Tarzan Boy

For the wrestler, see Tarzan Boy (wrestler).
"Tarzan Boy"
Single by Baltimora
from the album Living in the Background
B-side DJ version
Released April 1985
1993 (re-release)
Format 7" single, 12" maxi,
CD single, CD maxi (1993)
Genre Italo disco, synthpop, new wave
Length 3:48
Label Columbia/EMI Records (EEC)
Manhattan Records (US)
Writer(s) Maurizio Bassi, Naimy Hackett
Producer Maurizio Bassi
Baltimora singles chronology
- "Tarzan Boy"
(1985)		 "Woody Boogie"
(1985)

"Tarzan Boy" is the title of a song recorded by Italy-based act Baltimora. It was the group's debut single, released in April 1985, from its first album Living in the Background, on which it features as first track. The song was re-recorded in 1993 and was covered by several artists throughout the years.

Contents

Music, releases and uses in the media

The refrain uses Tarzan's cry as a melodic line. The song is rhythmical, with an electronic melody and simple English lyrics.[1]

The song is best known in the United States for the use of its refrain in early 1990s commercials for Cool Mint Listerine.

The song was re-recorded in the 90s for two films: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III[2] and Beverly Hills Ninja.

The song featured in the story-line of an episode of the BBC detective series New Tricks entitled "A Face for Radio."

The song is occasionally played on the Rush Limbaugh radio program as bumper music.

The guitar riff from the James Bond Theme is adapted for the song.

YTMND has many pages using an excerpt of this song to boost humor.

PBS airs commercials for their animated series Curious George with the chorus playing in the background.

Chart performances

"Tarzan Boy", released in the summer of 1985, was a huge success, debuting in the top 5 of the Italian charts and performing well in many other European countries, including Denmark, Germany, and The Netherlands. "Tarzan Boy" found its great success in France, where it topped the chart for five consecutive weeks. In the United Kingdom, it reached number three in August 1985. The single had similar success in the United States (where it was released on EMI), with the single remaining on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six months and ultimately peaking at number 13 in the early spring of 1986. Baltimora performed on the American TV show Solid Gold, which helped further their success in America.

Cover versions

"Tarzan Boy" was covered by UK band Modern Romance in 1985 and was released as a 7-inch single and 12-inch single by Carrere Records. Produced by Hans Zimmer, it was also released in Brazil, France and Greece[3][4][5] In 2006, the song was covered by Bango, and achieved a minor success, peaking at number 37 in France.[6] A cover by Bad Influence featuring Dyce reached number nine in Sweden.[7]

Lawrence Hayward has also covered the song.

DJ BoBo covered the song on his 2010 album Fantasy in reggaeton-style. Destiny's Child sampled the song on the remix version of "Nasty Girl".

Canadian band The New Cities featured the signature Tarzan call from the song in their 2011 single "Heatwave".

Track listings

Original version

7" single
  1. "Tarzan Boy" — 3:48
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (DJ version) — 3:36
12" single
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (extended version) — 6:15
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (DJ version) — 5:09
12" maxi
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (extended dance version) — 6:16
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (single version) — 3:49
  3. "Tarzan Boy" (extended dub version) — 5:10
12" maxi - Summer version
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (summer version) — 6:40
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (reprise) — 6:00

1993 version

CD single
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (original version) — 3:49
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (1993 remix) — 3:49
12" single
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (original version) — 3:49
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (U.K. swing mix) — 3:18
  3. "Tarzan Boy" (extended dub) — 5:10
CD maxi
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (1993 remix) — 3:49
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (extended 1993 remix) — 5:33
  3. "Tarzan Boy" (extended dub mix) — 5:10
Cassette
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (original version) — 3:49
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (1993 remix) — 3:49
  3. "Tarzan Boy" (original version) — 3:49
  4. "Tarzan Boy" (1993 remix) — 3:49
CD maxi - Promo
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (original version) — 3:45
  2. "Tarzan Boy" (1993 remix) — 3:46
  3. "Tarzan Boy" (extended 1993 remix) — 5:35
  4. "Tarzan Boy" (U.K. swing mix) — 3:21
  5. "Tarzan Boy" (extended dub) — 5:01

