Search by Title

A	B	C	D	E	F	G
H	I	J	K	L	M	N
O	P	Q	R	S	T	U
V	W	X	Y	Z	#

Browse Categories Random Songfact Random Category Add to Songfacts Take the Quiz SongFAQ Get the Newsletter E-Mail Us Message Boards Full Interviews Lyrical Pursuit Song Fallacies

Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This was written by Mark James, who also wrote Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." (thanks, Eric - Salt Lake City, UT)

In 1971 English singer and Pop mogul Jonathan King produced his own version, adding the "Oooonga Chacka" jungle chants from Johnny Preston's "Running Bear." King was a university student in the UK when he recorded his debut hit "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" in 1965, which reached #4 in the UK and #17 in the US. He went on to become a successful singer, songwriter, producer (he produced the first Genesis album, From Genesis to Revelation), broadcaster and record company executive (in 1972 he formed UK Records). In November 2000 he was accused of sex attacks on boys dating back to 1970, and in January 2001, he was charged with 7 counts of assaults against underage youths. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

In 1974 the Swedish Pop group Blue Swede recorded a cover of King's version the hit #1 in the US, Holland, Australia, and Canada. This was the first Swedish #1 in the US, and it reached the top the same week Abba won the Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo" and introduced themselves to an international audience. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 2)

This was used in the Quentin Tarantino movie Reservoir Dogs.

In 1998, this was used in episodes of the TV show Ally McBeal when the "Dancing Baby" appeared. As Ally got older, the she would get visions of a baby who would dance to the Blue Swede version of this song, reminding her that her biological clock was ticking. Vonda Shepard recorded it for her album Songs From Ally McBeal.

According to Billboard & The Mercury Records Story, the backing vocal/chant of "ooga-chucka" originated in the 1959 song "Running Bear" by Johnny Preston. In "Running Bear," J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) and George Jones did the background chant, which was then redone/inspired on BJ Thomas' "Hooked on a Feeling," which in turn inspired the Blue Swede version. Jones was either co-producing for Johnny Preston or was just there, perhaps for another session.

Comments:

i first heard Vonda's version before i did BJ's. although both are pretty good (nice to hear a guy's voice singing it), i have to say that twas Vonda's soulfulness that made me like the song so much. plus that it is used as a soundtrack in one of my all-time fave tv shows.
- joycemorrison, PH

Dennis as a kid who had botha cowboy and indian outfit in the 60's I can assure you that it was spoken as Cowboys and Indians NOT Indians and Cowboys. "Livestock Corralpersons and Indigenous Peoples" would not have inspired me as a 5 year old. Regarding the Swedes: let them bask on their misconceptions - it may be all they have left. To me it comically mimics an African tribal, drug-induced, fireside mating mantric-tantric chant - "Ooga chacka ooga ooga" I am almost shure this is it's intent.
- Tony, Brooklyn, NY

The "Ooga Chucka" chorus first appeared in Johnny Preston's version of "Running Bear" (Mercury,1959)as mentioned... which was written by J.P. Preston (aka The Big Bopper) and featured Preston and George Jones on backing vocal/chant.
- DJ, Los Angeles, CA

:D go to youtube.com and watch david hasselhoffs version....its hilarious....the video, omg, just watch it^^
- Kathy, Karben, Germany

Ugh. Now, I don't like the B.J. Thomas version, but I loathe Blue Swede's version. "OOGA CHAKA! OOGA CHAKA!" How obnoxious can you get?
- Henry, Kingston, NY

I prefer the "ooga chucka" version but still a great song, period.
- Jon, Oakridge, OR

The "Ooga Chucka" thing from Blue Swede always reminded of me of the guards at the Wicked Witch of the West's castle in The Wizard of Oz. You remember... the ones that chanted "The old one..oh we love..the old one...." (or, if you prefer, "YO-WUM..YO-WEE-UMM!").
- Paul, Tucson, AZ

What in the world is an Ooga Chaka Ooga Ooga?
- Annabelle, Eugene, OR

I always thought that recording this song with ooga-shakas was meant to contrast the slightly treacly idealism of the lyrics with a caveman approach not only to love but to rock and roll. But then I tend to over-interpret things and to see meaning where none possibly exists. A more realistic view might be: Why ooga-shakas? Why not? It got them onto the charts, didn't it, and here we are writing about them over thirty years later.
- Ekristheh, Halath, United States

"Ooga Chacka!" Playing "Indians and cowboys" is, for some unknown reason, very popular among Swedish kids. Or at least was, before Nintendo polluted their minds. (Sorry for the political incorrectness, but it was just never called "Native Americans and cowboys?). Anyway, after a tribe catches a cowboy, in Swedish kids? minds, they tie him to the totem pole and do a tribal dance around him singing "Ooga chacka". Björn Schiffs, being a very funny and childish person, in Sweden likely as known for his comedy acting as his music, probably remembered his childhood as he wrote the intro.
- Dennis, Cebu, Philippines(nat. Swedish, Other

B.J. Thomas' version was more of a love song. Blue Swede's version was more of a rock and roll song. The correct chant at the opening and near the end was "Ooga chacka ooga ooga."
- Howard, St. Louis Park, MN

Regarding the Blue Swede cover -- what's up with the "ooga chucka ooga ooga!" ? Where did that come from? Actually, this version is not all that bad, but "ooga chucka"?
- Jerry, Brooklyn, NY

This song was such a huge hit in Sweden that it has become part of the cultural fabric. People become distraught and bewildered when they are told that its origin is not Swedish. In the minds of Swedish people, the song is as inseparable from their own identity as it is from its most famous troubadour, Björn Skifs. Most have no clue about B.J. Thomas. Sad, really.
- Kurt, Gothenburg, Sweden

Jonathan King got to number 23 in the British charts with the song in Nov 1971.
- marty, perth, Australia

Songwriter Mark James also had a hand in writing "Moody Blue" (Elvis Presley) and "Always on My Mind" (Elvis, Willie Nelson, Pet Shop Boys).
- Eric, Salt Lake City, UT