Outside Lands, the beloved music festival held annually in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, returns this weekend. For more than a decade, it’s been a premier event, boasting incredible music performances, delicious culinary options and an unmatched selection of beer and wine.
Still, one of the most distinctive Outside Lands traditions occurs as fans leave the festival’s grounds each night. As the mass of people exit through a small tunnel walkway, inevitably — but seemingly spontaneously — they break out in song, singing the chorus to Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” at the top of their lungs.
So how did this unique-yet-awesome tradition start? The answer is as foggy as a San Francisco summer’s day.
Videos and online discussion boards suggest that Outside Lands attendees have enjoyed the tunnel’s acoustics since the festival’s first year in 2008. Such early examples didn’t involve the large, communal sing-along that fans witness today — it was more akin to a few drunken friends screaming lyrics among the crowd.
You’d have to jump to 2012 for evidence of the first true tunnel sing-along. That year, “Just a Friend” was reportedly one of several songs performed by the exiting crowd (White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” and Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” were among the others).
Taking 2012 as the starting point, “Just a Friend” has enjoyed a solid decade of Outside Lands attention.
“It checks all the boxes,” Patrick, a Bay Area native who has attended the festival every year explains. “Everybody knows the words. It’s easy to yell. It’s fun. Plus, Biz [in the original] sings the song off key anyway, so it’s not like anyone has to be self conscious about messing up.”
The latter point is a fair one; part of “Just a Friend”’s charm is that it is far from perfect. The track, released in 1989, features Biz Markie’s amateurish vocals over a simple piano part. Though Biz, who passed away in 2021, was an excellent rapper, his singing voice was far from perfect. But that somehow made “Just a Friend” relatable, helping it become a Top 10 hit upon release, and staying among the most popular karaoke songs in America.
Biz Markie never performed at Outside Lands, but the song has made its way from the tunnel to the stage on numerous occasions. In 2013, indie-rock duo Matt & Kim played part of the tune during their performance. Five years later, ‘90s hip-hop legends Salt-n-Pepa led the crowd in a rendition of “Just a Friend” during their surprise set at the Heineken tent.
Watch Matt & Kim Perform ‘Just a Friend’ at Outside Lands 2013
“Singing [“Just a Friend”] is one of my favorite parts of Outside Lands. I seriously look forward to it every year,” notes Angelica, another OSL regular who, at 26-years-old, wasn’t even born when Biz Markie originally released the song. “It’s like a tradition. Like, we just spent the day partying together. Let’s enjoy it a little bit longer before going back to the real world. “
While the exact reason “Just a Friend” became Outside Lands’ unofficial anthem remains unknown, its place in the festival’s culture is unmatched. Now take a deep breath, and get ready to sing….
“Yoooou! You got what I neeeeeeeeeeeed…. “
