| Mr Blobby | |
| Cover: | Mr_Blobby_SCover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Mr Blobby |
| Album: | Mr Blobby: The Album |
| Recorded: | 1993 |
| Genre: |
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| Length: | 3:34 |
| Label: | Destiny Music Ltd/BMG |
| Producer: |
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| Next Title: | Christmas in Blobbyland |
| Next Year: | 1995 |
"Mr Blobby" is a novelty song performed by character Mr Blobby, famous for appearing in the British Saturday night variety show Noel's House Party. It was written by Philip Raxster, produced by Paul Shaw and David Rogers, and was released on 22 November 1993. The song originally peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on 11 December 1993 for one week but reclaimed the top spot to become the Christmas number one single, and spent a total of three weeks at No. 1.[1] Despite its chart success, it has been panned by critics, some of whom have called it one of the worst songs ever recorded.
The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on 11 December 1993, replacing Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)", which had been in the No. 1 spot for seven weeks. A week later, "Babe" by Take That demoted Mr Blobby from the top spot for one week. Mr Blobby made a surprise return to the No. 1 spot on Christmas Day, and repeated that position the following week.[1] [2]
An MTV critic said that Blobby "tried to kill music... with what might be the worst song of all time";[3] the track is often named as such.[4] [5] Rupert Hawksley of The Telegraph ranked it as the worst Christmas number one in history, arguing that Blobby "set the bar so low with this bizarre single, it's hard to imagine that it could ever be usurped".[6] Daily Record writer Euan McColm named it the third-worst Top 10 single of all time.[7] It placed first in an HMV public poll of the worst-ever festive songs,[8] and second in a VH1 viewer survey of the worst number one singles of all time.[9] The track also came sixth in a Channel 4 poll of the 100 worst pop songs in history.[10]
A music video was created for the single and was filmed in the Kew Bridge Steam Museum. It spoofed several music videos such as "Addicted to Love" by Robert Palmer, "Stay" by Shakespears Sister, Snap!'s "Rhythm Is a Dancer", and "I Can't Dance" by Genesis.[11]
The video featured Noel Edmonds, Carol Vorderman, Wayne Sleep, Garth Crooks and Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson as Mr Blobby's limo driver.[12]
It premiered on BBC1 during the episode of Noel’s House Party broadcast 2 days before the single's release.
| Chart (1993-1994) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[13] | 169 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] | 6 | |
| Ireland (IRMA)[15] | 8 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 1 |
