In 1958, a popular song titled "Witch Doctor" was released. The song was performed by American singer Ross Bagdasarian Sr., who was also known for his stage name David Seville. Bagdasarian used a unique technique of recording called "The Chipmunk Voice," where he would speed up the tape recorder to create high-pitched voices. "Witch Doctor" was a novelty song that combined elements of pop and doo-wop music. The lyrics of the song told a humorous story of a woman who seeks advice from a witch doctor to cure her love sickness.
Witch Doctor is a english song from the album 1958 Hot Hits.
Sous les ponts de Paris, lorsque descend la nuit Tout s sort s de gueux se faufil nt en cachette Et sont heureux de trouver une couchette Hotel du courant d air, où l on ne paie pas cher L parfum et l eau c est pour rien mon marquis Sous les ponts de Paris Sous les ponts de Paris Quel rendez-vous. Sous les ponts de Paris, lorsque descend la nuit Tout s sort s de gueux se faufil nt en cachette Et sont heureux de trouver une couchette Hotel du courant d air, où l on ne paie pas cher L parfum et l eau c est pour rien mon marquis Sous les ponts de Paris Sous les ponts de Paris Quel rendez-vous.
The lyrics of the song told a humorous story of a woman who seeks advice from a witch doctor to cure her love sickness. The witch doctor responds with comical chants and promises to cast a spell on the woman's love interest. The song became an unexpected hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and selling over one million copies.
Witch Doctor Lyrics
Sous les ponts de Paris, lorsque descend la nuit
Tout′s sort's de gueux se faufil′nt en cachette
Et sont heureux de trouver une couchette
Hotel du courant d'air, où l'on ne paie pas cher
L′parfum et l′eau c'est pour rien mon marquis
Sous les ponts de Paris
Sous les ponts de Paris
Quel rendez-vous!
My darling, why I sing this song
Is easy to explain
It tells what happens all along
The bridges of the Seine
The vagabonds go there at night
To sleep all their troubles away
But when the moon is shining bright
My heart wants to sing it this way
How would you like to be
Down by the Seine with me
Oh, what I′d give for a moment or two
Under the bridges of Paris with you
Darling, I'd hold you tight
Far from the eyes of night
Under the bridges of Paris with you
I′d make your dreams come true
Oh chérie, je veux apporter mes bras
Je veux apporter mon coeur
Je veux apporter all my love
Sous les ponts de Paris
Lorsque descends la nuit
Under the bridges of Paris with you
I'd make your dreams come true
I′d make your dreams come true
Writer(s): D. COCHRAN, V. SCOTTO
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
It also inspired a dance craze, where people would mimic the chipmunk-like vocals by moving their bodies in a fun and playful manner. The success of "Witch Doctor" led Bagdasarian to create a fictional singing group called The Chipmunks. He recorded several albums and released multiple singles featuring the chipmunk characters, including their signature Christmas song "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)." To this day, "Witch Doctor" remains a popular and recognizable song, often associated with the era of 1950s music and the unique sound of The Chipmunks. Its catchy tune and amusing lyrics continue to entertain and bring nostalgic memories to people of all ages..
Reviews for "Rediscovering the Charm of Witch Doctor Song: 1958"
1. Jane - 1 star - I really didn't enjoy "Witch Doctor Song 1958" at all. The lyrics were repetitive and didn't make much sense. The melody was irritating and the vocals were grating. Overall, it just felt like a cheesy, dated song that had no appeal to me. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for good music.
2. Mark - 2 stars - "Witch Doctor Song 1958" was a disappointment for me. The whole song felt overly gimmicky and lacked any depth or substance. The repetitive chorus and simplistic lyrics quickly became annoying. I found it difficult to connect with the song or find any enjoyment in it. It felt like a novelty song that had overstayed its welcome. Not my cup of tea.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "Witch Doctor Song 1958" to be a bit of a joke. The lyrics were childish and the instrumentals were bland. It felt like a desperate attempt to create a catchy tune but fell short. While I can understand its appeal to some people, it just wasn't my taste. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for meaningful or well-crafted music.
4. David - 1 star - I can't believe "Witch Doctor Song 1958" was even considered a hit. The song lacked any artistic value and instead relied on gimmicky sounds and repetitive lyrics. The vocals were annoying and the melody didn't offer anything memorable. It's a song that I quickly forgot and have no desire to listen to again. I definitely won't be adding it to my playlist.
5. Emily - 2 stars - I was really hoping to enjoy "Witch Doctor Song 1958", but it fell flat for me. The lyrics were nonsensical and the overall composition felt disjointed. It was hard to find any redeeming qualities in this song. While I appreciate the whimsical intent, it failed to resonate with me on any level. This one is definitely a skip for me.