Shaddap You Face
Encyclopedia
"Shaddap You Face" is an Australian novelty song
written and performed by Joe Dolce
(also known as the Joe Dolce Music Theatre) in 1980. It has set a number of sales and longevity records. The song was full of broad Italian humour and included a recognizable chorus.
on 21 February 1981 and stayed there for three weeks until 14 March 1981, keeping the Ultravox
song, Vienna, off the UK No. 1 slot.
"Shaddap You Face" was Number 1 in 11 countries. There have been over 50 different foreign language cover versions, and hundreds more published informally on YouTube with new versions being recorded and uploaded every year. The original release sold over 6 million copies and has remained the most successful Australian-produced single in Australian music history for 31 years straight, with sales of over 350,000+ copies. It was Australia's first triple platinum recording by the old count of 100,000 units equaling platinum status, which has since changed to 75,000 units. In 2002, "Shaddap You Face" also overtook country legend Slim Dusty
's 22-year longevity record for 'A Pub with No Beer,' which went to Number 1 in 1957, and was Australia's first gold record and only gold 78rpm record.
In the U.S., the song peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100
. However, it was played non-stop on the Dr. Demento
show to the point of being #6 on the year end Funny 25 that year.
The National Folk Festival
in Canberra
featured 'The Inspired Shaddap You Face Contest' in April 2006. Festival artists were invited to perform their interpretations of the classic song. The Cygnet Folk Festival in Tasmania featured the second 'Inspired Shaddap You Face Contest' in the following year. Joe Dolce
was invited to be the MC at both events.
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...
written and performed by Joe Dolce
Joe Dolce
Joseph "Joe" Dolce is an American-born, Australian singer/songwriter who achieved fame with his multi-million-selling song, "Shaddap You Face", released under the name of his one-man show, Joe Dolce Music Theatre, in 1980...
(also known as the Joe Dolce Music Theatre) in 1980. It has set a number of sales and longevity records. The song was full of broad Italian humour and included a recognizable chorus.
Sales and chart positions
It went to Number 1 on the Australian pop charts in 1980. It reached Number 1 in the UK Singles ChartUK 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 ...
on 21 February 1981 and stayed there for three weeks until 14 March 1981, keeping the Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
song, Vienna, off the UK No. 1 slot.
"Shaddap You Face" was Number 1 in 11 countries. There have been over 50 different foreign language cover versions, and hundreds more published informally on YouTube with new versions being recorded and uploaded every year. The original release sold over 6 million copies and has remained the most successful Australian-produced single in Australian music history for 31 years straight, with sales of over 350,000+ copies. It was Australia's first triple platinum recording by the old count of 100,000 units equaling platinum status, which has since changed to 75,000 units. In 2002, "Shaddap You Face" also overtook country legend Slim Dusty
Slim Dusty
David Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning nearly eight decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush...
's 22-year longevity record for 'A Pub with No Beer,' which went to Number 1 in 1957, and was Australia's first gold record and only gold 78rpm record.
In the U.S., the song peaked at No. 53 on 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...
. However, it was played non-stop on the Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
show to the point of being #6 on the year end Funny 25 that year.
The National Folk Festival
National Folk Festival (Australia)
The National Folk Festival - Australia’s premier folk festival event – is a colourful and diverse family orientated celebration attended by over 50,000 people.It is the best Easter week-end in Australia!...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
featured 'The Inspired Shaddap You Face Contest' in April 2006. Festival artists were invited to perform their interpretations of the classic song. The Cygnet Folk Festival in Tasmania featured the second 'Inspired Shaddap You Face Contest' in the following year. Joe Dolce
Joe Dolce
Joseph "Joe" Dolce is an American-born, Australian singer/songwriter who achieved fame with his multi-million-selling song, "Shaddap You Face", released under the name of his one-man show, Joe Dolce Music Theatre, in 1980...
was invited to be the MC at both events.
Australia
- NRR - No Room For Racism: by Joe DolceJoe DolceJoseph "Joe" Dolce is an American-born, Australian singer/songwriter who achieved fame with his multi-million-selling song, "Shaddap You Face", released under the name of his one-man show, Joe Dolce Music Theatre, in 1980...
w/ Vietnamese comic, Hung Le. One-Nation Protest Version (new lyrics) - Aboriginal: Gnarnyarrhe Inmurray Waitarie & Joe DolceJoe DolceJoseph "Joe" Dolce is an American-born, Australian singer/songwriter who achieved fame with his multi-million-selling song, "Shaddap You Face", released under the name of his one-man show, Joe Dolce Music Theatre, in 1980...
. (Indjubunji language dialect version). - Christian cover version: Mrs Liz Luva, for the Clontarf Beach Baptist Church vacation Bible School: (lyrics to original tune.)
- South Australian Version: Bazz & Pilko, 'Bite Your Bum' (banned from airplay by SA radio stations).
- Queensland version: Max BygravesMax BygravesMax Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
.
