» 1980s, Pop » Take Off – Bob and Doug McKenzie
Take Off – Bob and Doug McKenzie
In 1982, Rush was riding high (at least among Canadian bands). Moving Pictures had sold millions of records and Signals would soon reach stores and turn Rush into a one-hit wonder with their one and only top 40-charting song “New World Man.”
For a couple of Canadian comedians, there was no better better choice than to have fellow Canadian and Rush lead singer Geddy Lee sing on Bob and Doug McKenzie’s hit single, “Take Off.” A song that reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1982.
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We’re guessing that since you somehow found this page, you likely remember Bob and Doug McKenzie. But in case you don’t, the McKenzie brothers’ shtick started on the Canadian version of Saturday Night Live called SCTV. When it moved to CBS in 1982, the network asked Bob McKenzie (Rick Moranis who became famous for the Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Ghostbusers movies) and Doug McKenzie (Dave Thomas who became famous for, um, playing Doug McKenzie on SCTV) to riff on Canadian stereotypes. Amazingly, both Canadians and Americans found jokes about “hosers” and “tuques” funny.
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Bob and Doug broadcast from “The Great White North.” As a shock to everyone involved with the export of SCTV to America, “The Great White North” segment with Bob and Doug became the more popular segment on an otherwise marginally funny sketch comedy show. So popular, in fact, that the McKenzie brothers even starred in their own feature film, Strange Brew. I have fond memories of the movie but haven’t seen it for years so it could be awful for all I remember.
The McKenzie brothers even contributed their own catchphrase in “Take off.” Or “Take off you hoser.” Serious highbrow humor there. But there wasn’t a junior high boy in the early 1980s that didn’t tell his buddies to “take off” at least 65 times each day.
The catchphrase led to a single, which led to Geddy Lee singing:
Take off
To the Great White North
Take off
It’s a beauty way to go
Take off
And the rest is one-hit wonder history.
Listen to “Take Off” by Bob and Doug McKenzie
Take Off - Bob and Doug McKenzieBuy “Take Off” by Bob and Doug McKenzie
Written by Michael Waterman
I'm an obsessive music collector, cataloger, commenter and trivia nut. Sometimes I'm even a listener. One-hit wonders have always been a guilty pleasure.
Filed under: 1980s, Pop · Tags: 1982, Bob and Doug McKenzie, Canada, Canadian band, Canadian one-hit wonder, funny, Geddy Lee, novelty hit, novelty song, one hit wonder, Pop, Rick Moranis, Rush, TV show one hit wonder
[...] Bob and Doug McKenzie (did you know Geddy went to school with Rick Moranis?) and helped get them a top 20 single in 1982 deserves their Great White North cake and [...]
Hello John Charles here with X Quisite Entertainment just wondering if you guys are still touring ? If so may possibly have a show for you at the River Cree Resort and Casino .
If you are still touring please get back to us with your details please.
John Charles
X Quisite Entertainment
8930-157st.
Edmonton , Alberta ,
Canada. T5R 2A7
Ph/Fax:1-780-489-0589
John,
Something tells me Bob and Doug McKenzie aren’t touring since about, oh, 1983 or so.
Michael