You know the old ice cream jingle that every truck plays? That’s right, Turkey in the Straw. Well Good Humor ice cream and RZA have set out to change the standard song after finding out that it has racist roots. Now RZA has made a new jingle that will become the new standard for ice cream trucks around the nation. And it’s cute and catchy!
“Remember that ice cream jingle? Of course — we all know it. I’m not gonna play it right now, though, because we come to find out that it has racist roots.
Check this out — Good Humor, they called me up and they was like, ‘We gotta do something about this, Riz. We can change the dynamics. We can make a new ice cream jingle for a new era.’”
Now the song “Turkey in the Straw” itself may not have been racist to begin with. It came from British and Irish origins. But when it was sung by minstrels in the 1800’s they paired it with highly racist lyrics and that’s not gonna fly in these current times. Good Humor and RZA thought it would be better to just wipe the slate clean. And in doing so they came up with this:
Now what I like is that it has a good beat to it under the higher notes. So that if you are hard of hearing one way you can at least hear one of the parts. Some people are sensitive to higher pitches. Plus if the truck has a good sound system, you’ll be able to feel the bass when the truck turns in. Which will then allow you to bust open that piggy bank faster than you might of with the other tune.
“We wanted to make a melody that includes all communities — that’s good for every driver, every kid,” RZA said. “And I’m proud to say, for the first time in a long time, a new ice cream truck jingle will be made available to trucks all across the country in perpetuity. That means forever, you know what I mean? Like Wu-Tang is forever. And I will assure you that this one is made with love.”
The song is going to be played all over and is now going to be a standard offering for all ice cream trucks. They have also made it available as a free download for any truck that wants to use it.
What do you think? Do you like the new jingle?
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