Do the Bartman
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| "Do The Bartman" | ||
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| "Do The Bartman" CD cover | ||
| Single by The Simpsons | ||
| from the album The Simpsons Sing the Blues | ||
| Released | 20 November 1990 | |
| Format | CD, 7", 12", Cassette | |
| Recorded | September 1990 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 3:54 | |
| Label | Geffen Records | |
| Writer(s) | Bryan Loren, Michael Jackson | |
| Producer(s) | Bryan Loren, Michael Jackson | |
| Chart positions | ||
| The Simpsons singles chronology | ||
| "Do The Bartman" (1990) |
"Deep, Deep Trouble" (1991) |
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"Do the Bartman" is a song from The Simpsons' 1990 album The Simpsons Sing the Blues. The song leads off the album as the first track and the first single released from it.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
"Do the Bartman" was the number one music video on America's MTV network between January and March 1991. It was also an international success, being the UK number one single on February 16, 1991, staying there for a further two weeks. The song's success in the UK was remarkable, given that at that time The Simpsons had not yet been shown on British terrestrial television, and wouldn't be for a further 5 years.
The single performed even more incredibly in Ireland, where it spent 9 weeks at Number 1 on the Irish Singles Chart. Only 6 singles have ever managed a longer run at Number 1 in Ireland. "Do The Bartman" was also the 14th highest selling single in Australia in 1991.
Although originally credited to writer/producer Bryan Loren,[verification needed] Matt Groening revealed that "Do the Bartman" was actually co-written and produced by Michael Jackson,[1] who would also guest star on The Simpsons in 1991 using the pseudonym "John Jay Smith". Loren has also written and produced other material for Jackson, including the albums "Dangerous" and "Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix". Officially, Loren is listed as composer of the song.[2]
[edit] Music video
The music video featured the typical plot of Bart rebelling against authority when he decides to put his own spin on a rigidly choreographed dance presentation at Springfield Elementary School.
The "Do The Bartman" video was directed by Brad Bird with dance choreography by Michael Chambers. It was animated (in association with Klasky-Csupo) by Varga Studio, a firm from Budapest, Hungary.
[edit] References on the show
Although one of the most memorable spin-offs of the series, "Do The Bartman" has only been referenced a handful of times during the show's run:
- In the episode "Three Men and a Comic Book," Bart attempts to score a costume discount at a comic book convention by dressing up as "Bartman", a superhero he just made up.
- Bart performs the song and dance in the 1998 episode "Simpson Tide" to prove that he is still cool to his classmates. However, the only response comes from Ralph, who makes an unimpressed quip of "That is so 1991".
- A parody of Hamlet, called "Do The Bard, Man," is the third segment of the multi-story episode "Tales from the Public Domain".
- In "Special Edna," Lisa asks "What happened to the Bart who put mothballs in the beef stew?" This is a line from the song.
- In "The Wandering Juvie," Bart asks Gina Vendetti, "Are you looking to do The Bartman?" when she shows affection for him.
- In "The Heartbroke Kid," when Bart has a heart attack and is lying on the floor, Homer passionately implores him "Come on Bart, Do The Bartman!"
[edit] Trivia
- Shonen Knife released a Japanese language cover of the song as a b-side on their 1992 CD single "Do the Knife".
- Michael Jackson is referenced twice in the lyrics.
- On the Simpsons Season 2 DVD boxset, the directors cut is shown, with shots of the "cool boys" dancing replacing the shots of dance scenes from the Statue of Liberty Harbor, Paris, and the remains of the Berlin Wall.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "3AM Eternal" by The KLF |
UK number-one single February 10, 1991 for 3 weeks |
Succeeded by "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" by The Clash |
