"The track Witch Doctor" is a popular song that was released in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. under the stage name David Seville, which later became the inspiration for his chipmunk characters Alvin and the Chipmunks. The song is known for its catchy melody and humorous lyrics, which tell the story of a man seeking help from a witch doctor to win the heart of a woman. In the song, the narrator is heartbroken and unable to get the woman he loves to notice him. Desperate for a solution, he turns to a witch doctor who promises to help him. The witch doctor chants various nonsensical phrases and performs a ritual, believing that it will make the woman fall in love with the narrator.
Currently, it is not clear exactly how long they will stay at their current location in the Mojave Desert. Here is a direct quote regarding Seven Magic Mountain’s longevity:
Rondinone used locally sourced boulders, and chose this location because it s physically and symbolically mid-way between the natural and the artificial. Artist Ugo Rondinone s fluorescent totems known as Seven Magic Mountains have drawn throngs of visitors since they were installed off Interstate 15 south of Sloan in 2016.
The witch doctor chants various nonsensical phrases and performs a ritual, believing that it will make the woman fall in love with the narrator. The repetitive use of phrases such as "Oo ee oo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang" adds to the whimsical nature of the song. The main idea of "The track Witch Doctor" lies in its lighthearted and comical portrayal of the narrator's attempts to win love through unconventional means.
Monumental Makeover
Artist Ugo Rondinone’s fluorescent totems — known as Seven Magic Mountains — have drawn throngs of visitors since they were installed off Interstate 15 south of Sloan in 2016. The unforgiving desert climate muted their shine, but a three-week restoration and several coats of paint have restored the magic.
Photos by L.E. Baskow, Las Vegas Review-JournalIvan Ibarra with Vergith Contracting Co. prepares the Seven Magic Mountains for new paint by pressure washing the towers on May 29. Created in 2016 by the Swiss-born New York mixed media artist Ugo Rondinone, and produced by the Nevada Museum of Art in collaboration with Art Production Fund, the installation consists of 33 boulders, each weighing 10-25 tons, stacked into seven towers.
Jose Cervantes with Vergith Contracting Co. evenly sprays a white finish on one of the rocks during the three-week renovation, which took approximately 300 hours to complete.
Ivan Ibarra pressure washes a tower after a week of high winds and other safety concerns delayed renovation efforts.
Some graffiti has to be removed with power tools, as John Henderson of Vergith Contracting Co. is seen doing here. After cleaning, a coat of white primer is applied.
The artist’s paint samples show exact color specifications for matching from various angles.Amanda Horn of the Nevada Museum of Art inspects the progress with representatives from Studio Rondinone, Vergith Contracting Co. and Las Vegas Paving.
The stones came from a quarry, were cut with a diamond saw and drilled down the center to mount safely in place.
A train rolls by the Seven Magic Mountains on June 4. The installation is the largest land art project completed in the world in over 40 years, according to Amanda Horn.
Ivan Ibarra applies primer on June 4. The towers stand 30-35 feet tall.John Henderson masks off rocks to prevent overspray on June 14. Each limestone rock received between 10-13 coats of the same kind of paint used on cars.
A tower is reflected in a bucket of pink paint on June 14. The Seven Magic Mountains are meant to evoke contrast and continuity from nature to culture, hence their bright colors.
John Henderson is silhouetted as Ivan Ibarra sprays orange finish on a rock on June 17. The palette is meant to be a stark contrast to its surroundings.
Visitors pose for a photo atop barricades on June 14. More than 321,000 people visited the site last year. More than 1 million have visited since its debut in 2016.
John Henderson mixes a batch of orange finish on June 17. The bright colors are typical of a Rondinone sculpture.
John Henderson sprays a final clear protective coating on the rocks June 18. The art installation is located off Las Vegas Boulevard South near the Jean Dry Lake bed.
Visitors explore the newly restored Seven Magic Mountains art installation on June 18.Rocks stacked by visitors mimic the Seven Magic Mountains near the newly renovated art installation on June 18. Ugo Rondinone first created massive stone figures in 2013.
John Henderson works during sunrise on the final day of restoration on June 18. Ugo Rondinone says, “They look almost like people, just giant, nice people.”
Light reflects off the newly restored Seven Magic Mountains on June 18. Ugo Rondinone merged land art and pop art elements to create a piece uniting desert and city life.
Lights illuminate the newly restored Seven Magic Mountains on June 19. Due to the installation's immense popularity, the Nevada Museum of Art is now considering keeping the work there permanently.
Update as of July 2019: Though the Seven Magic Mountains were intended to be taken down in 2018, the Bureau of Land Management issued a three-year permit for the display to remain through the end of 2021.
The song presents a theme of desperation and the extent people may go to find love. It also showcases the power of music to tell a story and evoke emotions in listeners. "The track Witch Doctor" gained immense popularity upon its release and topped the charts in several countries. Its success led to the creation of the Chipmunks, who would become a beloved children's musical group in the following decades. The song's catchy melody and memorable lyrics have ensured its lasting legacy, making it a favorite among fans of classic pop music..
Reviews for "Witch Doctor: The Power of Chants and Mantras in Music"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I must admit, I was expecting more from "The Track Witch Doctor". The lyrics felt repetitive and lacked depth, and the melody was forgettable. The overall production of the song also felt lacking, with a muddy mix that made it difficult to appreciate any individual instrument. Unfortunately, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
2. James - 2/5 stars - "The Track Witch Doctor" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The heavy use of autotune made it difficult to understand the lyrics, and the constant repetition of the chorus became grating after a while. The instrumental felt generic and lacked originality. Overall, it just didn't resonate with me or stand out from the crowd of similar songs in its genre.
3. Emma - 1/5 stars - I found "The Track Witch Doctor" to be incredibly disappointing. The lyrics were cringe-worthy and lacked any meaningful message. The vocals were overproduced, making it difficult to connect with the artist on an emotional level. The overall production felt amateurish, with a lack of cohesion between the different elements of the song. It's not something I would recommend to anyone looking for quality music.
4. David - 2/5 stars - "The Track Witch Doctor" didn't impress me much. The repetitive nature of the song quickly became tiresome, and the lack of variation in the melody made it feel monotonous. The attempt at creating an infectious hook fell short, and I found myself losing interest as the song progressed. It just didn't grab my attention or leave a lasting impression.
5. Olivia - 1/5 stars - "The Track Witch Doctor" was a miss for me. The lyrics felt juvenile and lacked depth, while the melody failed to captivate and remained forgettable. The production was lackluster, making it sound amateurish compared to other songs in the same genre. Overall, it didn't leave any impact on me, and I won't be revisiting this track in the future.