"Ooops Up" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap! featuring American rapper Turbo B and American singer Penny Ford, released in June 1990 by Logic Records as the second single from the group's debut studio album, World Power (1990). The song is a re-working of "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Ooops!)", a 1980 hit by the Gap Band, with whom Ford was a former backing singer. It also samples "Maldòn", a 1989 hit recorded by the Guadeloupean band Zouk Machine. The single was a worldwide hit and reached number one in Greece and on the Canadian RPM Dance chart. Its accompanying music video was directed by Liam Kan.

Critical reception AllMusic editor Andrew Hamilton noted that the song is a "remake/takeoff" of the Gap Band's nonsensical funk riff "Oops Upside Your Head". Bill Coleman from Billboard magazine commented, "Sizzling hip-hop jam should help act maintain 'the power' over club and radio jocks." Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote that "reaching into The Gap Band songbook, this powerhouse outfit comes up with the perfect remake, giving it a glowing nineties treatment." Push from Melody Maker remarked that the song "was an attempt at something a little different" than sticking around with the same formula as "The Power". Another MM editor, Andrew Smith, called it "juddery funk".

David Giles from Music Week felt it has "a shuffling rhythm distinctive enough to earn them another big success." Gene Sandbloom from The Network Forty described it as a "powerful bass busting track combining rap and song. Already one of the most danced to songs in the country." A reviewer from Newcastle Evening Chronicle named "Ooops Up" one of the best songs of the World Power album."Snap: World Power". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 12 June 1990. page 14. Tom Doyle from Smash Hits declared it as "one of the best attempts" in matching the brilliance of their debut, "The Power". He called it "a sort of cover of the Gap Band's 'Ooops Upside Your Head' mixed with a dodgy reinterpretation of 'Little Miss Muffet'."

The closing lines about "Little Miss Muffet" were actually an ad-lib by singer Penny Ford when recording the song. Ford was unhappy with her vocal performance in the previous part of the track so began messing around so that recording wouldn’t be used. However, the producers loved it and kept Ford’s ad-lib in the track. The "Little Miss Muffet" lines are loosely based on lyrics from the George Clinton track "Let’s Take it to the Stage".

Chart performance "Ooops Up" peaked at number-one in Greece and it reached number two in Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and West Germany. It also became a top-10 hit in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, the single peaked at number five during its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 24 June 1990. It stayed at that position for two weeks. Outside Europe, "Ooops Up" reached number one on the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada. In West Asia, it became a successful top-five hit, peaking at number two on 15 July 1990. Search "Ooops Up" for Israeli chart history. In Oceania, it peaked at numbers four and eight in Australia and New Zealand, respectively. In Africa, the song reached number five in Zimbabwe, while in the US, it peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart.

The song was awarded with a gold record in Australia (35,000), Austria (25,000), Sweden (25,000) and the US (500,000) and a silver record in the United Kingdom (200,000).

Music video The music video for "Ooops Up" was directed by Liam Kan and filmed in London in both black-and-white and colours. He would also direct the video for the group's next song, "Cult of Snap".

Track listings

12-inch maxi "Ooops Up" (Vocal) – 6:17 "Ooops Up" (Other Mix) – 6:40 "Ooops Up" (Instrumental) – 5:33

7-inch single "Ooops Up" (Vocal Edit) – 3:57 "Ooops Up" (Instrumental Edit) – 3:57

CD single "Ooops Up" (Edit) – 3:59 "Ooops Up" (Vocal Version) – 6:17 "Ooops Up" (Other Mix) – 6:40

CD maxi version "Ooops Up" (Vocal Edit) – 3:57 "Ooops Up" (Vocal 12-inch Mix) – 6:17 "Ooops Up" (Other Mix) – 6:40

2003 version (Snap feat. NG3) "Ooops Up!" (Radio Edit) – 3:20 "Ooops Up!" (Extended Club Mix) – 4:03 "Ooops Up!" (Oops Up 90) – 4:00

Charts

Weekly charts Original version Chart (1990)PeakpositionDenmark (IFPI)Danish Singles Chart. 24 August 1990. 10Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 2Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 3Greece (IFPI) 1Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) 2Italy (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Snap". 3Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)Radio Luxembourg Singles. 24 June 1990. 3Quebec (ADISQ) 28Spain (AFYVE) 6UK Club Chart (Record Mirror) 1US Billboard Hot 100 35US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard) 12US Dance Club Play (Billboard) 4US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) 18US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard) 3US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996 41Zimbabwe (ZIMA)* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000 5

"Ooops Up 2003" Chart (2003)Peakposition

Year-end charts Original version Chart (1990)PositionAustralia (ARIA) 53Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 4Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 23Canada Dance/Urban (RPM) 5Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 10Germany (Media Control) 5Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 21Netherlands (Single Top 100) 16New Zealand (RIANZ) 23Sweden (Topplistan) 16Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 8UK Singles (OCC) 33UK Club Chart (Record Mirror) 21

Certifications

Release history RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)GermanyOriginal4 June 1990LogicUnited KingdomArista11 June 1990CD18 June 199012-inch remix vinylAustralia6 August 19902003 remix3 November 2003CDMinistry of Sound

References