Off-Topic Tuesday: "Donkey Kong Joonyer" by Starbomb

The final Off-Topic Tuesday song for Donkey Kong Month is "Donkey Kong Joonyer" by Starbomb from their 2019 album, The Tryforce. You can listen to it on YouTube or buy the album from the Starbomb website.

But wait, there's more! You see, Starbomb is kind of an off-shoot of another band called Ninja Sex Party. In 2020, to celebrate NSP's 10th anniversary, Insane Ian put together a tribute album called Above the Covers. And on that album, which is available on Bandcamp, is a cover of "Donkey Kong Joonyer" by Scooter Picnic. Scooter Picnic is the band name for when Insane Ian and TV's Kyle team up. Everything is connected!

On the charts June 26, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #191 (down 27) on Billboard Top LPs & Tape, its last week on that chart. But it was #74 (down 6) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums.

Week 37: Columbia Hall of Fame 45

In 1983, Columbia issued a dual-hit 45 as part of their Hall of Fame series with "Pac-Man Fever" on one side and "Do the Donkey Kong" on the other. (All photos courtesy Discogs.com.)

It was reissued in 1987 with a different label and sleeve.

The Collectables label, the largest independently-owned reissue record label in the U.S., re-issued the 45 yet again later, although the exact date is apparently unknown.

Off-Topic Tuesday: "King of Kong" by TV's Kyle

The third Off-Topic Tuesday song for Donkey Kong Month is "King of Kong" by TV's Kyle from his 2010 album (appropriately enough), Pocketful of Quarters, and featuring Devo Spice on a rap verse. "Pocketful of quarters" is also a line of the chorus. Although the song shares the name of a Donkey Kong high score "documentary", it is unrelated to any of that. You can both listen and buy it at tvskyle.bandcamp.com.

But wait, there's more! Kyle also released an acoustic version on his album Ray Fillet in 2011, which also features the Devo Spice rap verse. It's also available on Bandcamp.

And finally -- or, actually, firstly -- Kyle originally released the song on the FuMP Sideshow in 2008 without Devo Spice's rap verse. That version, sadly, is no longer available anywhere that I'm aware of. (Outside my various personal devices.)

On the charts June 19, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #164 (down 89!) on Billboard Top LPs & Tape and #68 (down 11) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums.

Meanwhile we continue Donkey Kong Month by noting that "Do the Donkey Kong" held at #105 on Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 for a second week, but it was also the song's final week on the chart. It never made it to the Hot 100.

Week 36: "Do the Donkey Kong" magazine ad

Did "Do the Donkey Kong" not receive the push of "Pac-Man Fever" because it didn't do as well? Or did "Do the Donkey Kong" not do as well because it didn't receive as much push as "Pac-Man Fever"? Here's a rare dedicated ad from Cash Box (1 May 1982).

And here's a more understated ad from Video Games vol. 1, no. 1 (Aug 1982) posted previously that's really advertising the album and just mentioning "Do the Donkey Kong".

And here's another ad clipped from an unknown magazine (from eBay). As in, I asked, but the seller didn't know.

Off-Topic Tuesday: "Don't Sell The Barrels To The Monkey" by Super 8 Bit Brothers

The second Off-Topic Tuesday song for Donkey Kong Month is "Don't Sell The Barrels To The Monkey" by Super 8 Bit Brothers from their 2009 album, Brawl. Thanks to Jason Schneiderman of The Dr. Demento Show - Official group on Facebook for pointing me to this.

On the charts June 12, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #75 (down 51!) on Billboard Top LPs & Tape and #57 (down 12) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums.

Meanwhile we continue marking Donkey Kong Month by noting that "Do the Donkey Kong" was #105 (down 2) on Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100.

Week 35: Uncut "Do the Donkey Kong" jukebox strips

This is a set of 10 uncut jukebox title strips for "Do the Donkey Kong" by the Star Title Strip Company. They showed up on eBay within the past couple years, but I don't remember seeing any "Do the Donkey Kong" strips prior to that. Given the song wasn't a hit, it's not too surprising some survived in this condition.

Wednesday cover: "Pokémon Fever" by Buckner & Garcia

Around 1999/2000, B&G took the music from their new version of "Pac-Man Fever" and turned it into this. Unable to obtain a license, it wasn't released. Until Pokémon Go hit in 2016. With Pokémon Go's amazing popularity, Buckner released a couple videos of the song. However, after some months, he removed it, telling me after I asked that he was never satisfied with it. But once something's on the Internet, it's rarely gone for good. So you can still find a version on YouTube.

Off-Topic Tuesday: "Human Video Game" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Our first Off-Topic Tuesday song for Donkey Kong Month is "Human Video Game" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (1988). This is a link to the longer version from the original vinyl and cassette release of He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper. The CD version was shorter.

On the charts June 5, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #45 (down 13) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums but maintained its peak position of #24 for a second week on Billboard Top LPs & Tape.

Meanwhile "Do the Donkey Kong" peaked at #103 (up 6) on Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100.

Yes, we've just started Donkey Kong Month and "Do the Donkey Kong" had already peaked. Didn't mean to psych you out. This was mostly based on how many weeks it will continue in the Bubbling Under chart.

Week 34: "Do the Donkey Kong" single

Columbia chose this as the album's second single. Of the album's games, Donkey Kong was certainly the biggest hit after Pac-Man at the time. But it just didn't make the impact "Pac-Man Fever" did. Buckner estimated it sold 200k-300k. A far cry from the 1 million of "Pac-Man Fever."

"Do the Donkey Kong" 45 picture sleeve, side 1

"Do the Donkey Kong" 45 picture sleeve, side 2

Only sold as a 45, it came in an attractive picture sleeve featuring the Donkey Kong logo and screenshot. Notably, the 45 has a ™ after the game name and a Nintendo trademark notice at the bottom. The "Pac-Man Fever" single had neither. (For Midway, in that case.)

"Do the Donkey Kong" side 1

"Do the Donkey Kong (Instrumental)" side 2

Side 1 is an abbreviated version (3:16) of the album track (4:32). The song only consists of two verses and choruses, a keyboard solo, and then repeated adlibs on the chorus, so it's simply a matter of fading early. The album version of the song features a false ending fade out inspired by "Do You Love Me" by the Contours. But side 1 of the 45 fades even before that point. You can find it on YouTube.

Side 2 features an exclusive instrumental version of "Do the Donkey Kong". Today it'd be called a karaoke version. And THIS version fades out where the false ending is on the album version. This version was not currently on YouTube, so I believe my upload is a 52 Weeks of Pac-Man Fever exclusive.

Wednesday Remix: "Do the Donkey Kong (Swing Version)" remixed by Kahn Man

I'm not aware of any "Do the Donkey Kong" covers for DtDK Month, so we'll do this. In 2018 Tyrone "The Kahn Man" Kahn took the Buckner & Garcia song and tweaked the cadence to make a swing version. It's only been played on Kahn Man's Comedy Corner, his comedy music show. You can listen by creating an account at MadMusic.com.