By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
The restaurant chain IHOP is partnering up with rock band Loverboy to launch its new value meals with a remix of the hit song ‘Working for the Weekend’.
The song will become part of the marketing promotion in which IHOP is “bringing the weekend to the weekday” by inviting guests to enjoy its new House Faves menu, Monday through Friday, for just $6.
“IHOP prides itself on listening and reacting to guest feedback quickly,” the company says. “Knowing customers are constantly looking for more ways to save when dining out with their families, the brand curated its House Faves menu with some of its best-selling breakfast items for guests to enjoy for just $6.”
To launch the new value-driven menu, IHOP has teamed up with one of Canada’s greatest rock exports, Loverboy, to create a new version of their iconic song, “Working for the Weekend,” only now, everyone’s “Working for the Weekday.”
The partnership is also coming to life in a bespoke music video, in which IHOP’s very own Syrup Caddies perform the re-recorded song and star in a remake of the original, classic music video. The video highlights IHOP’s new weekday House Faves menu items, including Buttermilk Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon, French Toast, and more.
“Working with IHOP to bring our song to life in a fresh, innovative way has been such a rewarding experience,” said Mike Reno, lead singer of Loverboy. “We have always loved going to IHOP and enjoying breakfast together as a band, so being able to have our work featured in the House Faves campaign is a dream come true.”
Weirdly, I was in the studio when Loverboy was recording “Working for the Weekend,” which became a global hit for the new band. I was at Mushroom Studios in Vancouver, recording an EP album with a rock band I played with at the time, when Reno and the rest of Loverboy wandered in and asked if they could borrow some guitar picks, as they’d forgotten their own.
Their album went platinum, ours went … nowhere, but at least our guitar picks got a taste of rock’n’roll super stardom! Loverboy, known for their trademark red leather pants and bandannas, went on to sell 15 million albums.
The new Working for the Weekday video is now out, featuring a band of syrup dispensers playing the song in a concert, which you can see on the IHOP Instagram feed: @IHOP
The brand is also partnering with one of America’s favorite moms, Julie Bowen, star of Modern Family, to join the House Faves campaign. As someone who juggles many hats, Julie Bowen celebrates weekday moments at IHOP, where her family can sit down and enjoy a meal together.
“With over 70% of IHOP orders including a breakfast item, we are leaning into some of our most beloved breakfast favorites and having a good time doing so, thanks to new brand partner Julie Bowen, plus Loverboy’s custom remake of their classic single, just for IHOP,” said Kieran Donahue, Chief Marketing Officer, at IHOP. “By leveraging a nostalgia-inducing ‘blast from the past’ to further drive home IHOP’s value proposition, we’re showing guests that everything we do, every decision we make, is for them.”
The IHOP House Faves menu is now available nationwide, and includes the following four items for just $6 each:
- Breakfast Faves Combo (2x2x2): Two of IHOP’s fluffy, world-famous buttermilk pancakes, two eggs, and two bacon strips or two pork sausage links.
- Ham & Cheese Omelette: A ham, jack & cheddar, and white cheese sauce omelette, served with 2 of IHOP’s fluffy, world-famous buttermilk pancakes.
- French Toast Breakfast: One slice of Classic Thick ‘N Fluffy French Toast, two bacon strips or two pork sausage links, and two eggs.
- House Scramble with Hash Brown: Eggs scrambled with chopped hickory-smoked bacon and jack & cheddar cheese. Served with crispy hash browns.
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