Agadoo
Encyclopedia
"Agadoo" is a novelty song
recorded by the band Black Lace
in 1984
. "Agadoo" peaked at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
, and spent 30 weeks in the top 75. It went on to become the eighth best-selling single of 1984 in the UK.
In a survey for dotmusic
in 2000, respondents voted "Agadoo" as the fourth most annoying song of all time. In a poll for Q
magazine in 2003, a panel of music writers voted "Agadoo" as the worst song of all time, saying: "It sounded like the school disco you were forced to attend, your middle-aged relatives forming a conga
at a wedding party, a travelling DJ act based in Wolverhampton
, every party cliche
you ever heard." The panel also described it as "magnificently dreadful".
. Club Med
used it as their theme song from 1974. It was covered by several artists and groups, including Patrick Zabé in 1975 and the Saragossa Band (a German group) in 1981.
It was apparently played in a Derby
nightclub called Gossips, to which the bar staff made a dance. It proved so popular that when Black Lace performed at the club in 1981, they learnt the dance and recorded their own version. This was verified on BBC Radio Derby
in 2006. This was the first version in French.
version of the song entitled "Have a Screw", which was written by Black Lace members Alan Barton
and Colin Gibb and released on the B-side of the 12-inch vinyl "Gang Bang".
The Australian satirical TV series CNNNN ran a fake cross-promotion
for Agadoo: The Musical.
In 1986, the song was parodied in "The Chicken Song
" by the satirical television programme Spitting Image
.
The song was produced by Barry Whitfield, who also appears in the video for the song as a pear.
The song was also used as the basis of a chant by fans of Liverpool
for defender Daniel Agger
.
Anarchist band Chumbawamba
recorded a version of "Agadoo" for the Peel Sessions.
It was parodied in a Vanilla Mini Wheats commercial in 2006.
In November 2009, Black Lace recorded a version called "Agadir" to promote a new air service by easyJet
from Gatwick airport to Agadir
.
On 20 March 2009, it was announced that the song was being released in a new version by Dene Michael from Black Lace's original lineup and new member Ian Robinson. A video for the release, titled "Agadoo" (Mambo 2009 remix), has been directed by Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby-Brown
in television soap opera Coronation Street
. He also appears in the video, along with Kevin Kennedy
, who played Curly Watts in the same programme.
UK 1984 12" single
UK 2007 CD single
Novelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
recorded by the band Black Lace
Black Lace (band)
Black Lace is a British Euro pop band, best known for novelty party records, including their biggest hit, "Agadoo". The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, in which they finished seventh with the song "Mary Ann"...
in 1984
1984 in British music
This is a summary of 1984 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.-Summary:1984 was a year of several huge selling releases, including at the time the biggest selling single ever. Six singles this year sold over a million copies, the joint highest number ever...
. "Agadoo" peaked at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and spent 30 weeks in the top 75. It went on to become the eighth best-selling single of 1984 in the UK.
In a survey for dotmusic
Dotmusic
Dotmusic was a music website that existed as a standalone website from June 1995 to December 2003. Initially intended as the web complement to the UK music industry trade magazine Music Week, the site was relaunched in December 1998 as a website for music fans.In addition to music news, reviews,...
in 2000, respondents voted "Agadoo" as the fourth most annoying song of all time. In a poll for Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
magazine in 2003, a panel of music writers voted "Agadoo" as the worst song of all time, saying: "It sounded like the school disco you were forced to attend, your middle-aged relatives forming a conga
Conga Line
The conga line is a Cuban carnival march that was first developed in Cuba and became popular in the United States in the 1930s and 1950s. The dancers form a long, processing line. It has three shuffle steps on the beat, followed by a kick that is slightly ahead of the fourth beat...
at a wedding party, a travelling DJ act based in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, every party cliche
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
you ever heard." The panel also described it as "magnificently dreadful".
