"Tequila" is a 1958 Latin-flavored
surf instrumental
An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instru ...
written by
Chuck Rio and recorded by
the Champs
The Champs are an American rock band, most famous for their Latin-tinged rock and roll instrumental "Tequila". The group took their name from that of Gene Autry's horse, Champion, and was formed by studio executives at Autry's Challenge Recor ...
. "Tequila" became a No. 1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts at the time of its release and continues to be strongly referenced in pop culture to this day.
History
In 1957,
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, and baseball owner who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning s ...
's record label,
Challenge Records, signed Dave Burgess (born 1934), a
rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western music ...
singer-songwriter from California who often recorded under the name "Dave Dupree". At the end of 1957, having produced no
hits
Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* ''H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block
* ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998
* ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014 - a British compilation album se ...
, Challenge Records looked to Burgess, who organized a recording session on December 23 in Hollywood. In the studio that day were Burgess on rhythm guitar, Cliff Hils on bass, the Flores Trio (
Danny Flores
Daniel Flores (July 11, 1929 – September 19, 2006), also known by his stage name Chuck Rio, was an American rock and roll saxophonist. He is best remembered for his self-penned song "Tequila", which he recorded with The Champs, and which reac ...
saxophone and piano, Gene Alden on drums, and lead guitarist Buddy Bruce), and
Huelyn Duvall
Huelyn Wayne Duvall (August 18, 1939 – May 15, 2019) was an American rock and roll and rockabilly musician.
Career
Huelyn Duvall was born on August 18, 1939 in Garner, Texas to William Daniel Duvall and Ila Lee Measures Duvall. Duvall is kno ...
contributing backing vocals. They gathered primarily to record "Train to Nowhere", a song by Burgess, as well as "Night Beat" and "All Night Rock" (a song that has never been released).
The last tune recorded was "Tequila", essentially just a jam by the Flores Trio. It is based on a Cuban mambo song ''Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos'' by
Cachao
Israel López Valdés (September 14, 1918 – March 22, 2008), better known as Cachao ( ), was a Cuban double bassist and composer. Cachao is widely known as the co-creator of the mambo and a master of the descarga (improvised jam sessions). T ...
. The word "
Tequila
Tequila (; ) is a liquor, distilled beverage made from the Agave tequilana, blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, Jalisco, Tequila northwest of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands ...
" is spoken three times throughout the tune. There were three takes, and Danny Flores, who wrote the song, was also the man who spoke the word "Tequila!" solo. The song served as the
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
for "Train to Nowhere", which was released by
Challenge Records (No. 1016) on January 15, 1958. Duvall recalls that the record initially found little success, but, after a DJ in
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
played the B-side, "Tequila" reached No. 1 on the
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
chart on March 28, 1958.
Daniel Flores had written "Tequila", but, because he was signed to another label, the tune was credited to "Chuck Rio", a name he adopted for the stage. Those present for the December 23 session began recording together again on January 20, 1958, under the name the Champs; the group technically formed ''after'' recording "Tequila". The tune has been noted to have a similar rhythm structure to
Bo Diddley
Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, incl ...
's 1958 release "
Dearest Darling Dearest may refer to:
* ''Dearest'' (2012 film) ('' Anata e''), a 2012 Japanese film directed by Yasuo Furuhata
* ''Dearest'' (2014 film) (''Qin Ai De''), a 2014 Chinese film directed by Peter Chan
* "Dearest" (Ayumi Hamasaki song)
* ''Dearest'' ...
".
The Champs recorded a sequel to "Tequila" entitled "Too Much Tequila". Released as a maroon-label Challenge single, it reached No. 30 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. In 2020, group leader Dave Burgess resurrected The Champs and recorded 12 new tracks for an LP entitled ''Tequila Party''. The album contains a "party" version of "Tequila".
Covers and references in popular culture
*
Eddie Platt took the tune to No. 20 in the U.S. in 1958.
*
Stan Kenton and His Orchestra
Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though Ke ...
covered "Tequila" for Capitol Records in 1958. Capitol Records No. 3928.
* Orquesta Tropicana recorded "Tequila" for their 1961 album, ''Noches De Caracas''.
*
The Piltdown Men
The Piltdown Men were an American rock and roll instrumental studio group from Hollywood, California, United States, featuring two lead saxophones.
