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It’s Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears wild-card playoff week and what which means – time for “The Bears Still Suck Polka” to shine.
An plain a part of the oldest rivalry within the NFL for the final 35 years, the traditional by The Happy Schnapps Combo is the 2-minute-and-30-second reward that retains on giving. Twice every season it returns to its Nineties glory to place the right pep within the step of Packers followers.
The title is hardly refined and, sure, the lyrics embody the phrase “suck” 26 instances in reference to da Bears, however gosh, it’s a polka, and the way can that not be something however old style, good-natured ribbing? For all of the mean-spirited sports activities fan trolling on social media, “The Bears Still Suck Polka,” with its backing vocals by The Schnappettes, one way or the other without end seems like folksy enjoyable, charming even, whereas nonetheless getting its level throughout.
It is so entrenched in Packers popular culture that it has advanced from a tune to an anthem to a chant to a dialog starter to the stuff of indicators within the stands. It’s like Wisconsin’s personal “Free Bird.”
With the Packers taking over the Bears on Jan. 10 for the third time in 5 weeks, the little novelty tune that Packers followers actually, actually, actually, actually, actually, actually adore will get a bonus spin this yr. Here’s a fast refresher on the way it got here to be and the place its been.
It all began with a polka known as ‘Please Pass the Schnapps’
Manitowoc’s Happy Schnapps Combo gave the world “The Bears Still Suck Polka” in 1991, however it’s the genius of the late Jim Krueger, founding father of the band, who’s at its coronary heart. A songwriter who additionally wrote the 1977 hit “We Just Disagree” for Dave Mason, Krueger first made reference to the Packers-Bears rivalry (and throwing up on a Bears fan) in a polka known as “Please Pass the Schnapps.”
When a Bears-loving good friend informed him he didn’t a lot admire the point out, Krueger replied: “Thank you for the inspiration for my next song, which will be called ‘The Bears Still Suck Polka.’”
A month later, Krueger returned home from touring with Mason and played the polka for his brother, Happy Schnapps drummer Rich “Wenzel” Krueger, in his kitchen.
“And I’m about to wet my pants,” Rich Krueger told the Press-Gazette in 2007. “I just knew it was going to be a modern-day masterpiece.”
‘The Bears Still Suck Polka’ got its big break on WAPL-FM
After learning Appleton classic rock station WAPL-FM was having a listener song contest for Packers-Bears weekend in 1991, the brothers hurried into the studio to record the song and then drove it to the station.
Former WAPL morning show co-host Rick McNeal remembered playing it for the first time.
“We thought right out of the box this is going to be very big,” he said in a 2001 Green Bay Press-Gazette interview. “… It just puts you in a good mood.”
The lyrics struck a chord – and then some.
How many times must we take this disgrace
Another Bears fan throwing insults in our face
The Packers are the greatest team to ever play the game
Even if from time to time they’ve been a little lame.
It went on to get airplay on countless radio stations, including the nationally syndicated Dr. Demento show, and it appeared on ESPN. It became a staple on bar jukeboxes across the state, never failing to get everybody singing along and raising a glass. Fans loved it so much, sometimes the Schnappers played it multiple times a night during their gigs back in the day.
It has been played at the grand march of at least one Packers-themed wedding in Kiel, outside Lambeau Field by the band itself and with regularity at Will’s Northwoods Inn, a preferred Packers bar in Chicago.
Happy Schnapps Combo put the song on back-to-back records
The polka, sung by Jim Krueger, who went by “Otto” in the party band, first appeared on The Happy Schnapps Combo’s 1991 debut album, “100 Proof.” It was additionally was included on 1992’s “Raise It!,” alongside such novelty tracks as “Blatz and Sauerkraut,” “Fleet Farm (A Love Song)” and, oops, “Dis Ain’t My Toilet.”
The band offered oodles of each CDs, transport them to all 50 states and abroad. When the Bears performed the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI in 2007, there was a lot demand for the tune the week of from Packers followers that Rich Krueger needed to drive up with a recent provide of CDs for The Exclusive Co. in downtown Green Bay.
It was carried out stay at a well-known New York City Packers bar
There’s no beating the unique, in fact, however when you’re searching for one thing that leans somewhat extra big-city refined, try the rendition Augie Haas filmed in 2021 at Kettle of Fish in New York City.
The Milwaukee native who works as knowledgeable trumpeter in New York (and has carried out the nationwide anthem at Lambeau Field quite a few instances) offers it the suit-and-tie crooner remedy whereas he makes his approach via the famed Packers bar crammed with followers. Guaranteed to place a smile on the face of any Packers fan.
No kidding, there are church choir and EDM remix variations
If the references to Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon and Porky Pig within the authentic really feel greater than somewhat dated, DJ Steven B dropped a “2025 EDM party rocker remix,” with recent lyrics to make you need to hit the sports activities bar dance flooring.
They spend huge bucks within the offseason
Trying onerous to construct a group
But when December hits Chicago
All that hype turns into a dream
For one thing somewhat extra non secular, strive Mr. G’eebs & The Curd Herd’s church choir version. Perfect for these Sunday morning Packers-Bears tailgates.
It had a viral second at 2025 NFL Draft, courtesy of Clay Matthews
You know you’ve made it when your polka had a hand in one of many biggest moments of the 2025 NFL Draft.
In entrance of 205,000 followers outdoors Lambeau Field on the primary night time of the draft in Green Bay, with tens of millions extra watching at house, Packers nice Clay Matthews fired up the group by telling them he had simply gotten off the telephone with President Donald Trump, who requested him to move alongside a message to the followers of all 32 groups.
Matthews then pulled out a chunk of paper he stated was from the president with a message that learn: “My fellow Americans, THE BEARS STILL SUCK!!!”
The crowd went wild, and the prank went viral.
The band is at present inactive, however the tune lives on
Jim Krueger, who labored with such huge names as Jeff Beck, Les Paul and Stephen Stills throughout his time in California, died in 1993 at age 43. There have been lineup adjustments and hiatuses, however The Happy Schnapps Combo have carried on, releasing albums and taking part in exhibits. According to the band’s web site, the group has been inactive since 2023.
In a 2007 interview with the Press-Gazette, Rich Krueger talked about what his brother would make of the endurance of “The Bears Still Suck Polka.”
“I think he would just get a complete hoot out of it,” he stated. “This is his approach of blowing somewhat humorous kiss to everybody.”
Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or [email protected]. Follow her on X @KendraMeinert.
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