Who Let the Dogs Out?
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| “Who Let the Dogs Out?” | |||||
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| Single by Baha Men from the album Who Let the Dogs Out |
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| Released | July 25, 2000 | ||||
| Format | CD single | ||||
| Recorded | 2000 | ||||
| Genre | Pop rap Reggae |
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| Length | 3:18 | ||||
| Label | Edel Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | Anslem Douglas | ||||
| Producer | Desmond Child | ||||
| Certification | Platinum (BPI) | ||||
| Baha Men singles chronology | |||||
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"Who Let the Dogs Out?" is a song written and originally recorded by Anslem Douglas for Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival season of 1998. It was heard and taped on a float by hairdresser Keith from the London salon Smile, who played it to Jonathan King, who recorded it and released it [1] under the name Fatt Jakk and his Pack of Pets[2]. It then came to the attention of King's friend Steve Greenberg, who produced it with a group he was promoting called The Baha Men. The Baha Men covered the song and placed it in the movie Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and then released it as a single in 2000, when it became the band's first hit in the US and the UK. It reached #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and #2 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the 4th biggest-selling single of 2000 in the UK. It was also a big hit in Australia, where it reached #1. The track went to win the Grammy for Best Dance Recording on the 2001 Grammy Awards.
In a poll conducted by the Rolling Stone to identify the 10 most annoying songs, this song was ranked third.[3]
The Anslem Douglas version was played mainly in parties and dance halls across the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in 1998. After the Baha Men re-released the song, it became a ubiquitous sports anthem at stadiums and arenas throughout the world based largely on the efforts of a sports marketing company hired by the song's producer, Steve Greenberg. Pro Sports Music Marketing founder Frederic Traube created the concept of introducing and marketing the song to sports stadiums.
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[edit] Use at Sporting Events and Critical Acclaim
The first use of the song at a sporting event was at Mississippi State University. The university's mascot is the Bulldog, and the university school first played the song during football games in the fall of 1999 using the version sung by Chuck Smooth. It was accompanied by the crowd singing along and the team performing a dance on the field called "The Dawg Pound Rock" just before a kickoff. Later the Southeastern Conference ruled that they could not perform the dance on the field, so the team moved it to the sidelines. Several other teams followed suit, and the song quickly became a national phenomenon.[citation needed]
In June of 2000, Greggory Greeneline, then Director of Promotions for the Seattle Mariners, was the first to play "Who Let the Balls Out" at a Major League Baseball game. He debuted the tune as a joke for the team's backup catcher, Joe Oliver. Two days later, shortstop Alex Rodriguez requested the ditty for his batter introduction music and the song quickly became the Mariners team anthem. The Baha Men played live at Safeco Field during a Mariners game in September of 2000. The New York Mets, however, claimed that they were the first to adopt the song (ESPN.com later commented, "This is a little like scientists arguing over who discovered a deadly virus"). The Baha Men recorded a version of the song that changed the chorus to "Who let the Mets out?" and all the lyrics to reflect the team and its players, which was played at Shea Stadium throughout the Mets' 2000 postseason run, including a live performance on the Shea Stadium field before Game 4 of the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees. The song was written by David Brody of Z100 New York and recorded by the Baha Men initially for Z100. Brody then gave the song to the Mets to play at Shea. Brody has also written songs for the 2006 and 2007 Mets. Richard Hidalgo used the original song as his entrance music while playing for the Houston Astros.
The song was also used by the Baltimore Ravens football team on their run to the Super Bowl in the 2000 season.
In the Australian NRL, which is that country's premier Rugby League competition, the Canterbury Bulldogs often play this song at home games due to the co-incidence of both names.
The song is used at games for the Arizona Sundogs, a minor league hockey team located in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Their mascot is a dog named Bernie.
The song is also used at the beginning of each of the periods at the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs games. Their mascot is named Bruiser.
This catch phrase may have derived from "Who let the dogs loose?" rapped in the same rhythm in Gillette's song "Bad Boys" on her 1994 album "On the Attack".
In the UK, the song is played after every goal which Dougie Freedman scores for Crystal Palace F.C. at Selhurst Park, with fans singing "Who let the Doug out? Who? Who?" with reference to him. Similarly, Chelsea F.C. fans sing "Who let the Drog out? Who? Who?", in reference to Didier Drogba.
[edit] Lawsuit
Anslem Douglas and an original Baha Men member, Stephen Nunez, were sued in 2001, and lost the lawsuit with regards to full authorship for the song. The chorus was originally composed in 1995 by Patrick Stephenson and Leroy Williams of Just Platinum Recording Studios/Action House Studios in Toronto, Canada for a radio jingle. It was proven that at this time Anslem was a client of the studio, and had used the chorus to compose the song. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed financial payment.
[edit] Song information
[edit] Track listing
- "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
- "Who Let the Dogs Out?" (Bryan F. Mix)
- "Who Let the Dogs Out?" (Crisqo Mix)
- "Who Let the Dogs Out?" (Pal Mixer)
- "Who Let the Dogs Out?" (Radio Mix)
[edit] List of media song appears in
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Played in the movie Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, which is what the Baha Men version was originally recorded for.
- Played in the movie Rat Race, when the "contestants" first begin the race for the two million dollars.
- Played at the end of Shrek, in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party by the Wolf and the 3 pigs.
- Was parodied three times in The Simpsons:
- in "Large Marge" with "Who Left The Milk Out?" and "Who Let Marge's Jugs Out?"
- in "Thank God It's Doomsday" with "Who Wants Their Hair Cut?".
- in Season 12, one of the chalkboard gags was "I will not let the dogs out."
- Was parodied in Men in Black II.
- In 2005, Crazy Frog made a parody version of the song titled Who Let the Frog Out.
- An episode of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends is entitled "Who Let the Dogs In?"
- Played in the 2006 version of The Shaggy Dog.
- Was parodied as "Who gives you extra?" on an advert for Halifax
- Was used for the promotional campaign song for the turd sandwich in the South Park episode, Douche and Turd. The song also appears in the episode Wing where the boys sing a few bars of the refrain.
- Is referenced in the Tickle Dracula song Dogs Out
- A 2001 commercial for VISA shows a person from the Pittsburgh Steelers stadium public address crew trying to buy a CD of the song with a check instead of a credit card.
- The season 12 opener episode of Law & Order was entitled Who Let the Dogs Out?
- Sang as "Hou let the reds out...Hou..Houllier" by Liverpool supporters (mainly from Skelmersdale). When Liverpool FC where under the helm of Gerard Houllier
- Is played at the start of Canterbury Bulldogs home games as the players run out onto the field.
- The song was used as an anthem for the New York Mets and the Baha Men recorded a separate version about the team titled "Who let the Mets Out".
- The story (featuring Thor (Marvel Comics) and Thanos) in Captain Marvel #18, a Marvel comic book written by Peter David, was titled "Who Let the Gods Out?"
- In the 12/02/2004 comic strip of I Drew This, a Guantanamo Bay prisoner is being "tortured" with a radio playing Who Let The Dogs Out?
- It is referenced in the TV show Danny Phantom where Danny says "Who let the dog in?" After Tucker and Sam stare at him he says "Get it? The song says "Who let the dogs out?" but I said "Who let the dog in?"
- It was covered in the 2007 film St Trinian's and featured on the soundtrack.