They were the brainchild of Ed Cobb and pianist Lincoln Mayorga of the Four Preps, and their reco ...
released the tune as a single in 1962 called "Tequila
Bossa Nova
Bossa nova () is a style of samba developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is mainly characterized by a "different beat" that altered the harmonies with the introduction of unconventional chords and an innovativ ...
" (with "Tequila Bossa Nova" replacing "Tequila" as the calls).
* The tune was covered by
the Ventures
The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in Tacoma, Washington, in 1958, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, which was a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar across the world during the ...
twice. Initially it was on their 1963
Dolton album ''
The Ventures Play Telstar and the Lonely Bull
''The Ventures Play Telstar and the Lonely Bull'' is an album by the band the Ventures, released in 1963. It consists entirely of cover versions of popular instrumentals from the late 1950s to early 1960s (all of which reached the Top 15 on Billb ...
'', BST 8019
* The
(former) Yugoslav band
Iskre
Iskre ( sr-cyr, Искре; English: ''The Sparks'') were a Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1961. Iskre were one of Yugoslavia's earliest rock bands and are notable for being one of the pioneers of the Yugoslav rock scene.
History 1961- ...
released a cover in 1965.
* The tune was covered by
Bill Black's Combo
William Patton Black Jr. (September 17, 1926 – October 21, 1965) was an American musician and bandleader who is noted as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. He played in Elvis Presley's early trio. Black later formed Bill Black's Combo.
Ear ...
: "Tequila"/"Raunchy", 7" single, Hi Records 45-2077, US 1966.
*
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...
recorded a version of the tune on his 1966 album ''
The Melody Lingers On'' on
Limelight Records Limelight Records was a jazz record label and subsidiary of Mercury Records started in 1962. The catalogue included music by Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Hines, Milt Jackson, Gerry Mulligan, and Oscar Peterson.
Originally headed by Quincy Jone ...
.
*
Jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
guitarist
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a dist ...
recorded a version of the tune on his 1966 album ''
Tequila
Tequila (; ) is a liquor, distilled beverage made from the Agave tequilana, blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, Jalisco, Tequila northwest of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands ...
'' on
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). Founded in 1956 by Norman Granz, the label is home to the world's largest jazz catalogue, which includes recordings by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, ...
.
*
Boots Randolph
Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III (June 3, 1927 – July 3, 2007) was an American musician best known for his 1963 saxophone hit "Yakety Sax" (which became Benny Hill's signature tune). Randolph was a major part of the "Nashville sound" for most o ...
on his 1967 album ''Sax-Sational'' featured a version very faithful to the original.
* In 1968,
Joe Loss
Sir Joshua Alexander "Joe" Loss (22 June 1909 – 6 June 1990) was a British dance band leader and musician who founded his own eponymous orchestra.
Life
Loss was born in Spitalfields, London, the youngest of four children. His parents, Israe ...
And His Orchestra, a British dance band, recorded their danceable version on the album ''Latin A La Loss''.
* The Button Down Brass released a version on their 1970 album, ''This is...The Button Down Brass''.
*
Hot Butter
Hot Butter were an American instrumental band fronted by the keyboard player and studio musician Stan Free. The other band members were John Abbott, Bill Jerome, Steve Jerome, and Danny Jordan and Dave Mullaney. They were best known for their 19 ...
, known for their 1972 single
"Popcorn", released "Tequila" as a single the same year.
*
Dr. Feelgood covered the tune live on their 1974 debut album, ''
Down by the Jetty
''Down by the Jetty'' is the debut album by English rock band Dr. Feelgood, released in January 1975.
The band's Johnny Kidd & the Pirates-influenced originals ("Keep It Out of Sight") appear alongside covers material like " Bonie Moronie" ...
''.
*
Bad Manners
Bad Manners are an English two-tone and ska band led by frontman Buster Bloodvessel. Early appearances included ''Top of the Pops'' and the live film documentary, ''Dance Craze'' (1981).
They were at their most popular during the early 1980 ...
covered the tune on their 1980 album ''
Loonee Tunes!
''Loonee Tunes!'' is the second album by British 2 Tone and ska band Bad Manners, from the year 1980. In keeping with the format of their first album, the first track is an instrumental. It reached number 36 on the UK album chart. The album op ...
