Daddy Cool (Boney M. song)#1986 anniversary recording
{{Short description|1976 song by Boney M.}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Daddy Cool
| cover = Boney M. - Daddy Cool (1976 single).jpg
| caption = German single artwork, used in many other countries
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Boney M.
| album = Take the Heat off Me
| B-side = "No Woman, No Cry"
| released = 31 May 1976
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Disco
| length = 3:28
| label = {{unbulleted list|Hansa Records (FRG)|Atlantic Records (United Kingdom)|Atco Records (United States)}}
| writer = {{hlist|Frank Farian|George Reyam}}
| producer = Frank Farian
| prev_title = Baby Do You Wanna Bump
| prev_year = 1975
| next_title = Sunny
| next_year = 1976
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|MjspoVRHF2k|"Daddy Cool" (TopPop, 1976)}}}}
}}
"Daddy Cool" is a song produced and co-written by Frank Farian who had founded the group Boney M. to visually perform to his songs on TV and while touring discos. Farian also provided the male voice parts on the record. The song was included on their debut album Take the Heat off Me. It was a 1976 hit and a staple of disco music and became Boney M.'s first hit in the United Kingdom.
The second Boney M. single, it was released in 1976 and made no major impact at first. After a presentation on the German Musikladen TV show in September that year, the single became a hit, topping several European charts. It reached number six in the UK charts and number 65 in the United States Billboard Hot 100. The single also topped the German charts and reached the Top 20 in Canada. It proved to be the band's major European breakthrough.
The song is sung by Sheffield Wednesday supporters in adulation for their manager Danny Röhl. In place of the lyric 'Daddy, Daddy Cool' the supporters passionately sing "Danny, Danny Röhl'. Danny Röhl has spoken of his thankfulness and confirmed that the first time he heard it sung that it gave him goosebumps.{{cite web|title= 'I'll never forget this' - Watch smiling Danny Röhl thank loud Sheffield Wednesday crowd |website= The Star (Sheffield newspapers) |date= 29 October 2023 |access-date= 3 March 2024 |url= https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/ill-never-forget-this-watch-smiling-danny-rohl-thank-loud-sheffield-wednesday-crowd-4389858}}
Background
"Daddy Cool" was a novelty gimmick record with an unusual, percussive intro by producer Frank Farian doing rhythmic tic-tic-tics and playing on his teeth with a pencil. Farian also sang all male voice parts (Bobby Farrell always danced to full playback). His characteristic deep voice sings: "She's crazy like a fool..." and is answered by the multilayered voices of Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett: "...wild about Daddy Cool". This line has been misheard by listeners as "...what about Daddy Cool", so much so that the band started singing it that way during live performances.{{cite web|first= J. |last= Temptation |title= Notes toward a reconceptualization of Boney M.'s "Daddy Cool" |website= The New Inquiry |date= 7 August 2015 |access-date= 18 April 2019 |url= https://thenewinquiry.com/blog/notes-toward-a-reconceptualiztion-of-boney-m-s-daddy-cool/}} The bass riff kicks in and builds to the instrumental theme followed by the repetitive, nursery rhyme-like verse and chorus twice.
The song breaks down into a spoken passage by Farian before it goes back into the bass riff and repeats the verse and chorus for the last time. With its slightly hypnotic, repetitive bassline and strings and likewise repetitive, bright female vocals, the track is highly typical of mid-1970s "Munich disco".
Originally, Hansa Records wanted Boney M.'s cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" as the A-side of the single but Farian - seeing that his own song was the clear winner when testing both tracks in his discothèque in St. Ingbert – managed to persuade the record company to have it his way. In the US, Hungary and Japan (where the single wasn't released until November), the single was backed by the album track "Lovin' or Leavin'". In East Germany the record was released in 1977, backed by their next hit "Sunny".
