Tay Zonday Explained

Tay Zonday
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Adam Nyerere Bahner[1]
Birth Date:21 May 1982[2]
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation:YouTube personality, singer, songwriter, voice actor
Years Active:2006–present

Adam Nyerere Bahner (born May 21, 1982), better known by the pseudonym Tay Zonday[3] [4] [5] or as "Chocolate Rain Guy",[6] [7] is an American YouTube personality, singer-songwriter, and voice actor.[8] He is known for his bass singing voice.

Zonday garnered mainstream exposure when his song "Chocolate Rain" became a viral video[7] in July 2007. As of May 2024, "Chocolate Rain" has over 138 million views on YouTube.

Early life

Zonday was born Adam Nyerere Bahner in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to an African-American mother and a Caucasian father. He is the youngest of three children, and his parents were both teachers.[9] He attended the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and dropped out before graduating,[10] but later graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2004.[11] Zonday is autistic, having been diagnosed as high-functioning at age 15.[12] [13]

Zonday enrolled in the University of Minnesota American studies PhD program in 2004, studying the history of theater and social change, with the intention of becoming a professor. After the viral success of "Chocolate Rain", he left university with a master's degree in 2008 and moved to Los Angeles, California.[14] [15] He used a stage name because he wanted a separation between his academic and entertainment career. Bahner chose "Tay Zonday" because he thought it was catchy and nobody had claimed the name yet, according to a Google search.

Career

While a PhD student in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Zonday began performing at open mic nights in 2006. Looking for more feedback, he began uploading his performances online the next year.[16]

"Chocolate Rain"

Zonday released "Chocolate Rain", a viral song on race and race politics, on April 22, 2007.[17] He was soon making appearances on national television. He appeared on G4TV's Attack of the Show!, VH1's Best Week Ever, Lily Allen and Friends, Jimmy Kimmel Live!,[18] Tosh.0 and Maury where he performed "Chocolate Rain" on national television a little over three months after he posted his composition on YouTube. He made the front page of Sunday's Los Angeles Times on August 12, 2007, with additional features in The Toronto Star, The Chicago Tribune's RedEye, The Star Tribune[19] and People and has appeared on CNN[20] for a televised interview. On February 12, 2008, he appeared on the television show Lily Allen and Friends on BBC Three, and performed a cover of Lily Allen's debut "Smile". In March 2008, the video won a YouTube award in the category "Music".

The Australian Daily Telegraph newspaper wrote: "Tay Zonday has written perhaps the most listened-to song in the world right now".[21] People said: "He's scored a YouTube hit with his repetitive, keyboard-driven 'Chocolate Rain', and after a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tay Zonday's star is shining even brighter".[22] The article also noted that celebrity musicians paid tribute to the song as its popularity rapidly peaked in August 2007. John Mayer reportedly copied Zonday's keyboard riff with his guitar in concert,[23] [24] along with appearing on Best Week Ever improvising a parody to the tune of Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right".[25] Green Day drummer Tré Cool recorded a parody of "Chocolate Rain" which he posted on YouTube.[26] Zonday also became the subject of thousands of other parodies and remixes on YouTube. A clip of his video was also shown on The CW's short-lived series, Online Nation. Zonday has also been interviewed twice on Good Morning America, in March and November 2008.

Zonday starred in a commercial for Comedy Central's "Last Laugh 07", hosted by Lewis Black.[27] He released a video called "Cherry Chocolate Rain", in a promotion with Dr Pepper. He starred alongside Leslie Hall in a commercial for Firefox web browser singing a song called "Users Against Boredom" in a parody of "We Are the World". Zonday has said that his voice is often compared to Paul Robeson, Barry White, James Earl Jones, and Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies.[28] He appeared in-person at Intel's Consumer Electronics Show booth, rendering the source files of the "Chocolate Rain" YouTube video in Sony Vegas.[29]

After "Chocolate Rain"

In February 2010, he cameoed in a Vizio Super Bowl commercial opened by Beyoncé.[8]

In August 2011, Zonday released his only EP so far, titled "Chocolate Rain 2.0". In November he uploaded "Mama Economy (The Economy Explained)" in response to an economic crisis in the United States.[30] "Mama Economy" features Lindsey Stirling playing the violin.

