Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop) Explained

Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)
Cover:Scatmansingle.JPG
Alt:Cover for the single
Type:single
Artist:Scatman John
Album:Scatman's World
Released:30 November 1994
Recorded:1993–94
Genre:
Length:
  • 5:03
  • 3:30 (radio edit)
Label:RCA
Producer:
  • Antonio Nunzio Catania
  • Tony Catania
  • Catania Music Studios
Next Title:Scatman's World
Next Year:1995

"Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" is a song by American musician Scatman John. It was released in November 1994 as his debut single, and was later re-released in July 1995 for his second album, Scatman's World (1995). The song is described as "a blend of jazz scatting, rap, and house beats". It reached number-one on the charts in at least ten countries and also won the March 1996 Echo Award in Germany for the best Rock/Pop single.[1] The music video for the song was directed by Kerstin Mueller and received heavy rotation on music channels.

Background and release

Born in El Monte, California, John Paul Larkin suffered from a severe stutter by the time he learned to speak which led to an emotionally traumatic childhood. At age twelve, he began to learn piano and was introduced to the art of scat singing two years later, through records by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, among others. Larkin became a professional jazz pianist in the 1970s and 1980s, playing many engagements in jazz clubs around Los Angeles. His first known performance on a studio album was in 1981 on the album Animal Sounds by Sam Phipps. In 1986, he released the self titled album John Larkin on the Transition label. This album was produced by John himself, along with Marcia Larkin.To advance his career in 1990, Larkin moved to Berlin, Germany. From there, he discovered the appreciative jazz culture and started playing jazz gigs.[2] This was when he first decided to take a monumental step away from his insecurities and add singing to his act for the first time. His agent Manfred Zähringer from Iceberg Records (Denmark) thought of combining scat singing with modern dance music and hip hop effects. Larkin was resistant at first, terrified of being laughed at and criticized once again, but BMG Hamburg was open. Larkin was worried that listeners would realise he stuttered, and his wife, Judy, suggested that he talk about it directly in his music.

Producer Tony Catania then received a VHS from Zähringer. On the tape, he observed Larkin playing piano songs from Fitzgerald, Armstrong etc. He told in an interview, "The sound was a little crazy but at the end of this tape, I remember it like yesterday, he starts his scat singing improvisation. I was thinking at the moment that this is a great idea. I say to his management to bring John Larkin from L.A. to my studio and in this moment, Scatman John was born!!!" In two days, working with producers Ingo Kays and Catania, the new single, "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" was created. Catania added, "Those days, the sounds were always the same, and I was coming up with an old jazz guy that had the talent to scat, something like that would shock the scene. I was right, Scatman John was a huge success worldwide."[3] After the success of his first single, Larkin adopted the new name and persona of "Scatman" John.

Lyrics from the song are reused from "The Misfit", a song from Larkin's 1986 debut album John Larkin.

Chart performance

The song was very successful on the charts all over the world, reaching number-one in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. Additionally, it also entered the top 10 in Australia (8), Germany (2), Italy (3), the Netherlands (2), Scotland (3), Sweden (2) and the UK. In the latter, the single reached number three in its third week at the UK Singles Chart, on May 21, 1995.[4] It climbed into the top 20 in Iceland (20) and Poland, and the top 40 in Japan (36) and New Zealand (39). In the US, the single peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, number ten on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number 62 on the Cash Box Top 100.

