"Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" is a song by American eurodance artist Scatman John (real name John Paul Larkin). The song was released in November 1994 as the lead single from his second album Scatman's World. Sales were slow at first, but the song was picked up by many radio stations and eventually became very successful internationally, reaching number one in many parts of Europe and charting in Australia, New Zealand and in Japan. Counter to standard practice, Larkin performed the song live on Top of the Pops. It was also used in the popular Good Humor ice cream advertising campaign of 1995 - 1996, sung as "I'm a Good Humor Man".
Contents[]
Content[edit][]
The lyrics detail how Scatman John overcame his difficulties with stuttering by turning them into the ability to scat-sing, and encourages listeners who stutter not to give up:
Everybody stutters one way or the other, So check out my message to you. As a matter of fact, don't let nothin' hold you back. If the Scatman can do it, brother, so can you.[1]
Track listings[edit][]
- CD maxi
- "Scatman" (Basic-Radio) – 3:30
- "Scatman" (Jazz-Level) – 3:41
- "Scatman" (Second-Level) – 5:40
- "Scatman" (Third-Level) – 5:46
- "Scatman" (Game-Over-Jazz) – 5:03
- CD maxi 2
- "Scatman" (new radio edit) – 3:21
- "Scatman" (Pech Remix) – 4:55
- Remixed by Pech
- "Scatman" (Arena di Verona Mix) – 6:04
- "Scatman" (extended radio version) – 5:11
Charts and sales[edit][]
Peak positions[edit][]
|
Year-end charts[edit][]
Certifications[edit][]
|
Chart successions[edit][]
| Preceded by | Danish Singles Chart number-one single
March 4, 1995 – April 1, 1995 (5 weeks) |
Succeeded by
"Sarajevos Born Dem Hab" by Various |
| Preceded by
"Old Pop in an Oak" by Rednex "Think Twice" by Céline Dion |
Norwegian VG-Lista number-one single
9/1995 (1 week) 12/1995 (1 week) |
Succeeded by
"Think Twice" by Céline Dion |
| Preceded by
"Old Pop in an Oak" by Rednex |
Austrian number-one single
April 9, 1995 – May 14, 1995 (6 weeks) |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by
"Here Comes the Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze "Back for Good" by Take That |
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
April 15, 1995 (1 week) May 27, 1995 – June 17, 1995 (4 weeks) |
Succeeded by
"Back for Good" by Take That "Scream/Childhood" by Michael and Janet Jackson |
| Preceded by | Swiss number-one single
April 30, 1995 – June 25, 1995 (9 weeks) |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by
"Respect" by Alliance Ethnik |
Belgian (Wallonia) number-one single
May 6, 1995 (1 week) |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by
"Key to My Life" by Boyzone |
Irish IRMA number-one single
May 20, 1995 – May 27, 1995 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by
"Think Twice" by Céline Dion |
Belgian (Flanders) number-one single
May 20, 1995 – May 27, 1995 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by
"Think Twice" by Céline Dion |
| Preceded by | French SNEP number one single
July 1, 1995 (1 week) |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by
"Be My Lover" by La Bouche |
Canadian RPM Dance chart number-one single
August 28, 1995 – September 18, 1995 (4 weeks) |
Succeeded by
"Fat Boy" by Max-A-Million |
In film[edit][]
Soundtrack was featured as background for some of the scenes in 1997 film Nothing to Lose.[25] It was also featured in the 1998 film BASEketball.[26]