Double Dutch Bus (song)
Encyclopedia
"Double Dutch Bus" is a 1981
funk song by Frankie Smith
, made famous for its extensive use of the "izz" infix form of slang.
neighborhood: the double Dutch
jump rope
game played by neighborhood kids, and the SEPTA bus system that was a backbone of the local transportation network (and for which Smith had unsuccessfully applied for a bus driving position; the Transpass referred to in the song is an actual SEPTA pass).
Smith and co-writer Bill Bloom
persuaded contacts at WMOT Records
to finance the song, and it was recorded in the summer of 1981, engineered by Gene Leone. The song rocketed to popularity in a matter of weeks. On the US Billboard R&B chart
, it held the number one spot for eight weeks. It also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100
, where it peaked at number 30 in the summer of 1981. The record has received two separate gold certifications, one for sales of the 7" edit, and a second gold record for sales of the 12" single.
Sampling
The song was sampled heavily by Missy Elliott
for use in the song Gossip Folks
.
. The track was released to promote the film College Road Trip
and is the first and only single from her fourth studio album, Raven-Symoné
. The single was released on February 9, 2008 on Radio Disney
. This version has an updated hip hop and R&B sound.
"Double Dutch Bus" was added onto the US iTunes Store on March 4, 2008.
on February 18, 2008. The music video shows Raven and a bunch of people dancing under a disco ball
and having a great time on a party bus
(known as the "double dutch bus"). The music video also features images from the film College Road Trip. Donny Osmond
makes a cameo appearance in the video.
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
funk song by Frankie Smith
Frankie Smith
For the football player of the same name see Frankie Smith .Franklyn Leon "Frankie" Smith is an American funk musician and R&B/soul songwriter.-History:...
, made famous for its extensive use of the "izz" infix form of slang.
Original version
The song title represents a combination of two institutions in Smith's Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
neighborhood: the double Dutch
Double Dutch (jump rope)
Double dutch is a game in which two long jump ropes turning in opposite directions are jumped by one or more players jumping simultaneously.While double dutch began in the inner cities of America, it is growing in popularity throughout the US and the world...
jump rope
Jump rope
Jump rope or skipping rope is the primary tool used in the game of skipping played by children and many young adults, where one or more participants jump over a rope swung so that it passes under their feet and over their heads...
game played by neighborhood kids, and the SEPTA bus system that was a backbone of the local transportation network (and for which Smith had unsuccessfully applied for a bus driving position; the Transpass referred to in the song is an actual SEPTA pass).
Smith and co-writer Bill Bloom
Bill Bloom
William A. "Bill" Bloom is an American songwriter and musician.Bloom was a staff writer and producer for Philadelphia International Records and WMOT Records. He co-wrote and produced the album Children of Tomorrow by Frankie Smith, including the 1981 hit song "Double Dutch Bus".- External links...
persuaded contacts at WMOT Records
WMOT Records
WMOT Records, an independent recording company in Philadelphia, produced a number of singles in the "Philadelphia sound" soul tradition...
to finance the song, and it was recorded in the summer of 1981, engineered by Gene Leone. The song rocketed to popularity in a matter of weeks. On the US Billboard R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, it held the number one spot for eight weeks. It also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, where it peaked at number 30 in the summer of 1981. The record has received two separate gold certifications, one for sales of the 7" edit, and a second gold record for sales of the 12" single.
SamplingSamplingSampling may refer to:*Sampling , converting a continuous signal into a discrete signal*Sampling , converting continuous colors into discrete color components*Sampling , re-using portions of sound recordings in a piece...
The song was sampled heavily by Missy ElliottMissy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
for use in the song Gossip Folks
Gossip Folks
"Gossip Folks" is a 2003 hip hop song by Missy Elliott, featuring Ludacris. The song appears on her 2002 album Under Construction and was chosen as second single release. It peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 in the UK...
.
Raven-Symoné version
"Double Dutch Bus" was later covered by Raven-SymonéRaven-Symoné
Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman , known professionally as Raven-Symoné , or simply Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, comedian, dancer, television producer and model. Symoné launched her successful career in 1989 after appearing in The Cosby Show as Olivia...
. The track was released to promote the film College Road Trip
College Road Trip
College Road Trip is a 2008 American family/comedy directed by Roger Kumble and starring Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symoné, Brenda Song, Margo Harshman, and Donny Osmond. The film centers on college-bound teen Melanie Porter , who goes on a road trip to different colleges with her father...
and is the first and only single from her fourth studio album, Raven-Symoné
Raven-Symoné (album)
- Thick Girls, Big Girls - EP :An extended play of left-over songs from the album was released free of charge on the iTunes Store on June 6, 2009.-Leftover Tracks:...
. The single was released on February 9, 2008 on Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
. This version has an updated hip hop and R&B sound.
"Double Dutch Bus" was added onto the US iTunes Store on March 4, 2008.
Music video
The music video premiered on Disney ChannelDisney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
on February 18, 2008. The music video shows Raven and a bunch of people dancing under a disco ball
Disco ball
A disco ball is a roughly spherical object that reflects light directed at it in many directions, producing a complex display...
and having a great time on a party bus
Party bus
A party bus is a large motor vehicle usually derived from a conventional bus or coach, but modified and designed to carry 10 or more people purely for recreational purposes generally involving some kind of celebration, such as a birthday or graduation...
(known as the "double dutch bus"). The music video also features images from the film College Road Trip. Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
makes a cameo appearance in the video.
Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
February 9, 2008 | Hollywood Records Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote... |
Radio Disney Radio Disney Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas... |
| March 4, 2008 | CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... , digital download |
External links
- Music video of original, Frankie Smith version at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Music video of Raven-Symoné version at YouTube