Tiny Bubbles Explained

Tiny Bubbles
Cover:	TinyBubbles.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Don Ho
Album:	Tiny Bubbles
B-Side:	Do I Love You?
Released:	1966
Recorded:	1966
Genre:	Traditional pop
Length:	2:45
Label:	Reprise
Producer:	Sonny Burke

"Tiny Bubbles" is a song written by Leon Pober and performed by Don Ho.^[1] It comes from the album of the same name. The single peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100^[2] and #14 on the Easy Listening charts in March 1967.^[3] By 1968, "Tiny Bubbles" was covered about 34 times.^[4] It was considered to be Ho's signature song.

Production

The song was requested by producer Sonny Burke after Ho couldn't successfully perform the song "Born Free". "Tiny Bubbles" was originally written for Lawrence Welk, since he tended to perform "champagne music". Welk turned it down, although he later performed the song several times on his television show after it became a hit.^[5]

Legacy

"Tiny Bubbles" was considered to be Ho's signature song:^[1] ^[6] During one performance, after nearly thousands, Ho reportedly quipped "God, I hate that song".^[1]

The second season of the American game show The Mole incorporated the song in a creative way - one test had a contestant confined to sleeping or staying on a bed while "Tiny Bubbles" was played on repeat in various versions (sped up, slowed down, backwards, etc). By its fans it is considered an iconic moment of the short-lived series.^[7]
It was featured in the 2001 film Bubble Boy.^[8]
Alongside Ho's other songs, "E Le Ka Lei Lei (Beach Party Song)" and "Wish They Didn't Mean Goodbye", "Tiny Bubbles" was featured in the Season 7 Hawaii Five-0 episode, "Elua la ma Nowemapa".^[9]
The song alone was also featured in the Season 3 episode, "Mohai".^[10]

Covers

In 1966, Billy Vaughn released an instrumental cover and charted at #31 in the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.^[11]
In 1967, Roger Williams performed a piano version on the album, Roger!^[12]
In 1968, American country singer Rex Allen released a cover, which peaked at #71 in the Billboard country charts.^[13]
In 1974, Scottish country singer Sydney Devine performed "Tiny Bubbles" for his album, Encores;^[14] it is considered to be his signature song.^[15]
Others who have done renditions of the tune included Al Caiola, Nora Aunor and Tiny Tim.^[16]

Notes and References

Ryan. Tim. Don Ho: Beyond the Bubbles. Islands Magazine. March 2003. 23. 2. 40; 42; 44. January 15, 2018.
Tiny Bubbles / Billboard Hot 100. January 14, 2018. Billboard. March 25, 1967.
Tiny Bubbles / Adult Contemporary. January 15, 2018. Billboard. February 11, 1967.
Spotlight. A Billboard. Hawaii: Evolutionary State. Billboard. May 18, 1968. H-10. January 15, 2018.
Book: Ho. Don. Hopkins. Jerry. Don Ho: My Music, My Life. 2007. Watermark Publishing. Honolulu, Hawaii. 9780979064746. January 15, 2018.
News: McLellan. Dennis. Don Ho, 76; singer was best known for '66 hit 'Tiny Bubbles'. January 15, 2018. Los Angeles Times. April 15, 2007.
Web site: Don Ho dies; his "Tiny Bubbles" song was part of a Mole 2 challenge. reality blurred. Andy Dehnart. Andy Dehnart. April 15, 2007. June 22, 2021.
News: White. Armond. Bubble Boy Is the Happiest Comedy Surprise of the Season; Rat Race Gives It a Run for Its Money. January 15, 2018. New York Press. September 4, 2001. en.
Web site: Music from Hawaii Five-0 S7E09. Tunefind. January 15, 2018. November 18, 2016.
Web site: Music from Hawaii Five-0 S3E05. Tunefind. January 15, 2018. November 5, 2012.
News: Bubbling Under the Hot 100. January 15, 2018. 78. 45. November 5, 1966. 22.
Roger Williams - Ad. January 15, 2018. Billboard. April 22, 1967.
Tiny Bubbles / Country Songs. https://web.archive.org/web/20180514063649/https://www.billboard.com/music/rex-allen/chart-history/country-songs/song/835035. dead. May 14, 2018. January 15, 2018. Billboard. July 13, 1968.
News: Sydney Devine - Encores. Discogs. en. May 16, 2018.
News: Sydney Devine tours again despite heartbreak. May 16, 2018. BBC News. March 26, 2018.
Web site: www.secondhandsongs.com. secondhandsongs.com. March 30, 2023.