Oh My Gosh (Basement Jaxx song) explained

Oh My Gosh
Cover:Oh_My_Gosh.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Basement Jaxx
Album:The Singles
Genre:House
Label:
Producer:Basement Jaxx
Prev Title:Plug It In
Prev Year:2004
Next Title:U Don't Know Me
Next Year:2005

"Oh My Gosh" is a song by British electronic music duo Basement Jaxx. It was released on 14 March 2005 as the lead single from the band's greatest hits album, The Singles. Vula Malinga and rapper Skillah are two vocals contributor in the song.[1]

The song achieved moderate success when it peaked at number eight in the UK Singles Chart and was also nominated for the Popjustice £20 Music Prize. Worldwide, "Oh My Gosh" reached number four in Finland and peaked within the top 40 in Australia, Flemish Belgium and Ireland.

Background and composition

The duo sat down and wrote the song specially as a single for the album. Ratcliffe personally felt encouraged by it; he thought it was a good way to ease them back into songwriting process. They applied the same treatment to their later single "Hush Boy" but, however, failed.[2]

The duo had been working with her for three years earlier.

Critical reception

While reviewing The Singles, AllMusic Andy Kellman listed the song as one of his "track picks" on the album and called the song "rubbery", "deliciously flirtatious and cartoonish."[3] Writing for Drowned in Sound, Julian Ridgway gave the song 5 out of 10, stated: "They’ve proved themselves masters of the dumb pop single in the past – records that make you smile even if they don’t make you think. But with 'Oh My Gosh' the smile’s started to freeze over, like the one you get when people make you look through their holiday photos." He concluded his review by commented that the "airhead" lyrics are "quite funny" but the song "is pretty average stuff for them."[4] In 2005, it was nominated for the Popjustice £20 Music Prize, but lost to "Wake Me Up" by Girls Aloud.[5]

Chart performance

On 26 March 2005 the song debuted at its highest position with number eight on the UK Singles Chart. Thanks to its digital downloading availability, the song charted at number 27 rather than number 45 on its fifth week in.[6]

Music video

The music video was directed by Mat Kirkby, who previously worked with Basement Jaxx on the video for "Good Luck". It is set in a retirement home and features elderly men and women singing about how they like each other whilst doing elderly activities. One of the dancers of the video was Deanne Berry, the dancer and fitness guru known for appearing in the music video for Eric Prydz "Call on Me". In the video, she dressed as an old lady, which she thought was "pretty funny".[7]

The video is the one of two comedic works from Kirkby, the other being his 2013 short film, The Phone Call. "There were some interesting similarities on the shoot – in comedy I'm usually sat behind a monitor, biting my hand/trying to stifle a laugh/keep quiet so that I don’t ruin the take," he said. "In both cases I find that zipping up your snorkel and pulling down your hat helps muffle the sound."[8]

The video was awarded "Best Video" at the 2005 House Music Awards; Malinga was present at the ceremony to receive it.[9]

Track listings

UK CD1 and European CD single[10] [11]

  1. "Oh My Gosh" (radio edit)
  2. "Oh My Gosh" (Old Skool dub)

UK CD2[12]

  1. "Oh My Gosh" (Jaxx club edit)
  2. "Oh My Gosh" (Kneedeep club mix)
  3. "Oh My Gosh" (Bugz in the Attic remix)
  4. "Oh My Dub"

UK 12-inch single[13]

A1. "Oh My Gosh" (Jaxx club edit)

A2. "Oh My Gosh" (Bugz in the Attic remix)

B1. "Oh My Gosh" (Kneedeep club mix)

Australian and New Zealand maxi-CD single[14]

  1. "Oh My Gosh" (radio edit)
  2. "Oh My Gosh" (Old Skool dub)
  3. "Oh My Gosh" (Jaxx club edit)
  4. "Oh My Gosh" (Kneedeep club mix)
  5. "Oh My Gosh" (Bugz in the Attic remix)
  6. "Oh My Dub"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2005)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Club Chart (ARIA)[15] 2
Ireland Dance (IRMA)[16] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)!scope="col"
Position
Australian Club Chart (ARIA)[17] 33
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 114

Release history

Region!scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
Australia14 March 2005[19]
United KingdomXL[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vula @ Play - see the pics! . . 8 May 2014.
  2. . FaceCulture. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  3. Web site: The Singles - Basement Jaxx. Andy Kellman. AllMusic. 26 June 2015.
  4. Web site: Julian Ridgway. Single Review: Basement Jaxx - Oh My Gosh. 14 March 2005. 26 June 2015. Drowned in Sound. 27 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150627091836/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/6468/reviews/11586-. dead.
  5. Web site: Basement Jaxx's "Oh My Gosh" nominated for Popjustice £20 Music Prize. 7 June 2014. PopJustice. https://web.archive.org/web/20121022154723/http://www.popjustice.com/twentyquidmusicprize/. 22 October 2012. dead.
  6. Web site: Christie stays top in new chart. BBC News. BBC. 17 April 2005. 17 August 2016.
  7. Web site: Best of summer metallics. Berry. Deanne. Mirror Online. 13 April 2012. 17 August 2016.
  8. Web site: The Phone Call. HungerTV. 14 October 2013. 17 August 2016.
  9. Web site: The 2005 House Music Awards. Getty Images. 17 August 2016.
  10. Oh My Gosh. Basement Jaxx. 2005. UK CD1 liner notes. XL Recordings. XLS209CD1.
  11. Oh My Gosh. Basement Jaxx. 2005. European CD single liner notes. XL Recordings. XLS 209 CDE.
  12. Oh My Gosh. Basement Jaxx. 2005. UK CD2 liner notes. XL Recordings. XLS 209 CD2.
  13. Oh My Gosh. Basement Jaxx. 2005. UK 12-inch single liner notes. XL Recordings. XLT209.
  14. Oh My Gosh. Basement Jaxx. 2005. Australian & New Zealand maxi-CD single liner notes. XL Recordings. XLS 209 CDA.
  15. Web site: The ARIA Report – ARIA Club Tracks – Week Commencing 14th March 2005. ARIA. 17. 14 March 2005. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050319130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20050320-0000/issue785.pdf. 19 March 2005. 2 October 2020.
  16. Web site: Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 24 March 2005. GfK Chart-Track. 20 June 2019.
  17. Web site: ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Club Chart 2005. ARIA. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200415011323/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-club-chart-2005.htm. 15 April 2020. 17 September 2020.
  18. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2005. UKChartsPlus. 16 January 2019.
  19. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 14th March 2005. ARIA. 28. 14 March 2005. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050319130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20050320-0000/issue785.pdf. 19 March 2005. 21 May 2021.
  20. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 29. 12 March 2005.