''
* Jazz guitarist
Larry Carlton
Larry Eugene Carlton (born March 2, 1948) is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s for acts such as Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. He has participated in thousands of recording sessions, recorde ...
recorded a version of the tune, with
scat vocals by
Al Jarreau
Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R ...
, on his 1983 album ''
Friends
''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...
''.
* US band No Way José reached No. 47 in the UK chart with their version in 1985.
*
The Reverend Horton Heat
The Reverend Horton Heat is the stage name of American musician James C. Heath (born 1959) as well as the name of his Dallas, Texas-based psychobilly trio. Heath is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. A ''Prick'' magazine reviewer called Heath ...
, on their 1990 album ''
Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em
Smoking in the United States military has been observed in previous wars, but smoking's close association with the United States Armed Forces, United States military started in World War I when tobacco companies began to target military personnel ...
'', recorded "Marijuana", which bears a strong resemblance in structure to "Tequila".
* A
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
hip hop cover
Cover or covers may refer to:
Packaging
* Another name for a lid
* Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package
* Album cover, the front of the packaging
* Book cover or magazine cover
** Book design
** Back cover copy, part of co ...
in 1992 by
A.L.T. & the Lost Civilization became a top-ten hit in Australia and New Zealand and reached number 48 in the United States.
* Industrial Metal band
Klutæ released a reworking entitled "Tequila Slammer" on their 1995
EP ''Excepted'', using samples of the original lyrics and horns layered with drum machines and heavy guitar.
*
Keimzeit covered the tune on their 1996 live album ''Nachtvorstellung''.
* Japanese band the Pugs do a punk-thrash cover of the tune on their 1997 compilation album ''Pugs Bite the Red Knee'', using samples of the original recording.
* Japanese reggae singer
Corn Head
Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American English, North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples of Mexico, indigenous ...
covered the tune on his 2000 EP ''Young Generation''.
* The
Tony Levin
Anthony Frederick Levin (born June 6, 1946) is an American musician and composer, specializing in electric bass, Chapman Stick and upright bass. He also sings and plays synthesizer. Levin is best known for his work with King Crimson (since 198 ...
Band released a version of the tune on their 2002 album ''
Pieces of the Sun
''Pieces of the Sun'' is bassist Tony Levin's third solo album. It is an instrumental record blending elements of jazz, progressive rock, experimental, and international music. It featured his touring group of the time, which included keyboardist ...
''. This version has little resemblance to the original, aside from the occasional playing of the main tequila theme and a quiet utterance of the title three times during the course of the song. Levin claims a co-writing credit on his version.
* Spanish duo
Azúcar Moreno
Azúcar Moreno (; Spanish for "brown sugar") is a Spanish music duo composed of sisters Antonia "Toñi" and Encarnación "Encarna" Salazar. The duo has sold more than 3 million albums and singles since 1984 domestically, and became famous in Eur ...
on their 2002 album ''
Únicas''.
*
David Sanborn
David William Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album ''Taking Off'' in 1 ...
covered the tune from his 2003 album ''Time Again''.
* Japanese hip-hop duo So'Fly covered the tune on their 2008 album ''Blood & Wine''.
*
Ska Cubano
Ska Cubano is a London-based group which combines ska and Cuban music such as son and mambo, with elements of other genres including cumbia and calypso.
History
The group was put together by investment manager Peter A. Scott, who in his own wor ...
covered this tune on their 2010 album ''Mambo Ska'', and it forms part of their current live set.
*
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of commercially-oriented crossover jazz and easy listening music that became dominant in the mid 1970s to the early 1990s.
History
Smooth jazz is a commercially oriented, crossover jazz which came to prominence in the 19 ...
guitarist
George Benson
George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist.
A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...
covered the song on his 2011 album ''
Guitar Man''.
*
Pérez Prado
Dámaso Pérez Prado (December 11, 1916 – September 14, 1989) was a Cuban bandleader, pianist, composer and arranger who popularized the Mambo (music), mambo in the 1950s.''On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture'' Louis A. P ...
covered the tune.
* A segment of the tune also appears in the song "What Happened?" by California
punk/ska band
Sublime on their 1992 album ''40oz. To Freedom''. The song is about the morning after a party and the word "Tequila" is replaced with "What Happened?"
