Down At McDonnelzzz

Album: I Shall Exterminate... (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, the Electric Six stage a dance party at McDonnelzzz, a fast-food place not unlike McDonald's, with the mascot Ronnell McDonnell. The song was inspired by a story in the satirical newspaper The Onion, with a headline lead singer Dick Valentine remembers as "Downtown Oakland McDonald's Now A Purgatory On Earth." In a Songfacts interview, he explained: "It was just a picture of a garbage can with a tray sticking out of it with wrappers and stuff, and then all these kind of hip-hop guys just mulling around, and there's a line out the door. We've all been to a McDonald's like that, and I was like, 'That's awesome. I want the party to take place there.'"
  • This song combines two ingredients often found in Electric Six songs: dancing and fast food. Their first hit, "Danger! High Voltage," mentions Taco Bell in the chorus. Dancing is a backdrop for many of their songs, including their 2003 song "Dance Commander."
  • The music video is typical Electric Six, with lots of mayhem and some unexpected sights. Dick Valentine shows up as a centaur at this McDonnelzzz dance party. Why? Because some of the guys in the band were obsessed with centaurs.
  • This is a track from the fourth Electric Six album, whose full title is I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master. Since it was 2007, they premiered the track on their MySpace page.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.