Bob and Doug McKenzie - "Take Off"

(Debuted January 30, 1982, Peaked #16, 14 Weeks on the Chart)

In commemoration of "Leap Day," which only pops up once every four years, here's a novelty song. And it's a doozy.

When the SCTV show was moved to the CBC network after three seasons, the episodes were two minutes longer than the version that was syndicated in the U.S. As a result, the network requested that the show use up those extra minutes with "Canadian content." This was despite the fact that the show was produced in Canada and featured a mainly Canadian cast and crew. As a result, SCTV regulars Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis decided to create a pair of brothers named Bob & Doug McKenzie who exemplified every stereotype of their home country they could think of. It quickly became the show's most popular segment, leading to an album and the movie Strange Brew.

The album was called The Great White North, which was also the name of their segment on the TV show. "Take Off" was recorded for the album and featured fellow Canadian and Rush singer Geddy Lee lending his voice for the chorus. Ironically, it did better on the U.S. pop chart than anything Lee would record with his own band.