* The saxophone riff was used by
Suggs
Graham McPherson (born 13 January 1961), known primarily by his stage name Suggs, is an English singer-songwriter, musician, radio personality and actor from Hastings, England.
In a music career spanning 40 years, he came to prominence in the ...
on his 1996 song "(No More) Alcohol".
*
Ska punk
Ska punk (also spelled ska-punk) is a fusion genre that mixes ska music and punk rock music together. (sometimes spelled skacore) is a subgenre of ska punk that mixes ska with hardcore punk. Early ska punk mixed both 2 tone and ska with hardc ...
band
Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Orange County, California. The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold-certified album ''Turn the Radio Off''. Soon af ...
humorously played a portion of the tune as an intro to their song "Beer" on their 2011 tour with
Streetlight Manifesto
Streetlight Manifesto is an American ska punk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, formed in 2002. They released their first album, ''Everything Goes Numb'', which was distributed by Victory Records, on August 26, 2003. The band he ...
.
* Japanese ska band
Oreskaband
is an all-female ska band from Sakai, Japan. As well as performing regularly within Japan, they have toured in North and South America, as well as Europe.
History Origins (2003-2006)
Oreskaband began in 2003 when the members were still in mi ...
frequently cover the song in live performances.
* "Tequila" is the
University of Washington
The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington.
Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattle a ...
Husky Marching Band "dynasty" song, with Husky fans sporting "Tequila!" bumper stickers and T-shirts. The band plays the song at every home and away football game.
* "Tequila" was featured in many post 1990s
RatDog
RatDog is an American rock band. The group began in 1995 as a side project for Grateful Dead guitarist and singer Bob Weir. After the Dead disbanded later that year, RatDog became Weir's primary band. They performed some Grateful Dead songs, a mix ...
sets, usually segued into from "Sylvio".
*
Sheb Wooley's hit "
The Purple People Eater
"The Purple People Eater" is a novelty song written and performed by Sheb Wooley, which reached No. 1 in the ''Billboard'' pop charts in 1958 from June 9 to July 14, No. 1 in Canada, reached No. 12 overall in the UK Singles Chart, and topped ...
" implies that "Tequila" is one of the songs the titular character learns to play with his horn; the last word of the song is the title character uttering the word "tequila." Both songs were released in 1958.
*In the 1960 film ''
Pepe
Pepe is a pet form of the Spanish name José (Josep). It is also a surname.
*
People
Mononyms
* Pepe (footballer, born 1935), real name José Macia, Brazilian footballer
*Pepe (footballer, born 1983), real name Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira ...
'',
Cantinflas
Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes (12 August 1911 – 20 April 1993), known by the stage name Cantinflas (), was a Mexican comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is considered to have been the most widely-accomplished Mexican comedian and is cele ...
and
Debbie Reynolds
Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. Her career spanned almost 70 years. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her portra ...
jumped out of a tequila bottle and danced to the tune "Tequila" dressed as Mexican peasants.
*"Tequila" was played in the 1961 film ''
Breakfast at Tiffany's'', during the party that
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, t ...
's character hosted.
*The song is well known for being played during high school and college football games, usually performed by the school's band.
*The TV series ''
Happy Days
''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most succ ...
'' made a lot of use of the "Tequila" hit, especially at the diner scenes.
*In the 1980 film ''
Cheech and Chong's Next Movie
''Cheech and Chong's Next Movie'' is a 1980 American comedy film directed by Tommy Chong and the second feature-length project by Cheech & Chong, following '' Up in Smoke'', released by Universal Pictures.
Plot
Cheech & Chong are on a mission t ...
'', the tune was played during a montage scene in which Cheech and Chong begin customizing Cheech's work van.
*The 1985 film ''
Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' featured a scene in which
Pee-wee Herman
Pee-wee Herman is a comic fictional character created and portrayed by American comedian Paul Reubens. He is best known for his films and television series during the 1980s. The childlike Pee-wee Herman character developed as a stage act that ...
knocks over a row of motorcycles, then proceeds to win over the angered bikers by selecting "Tequila" from the
jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media. The classic jukebox has buttons, with letters and numbers on them, which are used to selec ...
and comically dancing to it. The "Pee-wee dance," as well as the character himself, have since been closely linked with the tune in popular culture. This usage of the tune was further referenced in rapper Joeski Love's track "Pee-wee's Dance", which also used "Tequila"'s melody. "
Earl of Bud" was a
beer
Beer is one of the oldest and the most widely consumed type of alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from ce ...
vendor who became famous for doing the dance routine at Buffalo sporting events.
Professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
Danhausen is also known to do the "Pee-wee dance" to the tune of Tequila in the middle of matches.
*Canadian figure skater
Kurt Browning
Kurt Browning, (born June 18, 1966) is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is the first skater to land a ratified quadruple jump in competition. He is a four-time World Champion and Canadian national champion.
Career ...
used the song for his short program during the 1987–1988 season which included the
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games (french: XVes Jeux olympiques d'hiver) and commonly known as Calgary 1988 ( bla, Mohkínsstsisi 1988; sto, Wîchîspa Oyade 1988 or ; cr, Otôskwanihk 1998/; srs, Guts ...
.
*In the 1990 film ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' is an American media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Miche ...
'', Michelangelo and Donatello dance to "Tequila" but change the lyric to "
Ninjutsu
, sometimes used interchangeably with the modern term , is the martial art strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare and espionage purportedly practised by the ninja. ''Ninjutsu'' was a separate discipline in some tradit ...
!"
*"Tequila" is played during the dance competition at the start of ''
Strictly Ballroom
''Strictly Ballroom'' is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann in his feature directorial debut. The film is the first in his "Red Curtain Trilogy" of theatre-motif-related films; it was followed by 1996 ...
'' (1992). Other films in which it appears include ''
JFK
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination i ...
'' (1991).
*In the 1993 film ''
The Sandlot
''The Sandlot'' (released in some countries as ''The Sandlot Kids'') is a 1993 American coming-of-age sports comedy film co-written, directed, and narrated by David Mickey Evans
David Mickey Evans (born October 20, 1962) is an American film d ...
'', the song plays during a scene in which the main characters become nauseous and vomit while on an amusement park ride after chewing tobacco. This scene has been cut from some television airings of the film.
*In the 2006 film ''
Night at the Museum
''Night at the Museum'' is a 2006 fantasy comedy film directed by Shawn Levy and written by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. It is based on the 1993 children's book of the same name by Croatian illustrator Milan Trenc. The film had an ensem ...
'', the tune is played at a party Cecil is attending. Larry calls Cecil for help, but is quickly hung up on when Cecil participates in the dancing of the song.
*The song "Está llegando la banda" ("The band is arriving") uses the tune of "Tequila". "Está llegando la banda" is usually sung at
Mexican Football Federation
The Mexican Football Federation (; abbreviated as Femexfut or FMF) is the governing body of association football in Mexico. It adm the Mexico national team, the Liga MX and all affiliated amateur sectors, and controls promoting, organizing, direc ...
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
matches.
*In the first season finale of the medical drama ''
ER'', "Everything Old Is New Again", the song is played at Carol's wedding whilst all the guests dance along and shout "Tequila" along with the song.
*In the ''
Friends
''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...
'' episode, "The One with the Holiday Armadillo",
Rachel
Rachel () was a Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob's two wives, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel. Rachel's father was Laban. Her older sister was Leah, Jacob's first wife. Her aun ...
and
Joey
Joey may refer to:
People
*Joey (name)
Animals
* Joey (marsupial), an infant marsupial
* Joey, a Blue-fronted Amazon parrot who was one of the Blue Peter pets
Film and television
* ''Joey'' (1977 film), an American film directed by Horac ...
claim that they have learned a song on the drum set that
Phoebe bought; although what Rachel plays doesn't sound like an actual song, they both shout "Tequila!" after.
*
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3, 1965), known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor. He has appeared in films such as ''Platoon'' (1986), ''Wall Street'' (1987), '' Young Guns'' (1988), '' The Rookie'' (1990), ''The Thr ...
's character sings this in the ''
Two and a Half Men
''Two and a Half Men'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS for twelve seasons from September 22, 2003, to February 19, 2015. Originally starring Charlie Sheen in the lead role alongside Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones, the ...
'' episode "Principal Gallagher's Lesbian Lover", but changes the lyric to 'Gridlock'.