Origins
The song's origins date back to 1971, when Michel Delancray and Mya Symille recorded it as "Agadou" in French. It had been written based on a tune that apparently came from MoroccoMorocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. Club Med
Club Med
Club Méditerranée , commonly known as Club Med, is a French corporation of vacation resorts found in many parts of the world, usually in exotic locations. It is considered the original all-inclusive resort.-Foundation:...
used it as their theme song from 1974. It was covered by several artists and groups, including Patrick Zabé in 1975 and the Saragossa Band (a German group) in 1981.
It was apparently played in a Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
nightclub called Gossips, to which the bar staff made a dance. It proved so popular that when Black Lace performed at the club in 1981, they learnt the dance and recorded their own version. This was verified on BBC Radio Derby
BBC Radio Derby
BBC Radio Derby is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Derbyshire, covering all but the northern tip of the county, and also serves eastern Staffordshire, mainly Uttoxeter and Burton upon Trent. The station broadcasts from its studios in Derby on 104.5, 95.3 and 96.0 FM and 1116...
in 2006. This was the first version in French.
Parodies and derivative versions
Black Lace themselves recorded an X-ratedX-rated
In some countries, X is or has been a motion picture rating reserved for the most explicit films. Films rated X are intended only for viewing by adults, usually legally defined as people over the age of 17.-United Kingdom:...
version of the song entitled "Have a Screw", which was written by Black Lace members Alan Barton
Alan Barton
Alan Barton was a member of the hit-making duo Black Lace, alongside Colin Routh. Their hits included: "The Music Man", "Agadoo" and "Superman"...
and Colin Gibb and released on the B-side of the 12-inch vinyl "Gang Bang".
The Australian satirical TV series CNNNN ran a fake cross-promotion
Advertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...
for Agadoo: The Musical.
In 1986, the song was parodied in "The Chicken Song
The Chicken Song
-12" vinyl:-Chart performance:...
" by the satirical television programme Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
.
The song was produced by Barry Whitfield, who also appears in the video for the song as a pear.
The song was also used as the basis of a chant by fans of Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
for defender Daniel Agger
Daniel Agger
Daniel Munthe Agger is a Danish footballer who plays for Liverpool and the Denmark national football team. He started his senior career at Danish club Brøndby IF in July 2004, with whom he won the 2005 Danish Superliga championship. The Liverpool fans have created a song for him to the tune of...
.
Anarchist band Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
recorded a version of "Agadoo" for the Peel Sessions.
It was parodied in a Vanilla Mini Wheats commercial in 2006.
In November 2009, Black Lace recorded a version called "Agadir" to promote a new air service by easyJet
EasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
from Gatwick airport to Agadir
Agadir
Agadir is a major city in southwest Morocco, capital of the Agadir province and the Sous-Massa-Draa economic region .-Etymology:...
.
2007 & 2009 re-releases
In August 2007 the "Agadoo 206 Mix" was released as the song was used in a TV ad to promote Peugeot's new 206 car. The song hit the UK charts. Black Lace members Colin Gibb and Rob Hopcraft then used the song to in a special charity 'Agadoo Day'.On 20 March 2009, it was announced that the song was being released in a new version by Dene Michael from Black Lace's original lineup and new member Ian Robinson. A video for the release, titled "Agadoo" (Mambo 2009 remix), has been directed by Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby-Brown
Les Battersby-Brown
Leslie Nelson "Les" Battersby-Brown is a fictional character on the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He was played by Bruce Jones...
in television soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. He also appears in the video, along with Kevin Kennedy
Kevin Kennedy (actor)
Kevin Kennedy is an English actor, writer, producer, singer, and guitarist, best known for playing the bottle-lensed Curly Watts in ITV's long running soap opera Coronation Street between 1983 and 2003.-Early life:Kennedy was born in Manchester. He attended St Paul's RC Secondary High School...
, who played Curly Watts in the same programme.
Track listings and formats
UK 1984 7" single- "Agadoo" 3:07
- "Fiddling" 2:14
UK 1984 12" single
- "Agadoo" (Extended Version) 4:49
- "SupermanSuperman (Black Lace song)"Superman" is a 1981 novelty song written by Italian musicians Claudio Cecchetto and Claudio Simonetti, most famous for the 1983 recording by Black Lace....
" ('X' Rated Version)
UK 2007 CD single
- "Agadoo 206 Mix"