Simon Says

by

1910 Fruitgum Company

Album: Simon Says      Released: 1968

US Chart: 4     UK Chart: 2

Get the Ringtone  Get Song @ Amazon
Get the Sheet Music  

Send "Simon Says" Ringtone to your Cell

View Lyrics

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

Simon Says is a popular game played by children where whoever has the role of "Simon" commands the other players to perform specific actions, which must only be followed if preceded by the phrase "Simon Says." This song is based on the game.

Jeff Katz and Jerry Kasenetz managed the 1910 Fruitgum Company and guided them into one of the most successful Bubblegum acts of the '60s. This was the first hit for the group, and it established a theme of songs based on children's games. The song was written by Elliot Chiprut, who Katz and Kasenetz brought in. Floyd Marcus, who is the drummer for the 1910 Fruitgum Company, explains: "At the time their business plan was to focus on this neglected age group and market records and songs to that age group. So Elliott was just one of the people they happened to bring in. We did write our own tunes. We did get enough of our tunes on the albums. Actually, I wrote the song 'Keep Your Thoughts On The Bright Side,' and Jeff and Jerry had proposed that to Neil Bogart as their second release. But the record company had a plan for us. They wanted to stick with the game genré, they liked that. So the next release was 'May I Take A Giant Step.'"

Floyd Marcus talks about how this song came together: "When it was presented to us, it was presented almost like "The Calypso Song," believe it or not. And we thought what the heck is this? You know, 'Simon Says.' And we were kind of goofing around with it in the studio at the time. Frank (Jeckell) and I both remember it differently, but somehow one of us kind of said, 'Let's do it like 'Wooly Bully.' And we wound up counting it off and doing that whole intro to 'Wooly Bully,' 'it's time to play Simon Says,' and over the talkback speakers they scream, 'That's it, that's it, they love the idea.' So we went on and recorded that day."

At the time, the term "Bubblegum Music" didn't exist. Says Floyd: "There wasn't really a genré at that time. I guess it partially came as a rebellion against the music. There was so much social commentary in music back then, there was a lot of sexual innuendo. But I think a lot of it was that there was so much serious content in the years of the Vietnam War, and all the rebellion that was going on, all the drug culture that was going on. When these songs were released, especially "Simon Says" being the first one in '68, a lot of people didn't take to it, feeling it didn't have a lot of substance. But looking back in retrospect, we feel that its time had come, because people in that 5 year period were kind of tired of all the heaviness of music. There was Jimi Hendrix, there was The Doors, Zeppelin came on the scene around '69. The Beatles had morphed from this Pop group into Sergeant Pepper, It was getting heavier out there. I think it was kind of a rebellion, and people wanted a rest from all that. So when 'Simon Says' came out, and 'One, Two, Three Red Light' came out, and 'May I Take A Giant Step' came out, there was a market that we were playing for. And that was probably the young teenager that was neglected in the industry with all the music that was coming out. But I think it caught on with a lot of older people, too. We find that out on the road, when we're out on the road, our fans weren't just little kids coming to see us. They were girls and guys our age: 18, 19 years old, 20 years old, who were into the music." (Thanks to Floyd for speaking with us about this song. Read his full interview in the Songfacts songwriter interviews.)

Send "Simon Says" Ringtone to your Cell

Comments:

Pukey
- Dave, Scottsdale, AZ

The flip-side of this record, Reflections From A Looking Glass, is a lost psychedelic classic.
- Mark, London, England

My all-time favorite childhood song.
- Xavier, Plantation, FL

Send "Simon Says" Ringtone to your Cell