Werner Thomas
1929) is a Swiss accordionist and composer born in Thurgau. Thomas is credited with composing the German language tune in 1957 known as "Der Ententanz" (literally "The Duck Dance") later known as the "Chicken Dance" or the "Birdie Song" while working as a restaurant musician during the 1950s, there has since been more than 400 different recorded versions. Despite being the most popular song that Switzerland has ever produced and exported to 40 countries, in 2000, the BBC crowned Thomas' song as "voted the most annoying song of all time", ahead of The Teletubbies' "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!"" and Aqua's "Barbie Girl." Thomas now lives in a "luxury retirement home in Ticino".
Werner Thomas
Infrogmation · CC BY 2.5
- Name
- Werner Thomas
- Born
- c. 1929 (aged 96-97)
- Birthplace
- Thurgau, Switzerland
- Died
- YYYY MM DD
- Occupation
- Musician, Composer
- Nationality
- Switzerland.
- Languages
- German.
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Documentary summary
1929) is a Swiss accordionist and composer born in Thurgau. Thomas is credited with composing the German language tune in 1957 known as "Der Ententanz" (literally "The Duck Dance") later known as the "Chicken Dance" or the "Birdie Song" while working as a restaurant musician during the 1950s, there has since been more than 400 different recorded versions. Despite being the most popular song that Switzerland has ever produced and exported to 40 countries, in 2000, the BBC crowned Thomas' song as "voted the most annoying song of all time", ahead of The Teletubbies' "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!"" and Aqua's "Barbie Girl." Thomas now lives in a "luxury retirement home in Ticino".
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Werner Thomas (born 1931) is an accordionist, composer and musician, of Swiss nationality. The accordionist was born in Canton of Thurgau. Languages used include German.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q327755 · wikipedia · Werner Thomas
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Werner Thomas • Born — c. 1929 (aged 96-97) • Birthplace — Thurgau, Switzerland • Died — YYYY MM DD • Occupation — Musician, Composer • Instruments — Accordion
Identity
Identity
Werner Thomas is recorded with the occupation accordionist. Recorded as composer, musician and accordionist.
Doing the "chicken dance" at the Ballard Seafood Fest (in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington), dancing to Texas band Brave Combo.
Joe Mabel · I, Jmabel · Photo by Joe Mabel
Doing the "chicken dance" at the Ballard Seafood Fest (in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington), dancing to Texas band Brave Combo.
Joe Mabel · I, Jmabel · Photo by Joe Mabel
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1929
Werner Thomas born at Canton of Thurgau.
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authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q327755: Werner Thomas
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- “Werner Thomas”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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