Shaddap You Face

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"Shaddap You Face" is a song written and performed by Joe Dolce (also known as the Joe Dolce Music Theatre) in 1980. It went to Number 1 on the Australian pop charts in 1980. It subsequently also became a Number 1 hit in over 15 countries, selling over 4 million copies, with new cover versions being recorded every year. It has remained the most successful Australian produced single in Australian music history for 26 years, with sales of over 350,000 copies. It was Australia's first triple platinum recording - by the old count of 100,000 units = platinum, which has now changed to 75,000 units. In the UK, it famously stopped Ultravox from reaching Number 1 with "Vienna". In 2002, "Shaddap You Face" also overtook country legend, Slim Dusty's 22 year longevity record for 'The Pub With No Beer,' which went to Number 1 in 1957, was Australia's first gold record and only gold 80 rpm record.

The song was full of broad Italian humour and included the chorus "Whassamatta you, ey?/Gotta no respect/Whaddaya think you do, ey?/Why you looka so sad?/It'sa not so bad, ey/It'sa nice-a place/Ah shaddap you face." It reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on February 15, 1981 and stayed there for 3 weeks until March 8, 1981. It was also Number 1 in 15 countries with over 35 different foreign language cover versions. It remained the most successful song (in terms of sales) in Australian music history for 25 years until it was overtaken in 2005.

In the UK, the song was voted the 13th worst UK number one hit of all time, with Cliff Richard's "Millennium Prayer" being the number one, followed by Mr.Blobby's "Mr. Blobby" second, and the Tellytubbies' "Say Eh-oh" third[1].

Contents

[edit] Cover versions

[edit] Australia

  • NNR - No Room For Racism: by Joe Dolce w/ Vietnamese comic, Hung Le. One-Nation Protest Version (new lyrics)
  • Aboriginal: Gnarnyarrhe Inmurray Waitarie & Joe Dolce. (Indjubunji language dialect version).
  • Christian cover version: Mrs Liz Luva, for the Clontarf Beach Baptist Church vacation Bible School: (lyrics to original tune.)
  • South Australian Version: Bazz & Pilko, 'Bite Your Bum' (banned from airplay by SA radio stations).
  • Queensland version: Max Bygraves .

[edit] USA

  • KRS-One - 'Shutupayouface' -hip hop album: SNEAK ATTACK.
  • Lou Monte, album title: 'Shaddap You Face'
  • How Ya Doin' Boys, New York City.

[edit] The Netherlands

  • Dingetje, 'Houtochdiekop'. (album has several dialectal variations)

[edit] Belgium

  • De Strangers, 'Agget Mor Fret'.
  • Stephane Steeman, 'Faut Garder Le Moral'.

[edit] Germany

  • Gottlieb Wendehals, 'Mensch ärger dich nicht'.
  • Party Service Band, 'Wenn die Bühne brennt'.
  • Volkmann, ‘Shaddapp You Face’
  • Remixed 'Italo House Mix' mini-disc from original recording

[edit] France

  • Sheila, 'Et Ne La Ramene Pas'. guitar rock version, by one of France's most beloved female pop singers.

[edit] Mexico

  • 5 Fingers, 'Callate La Boca'.
  • Grupo Latino, 'Mi Mama Me Decia Callate'.

[edit] Britain

[edit] South Africa

  • Leon Schuster, 'Hou Jou Bek'.

[edit] Iceland

  • Laddi, 'Skammastu Thin Svo'.

[edit] Italy

  • Franchi & Ingrassia, 'Ali Ali Ale'. (Franchi & Ingrassia are two of Italy's most well known entertainers having made over 100 films together.

[edit] Ireland

  • Billy Mena, 'Shut Up Yer Gub’.

[edit] Czechoslovakia

  • Helena Vondrackkova, 'Ja Aa Brachu - Blues'.

[edit] Papua New Guinea

  • Breeze Band, 'Pasim Pes Bilong Yu'. (local pidgin version)

(Note: The National Folk Festival, in Canberra, Australia, featured 'The Inspired Shaddap You Face Contest' in April 2006. Festival artists were invited to perform their interpretations of the classic song.

[edit] References in culture

  • In original version of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show episode "The Great Gladiator Gig", a cover of the song can be heard, and right before the song starts, Mario actually says the name of the song. However, in reruns, the song itself is edited out and replaced by a stock instrumental, and thus Mario's shouting out the title no longer makes sense.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Preceded by
"Woman" by John Lennon		 UK number one single
February 15, 1981		 Succeeded by
"Jealous Guy" by Roxy Music
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