King Tut

by

Steve Martin

Album: Wild And Crazy Guy      Released: 1978

US Chart: 17     

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Steve Martin is a comedian who was a popular guest on Saturday Night Live, where he originally performed this. The song was later released as a single and became a hit, sellling over a million copies.

At first, "The King Tut" was a dance unto itself called "Egyptian Style." Dancers point their arms and head in different directions in an imitation of ancient Egyptian paintings. (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for above 2)

In 1986, The Bangles had a huge hit with "Walk Like An Egyptian," which had a similar theme and briefly resurected the "Egyptian Style" dance.

The "backup group" Martin used for this song was a collection of studio singers. For the purpose of this song, they were called The Toot Uncommons (Tutankhamen). (thanks, S.D. - Denver, CO)

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Comments:

Ironically, Stormy, you need to be high to find this song funny.
- Mike, Matawan, NJ

I was invited down to Franklin College by my friend Danny Fawcett for a weekend concert in the late 60s to hear Rare Earth. The opening act was Steve Martin with the arrow gag thru his head and he was boood off the stage because the "stoners" wanted to hear Rare Earth instead of him.
- Stormy, Kokomo, IN

Steve Martin is brilliant and if he doesn't make you laugh....It might be a good idea to check in with your Physician because you may have already bought the farm. I remember him on a "Very" special Christmas Show, "A Rocky Mountain Christmas" with John Denver. He was great! He has only gotten better with age. And oh those wonderful SNL's with Dan Ackroyd..."Two Wild and Crazy Guys" indeed! How 'bout Steve for President? This country really needs a good laugh! Dan Garrett Oxford, Al
- Dan, Oxford, AL

I never thought Steve Martin was funny. Come to think of it, I never thought SNL was funny, either...
- Madison, Norway, ME

Steve Martin was never an SNL cast member. Though he later became a member of the "Five-Timers Club" for celebs who've hosted the show five or more times, he actually only hosted the show three times in SNL's first five seasons(i.e. "The Glory Years" with Belushi, Aykroyd, Murray, Curtain, Chase, et al.).
- Brian, Scranton, PA

A.B., you may be thinking of Chevy Chase. Or any of several other one-time cast members who later returned as hosts. No, Steve Martin was never a N-R-f-P-T Player. Those seven names, plus the 2nd season replacement, are correctly listed by "Alan, City, Mich." Of course, the host always participates in skits during the show, so in a sense, he/she is a cast member for that one show. But Steve was never a 'regular' cast member. BTW, off-topic, but related, the first host was George Carlin (a terrific choice, IMHO), and the first season (when Jim Henson was still alive) featured The Muppets in more of an adult-oriented content than we were used to seeing from them, and it was a scream! -- "I am the Mighty Favaahg!"
- Fred, Laurel, MD

Steve Martin is something of a phenomenon: he has written books, starred in movies, done stand-up routines, played bluegrass banjo (cf the reverse side of the King Tut single) and been successful in everything he's tried. (And I hope he never tries a Broadway show, because that's sure suicide.) The song is a great deal funnier if you sat through all of the old spear-and-sandal movie epics of the '50's and '60's: "The Great Pyramid," all those Hercules movies, and 'Cleopatra,' the greatest of them all. The wailing of the background singers at one point in the song imitates the Egyptian Temple scene that every one of these movies had to have. And if you were around for the initial tour of King Tut's treasures (they've appeared more places than Elvis ever did) the song is even funnier.
- Mark, Lancaster, OH

Steve Martin frequently hosted Saturday Night Live, where he performed King Tut in one episode. The song came from the album A Wild and Crazy Guy, the type of character he played when he played Festrunk on SNL. It's a novelty classic that he performed with The Toot Uncommons.
- Howard, St. Louis Park, MN

Yes, Steve Martin was a member of The Not Ready For Prime Time Players. He became a host after he left the show. And no, it had nothing to do with the Bangles' later song or a type of dance. It was a skit based on the popularity of the Tut Exhibition and the mania it caused.
- A. B., Miami, FL

Steve Martin's alright, but I never understood why this song was funny. It was around the time when the King Tut exhibit was big in current events, so it was timely, but the lyrics just NEVER made me laugh
- Dennis, Chicagoland burrows, IL

In 1978-79 a traveling special exhibit of the treasures from King Tutankhamen's tomb was a huge hit at museums around the country, people stood in long lines to get in. This inspired the parody on Saturday Night Live.
- R, Seattle, WA

Hey Ted just by you saying"He was too a cast member " lets me know right now that you weren't even born when SNL first came out...
- Joe, Ocala, FL

The first season cast of SNL was Chevy Chase, Dan Ackroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, and Garrett Morris. After the 1st season, Chevy left and was replaced by Bill Murray. Steve Martin was a frequent guest host.
- Alan, City, MI

He was never a cast member. He just hosted a lot.
- Ben, Winston-Salem, NC

he was too a cast member
- Ted, Poway, CA

Steve Martin was never a cast member of SNL, but rather a frequent host.
- Jack, Boston, MA

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