*''
Mafia II
''Mafia II'' is a 2010 action-adventure game developed by 2K Czech and published by 2K Games. It was released in August 24 2010 for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360. The game is a standalone sequel to 2002's ''Mafia (video game), Mafia'', an ...
'' featured the Champs' "Tequila" on the radio station Empire Central Radio during the '50s part of the game
* The Champs' "Tequila" is featured in Elton John and Tim Rice's "The Lion King" Broadway musical. The hit musical made its Broadway debut in 1997.
*
Terrorvision
''TerrorVision'' is a 1986 American science fiction horror comedy film directed by Ted Nicolaou, produced and written by Albert and Charles Band and composed by Richard Band, all of whom would go on to found and work with Full Moon Features in ...
used the main elements of the melody of this tune as the basis of their song "
Tequila
Tequila (; ) is a liquor, distilled beverage made from the Agave tequilana, blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, Jalisco, Tequila northwest of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands ...
", which reached No. 2 in the UK charts in January 1999.
* In the summer and early fall of 2009, the Ventures' version of the song was heard in
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel (TWC) is an American pay television channel owned by Weather Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Allen Media Group. The channel's headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia. Launched on May 2, 1982, the channel broadcasts weather forecas ...
's ''
Local on the 8s
''Local on the 8s'' (or the Local Forecast) is a program segment that airs on the American network The Weather Channel. It provides viewers with information on current and forecasted weather conditions for their respective area; a version of thi ...
'' segments.
*In
Dave Gorman
David James Gorman (born 2 March 1971) is an English comedian, presenter, and writer.
Gorman began his career writing for comedy series such as ''The Mrs Merton Show'' (1993–1998) and ''The Fast Show'' (1994–1997), and later garnered ac ...
's ''Modern Life is Goodish'' at the end of S01E03 he replaces "tequila" with "free peeler!"
*A recomposition of the song was used as the theme song for ''
Banana Split'' from 2009 until 2011.
*The 2017 movie ''
Baby Driver
''Baby Driver'' is a 2017 action film written and directed by Edgar Wright. It stars Ansel Elgort as a getaway driver seeking freedom from a life of crime with his girlfriend Debora (Lily James). Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Eiza González, Jamie ...
'' features the Button Down Brass' 1970 version of "Tequila".
*In 2017, Fans of
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. They play in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.
The club was founded in 1878 but did not turn profession ...
started using the song for their on loan midfielder
Bersant Celina replacing "tequila" with "Celina!"
*Appeared in ''
Who's the Boss?'' Season 3 Episode 24 – A Moving Episode.
*The first few bars are sampled for one of the music tracks in ''
EarthBound
''EarthBound'', released in Japan as is a role-playing video game developed by Creatures (company), Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The second entry in the Mother (video game s ...
''.
*The 2019 video game ''
Far Cry New Dawn
''Far Cry New Dawn'' is a 2019 first-person shooter game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is a spin-off and sequel to ''Far Cry 5'', and the twelfth overall installment in the ''Far Cry'' series. Set seventeen years aft ...
'' features the Bill Black's Combo version of "Tequila".
*On June 20, 2019, Andy Rowell performed his Karaoke version on America's Got Talent and received 4 yes's from the Judges and a Standing "Dancing" Ovation from the crowd
*The song was featured in the 2021 ''
Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, a ...
'' episode,
The Last Barfighter.
*The song has been adopted by supporters of English football club
Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers Football Club is a professional association football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. The team compete in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club, they ado ...
and is sung at most home games.
*The song was adopted by supporters of
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...
in 2022 in honour of their defender
William Saliba
William Alain André Gabriel Saliba (born 24 March 2001) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Arsenal and the France national team.
Club career Saint-Étienne
Saliba began playing football at the age of six ...
, replacing the word "Tequila" in the song with "Saliba".
*The song has also been adopted by supporters of Brighton & Hove Albion, honouring winger
Kaoru Mitoma
is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Japan national team.
Club career Early years
Born in Kanagawa, Mitoma grew up in the Kawasaki area and joined the Frontale aca ...
, replacing “Tequila” with “Mitoma”.
See also
*
List of number-one singles of 1958 (U.S.)
*
List of number-one R&B singles of 1958 (U.S.)
References
{{Authority control
1958 singles
1958 songs
Cashbox number-one singles
The Champs songs
Rock instrumentals