The witch doctor song is an original song that was released in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian Sr., under the stage name David Seville. The song quickly became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. The song is known for its catchy melody and unique vocals, which were achieved by speeding up the recording to create a high-pitched, chipmunk-like voice. The lyrics of the song tell the story of a man seeking help from a witch doctor to win back the love of his girlfriend. The song's popularity led to the creation of the iconic fictional chipmunk characters, Alvin and the Chipmunks, who would later become the focus of several musical albums, television shows, and movies.

♫ Witch Doctor ♫

Every now and then, I like to just have a bit of fun with the music posts here on Filosofa’s Word, and I thought it was about time for a fun oldie … and I do mean oldie … probably older than some of you! The year was 1958 … I was 7 years old, but I remember it well.

Now … how many of you remember Alvin & the Chipmunks? They were three adorable animated chipmunks named Alvin (the ringleader), Simon, and Theodore. Their creator was a man named Ross Bagdasarian who went by the stage name David Seville.

Seville got the vocal effect by recording his voice into a tape recorder that was slowed to half speed and then playing it back at normal speed. Today’s song, Witch Doctor, was his first song to use the technique, and at that point there were no “Chipmunks.” (The squeaky voice was the witch doctor and had no physical form – Seville hadn’t created the characters yet and used his own name for the recording).

Seville was a successful songwriter by the time he released this track as his first single – he had written the Rosemary Clooney hit Come on-a My House and a popular instrumental called Armen’s Theme.

Witch Doctor was a huge hit, going to US #1 in April 1958 and staying for three weeks. Soon after, Seville created three distinct voices and branded his act “The Chipmunks.” Later that year, he released The Chipmunk Song which went to #1 for four weeks and became a Christmas favorite. Alvin And The Chipmunks got their own TV show (The Alvin Show) in 1961, again in 1983 (Alvin and the Chipmunks), and once again in 2015 (ALVINNN. and the Chipmunks). Several movies have also appeared, starting with The Chipmunk Adventure in 1987.

This song is the story of a gentleman seeking some help from a witch doctor in order to impress a woman he has fallen in love with. The wise witch doctor offers some words of advice in order to help the gentleman win the woman’s heart by saying, “Oo ee, oo ah ah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang.” It was said to be a call for love.

Seville got the idea for this song from a story called Duel with a Witch Doctor, which was written by Jan de Hartog and published in Reader’s Digest Condensed Books in 1957. It reached #1 in the U.S. and #11 in the UK.

Witch Doctor

Ross Bagdasarian (aka David Seville)

I told the witch doctor I was in love with you
I told the witch doctor I was in love with you
And then the witch doctor he told me what to do

He said that
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang

I told the witch doctor you didn’t love me true
I told the witch doctor you didn’t love me nice
And then the witch doctor he gave me this advice

He said that
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang

You’ve been keeping love from me just like you were a miser
And I’ll admit I wasn’t very smart
So I went out and found myself a guy that’s so much wiser
And he taught me the way to win your heart

My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to say
My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to do
I know that you’ll be mine when I say this to you

Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang

You’ve been keeping love from me just like you were a miser
And I’ll admit I wasn’t very smart
So I went out and found myself a guy that’s so much wiser
And he taught me the way to win your heart

My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to say
My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to do
I know that you’ll be mine when I say this to you

Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang.
Come on, oo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang

Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang

Writer/s: ROSS BAGDASARIAN
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Witchdoctor song?

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

Heard this song on the radio . "My friend the witchdoctor . "
The chorus was a bunch of nonsense words. Anyone know what I'm
talking about? Who's the author? What's the title? Thanks! - John

Jeffrey R. Gottloeb

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

This is from a song called the Witchdoctor. It was released in
December 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian (sp?) (aka David Seville). It was his
first record.

BTW, Ross Bagdasarian's cousin was William Saroyan, the playwright.

Travis Prebble

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

Oo ee oo ah ah
Bing bang walla walla ting tang
(repeat)

For some stupid reason, it has now become the theme of the game Dr. Mario
(who so oddly end it with the phrase "And then he shrunk my head").
I first heard this song when I was about 5 on an old Chipmunks album.

Bill Gripp

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

I have an Alvin and the Chipmunks album from circa 1962 (I was a
preschooler then) which has this song. The chorus is something like:

Oo Ee Oo Aa Aa
Oo Ee Walla Walla Bing Bang
Oo Ee Oo Aa Aa
Bing Bang Walla Walla Bing Bang

I think the title is The Witchdoctor.

