Ding-a-dong

{{Infobox song

| cover = TeachInDingADong7InchSingleCover.jpg

| caption = French 7" single cover

| artist = Teach-In

| type = single

| language =

| B-side = Let Me In

| album = Festival

| released = 1975

| label = Philips

| composer = Dick Bakker

| lyricist = {{hlist|Will Luikinga|Eddy Ouwens}}

| misc = {{External music video|header=Music video|{{YouTube|vkUl357Yd8k|"Dinge-dong"}} on TopPop}}

{{Infobox song contest entry

| embed = yes

| song = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} "Ding-a-dong"

| year = 1975

| country = Netherlands

| artist = {{hlist|Getty Kaspers|Ard Weeink|Chris de Wolde|John Gaasbeek|Koos Versteeg|Rudi Nijhuis}}

| as = Teach-In

| with =

| language = English

| composer = Dick Bakker

| lyricist = {{hlist|Will Luikinga|Eddy Ouwens}}

| conductor = Harry van Hoof

| place = 1st

| points = 152

| prev = I See a Star

| prev_link = I See a Star

| next = The Party's Over

| next_link = The Party's Over (Sandra Reemer song)

}}

"Ding-a-dong" is a song recorded by Dutch band Teach-In, with music composed by Dick Bakker and lyrics written by Will Luikinga and Eddy Ouwens. It {{esccnty|Netherlands|t=represented the Netherlands}} in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975, held in Stockholm, winning the contest. It reached number 1 in both the Swiss and the Norwegian Singles Chart. Teach-In recorded the song in English, Dutch, and German.

Background

= Conception =

"Ding-a-dong" was composed by Dick Bakker with lyrics by Will Luikinga and Eddy Ouwens.{{Cite web |title=Ding-A-Dong – lyrics|url=http://www.diggiloo.net/?1975nl|website=The Diggiloo Thrush}} It is an up-tempo ode to positive thought though the song is written entirely in a minor key. It sings that one should "sing a song that goes ding ding-a-dong" when one is feeling unhappy, with the chorus proclaiming "Ding-a-dong every hour, when you pick a flower. Even when your lover is gone, gone, gone."

In the original Dutch version the "ding-a-dong" describes the heartbeat of the singer remembering the separation from her lover in the past. As well as "ding-a-dong", the lyrics also contain "bim-bam-bom" representing a fearful heartbeat and "tikke-(tikke)-tak" for the ticking of the clock while waiting for the lover to return.{{Cite web|title=Ding-A-Dong (Dutch) – lyrics|url=http://www.diggiloo.net/?1975nl11|website=The Diggiloo Thrush}}

= Eurovision =

On 26 February 1975, "Dinge dong" –the original Dutch version of "Ding-a-dong"– competed in the {{esccnty|Netherlands|y=1975|t=19th edition}} of the Nationaal Songfestival, the national final organized by Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) to select its song and performer for the {{escyr|1975||20th edition}} of the Eurovision Song Contest. The song won the three-song competition, so it became the {{esccnty|Netherlands|t=Dutch entry}} for Eurovision. Once selected, it was performed by the three competing acts: Albert West, Debbie, and Teach-In. Teach-In received more points than their rivals, so they became the performers for Eurovision.{{cite web |title=Netherlands: Nationaal Songfestival 1975|url=https://eurovisionworld.com/national/netherlands/nationaal-songfestival-1975|website=Eurovisionworld}} Teach-In then recorded the song in Dutch –as "Dinge-dong"–, English –as Ding-a-dong–, and German –as "Ding ding-a-dong".

On 22 March 1975, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at {{lang|sv|Sankt Eriks-Mässan|i=unset}} in Stockholm hosted by Sveriges Radio (SR), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Teach-In performed in English "Ding-a-dong"{{efn|During broadcast, it was introduced in the onscreen titles as "Ding dinge dong"}} first on the evening preceding {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1975}}'s "That's What Friends Are For" by The Swarbriggs. Harry van Hoof conducted the live orchestra in the performance of the Dutch entry.{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1975|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1975|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=SR / EBU|date=22 March 1975}}

At the close of voting, it had received 152 points, placing first in a field of nineteen, winning the contest. The song was the first winner under the current Eurovision voting system whereby each country awards scores of 1–8, 10, and 12.{{cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-1975/final|title=Official Eurovision Song Contest 1975 scoreboard|website=Eurovision Song Contest}}

File:Teach-in (winnaar Eurovisie Songfestival) terug op Schiphol Teach-in na aankoms, Bestanddeelnr 927-8208.jpg after Eurovision.]]

"Ding-a-dong" was notable for being one of the Eurovision winners that had quirky or entirely nonsensical titles or lyrics, following in the footsteps of Massiel's "La, la, la" in {{escyr|1968}} and Lulu's "Boom Bang-a-Bang" in {{escyr|1969}}, and later followed by the Herreys' "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" in {{escyr|1984}}. As the first song was performed during the evening, the victory ran contrary to the fact that success usually went to songs performed later in the broadcast. This was the first of three occasions when the first song would win the contest, the second coming the following year in {{escyr|1976}}, and the third in 1984.{{cite book|author=O'Connor, John Kennedy|author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor|year=2007|title=The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History|location=UK|publisher=Carlton Books|isbn=978-1-84442-994-3}}

= Aftermath =

Teach-In performed their song in the Eurovision twenty-fifth anniversary show Songs of Europe held on 22 August 1981 in Mysen.{{Cite episode|title=Songs of Europe|episode-link=Songs of Europe (1981 concert)|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=NRK / EBU|date=22 August 1981}} On 22 May 2021, the interval act "Rock the Roof" in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 grand final featured "Ding-a-dong" performed by Teach-In.{{cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/video/interval-act-rock-the-roof|title=Interval Act – Rock The Roof|website=Eurovision Song Contest}}

