Go for Soda

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Go for Soda" by Kim Mitchell, a track from his 1984 album Akimbo Alogo, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it! This catchy tune, with its infectious guitar riffs, has some wild stories behind it. In a 2019 post on X, Kim Mitchell clarified that the song isn’t about drinking but about two people caught in conflict, choosing to chill with a soda instead of fighting—nobody hurts, cries, drowns, or dies. The lyrics, penned by longtime collaborator Pye Dubois, reflect this vibe of escaping drama. Surprisingly, the song became an anthem for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in the U.S., despite not being about alcohol. Mitchell was cool with this, happy to support the cause. The track also popped up in pop culture, featured in the 1985 Miami Vice episode "Buddies" and Mr. Pibb commercials, with a nod in American Dad poking fun at those ads. Its quirky music video, directed by Robert Bouvier, shows a doll-sized Mitchell jumping out of a TV, dancing around a house, and performing in a fridge with his band, transforming into soda cans—pure ‘80s weirdness.

Another fun tidbit comes from a 2014 interview with Ear of Newt, where Mitchell shared how "Go for Soda" captured a moment of frustration, like a husband and wife yelling at each other, with soda as the escape. Fans on Reddit have connected over it, with one user quoting Trailer Park Boys’ Ricky blasting the song on an 8-track, shouting, “Bubbles, while you rock a piss, I’ll rock some Mitchell!” A fan on the PowerPop blog recalled hunting for the song in the ‘80s at Tower Records, describing it as finding a “lost friend” after hearing it at a Nashville lake party. The song hit #22 in Canada and #86 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, Mitchell’s only U.S. chart entry, cementing its status as his best-known track outside Canada.

Kim Mitchell, born Joseph Kim Mitchell in 1952 in Sarnia, Ontario, kicked off his musical journey as a teen, playing in local bands. His early days were all about grinding it out in Sarnia’s music scene, evolving through various band names with the same core group. In the early ‘70s, he and his band, then called Zooom, moved to Toronto, chasing bigger dreams. Zooom fizzled out, and Mitchell took a break, traveling to the Greek islands for inspiration. Back in Canada, he teamed up with Sarnia native Pye Dubois to form Max Webster, a prog-rock outfit that blended quirky lyrics with tight musicianship. Max Webster dropped six albums, all at least Gold in Canada, with one hitting Platinum, building a cult following through relentless touring. When the band split in 1981, Mitchell went solo, releasing a self-titled EP in 1982 before dropping Akimbo Alogo in 1984 on Alert Records. The album, featuring "Go for Soda," went double Platinum in Canada and marked his U.S. breakthrough.

Stay connected with Kim Mitchell’s official website for tour dates and updates. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest news and throwback posts. Fans can join the vibe at the Kim Mitchell Fan Group on Facebook, a spot for Zoo Freaks to share love for his music, from Max Webster days to solo gems. Another great fan hub is the Kim Mitchell Fans Facebook page, where devotees post about concerts, rare tracks, and more. Whether you’re rocking out to "Go for Soda" or digging into his deep catalog, Mitchell’s music keeps the party going.