On June 22, 2012, Zonday uploaded a cover of Carly Rae Jepsen's number one single "Call Me Maybe", which as of 2022 has reached over 6.7 million views. It was featured on "The 10 Best 'Call Me Maybe' Covers" on Billboard.com. He is seen performing the single in front of a microphone in what he claimed to be "as low as I could [sing]".[31]

Voice acting

Zonday voiced "The King" in the Happy Wheels animated web series based on the video game of the same name, which premiered on Go90 in November 2016.[32]

In July 2017, Machinima, Inc. and Hasbro cast several YouTube personalities, including Zonday, for the animated web series to garner online attention.[33] Zonday was cast as "Chorus of the Primes".[34]

Personal Life

Zonday is autistic, and non-binary.[35]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.tayzonday.com/profile/AdamBoner Profile on official site
  2. Web site: Tweet from May 21, 2017. Twitter. July 20, 2018.
  3. News: Joal . Ryan . The "Chocolate" Reign of Tay Zonday . E! Online . August 9, 2007 . November 24, 2008 . December 12, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081212102937/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b55872_The__amp_quot_Chocolate_amp_quot__Reign_of_Tay_Zonday_.html . live .
  4. News: Zach . Sweat . Tay Zonday Opens Up About 'Chocolate Rain' Going Viral And The Struggles Of Internet Fame As We Look Back On The Last 14 Years. KnowYourMeme . July 2, 2021 . November 5, 2021.
  5. News: Tay Zonday Of 'Chocolate Rain' Fame Shares Brilliant Observation On The Dilemma Of Being Poor In America . May 26, 2020 . July 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180721111648/https://www.inquisitr.com/4994344/tay-zonday-poverty-charges-interest/ . live .
  6. News: Canada on Strike (2008) . South Park . January 5, 2018 .
  7. Fox News report about Numa Numa also mentions: ...fellow viral video star, 'Chocolate Rain Guy', aka Tay Zonday (Sep 22, 2010): Foxnews.com
  8. News: Chocolate Rain Singer Tay Zonday Still A Star; Chocolate Rain Has Gotten Almost 48M YouTube Views . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714142651/http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/chocolate-rain-singer-tay-zonday1266590492270 . dead . July 14, 2011 . MYfox Phoenix . February 17, 2010 . November 24, 2010 .
  9. Web site: Ep. 67 Tay Zonday - Ear Biscuits. August 13, 2016. September 14, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160914195000/https://soundcloud.com/earbiscuits/ep-67-tay-zonday-ear-biscuits. live.
  10. Finley . Klint . Hogwarts for Hackers: Inside the Science and Tech School of Tomorrow . en-US . Wired . 2022-09-27 . 1059-1028.
  11. Web site: Congratulations to The Evergreen State College Class of 2021! . Evergreen State College . 16 July 2021 . July 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210716074743/https://www.evergreen.edu/news/post/2021/congratulations-evergreen-state-college-class-2021 . dead .
  12. Web site: Zonday . Tay . 2021-12-03 . Frequently Asked Questions . 2024-04-06 . Medium . en.
  13. Web site: Zonday . Tay . December 12, 2019 . Let's talk about #aspergers (a thread) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206031054/https://twitter.com/TayZonday/status/1205143811527065600 . February 6, 2024 . April 6, 2024 . X.
  14. I spent a day with VIRAL MEME STARS (Kombucha Girl, Hit or Miss, Chocolate Rain). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211024/kUexle4jktU. 2021-10-24. February 4, 2020. Padilla. Anthony. YouTube video. en-US. 6:04.
  15. Web site: C.J.. June 13, 2017. 'Chocolate Rain' and its many memes bring sweet success to Tay Zonday. October 11, 2020. Star Tribune. December 31, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231210526/http://www.startribune.com/c-j-chocolate-rain-and-its-many-memes-bring-sweet-success-to-tay-zonday/428271353/. live.
  16. Web site: Kale. Sirin. August 24, 2016. Tay Zonday Does Not Want You to Understand the Meaning Of 'Chocolate Rain'. October 11, 2020. www.vice.com. en. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111180500/https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3ggvk/tay-zonday-does-not-want-you-to-understand-the-meaning-of-chocolate-rain. live.
  17. Web site: Tay Zonday on the Opie & Anthony show. YouTube. July 19, 2007. July 20, 2007. May 17, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517085907/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONpjOyzgnYY. live.
  18. http://www.citypages.com/2007-08-22/unknown/rain-man Minneapolis City Pages: Rain Man
