Witch Doctor (song)
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| “Witch Doctor” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by David Seville | ||
| Genre | Novelty | |
| Label | Liberty Records | |
"Witch Doctor" is a song written and performed by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (a.k.a. David Seville) and was released in 1958. David Seville is better remembered as the creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
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[edit] Song information
The song tells the story of a man who loved a woman who did not return his affections. Longing for her companionship, the man went to see a witch doctor for advice on the situation. The wise witch doctor offered his advice saying, "Oo ee, oo ah ah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang" (which is repeated four times as the chorus of the song). At the middle of the song the man tells the woman he loves about his asking the witch doctor for advice.
The "witch doctor" was in fact Bagdasarian's own voice sped up to double speed, a technique Seville would later exploit to create Alvin and the Chipmunks (and had also used on at least one other pre-Chipmunk song, The Bird on My Head). Because of this, it is often referred to (even in later compilations) as the first song by the Chipmunks; this is not precisely true. For one, only one sped-up "chipmunk" voice is featured instead of three. Furthermore, Bagdasarian (as Seville) insisted that it was not technically a Chipmunks song in an episode of The Alvin Show when he exclaims "I made that record once!" and Alvin responds "But not with us!" The first true song by the "group" was The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late).
[edit] Chart performance
Credited as David Seville on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, the single was considered a major surprise hit on the charts where it peaked at #1, stayed at #1 for two weeks and became Seville's first #1 single. The single also peaked at #1 on the Billboard Black Singles Chart and on the Cash Box chart as well. The single sold over 1 million copies in the United States.
[edit] Cover versions/remixes
The first cover version was done in the same year of origin by the British musician Don Lang and succeeded to the UK Top 10. Since its release, the song has been covered by several bands, including Sha Na Na and the Danish band Cartoons in 1998. The Cartoons' cover was also featured in the Dance Dance Revolution series, starting with DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution 6thMix (A loosely based song interpreted by Banya was also featured in the Pump It Up Dancing Game). It was also sung in Spanish by Manuel "El Loco" Valdes (Tin Tan's brother) in a movie. The Cartoons
Ross Bagdasarian re-recorded the song in 1960 featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks doing lead and backup vocals for the song and can be found on The Chipmunks' second album, Sing Again with the Chipmunks. The song was adapted into one of the musical segments featured on The Alvin Show. The Chipmunks would later do a dance version of the song in 1996, which can be found on the album Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes.
There was also a version of the song included in the compilation album call "Doo Wop Halloween Is A Scream" by Frankie & Fashions.
A modified version was also used in a commercial for Tab soda, with "ting tang" being replaced by "Tab taste".
In the episode "The Bend In The River" of The A Team, Murdock spends most of his time in a grass skirt and a mask, singing the song to himself, and B. A. Baracus in range.
There was also a less famous cover version recorded in the mid-50s by John Morris.[citation needed]
A more modern remix of the song appeared in the 2007 film Alvin and the Chipmunks.
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- This song was also heard in the original Dr. Mario commercial for the NES and Game Boy from 1990. It ends with the new line "And then he shrunk my head!" as the singer points to his appropriately small head.
- In The Simpsons episode, "Make Room for Lisa", Homer and Lisa spend some time in sensory deprivation chambers. While Lisa has a spiritual experience, Homer can be seen singing the chorus of this song to himself, with different lyrics, "I told the witch doctor there's something in my chest, and then the witch doctor, he had to run a test!".
- In an episode of Family Guy, Brian asks Quagmire to sign a petition against Mayor West's ban on gay marriage. Quagmire refuses, does his trademark "giggidies," and then goes into the song, dancing spasmodically.
- In one episode of Jonathan Creek, Jonathan argues with Maddy over the lyrics, who believes the phrase to be "Bing Bang, Bolla Bolla, Don Lang".
- The song has been made into a popular flash animation.
- In The Muppet Show, one episode featured a skit with a Muppet named Marvin Suggs performing a version of this song. His instrument, the Muppaphone, is a series of small, furry, ball-like monsters that he smacks with drumsticks to make them painfully yell each word in the chorus. It ends with the Witch Doctor appearing saying "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELL ANYONE!" and turning Marvin into another of the furry creatures.
| Preceded by "Twilight Time" by The Platters |
Billboard Top 100 number one single (David Seville version) April 28, 1958 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "All I Have To Do Is Dream" by the Everly Brothers |
| Preceded by "Tequila" by The Champs |
United World Chart number one single May 3, 1958 – May 10, 1958 |
Succeeded by "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" by Elvis Presley |
