Daddy Cool

Album: Take The Heat Off Me (1976)
Charted: 6 65
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Eurodance smash was the first big hit for Boney M, the creation of German producer Frank Farian. Lyrically, there's not much to it, with these lines repeated over and over:

    She's crazy like a fool
    What about it Daddy Cool?


    But the song proved very fun and danceable, making it wildly popular across Europe. The group had several other hits throughout the rest of the '70s.
  • The Boney M. lineup for this track was Maizie Williams, Marcia Barrett, Liz Mitchell and Bobby Farrell. None of them were German - Farrell came from Aruba, Williams was from Montserrat, and Barrett and Williams were from Jamaica - but they all ended up in that country and Frank Farian put them together to front the group. When "Daddy Cool" was making its ascent, Mitchell explained: "There are so few black people in Germany that we tend to not get too much competition. And we've been here long enough to speak German so we get the best of both worlds."
  • "Daddy Cool" is American slang for a guy who is really with it, as in a "cool cat." Musically, it was popularized in a 1957 song of that title by the American doo-wop group The Rays.
  • Frank Farian wrote this with his associate George Reyam. It was released initially on May 31, 1976 in both 7-inch and 12-inch formats. The group's second single, it was the one that heralded their arrival. In the UK it was released on the Atlantic Label, and in the US on Atco. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • In 2006, a jukebox musical called Daddy Cool, based on the songs of Boney M, opened in London. It closed a year later, but touring versions appeared in various other territories.

Comments: 4

  • Juan from CanadaIt's about a girl who likes her guy probably older.
    Daddy cool is simply a cool guy.
  • Boyders from Near VancouverThis song is lit.
  • George from Vancouver, CanadaIs there any interpretation of the lyrics that would make this suddenly stop being such a POS song?

    Maybe, the writer had a 5yo neighbour girl who saved her daddy's life, after he got locked in a freezer?
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandThe Late Bobby Farrell's "contribution" was actually provided by Farian...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.