  19. Web site: The latest from the StarTribune. Star Tribune. August 13, 2016. January 7, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090107174121/http://www.startribune.com/457/story/1468848.html. live.
  20. News: CNN.com - Transcripts . CNN . November 13, 2007 . March 3, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185609/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/18/cnr.01.html . live .
  21. News: Garth . Montgomery . Chocolate Rain goes huge . Daily Telegraph . News Limited. . August 1, 2007 . August 9, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070919091650/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22170787-5012327,00.html . September 19, 2007 .
  22. News: Brian . Orloff . 'Chocolate Rain' YouTube Sensation Makes TV Debut . People . Time Inc. . August 9, 2007 . August 9, 2007 . March 29, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110329181331/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20050678,00.html . live .
  23. News: Keiper . Nicole . Concert Review: John Mayer brings soul to Nashville . The Tennessean . August 4, 2007 . April 17, 2021 . December 19, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071219225723/http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070804%2FENTERTAINMENT0106%2F70804002 . live .
  24. News: MTV News Staff . Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony Roll Out Tour Dates; Plus Lindsay Lohan, Gwen Stefani, Nas, Amy Winehouse & More, In For The Record . MTV News . August 6, 2007 . September 12, 2007 . May 28, 2012 . http://www.freezepage.com/1338238704IESAUPZMIY?url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1566402/20070806/lopez_jennifer.jhtml . dead .
  25. http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/08/03/bwe-exclusive-john-mayers-chocolate-rain-remix/ John Mayer on Best Week Ever
  26. News: Tim . Cashmere . Green Day Drummer Tre Cool Covers Tay Zonday . Undercover . August 3, 2007 . August 9, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070810150823/http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=2560 . August 10, 2007 .
  27. Web site: funnyguy1375 . Last Laugh 07 Chocolate Rain - Tay Zonday . YouTube . November 15, 2007 . January 12, 2009 . December 4, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071204060312/http://youtube.com/watch?v=STbQFlYaewM . live .
  28. Web site: Riley . Duncan . Exclusive: Mozilla Secretly Launches A Viral Campaign For Firefox . Techcrunch.com . January 7, 2008 . January 12, 2009 . January 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180113143222/https://techcrunch.com/2008/01/07/exclusive-mozilla-secretly-launches-a-viral-campaign-for-firefox/ . live .
  29. Web site: channelintel . Chocolate Rain at CES . YouTube . January 7, 2008 . January 12, 2009 . August 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130806191843/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFbI7POX8Wg . live .
  30. Web site: 'Chocolate Rain' Creator Tay Zonday Explains The Economy In New Single 'Mama Economy'. Huffington Post. December 4, 2017. November 15, 2011. December 20, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111220195507/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/chocolate-rain-creator-tay-zonday-explains-the-economy-in-mama-ecomony_n_1094068.html. live.
  31. Menyes, Carolyn (June 14, 2012). "The 10 Best 'Call Me Maybe' Covers" . Billboard
  32. Web site: Trumbore. Dave. November 15, 2016. 'Happy Wheels' Animated Web Series Brings the Hit Game's Dark Humor to Life. October 11, 2020. Collider. en-US. November 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108090433/https://collider.com/happy-wheels-series-trailer/. live.
  33. Web site: Spangler. Todd. July 18, 2017. Transformers: Titans Return' Series Casts Peter Cullen, Judd Nelson, Wil Wheaton. July 19, 2017. Variety Magazine. July 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170719004613/http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/transformers-titans-return-wil-wheaton-peter-cullen-judd-nelson-1202498541/. live.
  34. Web site: Fahey. Mike. July 19, 2017. The Transformers: Titans Return Animated Series Gets Real Voice Actors. October 11, 2020. Kotaku. en-us. September 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200910020503/https://kotaku.com/the-transformers-titans-return-animated-series-gets-re-1797049238. live.
  35. Web site: 2024-08-06 . Ripley Lawman on X: "Tay Zonday in the comment section of https://t.c… . 2024-08-06 . archive.ph.

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