"Ooh to Be Ah" is a song by English band Kajagoogoo, released in 1983 as the second single from their debut album White Feathers, and was produced by Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes and producer Colin Thurston. It was the band's second biggest hit, peaking for two weeks at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] It was the follow-up single to "Too Shy" and describes the fact that the clothes you wear do not make you famous.
| "Ooh to Be Ah" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kajagoogoo | ||||
| from the album White Feathers | ||||
| B-side | "Animal Instincts" (7") "Interview Rooms" (12") | |||
| Released | 21 March 1983[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:33 (7") 6:38 (12" Construction mix) 3:14 (album version) | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Kajagoogoo (music), Limahl (lyrics) | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Kajagoogoo singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Ooh to Be Ah" on YouTube | ||||
Reception edit
Reviewing the song for Record Mirror, Jim Reid wrote "bearable… just. Kajagoogoo are clearly aiming for the pre-speech market. Imagine the scene. Lots of trendy young mothers have just left Mothercare and are headed for their local record store. Mum enters with baby, and baby is dazzled by all the bright lights and Boy George posters. Baby speaks. "Ga ga goo goo… burp, hic… Oooh ah ah". Mum buys the new Kajagoogoo single. Baby is satisfied. My, what a marketing technique! Next month EMI lauches new band 'Muma Muma'".[3]
Kimblerley Leston for Smash Hits wrote "imagine "Too Shy". Keep all its tricks and twiddles, take away its vital hook and this is what you're left with. A very thin record, indeed, with an almost stunning lack of melody and some really – I mean really – insane lyrics. It'll probably be a monstrous hit but it deserves to flounder".[4]
Music video edit
The music video was filmed in Regent Street, London, in and around the Café Royal, and features Christopher Timothy and Kenny Everett.[5]
Track listings edit
7" EMI 5383
- "Ooh to Be Ah" – 3:33
- "Animal Instincts" – 2:39
12" 12EMI 5383
- "Ooh to Be Ah" (The Construction Mix) – 6:38
- "Ooh to Be Ah" (Single Version) – 3:33
- Interview Rooms – 3:22
Charts edit
| Chart (1983) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| Australia (AMR)[6] | 68 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[7] | 20 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[8] | 7 |
| Israel (IBA)[9] | 6 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] | 50 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[2] | 7 |
References edit
- ^ "News". Record Mirror: 6. 12 March 1983. Retrieved 14 December 2020 – via flickr.com.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "Singles". Record Mirror: 18. 26 March 1983. Retrieved 4 November 2020 – via flickr.com.
- ^ "Singles". Smash Hits. 31 March – 13 April 1983. p. 23. Retrieved 4 November 2020 – via sites.google.com.
- ^ KajaFax (2011-07-26). "Kajagoogoo Ooh to be Ah Video Shoot". Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ Grant. "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1983". Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- ^ "Kajagoogoo – Ooh to Be Ah" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ooh to Be Ah". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "Israel Singles Charts 1987-1995". www.ukmix.org. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Kajagoogoo – Ooh to Be Ah". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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