mjd's intergalactic comedy hacienda (mich.ideatown.com)

PRESS RELEASES

Here are some press releases about "The Star Wars Cantina," "The Phantom Medley, " and "MJD's Intergalactic Comedy Hacienda."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (OR JUST TAKE YOUR OWN SWEET TIME)
January 22, 1997

"THE STAR WARS CANTINA"
HILARIOUS PARODY SONG RELEASED
TO COINCIDE WITH STAR WARS TRILOGY

MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT, TATOOINE - Radio stations around the galaxy are playing "The Star Wars Cantina," a novelty song performed by writer/comedian Mark Jonathan Davis. The song is a parody of Barry Manilow's 1978 disco hit "Copacabana," and pays timely tribute to the release of the Star Wars Special Edition film trilogy.

"With the new versions of the Star Wars movies coming out," said Davis to himself, because he was typing this, "I thought it would be fun to sing the praises of everyone's favorite films."

After spending a few frantic weeks sneaking into advance Star Wars screenings, Mark headed for the recording studio. Three days later, "The Star Wars Cantina" was completed.

"The Star Wars Cantina" tells of the Mos Eisley Cantina, the creature-infested tavern on Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine. There, Luke and Obi-Wan Kenobi meet with Millenium Falcon pilots Han Solo and Chewbacca, and the four heroes encounter plenty of trouble and adventure in the seedy sci-fi saloon.

"The Star Wars Cantina" was written, produced, and sung by Mark Jonathan Davis, who writes, produces and sings promo jingles for NBC. He has been writing and performing parody songs since he began working in radio in the early 1980's. Many of his comedy songs have received national airplay and media coverage, including "Rice Rice Baby," "La Isla Gilligan," "We Love Barney Fife," and "Jeannie's Diner," which airs on Nick At Nite as a music-video promo for I Dream Of Jeannie.

You can hear "The Star Wars Cantina" on hundreds of radio stations in every corner of the United States universe, from KIIS-FM/Los Angeles to Z-100/New York City. The parody is receiving frequent coast-to-coast airplay on morning shows and station top-request countdowns, thanks to nationwide distribution on the Premiere Radio Networks, Olympia Radio Networks, and the Westwood One Radio Networks.

"The Star Wars Cantina" made its debut on the nationally-syndicated Dr. Demento Show, and charted as the #2 most requested song of the year on Dr. Demento's 1997 Funny Twenty-Five Countdown. In early 1998, "The Star Wars Cantina" qualified for nomination in the "Best Spoken Word Comedy" category for the 1997 Grammy Awards, although it did not get officially nominated.

UPDATED INFORMATION:

"The Star Wars Cantina" received all sorts of airplay when Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace premiered in early 1999. Radio stations like STAR98.7/Los Angeles, Z100/New York City, and syndicated shows like the Jonathon Brandmeier Showgram aired "The Star Wars Cantina" repeatedly throughout the opening weeks of the film's release.

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Official Press Release for "The Phantom Medley" 5/10/99
May 10, 1999

"THE PHANTOM MEDLEY"
HILARIOUS PARODY SONG RELEASED
FOR STAR WARS EPISODE ONE

THEED PALACE, NABOO - Radio stations around the galaxy are playing "The Phantom Medley," a new comedy novelty song performed by writer -comedian Mark Jonathan Davis & The X-Swing Fighters. The zany song features a swingin' medley of 16 witty ditties about everyone's favorite sci-fi film phenomenon, Star Wars.

"With Episode One: The Phantom Menace coming out,"said Davis to himself, because he was typing this, "I thought it would be fun to pay tribute to the biggest movie of the millenium with a mighty musical medley."

"The Phantom Medley" sings the story of Star Wars, from Luke and Leia to Obi-Wan and Anakin. Parodying familiar tunes like "On Top Of Old Smokey" ("Obi-Wan Kenobi"), "La Bamba", ("La Boba"), and "Come All Ye Faithful" ("Come All Ye Force-ful"), "The Phantom Medley"; is an intergalactic tour de force.

Davis visited the Star Wars universe in 1997 with "The Star Wars Cantina," a spoof of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana." "The Star Wars Cantina" is still one of the most popular parody songs on the internet, and continues to be a frequent #1 request on The Dr. Demento Show.

You can hear "The Phantom Medley" (and "The Star Wars Cantina") on hundreds of radio stations around the planet, from Star98.7/Los Angeles to The Jonathon Brandmeier Show to Z-100/New York City. Both parodies are receiving frequent coast-to-coast airplay, thanks to distribution on the Premiere Radio Networks, Westwood One Radio Networks, and the nationally syndicated Dr. Demento Show.

"The Phantom Medley" was written, produced, and sung by Mark Jonathan Davis, who creates promo jingles for NBC and CBS. He has been writing and performing parody songs since he began working in radio in the early 1980's. His other popular parodies include "Rice Rice Baby,""La Isla Gilligan," and "Jeannie's Diner," which airs on Nick At Nite and TVLand as a music-video
promo for I Dream Of Jeannie.

Or just call, and he'll play it for you over the phone.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (IF YOU CALL SENDING OUT A BUNCH OF EMAILS "IMMEDIATE")
March 25, 2002

MJD's Intergalactic Comedy Hacienda is now open!

http://www.ideatown.com/mich

Please check out the new on-line home for my parody songs, like "The Star Wars Cantina" (and its new music video), "The Phantom Medley," and other sci-fi fun. There are also Star Trek sketches, spoof spots, and links to other spacy, spicy wackiness!

Yes, if you've got an out-of-this-world appetite for exotico hilarity, then please visit my zesty 'n' zany website,
where "Mi casa es Sulu casa!"

Gracias, and Adios!