Chart history

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Australia (Kent Music Report){{Cite book\|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 \|last=Kent \|first=David \|author-link=David Kent (historian) \|publisher=Australian Chart Book \|location=St Ives, NSW \|year=1993\|page=306 \|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} \| 64
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col"\| Chart (1975) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Flanders\|2\|artist=Teach-In\|song=Ding-a-dong\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Wallonia\|7\|artist=Teach-In\|song=Ding-a-dong\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|9\|artist=Teach-In\|song=Ding-a-dong\|songid=344\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|8\|artist=Teach-In\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|3\|artist=Teach-In\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|3\|artist=Teach-In\|song=Ding-a-dong\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Norway\|1\|artist=Teach-In\|song=Ding-a-dong\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|1\|artist=Teach-In\|song=Ding-a-dong\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|UKsinglesbyname\|13\|artist=Teach-In\|song=Ding-a-dong\|artistid=15313\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultcontemporary\|22\|artist=Teach-In\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 May 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col"\| Chart (1975) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web\|title= Jaaroverzichten 1975 \|publisher= Ultratop. Hung Medien \|access-date= 29 May 2021 \|url= http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1975 \|language= nl}} \| 54
scope="row"\| France (IFOP){{cite web\|title= TOP – 1975 \|website= Top-france.fr \|access-date= 29 May 2021 \|url= http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1975.htm \|language= fr}} \| 29
scope="row"\| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web\|title= Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1975 \|publisher= Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien \|access-date= 29 May 2021 \|url= https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1975 \|language= de}} \| 13

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1975)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten 1975 |publisher= Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date= 29 May 2021 |url= http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1975 |language= nl}}

| 54

scope="row"| France (IFOP){{cite web|title= TOP – 1975 |website= Top-france.fr |access-date= 29 May 2021 |url= http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1975.htm |language= fr}}

| 29

scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|title= Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1975 |publisher= Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien |access-date= 29 May 2021 |url= https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1975 |language= de}}

| 13

Legacy

=beFour cover=

{{Infobox song

| name = Ding-A-Dong

| cover = Ding-a-dong.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = beFour

| album = Friends 4 Ever

| released = 17 April 2009

| recorded = 2009

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Pop

| length = 3:32

| label =

| writer = Will Luikinga, Eddy Ouwens

| producer =

| prev_title = No Limit

| prev_year = 2009

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

"Ding-a-Dong" was also recorded by German band beFour for their fourth studio album Friends 4 Ever and released on 17 April 2009 as its second single in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2009)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Germany|61|artist=beFour|song=Ding-A-Dong|songid=555740|rowheader=true}}

=Other covers=

Edwyn Collins did a cover of the song for Eurotrash.

Russian musicians Alyona Apina and Murat Nasyrov recorded "{{lang|ru|Лунные ночи}}" ("Lunnyje nochi", "Moonlight nights") to the melody of "Ding-a-Dong" in 1997.{{YouTube|oa2l_iUC4qY|Алёна Апина И Мурат Насыров – Лунные Ночи}}

Bessy Argyraki sang a cover in Greek, included in her LP Robert & Bessie (1975).{{YouTube|a2aG-PLRu6I|Ding a Dong – Μπέσσυ Αργυράκη}}

Füsun Önal covered this song as "Söyleyin Arkadaşlar" ("Tell me friends") in Turkish, included in her first LP Alo... Ben Füsun (1975).{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/F%C3%BCsun-%C3%96nal-Alo-Ben-F%C3%BCsun/release/4407362|title = Füsun Önal – Alo.... Ben Füsun (1975, Vinyl)| website=Discogs | date=1975 }}

Ayla Algan covered this song as "Dünya Tersine Dönse" ("If the world turns back") in Turkish, included in firstly her 45rpm Dünya Tersine Dönse/Sen De Katıl Bize (1975),{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Ayl%C3%A2-Algan-D%C3%BCnya-Tersine-D%C3%B6nse-Sen-De-Kat%C4%B1l-Bize/release/8215001|title=Aylâ Algan – Dünya Tersine Dönse / Sen de Katıl Bize (1975, Vinyl)|website=Discogs |date=1975 }} laterly in her second LP after Yunus Emre{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Ayla-Algan-Yunus-Emre/master/808390|title = Ayla Algan – Yunus Emre| website=Discogs | date=1970 }} and the first commercial one Ayla Algan (1976).{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Ayl%C3%A2-Algan-Ayla-Algan/release/6966270|title=Aylâ Algan – Ayla Algan (1976, Vinyl)|website=Discogs |date=1976 }}

András Csonka recorded a Hungarian language version "Ding Dong" in 2001.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GDmCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA363|title=Encyclopedia of Hungarian rock. Volume one|first=Alexandr|last=Zhuk|date=September 5, 2017|publisher=Litres|isbn=9785457918016|via=Google Books}}

[https://www.discogs.com/artist/644201-Hanne?anv=Hanne+%28Eija+H%C3%B6yn%C3%A4l%C3%A4%29&filter_anv=1 Hanne] recorded a Finnish language version "Ding-a-Dong" in 1975.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9960543-Hanne-Kai-Hyttinen-Silloin-Ding-A-Dong|title = Hanne & Kai Hyttinen – Silloin / Ding A Dong (1975, Vinyl)| website=Discogs | date=1975 }}