New Zealand
- Prince Tui TekaPrince Tui TekaTui Teka , better known by his stage names "Tui Latui" or Prince Tui Teka was a Māori singer/actor. Teka was a member of the Maori Volcanics Showband before having a successful solo career.- Career:Teka was born in Ruatahuna, New Zealand near Te Urewera...
- in a medley with Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
’s, ‘My Ding-A-LingMy Ding-a-Ling"My Ding-a-Ling" was the title of a novelty song recorded by Chuck Berry, and his only U.S. number-one single on the pop charts. Later that year the song, in a longer unedited form, was on the album The London Chuck Berry Sessions...
', on his album, ‘Prince Tui TekaPrince Tui TekaTui Teka , better known by his stage names "Tui Latui" or Prince Tui Teka was a Māori singer/actor. Teka was a member of the Maori Volcanics Showband before having a successful solo career.- Career:Teka was born in Ruatahuna, New Zealand near Te Urewera...
: The Man The Legend’
USA
- KRS-OneKRS-OneLawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
- "Shutupayouface" -hip hop album: SNEAK ATTACK. - Lou MonteLou MonteLou Monte born Louis Scaglione, was an Italian American singer best known for a number of best-selling, Italian-themed novelty records which he recorded for both RCA Records and Reprise Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
, album title: Shaddap You Face - How Ya Doin' Boys, New York City.
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show episode "The Great Gladiator Gig" (only in the original version)
- Mr. BelvedereMr. BelvedereMr. Belvedere is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from March 15, 1985, until July 8, 1990. The series was based on the Lynn Aloysius Belvedere character created by Gwen Davenport for her 1947 novel Belvedere, which was later adapted into the 1948 film Sitting Pretty...
- covered by Bob UeckerBob UeckerRobert George "Bob" Uecker is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian, and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr. Baseball" by Johnny Carson...
in episode #32, "Debut"
Germany
- Gottlieb Wendehals, 'Mensch ärger dich nicht'.
- Party Service Band, 'Wenn die Bühne brennt'.
- Volkmann, ‘Shaddapp You Face’
- Remixed 'Italo House Mix' mini-disc from original recording
- Klaus Wunderlich (instrumental Wersi organ version as part of a medley)
France
- SheilaSheila (singer)Sheila is a French pop singer, who became successful as a solo artist in the 1960s and 1970s and later fronted a disco act called Sheila and B. Devotion. Sheila has sold over 24,000,000 copies of records in France and was the top selling artist in France in the 1960s and 1970s...
, 'Et ne la ramène pas'. guitar rock version, by one of France's most beloved female pop singers.
United Kingdom
- ManuelManuel (Fawlty Towers)Manuel is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. Played by Andrew Sachs, he is an iconic character in British comedy history...
, (Andrew SachsAndrew SachsAndrew Sachs is a German-born British actor. He made his name on British television and is best known for his portrayals of Manuel in Fawlty Towers, a role for which he was BAFTA-nominated, and Ramsay Clegg in Coronation Street.-Early life:Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany, the son of Katharina , a...
) The Spanish waiter from Fawlty TowersFawlty TowersFawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
broken-Spanish version, titled, 'Shaddap You Face.' - Lee Brennan, 'Scouse' version, 'Shut Yer Gob'
- EMFEMF (band)EMF were an indie dance band from the United Kingdom. The band, from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, came to prominence at the beginning of the 1990s. During its initial eight year run , EMF had released three studio albums and had gone on hiatus and reformed twice...
, grungeGrungeGrunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
popPop musicPop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
version. Album: Ruby Trax - The Abs, 'Shaddap You Face', on their album, 'A Wop Bop A Loo Bop.'
Italy
- FranchiFranco FranchiFranco Franchi was an Italian comedian.He was born in Palermo, Sicily and began his career in the 1950s, although his career only really took off in the 1960s...
& IngrassiaCiccio IngrassiaCiccio Ingrassia was an Italian comedian.He was born in Palermo, Sicily and began his career in the 1950s, although his career only really took off in the 1960s. He starred in many comedies, mainly as a duo with comedian Franco Franchi...
, 'Ali Ali Ale'. (Franchi & Ingrassia are two of Italy's most well known entertainers having made over 100 films together)
Ireland
- Billy Mena, 'Shut Up Yer Gub’.
- Mario RosenstockMario RosenstockMario Rosenstock born 31 August 1971, is an Irish actor, comedian, impressionist and musician who is best known for his parody music singles and his role in the Gift Grub comedy series on Irish radio station Today FM....
, playing then- manager José MourinhoJosé MourinhoJosé Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
on Today FMToday FMRadio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
's Gift GrubGift GrubGift Grub is a series of short comic pieces broadcast on weekdays on the breakfast show of Irish commercial radio station Today FM since 8 May 1999...
to Roman AbramovichRoman AbramovichRoman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian businessman and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky...
. The song was released in Volume 8 of the series compilation called The G Factor.