Who's Johnny

"Who's Johnny" is a dance-pop hit recorded by El DeBarge. Released in 1986 off the Gordy label, the single was used for the film Short Circuit and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart.^[1]. It was the only solo #1 single DeBarge released after he left his surname-based family group in the same year.

"Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody for his Polka Party! album called "Here's Johnny" about The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson announcer Ed McMahon.

In 1990, German singer Adams Hambüger-Hatt released a German version of the song titled, Wer ist Johnny.

Music video

The video features El Debarge singing in a courtroom, where a judge is presiding over Number 5's trial, attended by Stephanie Speck and a NOVA security guard. They play a VHS tape, labeled "Short Circuit", containing various clips from the movie. Number 5 wreaks havoc in the courtroom (only his robotic hand is visible to the viewer) with his various hi-jinks, including giving the prosecuting attorney a pair of funny-nose glasses, turning up the ceiling fan to create a windstorm of papers, and swapping the judge's normal gavel for an exploding one and calling the fire department, resulting in the judge being sprayed with water. Stephanie and El Debarge sneak out at the end, covering the camera with a slate on their way out. The prosecutor, still wearing the trick glasses, pops up to deliver the last "Who's Johnny?"

References