Scatman John was awarded the March 1996 Echo Award in Germany for the best Rock/Pop single with "Scatman".[5] The single was also awarded with a gold record in Australia, Austria, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and a platinum record in France and Germany.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" as a "novelty dance tune", noting that it "has a giddy Euro-NRG tone" and that Scatman John "bends his tongue to rapid, ear-popping effect."[6] Dimitri Ehrlich from Entertainment Weekly wrote that "this synth-pop hit defines novelty: A chintzy drum machine pitter patters at a frantic pace while John, a Los Angeles jazz vocalist who has stuttered since childhood, frees himself from his speech impediment by scatting for three minutes and twenty seconds."[7] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton viewed it as "a bizarre part-rapped, part spoken, part-scatted dance hit performed by the enigmatic Scatman John who is almost as old as my father and really should know better. Still, a culpable hit it is and destined apparently for the Top 3."[8] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Try to say that title in one go without choking on your words. Impossible! But Scatman has no problems scatting his nonsensical rhyme, a serious candidate for a novelty dance hit."[9] James Hamilton from Music Weeks RM Dance Update described it as "John Larkin's jaunty ragga scatted and 'I'm a Scatman' chanted Italian galloper".[10] Debby Peterson from The Network Forty called it a "hellacious techno-dance groove".[11]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Scatman" was released in 1994 and directed by Kerstin Mueller. It was also produced by Ariola Records.[12] It was shot in black and white, and features a fractured screen with several boxe shots (almost in the style of Cubism), showing John singing, along with various people dancing, miming and playing the drums, bass and trumpet. The video was played in heavy rotation on music channels in 1995. It was later published on Scatman John's official YouTube channel in 2013.[13]

Sampling

In 2021, music producers Alan Walker and Imanbek sampled the song and additionally used wording from the title of the song in their hit "Sweet Dreams".

Accolades

YearPublisherCountryAccoladeRank
2013VibeUnited States"Before EDM: 30 Dance Tracks From The '90s That Changed The Game"[14]
  1. 28
2017BuzzFeedUnited States"The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s"[15]
  1. 94

Track listings

  1. "Scatman" (Pech Remix) – 4:53
  2. "Scatman" (Second Level Remix) – 5:41
  3. "Scatman" (Arena Di Verona Mix) – 5:59
  4. "Scatman" (Extended Radio Mix) – 5:06
  1. "Scatman" (Basic Radio) – 3:30
  2. "Scatman" (Pech Remix) – 4:55
  3. "Scatman" (Arena Di Verona Mix) – 6:04
  4. "Scatman" (Third Level Mix) – 5:46
  1. "Scatman" (Basic Radio) – 3:30
  2. "Scatman" (Jazz Level) – 3:41
  3. "Scatman" (Second Level) – 5:40
  4. "Scatman" (Third Level) – 5:46
  5. "Scatman" (Game Over Jazz) – 5:03
  1. "Scatman" (New Radio Edit) – 3:21
  2. "Scatman" (Pech Remix) – 4:55
  3. "Scatman" (Arena Di Verona Mix) – 6:04
  4. "Scatman" (Extended Radio Version) – 5:11

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[17] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18] 1
Europe (European Dance Radio)[19] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 1
France (SNEP)1
Germany (Media Control Charts)[21] 2
Greece (Pop + Rock)1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[22] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[23] 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[24] 3
Japan (Oricon)[25] 36
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 2
New Zealand (RIANZ)39
Norway (VG-lista)1
Scotland (OCC)[27] 3
Spain (AFYVE)[28] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)1
UK Singles (OCC)[29] 3
UK Dance (OCC)[30] 9
UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week)[31] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[32] 60
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)10
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)15
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)40
US Top 40 Mainstream (Billboard)40
US Cash Box Top 100[33] 62

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)Position
Australia (ARIA)[34] 38
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 8
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[36] 7
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[37] 3
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[38] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[39] 2
France (SNEP)[40] 3
Germany (Official German Charts)[41] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 23
Norway (VG-lista) (Winter Period)[44] 7
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 23
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[47] 30