Personnel

Original version
  • Mixing by Jurgen Coppers
  • Recording by Paolo Mescoli
  • Composed by Maurizio Bassi and Naimy Hackett
  • Produced and arranged by Maurizio Bassi
  • Recorded at Il Cortile, Milano
  • Mixed at Paradise Studios, Monaco
  • Cover artwork by EMI Creative Services
  • Illustration by Michele Bernardi
1993 version
  • Mixed by Daniel Abraham
  • Produced and arranged by Maurizio Bassi

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart 16
Austrian Singles Chart[8] 2
Canadian Singles Chart 1
Dutch Top 40[9] 1
French SNEP Singles Chart[8] 1
German Singles Chart[8] 3
Irish IRMA Singles Chart[10] 2
Italian Singles Chart[11] 6
Norwegian Singles Chart[8] 4
Swedish Singles Chart[8] 2
Swiss Singles Chart[8] 4
UK Singles Chart[12] 3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] 13
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[13] 6
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[13] 12
Chart (1993) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] 51

Year-end charts

Chart (1985) Position
Austrian Singles Chart[14] 18
Dutch Top 40[15] 17
Swiss Singles Chart[16] 2

Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales certified
Canada[17] Gold January 22, 1986 50,000
France[18] Gold 1985 500,000
UK[19] Silver September 1, 1985 200,000

Chart successions

Preceded by
"Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer		 Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
August 17, 1985 – September 28, 1985		 Succeeded by
"Dancing in the Street"
by David Bowie and Mick Jagger
Preceded by
"Waarom fluister ik je naam nog" by Benny Neyman		 Dutch Top 40 number-one single
August 31, 1985 – September 7, 1985		 Succeeded by
"Into the Groove" by Madonna
Preceded by
"Live Is Life" by Opus		 French SNEP number-one single
September 7, 1985 – October 5, 1985		 Succeeded by
"Love Why" by Century

References

  1. ^ Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, p. 49 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  2. ^ La Discothèque du 20è siècle - 1985, Universal Music / Polygram, p. 15
  3. ^ Modern Romance, Discography, Tarzan Boy, Discogs Website, [accessed] April 27, 2011.
  4. ^ Lee-Williams, Matt: Modern Romance Biography, Internet Movie Database [accessed] April 28, 2011.
  5. ^ Lee-Williams, Matt: Jaymes, David, Biography, Internet Movie Database [accessed] April 28, 2011.
  6. ^ "Tarzan Boy" (by Bango), French Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  7. ^ "Tarzan Boy" (by Bad Influence), Swedish Singles Chart Swedishcharts.com (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Tarzan Boy", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved September 3, 2008)
  9. ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 35, 1985". http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=6612. Retrieved 2008-10-26. 
  10. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  11. ^ http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/indici/per_interprete/ab.htm
  12. ^ "Tarzan Boy", UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  13. ^ a b c d Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  14. ^ 1985 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  15. ^ "Single top 100 over 1985" (in Dutch) (pdf). Top40. http://www.top40.nl/pdf/Top%20100/top%20100%20-%201985.pdf. Retrieved 21 September 2010. 
  16. ^ 1985 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  17. ^ Canada certifications cria.ca (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  18. ^ French certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
  19. ^ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved September 20, 2008)
Baltimora
Jimmy McShane • Maurizio Bassi • Giorgio Cocilovo • Claudio Bazzari • Pier Michelatti • Gabriele Melotti
Albums
Singles
"Tarzan Boy" • "Woody Boogie" • "Living in the Background" • "Juke Box Boy" • "Key Key Karimba" • "Global Love" • "Call Me in the Heart of the Night"