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2021) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Hungarysingle|33|year=2021|week=12|access-date=1 April 2021}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Boney M|title=Daddy Cool|certyear=1977|relyear=1976|access-date=19 November 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Gold|id=11664|artist=Boney M|title=Daddy Cool|certyear=2022|relyear=1976|access-date=13 September 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Boney M.|title=Daddy Cool|certref={{cite magazine|title= Gold Records All the Way |magazine= Billboard |date= 22 January 1977 |volume= 89 |issue= 3 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=PkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT70}}|relyear=1971|certyear=1977|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1976.htm|title=TOP – 1976|work=40 ans de tubes : 1960–2000 : les meilleures ventes de 45 tours & CD singles|author=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP)|editor=Fabrice Ferment|access-date=15 January 2024|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075136/http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1976.htm|archive-date=9 January 2021|via=Top-France.fr|oclc=469523661}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Boney M.|title=Daddy Cool|award=Gold|relyear=1976|certyear=1976|salesamount=800,000|salesref={{cite magazine|title= Give Us a Smile |magazine= Cash Box |volume= XXXVIII |issue= 29 |page= 48 |date= 4 December 1976 |access-date= 15 August 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-12-04.pdf}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Gold|id=8749|artist=Boney M|title=Daddy Cool|certyear=2021|relyear=1976|access-date=13 September 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Boney M.|title=Daddy Cool|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=19 January 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1976|certyear=2024|artist=Boney M.|title=Daddy Cool|accessdate=15 January 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Boney M|title=Daddy Cool|note=Original Release|award=Silver|relyear=1976|certyear=1977|id=1605-1996-1|access-date=15 August 2020|refname=BPI}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Boney M|title=Daddy Cool|note=2004 Digital Reissue|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|id=1605-1996-1|access-date=8 March 2024|refname=BPI1}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Benelux|type=single|artist=Boney M|title=Daddy Cool|award=Platinum|relyear=1976|nosales=true|certref=|access-date=15 August 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
1986 anniversary recording
{{Infobox song
| name = Daddy Cool -
Anniversary Recording '86
| type = single
| artist = Boney M.
| album =
| released = 1986
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = {{unbulleted list|5:18 (7" mix)|9:07 (12" mix)}}
| label = Hansa Records (FRG)
| writer = {{hlist|Frank Farian|George Reyam}}
| producer = Frank Farian
| prev_title = Young, Free and Single
| prev_year = 1985
| next_title = Bang Bang Lulu
| next_year = 1986
}}
Boney M.'s 10th anniversary was celebrated with a TV special and the album The Best of 10 Years – 32 Superhits. The original plans of releasing another single ("Dreadlock Holiday") from the group's final album Eye Dance were cancelled, instead producer Frank Farian recorded a new version of "Daddy Cool" in a special "anniversary recording", featuring rap parts, and new instrumental parts. The single, however, proved to be Boney M.'s worst-selling single, failing to chart anywhere. The B-side "B.M.A.G.O." appeared in a longer version on the 7" than on the 12" single. The 12" single also included an edit version of "Daddy Cool" which was not credited on the cover. The 7" version made its CD debut on The Collection (disc 2, track 1).
=Releases=
7" Single
- ""Daddy Cool (Anniversary Recording '86)" – (Farian, Reyam, Farian, Bischof) 5:18 / "B.M.A.G.O." (Farian) – 4:10 (Hansa Records 107 994–100, 1986)
12" Single
- "Daddy Cool (Anniversary Recording '86)" Special Club Mix – 9:07 / Extended Radio Edit (Not credited on label) – 5:50 / "B.M.A.G.O." – 3:15 (Hansa 607 994–213, 1986)
Boney M. 2000 version
{{Infobox song
| name = Daddy Cool '99
| type = single
| artist = Boney M.
| album = 20th Century Hits
| released = 1999
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = BMG Records (FRG)
| writer = {{hlist|Frank Farian|George Reyam}}
| producer = Frank Farian
| prev_title = Ma Baker (Boney M. vs. Sash!)
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = Hooray! Hooray! (Caribbean Night Fever)
| next_year = 1999
}}
Following the successful Sash! and Horny United remixes of "Ma Baker", Frank Farian remixed "Daddy Cool" as a follow-up single. An all-new line-up Boney M. 2000 featuring three young girls and rapper Mobi T. was featured in the video and also announced to front a forthcoming remix album. This decision was not popular with the group's fan base, and Farian subsequently dropped the idea. "Daddy Cool" could not match the success of its predecessor, peaking only at no. 47 in the German charts.
=Releases=
CD Single
- "Daddy Cool '99 (Radio Edit)" – 3:51
- "Daddy Cool '99 (Extended Vocal Club Mix)" – 5:06
- "Daddy Cool '99 (Latino Club Mix)" – 3:33
- "Daddy Cool '99 (Solid Gold Edit)" – 3:45
- "Daddy Cool (Original Mix 1976)" – 3:26
12" Single
- "Daddy Cool '99 (Extended Vocal Club Mix)" – 5:06
- "Daddy Cool '99 (Disco Dub Edit)" – 4:26
- "Daddy Cool '99 (Latino Club Mix)" – 3:33
- "Daddy Cool '99 (Solid Gold Edit)" – 3:45
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2000) !Peak |
| {{single chart|France|99|artist=Boney M. 2000 feat. Mobi T.|song=Daddy Cool '99|access-date=17 June 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|94|artist=Boney M. 2000 feat. Mobi T.|song=Daddy Cool '99|access-date=17 June 2014}} |
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2013) !Peak |
| {{single chart|France|138|artist=Boney M. 2000 feat. Mobi T.|song=Daddy Cool '99|access-date=17 June 2014}} |
2001 Remix
{{Infobox song
| name = Daddy Cool 2001
| type = single
| artist = Boney M.
| album = The Greatest Hits
| released = 2001
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = BMG Records (United Kingdom)
| writer = {{hlist|Frank Farian|George Reyam}}
| producer = Frank Farian
| prev_title = Sunny (Remix)
| prev_year = 2001
| next_title = Sunny (Mousse T. Remix)
| next_year = 2006
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|SdViB35RRdU|"Daddy Cool 2001”}}}}
}}
United Kingdom 2001 remix to support the album The Greatest Hits. Remixed by Jewels & Stone, the single peaked at no. 47 in the United Kingdom charts.
