"The Pied Piper" is a pop song written by the American song-writing and performing duo The Changin' Times, consisting of Steve Duboff and Artie Kornfeld, who first recorded it in 1965. Their version reached #87 on the Billboard Hot 100.The Changin' Times, "Pied Piper" chart position Retrieved June 18, 2015. However, when British pop singer Crispian St. Peters recorded it, he scored a major hit during the summer of 1966. It went to #4 in the United States, #5 in the United Kingdom, and #1 in Canada.Songs from the Year 1966Library and Archives Canada. RPM 100 Week of July 18, 1966 Retrieved March 13, 2012.
The song's title refers to a fairy tale from German folklore, the titular character of which is The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1966)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 5Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 2Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 18Canada (RPM) 1Ireland (RTÉ) 9Malaysia (Radio Malaysia) 2Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 2Netherlands (Single Top 100) 4New Zealand (Listener) 2Singapore (Radio Singapore) 8South Africa (Springbok Radio) 1Rhodesia (Lyons Maid) 1UK (Disc and Music Echo) 5UK (Melody Maker) 5UK (New Musical Express) 5UK (Record Retailer) 5US Billboard Hot 100 4US Cash Box Top 100 4US Record World 100 Top Pops]] 2West Germany (Media Control) 11
Year-end charts Chart (1966)PeakpositionBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 25Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 21UK (Record Retailer) 60US Billboard Hot 100 63US Cash Box Top 100 68
Later uses An advertisement for the first-generation Toyota Echo in Australia and New Zealand.YouTube - Toyota Echo Australian TV ad (2000) - "Follow me, I'm the pied piper..."Four Donkey Films - production company for the advertisement
The song has been used in three episodes of the HBO series Silicon Valley, where it is sung karaoke by Dinesh.
Other versions In Italy a well-known cover version was made, with the title "Bandiera gialla" ("Yellow Flag"), sung by Gianni Pettenati and becoming the theme song of a popular radio program of that era targeted to young people.L'almanacco di Radioscrigno Retrieved March 13, 2012. Cher covered the song on her 1966 self-titled album. French singer Sheila covered the song in French, with the title "Le pipeau", in 1966. Rita Marley covered the song in 1967. Jamaican reggae duo Bob and Marcia had a Top 20 hit with their version, taking the song to UK #11 in July 1971.Bob and Marcia, "Pied Piper" chart position Retrieved June 18, 2015. Yugoslav rock band S.T.R.A.H. released a Serbo-Croatian language garage rock cover entitled "Vođa" ("The Leader") on their 1988 EP Mesec (The Moon).
References