"Do Wah Diddy Diddy" is a song written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and originally recorded in 1963, as "Do-Wah-Diddy", by the American vocal group the Exciters. Cash Box described the Exciters' version as "a sparkling rocker that bubbles over with coin-catching enthusiasm" and said that the "great lead job is backed by a fabulous instrumental arrangement." It was made internationally famous by the British band Manfred Mann in 1964 and covered by Fun Factory in 1995.
Manfred Mann version It was soon covered by British R&B, beat and pop band Manfred Mann. Their version was released on 10 July 1964. It spent two weeks at No. 1 of the UK Singles Chart in August and two weeks at No. 1 of the US Billboard Hot 100 in October.
Critical reception Billboard magazine said it "features powerful beat with Mann's solo echoed by male chorus." Cash Box described it as "a thumpin' novelty rocker that's right up the teeners' alley."
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1964)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 2Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 8Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 13Canada Top Singles (RPM) 1Finland (Suomen Virallinen) 4Netherlands (Single Top 100) 6New Zealand Lever Hit Parade 1Norway (VG-lista) 4Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 1UK Singles (OCC) 1US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 1West Germany (GfK) 4
Year-end charts Chart (1964)RankAustraliaList of Top 25 singles for 1964 in Australia 19US Billboard Hot 100 15
Fun Factory version
In 1995, German Eurodance band Fun Factory released a new version of "Doh Wah Diddy". It was released in November 1995 by Curb Records as the third single from their second album, Fun-Tastic (1995). Bülent Aris and band member Toni Cottura produced it and only a few lines of lyrics were retained, and supplemented by rap passages. The single was a top-10 hit in both Germany and Spain, peaking at number six and four, respectively. Additionally, it was a top-20 hit in Austria and a top-30 hit on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. The accompanying music video was directed by Frank Paul Husmann and produced by Music In Motion GmbH.
Track listings CD-maxi "Doh Wah Diddy" (Dee Dee Radio) – 3:31 "Doh Wah Diddy" (Dee Dee Fun-Tastic Extended) – 4:43 "Doh Wah Diddy" (Fly Bass Remix) – 4:31 "Doh Wah Diddy" (Medium Houze) – 4:43 "Fun Factory's Theme II" – 3:24
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1996)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. 152Canada Dance/Urban (RPM) 24Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 33Spain (AFYVE) 4
Year-end charts Chart (1996)PositionGermany (GfK) 64
Certifications
Other cover versions The song has been covered many times, notably by DJ Ötzi whose version titled "Do Wah Diddy" peaked at No. 9 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40, as well as charting in Germany, Switzerland, the UK and Ireland. Swedish singer Claes Dieden reached number 14 on Tio i Topp with his rendition in 1969.
A French cover version, "Vous les copains, je ne vous oublierai jamais", by Sheila was a top 10 hit in France in 1964.
See also List of number-one singles from the 1960s (UK) List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1964
References