=Releases=
CD Single
- "Daddy Cool" (Jewels & Stone Radio Edit) – 3:58
- "Daddy Cool" (Original Mix) – 3:25
- "Daddy Cool" (Jewels & Stone Club Mix) – 5:18
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2001) !Peak |
| {{single chart|UK|47|date=20011223|access-date=14 May 2016}} |
Lizot remix
{{Infobox song
| name = Daddy Cool
| type = single
| artist = Lizot x Boney M.
| album = The Magic of Boney M. (Special Remix Edition)
| released = 3 December 2021
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 2:34
| label =
- Nitron
- Sony
| writer =
- Frank Farian
- George Reyam
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|MRk6KPLOBKE|"Daddy Cool"}}}}
}}
German DJ duo Lizot released a remix of "Daddy Cool" on 3 December 2021.{{cite web|title= Lizot x Boney M. – Daddy Cool |website= Austriancharts.at |publisher= Hung Medien |access-date= 30 April 2022 |url= https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Lizot+x+Boney+M%2E&titel=Daddy+Cool&cat=s |language= de}}
=Releases=
=Charts=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Daddy Cool" ! scope="col"| Chart (2021–2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Poland|4|chartid=3989|year=2022|access-date=21 February 2022}} |
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts ==
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2022 year-end chart performance for "Daddy Cool" ! scope="col" | Chart (2022) ! scope="col" | Position |
| scope="row"| Poland (ZPAV){{cite web|url=http://www.zpav.pl/aktualnosc.php?idaktualnosci=2063|title=Airplay 2022 – najpopularniejsze radiowe single|publisher=Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry|language=pl|access-date=17 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221190209/http://www.zpav.pl/aktualnosc.php?idaktualnosci=2063|archive-date=21 February 2023|url-status=live}}
| 83 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Cover versions
Placebo included a cover version in their 2003 album Covers.{{cite web|first= Al |last= Fox |title= Placebo Covers Review |publisher= BBC Music |year= 2010 |access-date= 4 March 2022 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/59m5/}} The song was covered by Latvian trio Melo-M featuring vocals by original Boney M. singer Maizie Williams on their 2007 album Singalongs.{{cite web|title= Melo-M – Singalongs |website= AllMusic |access-date= 17 June 2014 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/singalongs-mw0001577128}} "Daddy Cool" was used in an advert for Vauxhall, promoting their Zafira GSi, as well as in a Venmo ad in 2024.{{cite news|first= Simon |last= Mills |title= Rebirth of Daddy Cool |date= 7 June 2002 |newspaper= London Evening Standard |access-date= 18 July 2016 |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/news/rebirth-of-daddy-cool-6318835.html}}{{cite web|first= Gavin |last= Braithwaite-Smith |title= 30 years of fast Vauxhalls: in pictures |publisher= MSN |date= 14 August 2014 |access-date= 18 July 2016 |url= https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/other/30-years-of-fast-vauxhalls-in-pictures/ss-AA58EyR#image=26}}{{cite web|access-date= 13 November 2024 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTeCr0AGR1I | title=What's Your Venmo? | Planning | website=YouTube | date=11 September 2024 }} The song was sampled by Korean hip hop band DJ Doc for their 2000 single "Run to You".{{cite web|title= DJ DOC (DJ DOC) |website= KBS World Radio |access-date= 30 March 2017 |url= http://world.kbs.co.kr/japanese/program/program_artist_detail.htm?No=101980 |language= ja}}
Raghav Sachar recreated the song for the 2009 Hindi film of the same name as its title theme.
See also
- Lists of number-one singles (Austria)
- List of European number-one hits of 1976
- List of number-one singles of 1976 (France)
- List of number-one hits of 1976 (Germany)
- List of number-one songs in Norway
- List of number-one singles of 1977 (Spain)
- List of number-one singles and albums in Sweden
- List of number-one singles from 1968 to 1979 (Switzerland)
References
{{reflist|25em}}
{{Boney M. singles}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daddy Cool (Boney M. Song)}}
Category:Songs written by Frank Farian
Category:Song recordings produced by Frank Farian
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Hansa Records singles
Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in France
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Number-one singles in Spain
Category:Number-one singles in Sweden