and stretch out their arms and legs and sometimes walk around. It is a popular time to get a late-game snack as...
. It is also played at St. Louis Blues home games. Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
also takes to playing the song during half-time of home basketball games. The SLU pep-band plays the song while the student section sings the lyrics.
The tuba section of the Florida State University Marching Chiefs, The Royal Flush, plays "Here Comes the King" while entering any time that they perform as a section.
Georgia Tech bands play "When You Say Bud" regularly at GT sporting and alumni events. The band first played the song in 1970 as a tribute to then-head coach Bud Carson, and the tradition has remained strong. "Bud" is played between the 3rd and 4th quarters at football games, during the second half of Tech basketball games, as well as during volleyball matches, and as part of the 7th inning stretch in baseball games.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
's band also plays the song at sporting events, changing the last line to "When you say WIS-CON-SIN, you've said it all!" The song has been known to sway the upper deck of Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. It has been the home of the Wisconsin Badgers football team in rudimentary form since 1895, and as a complete stadium since 1917. It is located on the center-southern region of the University of Wisconsin campus. The stadium seats...
because fans dance the polka when the song is played.
Also, the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band of Boise State University plays the song at various events, usually following the school's fight song. Keith Stein, the owner of the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in Boise is a prominent supporter of Boise State University and the band hall bears his name.
The Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band
Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band
The Arizona State Sun Devil Marching Band , also known as The Pride of the Southwest, is the athletic band of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona...
once played this song when they received sponsorship from the local Anheuser-Busch distributor. Since then the campus and stadium have gone dry and the song has fallen out of favor. The alumni band still plays the song in recognition of the past.
See also
- When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It AllWhen You Hear Lou, You've Heard It AllWhen You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All is a 1977 album by American R&B singer Lou Rawls, released on the Philadelphia International Records label. On this album, only four tracks were produced by Gamble & Huff with the remainder shared among other producers...
1977 Lou RawlsLou RawlsLouis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
album - Lou Rawls Live 1978 Lou Rawls live album, which includes a short performance of the original "When You Say Budweiser, You've Said It All" jingle