Talk:Dueling Banjos

Copyrights
James Dickey first heard Dueling Banjos in a guitar/banjo arrangement by Portland, OR folk musicians Mike Russo and Ron Brentano in 1963. He was introduced to them first on tape and then in person by me and several other Reed College students who were teaching him guitar at the time. We all had great hopes that Russo and Brentano would do the music for Deliverance. When Warner Brothers decided to have Eric Weissberg and Steven Mandel do the music instead, Jim called me and apologized. He said he had no control over what Warner Brothers did, and he felt "like a prize pig at a pork judging contest."

This is can be verified in both "The World as a Lie - James Dickey", Henry Hart's biography, and "Summer of Deliverance" by James Dickey's son, Christopher.

John Ullman

The Darling family and Andy play it in the "Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee" episode of the Andy Griffith Show in 1963. - Steve Gluck

Movie studio theme
The riff can be heard before the start of some movies. It is the theme, and appears with the logo, of some production outfit. Does anyone know which one? - Matthew238 03:42, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

Samples yankee doodle
the song samples the melody of the first verse of yankee doodle lol. --76.113.62.128 (talk) 19:14, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

This is ridiculous. That Yankee Doodle thing is just a bridge between sections - a common device in music. Can someone with musical knowledge stomp this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.77.114.125 (talk) 08:17, 7 April 2012 (UTC)

Use in Snoken Productions Machinima
In the recent episode of Frost, a Battlefield 2142 Machinima created by Snoken production, a part of the song was used as background music in the "Redneck Chase Scene", which was I believe, at 3:32 until 4:21. Would this be a significant entry in refrences to Popular Culture? Jusuchin Panjirinanu 21:29, 30 April 2007 (UTC)
 * No. 216.135.89.138 (talk) 18:10, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

Use in Tiny Toons Adventures
Tiny Toons Adventures "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" also features a direct parody of this scene. (205.250.167.76 16:33, 13 March 2007 (UTC))

Wasn't there another commercial using this song?
I vaguely remember an SUV commercial (I think it was) that had a group of campers way out in the woods somewhere, and they'd just finished setting up their tents and supplies and stuff... and then they hear the sound of "Dueling Banjos" being played somewhere off in the distance. They look at each other, then frantically start packing everything back up into the back of the SUV, pile into their seats, and burn rubber getting out of the area. Anyone remember this one, and what the car company was, or exactly when this was? Nomad Of Norad (talk) 07:47, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

I definitely remember the commercial you're talking about; I thought it was hilarious. I do not remember when it was or what car it was - maybe Suzuki or Isuzu? I also remember a commercial for AOL using it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Smitherd (talk • contribs) 19:34, 9 December 2007 (UTC)

It was for the Saturn VUE: http://www.lyingmediabastards.com/archives/000393.html but I don't think we can link to a copy of the ad. Machiavillain (talk) 18:28, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

There was also a Sekonda ad, which I can't seem to find, which used the tune. Two guys with electric guitars 'duel' one another, one using some classic expensive guitar and the other a repro one. Of course, there is no difference in the quality, hence the tagline 'Beware of expensive imitations'. I really wouldn't mind seeing the ad again, but it just ain't out there anywhere. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.155.254.175 (talk) 20:33, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

The trivia section is larger than the rest of the article
This article is odd in that respect, and needs major cleanup.--h i s  s p a c e   r e s e a r c h 21:40, 4 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Double ditto that. The whole trivia thing on Wiki is ridiculous in virtually every article, but here it takes the cake.Sensei48 (talk) 00:00, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Pop Culture & Contemporary Use
Would anyone object to a section like this? I'm not trying to resurrect the trivia debacle, but the song has been used (or sampled) countless times in movies, radio, and television shows ever since it was introduced. It's been used to highlight as well as malign in variety of ways throughout the Entertainment industry, but the fact remains that the song just won't go away.

I have been a banjo player (4-string) for over 30 years and I have lost track of how many times I have been asked to play Dueling Banjos let alone how many times I've actually played it. I am interested in paying homage to the song, not compiling a list of useless dribble.

Sound OK? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Scalhotrod (talk • contribs) 20:10, 2 December 2010 (UTC)
 * I suppose a compromise on the "trivia/pop culture" question is to at least mention that the tunes opening is a somewhat derogatory meme for backwoods culture, and mention at least one significant use, or a source discussing its use as a meme. a musical meme. hmm, what would that be called? Also, the album needs its own article, as does the other musician performing on it. i will do that article, as i have the vinyl LP.(mercurywoodrose)66.80.6.163 (talk) 19:11, 29 March 2011 (UTC)

In 1973, Martin Mull's "Dueling Tubas" (on his album Martin Mull and His Fabulous Furniture in Your LIving Room!) charted as a single at #92 on Billboard's Hot 100. Gotta be mentioned in this article, don'tchathink? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.251.135.74 (talk) 18:27, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

Andy Griffith plays Dueling Banjos
The Darling family and Andy play it in the "Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee" episode of the Andy Griffith Show in 1963. - Steve Gluck — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.235.181.60 (talk) 01:48, 12 January 2012 (UTC)

A version of a traditional song
I have visited this page for two years, and no one had pointed this. I own a copy of the EP, and even on the LP and CD covers is noted that Duelin' Banjos is an arrangement by Eric Weissberg from "End of a Dream", a traditional song included in the same media. It's evident just by hearing both songs. I hope someone correct this, someone with better pitch and better English than me. --200.77.114.125 (talk) 08:30, 7 April 2012 (UTC)