If you know anything about the University of Oregon, you know that National Lampoon’s Animal House was filmed on and around the campus.
Even if you’ve only been a student for a few weeks, you’ve probably heard “Shout” from Otis Day and the Knights (a band made up for the movie) at some point.
Initially, the song – an often-covered track first written in 1959 by the Isley Brothers – was featured in the 1978 comedy during a toga party at a fraternity. The song was actually lip-synched by actor and the band’s frontman DeWayne Jessie and sung by Lloyd Williams. Even though the band was just created for the movie, Otis Day and The Knights have since sustained tours as a real band.
The R&B group will play at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 in the EMU Ballroom.
“Shout” is now ubiquitous. It’s a staple of every game at Autzen, as it marks the beginning of the fourth quarter. It’s the elemental anthem for any toga party, as the whispered bridge “a little bit softer now…a little bit softer now…” will get everyone ducking to the ground, and the subsequent “a little bit louder now…” will escalate into enthusiastic hysterics and jumping.
In September, Nike Football recreated the film scene and used the song in an commercial with (not-real-UO-alum) Ty Burrell, former Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota and Otis Day and the Knights.
The ad was evidently supposed to run after the Ducks won the National Championship game in January (which was lost to Ohio State), and instead went public on Sept. 12, when the Ducks played Michigan State.
Homecoming Week is a week-long celebration of the university, the Ducks and a convenient excuse for parents to visit their kids in Eugene. It began Monday, Nov. 2, and continues through Sunday.
Friday’s schedule includes a parade, an EMU house party, a haunted campus tour and the Otis Day and the Knights performance. See the full week’s agenda at homecoming.uoregon.edu and read Friday’s schedule below.
Friday, Nov. 6:
4 p.m. – Homecoming Parade starts at 13th Avenue and Agate Street. The parade will travel west on 13th toward University Street, where it’ll then migrate south on University.
4 p.m. – EMU Homecoming House Party takes place at the EMU Amphitheater and surrounding areas, and will feature tailgate games, cornhole tournament and Falling Sky food until 6 p.m.
6 p.m. – Otis Day and the Knights Concert begins in the EMU Ballroom.
8 p.m. – Haunted Campus Tour is a nighttime tour that will begin at EMU Amphitheater and meander through campus’ spookiest locales, with a retelling of the university’s urban legends included – this is the university’s first haunted campus tour.
Otis Day and the Knights to play EMU this Friday
Alex Ruby
October 31, 2015
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