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Adam Nyerere Bahner (born July 6, 1982), better known by the pseudonym Tay Zonday, is an American

musician, voice actor, film actor, and social commentator. He was an MC for YouTube Live in 2008. He entered mainstream exposure when his composition "Chocolate Rain" and accompanying video on YouTube became a popular Internet meme in July 2007. By November 2009, it had over 44 million views.

Media response

In July 2007, Zonday went from a grad student in Minneapolis

to appearances on national television. He appeared on the Opie & Anthony Show, G4TV's Attack of the Show!, VH1’s Best Week Ever, Lily Allen and Friends, Jimmy Kimmel Live, 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 Tribunes RedEye, The Star Tribune and People and has appeared on CNN for a televised interview. He also has appeared on Fox News. 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 hit "Smile". In March 2008 this popular video won a YouTube-award in the category "Music", and he was also spoofed in the South Park episode "Canada on Strike".

The Australian Daily Telegraph newspaper wrote: "Tay Zonday has written perhaps the most listened to song in the world right now." 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.” The article also noted that celebrity musicians paid tribute to the song as its popularity rapidly peaked in August 2007. Singer John Mayer reportedly mimicked Zonday's keyboard riff with his guitar in concert, along with appearing on Best Week Ever improvising a parody to the tune of Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right". Green Day drummer Tré Cool recorded a cover of "Chocolate Rain" which he posted on Youtube. Zonday also became the subject of thousands of other parodies and remixes on YouTube. A clip of his video was also shown on CW11's Online Nation, a new series. Zonday has been interviewed twice on Good Morning America, in March and November 2008.

A singing tip in Guitar Hero World Tour advises the player to "move away from the mic to breathe in." Zonday has also been referenced in episodes of The Office, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 30 Rock and South Park.

Post-Meme career

Comedy Central "Last Laugh 07"

In November 2007 Zonday starred in a commercial for Comedy Central's "Last Laugh 07", hosted by Lewis Black. In it, he sings lyrics of celebrity gossip to "Chocolate Rain."

Dr Pepper "Cherry Chocolate Rain"

On November 28, 2007, Zonday released a brand new video titled "Cherry Chocolate Rain", which is, in his words, "a music video to celebrate Dr Pepper's new Cherry Chocolate beverage".

Firefox "Users Against Boredom"

In December 2007, Zonday starred alongside Leslie Hall in a commercial for Firefox. Together with a crowd of extras, they sang a song entitled "Users Against Boredom" in a parody of We Are The World.

Intel CES 2008

At the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, Zonday appeared in-person at Intel's booth, rendering the source files of the "Chocolate Rain" Youtube video in Sony Vegas. The message was that Chocolate Rain had been rendered on Intel processors, which could bring the power of worldwide stardom to consumers' living rooms.

Weezer's "Pork and Beans" Music Video

Zonday appeared in the May 2008 video for rock band Weezer's single "Pork and Beans" along with other YouTube celebrities spoofing his appearance in "Chocolate Rain"; as well, he performed an acoustic version of the song with Brian Bell of Weezer.

NASA 50th Anniversary Multimedia Presentation

Collaborating with NASA's web development team, Zonday voiced part of a multimedia presentation built to celebrate 50 years of NASA history.

Warner Brothers "The Joey And David Show," "The Jace Hall Show"

In October 2007 and May 2008 respectively, Zonday worked on two Warner Brothers projects. For the "Joey and David Show," he re-enacted the making of "Chocolate Rain" in the aesthetic style of a major celebrity event. For the "Jace Hall Show," he was comically interviewed at a famous Hollywood restaurant in a play on the dissonance between internet-fame and the traditional entertainment industry.

YouTube Live

In November 2008, Zonday emceed the YouTube Live event alongside other prominent YouTubers.

BBC Three (UK)

Zonday also appeared on the Lily Allen and Friends show, where he sang one of Lily's records whilst playing the keyboard.

Obama Does Thriller

Zonday served as the "creepy voiceover" in this parody, in which President Obama (voiced by Iman Crosson) enters into an homage of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" whilst explaining to the effect of Fox News "stereotyping" and bashing him.

Biography

Zonday, who is of European and African descent, was a graduate student in American Studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

in Minneapolis

, Minnesota

in 2007 when he first came to attention. When asked about his racial identity he remarked:

He attended the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

between 1997 and 1998, leaving after his sophomore year. He then went on to earn his undergraduate degree at The Evergreen State College

. He has said that growing up, his parents did not allow him to listen to popular music. When music downloading services such as Napster came around, he began to secretly build a small collection of popular music. Zonday makes many references in interviews as to how much he loves his parents; despite the fact that many of his songs are dedicated to them, he describes himself as a "musical orphan", having no influences and not feeling particularly connected to any musicians or bands. Tay says his voice is often compared to Paul Robeson, Barry White, James Earl Jones, and Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies.

According to his twitter page, Zonday presently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Singles

The original "Chocolate Rain" video on YouTube, recorded when Zonday was 24

Zonday's best known single is "Chocolate Rain", released on YouTube on April 22, 2007. Tay Zonday said,

Other releases via YouTube, his website, and his MySpace include "Internet Dream", "Explode", "The Only Way", "Demons on the Dance Floor", "Do the Can't Dance", "Say No to Nightmares", "Cherry Chocolate Rain" and "Freeloader Nation". He has also performed covers of "Rainbow Connection", "Never Gonna Give You Up", and "Edelweiss" which were removed from YouTube when the artist chose to focus on original material.

References

External links

Official site
Tay Zonday's Facebook
Tay Zonday's YouTube channel
Vin Forte interviews Tay Zonday
Interview with Tay Zonday, Feb. 6, 2008
Interview with Tay Zonday on the Feast of Fools
The Transendient Issue #1: Interview with Tayzonday on Bucket Bros.
Interview with Tay Zonday on the Mahalo Daily Podcast

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