Shaddap You Face

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“Shaddap You Face”
“Shaddap You Face” cover
Single by Joe Dolce Music Theatre
B-side "Ain't in No Hurry"
Released 1980
Format 7"
Recorded 1980
Genre New Wave
Writer(s) Joe Dolce
Joe Dolce Music Theatre singles chronology
- "Shaddap You Face"
(1980)

"Shaddap You Face" is a song written and performed by Joe Dolce (also known as the Joe Dolce Music Theatre) in 1981. It has set a number of sales and longevity records.

The song was full of broad Italian humour and included the chorus "Whassamatta you?/Gotta no respect?/Whaddaya think you do?/Why you looka so sad?/It's-a not so bad/It's-a nice-a place/Shaddap you face."

Contents

[edit] Sales and chart positions

It went to Number 1 on the Australian pop charts in 1980. It reached Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on February 17, 1981 and stayed there for three weeks until March 10, 1981. It was also Number 1 in 15 countries with over 35 different foreign language cover versions, selling over 4 million copies, with new cover versions being recorded every year. It had remained the most successful Australian-produced single in Australian music history for 26 years with sales of over 350,000 copies until it was overtaken in 2005 by The Prayer by Anthony Callea. 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 'A Pub with No Beer,' which went to Number 1 in 1957, and was Australia's first gold record and only gold 80rpm record.

In the UK, the song was voted the 13th worst UK Number 1 hit of all time.[1]

[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

  • Manuel, (Andrew Sachs) The Spanish waiter from Fawlty Towers broken-Spanish version, titled, 'Shaddap You Face.'
  • Lee Brennan, 'Scouse' version, 'Shut Yer Gob'
  • EMF, grunge pop version. Album: Ruby Trax
  • Midge Ure, lead vocalist with Ultravox, often sings this song during live performances as a coda to Vienna

[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

  1. ^ Listology: VH1 UK: Worst 100 Number Ones

[edit] External links

Preceded by
"Woman" by John Lennon		 UK number one single
February 17, 1981		 Succeeded by
"Jealous Guy" by Roxy Music
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