Jessica Raine

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

It's "The Witch Doctor", by David Seville and the Chipmunks. Don't know
exactly when it was recorded, but it's played a lot on my favourite oldies
station.

Brian Leibowitz

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

According to Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., the Ross, Sr. was trying to decide on a
name for the Chipmunks and was considering diferent animals and "he was
driving along the road - and this is a true story - when this chipmunk
almost dared him and his huge car to drive past. My dad was so impressed
by this audatious behaviour that he decided to make the three singing
characters chimunks."
(preceding info and quote are from an article in Goldmine)

>This is from a song called the Witchdoctor. It was released in
>December 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian (sp?) (aka David Seville). It was his
>first record.

Close but no cigar.
It was not his first record. It was his first record using the technique
he used for the Chipmunks. Witchdoctor was not credited as the Chipmunks-
that name was created for his later work. (Although the song was reissued
or rerecorded as the Chipmunks.) It was followed by the "Chipmunk Song"
and "Alvin's harmonica" (The flip sides of these were not Chipmunks songs,
They are "Almost Good" and "Mediocre" respectively. A
piano plays a tune and Bagasarian makes the comment "Almost Good" every
once in a while in the former and the latter has him saying "that's er.
Really, that. (ending with)that's mediocre, I can't publish that.")

His first published song was "Come On-A My House" recorded by Rosemary
Clooney.

There is an album called "The Mixed up World of Bagdasarian" Liberty LRP-3451
1966

There is a 78 (also on 45) called "The Trouble with Harry" by Bagdasarian
credited to Alfi and Harry. It is a singer argueing with his piano player
who will only play one tune (similar to the Fools "She makes me Feel Big")
The song is "inspired" by Alfred Hitchcock's movie "The Trouble With Harry"
(the only reference to the movie is the title and credits)

He also wrote a song called "I wish I was a Car" sung by Mary healy and Peter
Hayes on a 78. Where the girl wishes she was a car so her boyfriend would
pay attention to her.

Witch doctor original song

Actually no. "Witch Doctor" was originally a number-one hit for David Seville, a familiar name to Chipmunks fans.

The song "The Witch Doctor" (with its disturbingly catchy "Ooh ee, ooh ahah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang" chorus) was written and recorded by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. in 1957. He released it in 1958, but under the name David Seville. It was a surprise smash-hit that hung around on the Billboard charts for weeks.

It was the first recording he made using the technique of speeding up his voice to make it a much higher pitch, which he used later that year to create the first Chipmunks recordings.

On those recordings, he appears as David Seville, the Chipmunks' adoptive human father and musical collaborator.

A re-recording of "Witch Doctor" by Badgasarian appeared, though technically as a cover version, on the second Chipmunks' album, "Sing Again With the Chipmunks" in 1960.

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The song's popularity led to the creation of the iconic fictional chipmunk characters, Alvin and the Chipmunks, who would later become the focus of several musical albums, television shows, and movies. Overall, the Witch Doctor song remains a classic and memorable piece of music that showcases the creativity and talent of Ross Bagdasarian Sr..

.

Reviews for "Witch Doctor Original Song: A Cultural Touchstone"

1. Karen - 2/5

I was really disappointed with the Witch Doctor original song. The lyrics were repetitive and lacked any real substance. The tune was catchy, but it quickly became annoying after hearing it a few times. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable song that didn't live up to the hype.

2. Steve - 1/5

I couldn't stand the Witch Doctor original song. It felt like a cheap attempt to capitalize on a trend without any genuine creativity. The lyrics were nonsensical and the repetitive chorus became grating after just a few seconds. I would not recommend wasting your time on this song.

3. Rebecca - 2/5

I wasn't a fan of the Witch Doctor original song. The vocal delivery was over the top and almost comical, which took away any potential enjoyment. The repetitive nature of the song made it feel monotonous and lacking in any real depth. It simply didn't resonate with me.

4. David - 1/5

The Witch Doctor original song felt like a gimmick. The lyrics were ridiculous and the production was subpar. It felt like a half-hearted attempt to create a viral hit, but it failed miserably in terms of quality. I would advise skipping this song and finding something more worthwhile to listen to.

5. Melissa - 2/5

I didn't find the Witch Doctor original song to be anything special. It had a catchy beat and an easily memorable chorus, but that's about it. The lyrics were forgettable and lacked any real depth or meaning. It's a fun song to listen to once, but it doesn't have any lasting impact.

Witch Doctor Original Song: Reviving the True Spirit of Music