Notes and References

  1. Echo 1996 - The Winners. Music & Media. March 9, 1996. 15. March 7, 2018.
  2. Scatman John’s Interview with Ira Zimmerman, mnsu.edu.
  3. Book: Soininen, Juha . Move Your Body (2 The 90's): Unlimited Eurodance . BoD - Books on Demand . August 26, 2020 . 276 . 9789528026303 . May 14, 2021 .
  4. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100 21 May 1995 - 27 May 1995. Official Charts Company. September 16, 2020.
  5. Echo 1996 - The Winners. Music & Media. March 9, 1996. 15. March 7, 2018.
  6. Single Reviews. Larry. Flick. Billboard. July 22, 1995. February 3, 2020. 57. Larry Flick.
  7. Dimitri. Ehrlich. Music Single Review: Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop). Entertainment Weekly. October 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20151118201942/https://ew.com/article/1995/09/15/music-single-review-scatman-ski-ba-bop-ba-dop-bop/ . 2015-11-18 . dead.
  8. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending May 13th 1995. Chart Watch UK. May 7, 1995. September 19, 2021. James Masterton.
  9. New Releases: Singles . . January 7, 1995 . 7 . May 17, 2021 .
  10. James . Hamilton . Dj directory . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . April 29, 1995 . 11 . May 9, 2021 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  11. Crossover. Debby. Peterson. The Network Forty. June 30, 1995. 40. April 2, 2020.
  12. Web site: Scatman John Music Videos. IMVDb. October 12, 2018.
  13. Web site: Scatman (ski-ba-bop-ba-dop-bop) Official Video HD -Scatman John. YouTube. November 20, 2013. September 2, 2021.
  14. Web site: Before EDM: 30 Dance Tracks From The '90s That Changed The Game. Vibe. October 9, 2018.
  15. Web site: The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s. BuzzFeed. October 9, 2018.
  16. "Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 6, 2008)
  17. Book: Billboard 25 March 1995. Billboard. hits of the world.. December 1, 2010. March 25, 1995.
  18. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 15. 28. April 15, 1995. November 26, 2019.
  19. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. May 27, 1995. 35. April 20, 2023.
  20. https://books.google.com/books?id=1AsEAAAAMBAJ&q=hits+of+the+world Finnish peak
  21. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Scatman John - Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop) Single . BVMI Bundesverband Musikindustrie; GfK Entertainment GmbH . de . January 16, 2021.
  22. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 04.02.1995 – 10.02.1995. Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. February 1, 2018.
  23. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know - Scatman John. IRMA. January 16, 2021.
  24. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 24. 30. June 17, 1995. November 26, 2019.
  25. Web site: Japan #1 IMPORT DISKS by Oricon Hot Singles . Hbr3.sakura.ne.jp . January 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100911211711/http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~hbr/JPP1_e.htm. September 11, 2010.
  26. Web site: Single top 100 over 1995 . Top40 . nl . April 19, 2010.
  27. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 21 May 1995 - 27 May 1995. Official Charts Company. June 13, 2021.
  28. https://books.google.com/books?id=vAsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=dreams+2+brothers+on+the+4th+floor+spain&pg=PA68 Billboard: Hits of the World, May 13, 1995
  29. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19950521/7501/|title= Official UK Singles Chart Top 100 (21 May 1995-27 May 1995)
  30. Web site: Official UK Dance Singles Chart (07 May 1995-20 May 1995). Official Charts Company. February 9, 2018.
  31. The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . June 3, 1995 . 10 . September 2, 2021.
  32. Billboard [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p168223/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic] (Retrieved July 24, 2008)
  33. Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles. Cash Box. October 14, 1995. February 20, 2018.
  34. Web site: 1995 ARIA Singles Chart. ARIA. July 20, 2017.
  35. 1995 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved July 24, 2008)
  36. 1995 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved July 24, 2008)
  37. 1995 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved July 24, 2008)
  38. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.2842&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=b276f8ju3l7iljpnkpteccdbh2 Canada Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1995
  39. 1995 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. December 23, 1995. December 2, 2019. Music & Media.
  40. 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved January 30, 2009)
  41. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. November 26, 2019.
  42. Web site: Jaarlijsten 1995. nl. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. December 2, 2019.
  43. 1995 Dutch Singles Top 100 (then Mega Top 50) Dutch Charts.nl (Retrieved August 29, 2019)
  44. Web site: VG-lista Topp 20 Single Vinter 1995. November 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170831042156/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/1995/periode/vinter. August 31, 2017. dead. no.
  45. 1995 Swedish Singles Chart
  46. 1995 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved July 24, 2008)
  47. Top 100 Singles 1995. Music Week. 9. January 13, 1996.