| Simon Says | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | 1910 Fruitgum Company |
| Album: | Simon Says |
| B-Side: | Reflections from the Looking Glass |
| Released: | December 1967 |
| Genre: |
|
| Label: | Buddah BDA 24 |
| Producer: | Jeffry Katz, Jerry Kasenetz, Elliot Chiprut |
| Next Title: | May I Take a Giant Step |
| Next Year: | 1968 |
"Simon Says" is a bubblegum pop song written by Elliot Chiprut and originally recorded in 1967 by the 1910 Fruitgum Company, becoming their most successful chart hit.
The song was based on the children's game "Simon Says". Produced by Jerry Kasenetz, Jeffry Katz, and Chiprut, the single was issued by Buddah Records and entered the U.S. Hot 100 in January 1968, rising to No.4 on the chart. It was also a hit in the UK, where it reached No.2 on the singles chart.
It also was the title track on the first album by the 1910 Fruitgum Company.
In Italy it was covered by the group Giuliano e i Notturni with the title "Il ballo di Simone", and charted No.3 on the Italian hit parade.[2] In 1968 French singer Claude François also had a hit with the song under the French title "Jacques a Dit". Volker Rosin, a German songwriter for children's music, published another cover version with "Cowboy Joe" in 2002.
With lyrics by Uno Asplund, Flamingokvintetten recorded the song in Swedish as "Nynna en sång", and released it as a single in 1968.
In August 1989 a version of this song sung by Elizabeth Watts was used in an episode of Playdays.
| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 2 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles[3] | 1 |
| Italy (hitparadeitalia)[4] | 1 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[5] | 4 |
| South Africa (Springbok)[6] | 1 |
| Spain (Promusicae)[7] | 6 |
| UK Singles Chart[8] | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9] | 4 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[10] | 2 |
| Chart (1968) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada[11] | 20 |
| South Africa[12] | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] | 33 |
| U.S. Cash Box[14] | 24 |
