Jump to content

Skateboard (song)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Stakeboard" aka "Skateboard (Uh Ah Ah)" is song that became a 1977 single for German group Copains and a single for singer Benny Schnier. Both versions made the charts that year. It has been covered by a multitude of artists since the original release. The song had a resurgence of interest the mid-2000s.

Overview

[edit]

The song Skateboard was written by Hans-Ulrich Weigel, Frank Farian, Stefan Klinkhammer, and Roland Kaiser.[1] Along with "Amigo Charlie Brown" and "Bin wieder frei", "Skateboard" brought Frank Farian considerable success.[2] With the kids riding around on skateboards and being noticed by Roland Kaiser and Frank Farian, an idea for a song came about. It was Kaiser who suggested to Farian that a song should be made about the sport. The idea appealed to Farian and with Kaiser, Fred Jay and Hans-Ulrich Weigel, Farian composed Skateboard.[3] It took some time for the song to catch on, but it became a success when it did. When Benny's version became a hit, it became more popular than the version sung by Farian and his group Copains. In later years, the melody of the song was used as a stadium chant ("Chemie – uh ah ah – that’s football – wonderful") for German football club, Chemie Leipzig.[4]

The song appears in the book, Skateboard Music of the 1960s and 1970s.[5] Artists who recorded the songs, such as, Benny, Copains,[6] Leif Bloms, Cliff Carpenter, Sten Nilsson, Đorđi Peruzović,[7] Chinox,[8] Nils Dacke,[9] Les Copains,[10] and Kjell Vidars,[11] are featured in the book.[12] According to the August - September 2002 issue of Trust magazine, issue #95, the song was on a list of "100 greatest singles of all time". It was also available as a phone ringtone.[13]

According to Stern in 2021, this was Benny's paying homage to the skateboard.[14]


Copains version

[edit]
"Skateboard (Uh-Ah-Ah)"
Song by Copains
B-side"Rolling Skateboard"
ReleasedJuly 1977
Length3:30
LabelHansa International 11 512 AT, Hansa 11 512 AT
Songwriter(s)Farian/Klinkhammer/Kaiser/Weigel
Producer(s)Frank Farian

Background

[edit]

Copains recorded the song which was produced by Frank Farian. Backed with "Rolling Skateboards, the song was released by Hansa Records in July 1977.[15] This is the English version of the song. Farian produced the song and sang lead on it.[16]

The single was released in Australia on RCA Victor 103111.[17]

Charts

[edit]

Spending seven weeks in the German charts, it peaked at no. 38.[18] It was also a hit in Sweden, peaking at no. 17 during its three-week run.[19]

Appears on

[edit]
Albums
Artist Title Catalogue Year Notes
Va Die größten Disco-Knüller Ariola 26 126 OT 1977
Va It's My Discothek Hansa 25 761 GT 1978 [20]
Va Super 20 International - Hitstation Ariola 25 880 XST 1978 Charted in Germany,
Peaked at no. 6, 8 weeks on chart
Charted in Austria.
Peaked at no. 6, 12 weeks on chart[21]

Benny version

[edit]
"Skateboard"
Song by Benny
B-side"Daniela, was nun?"
ReleasedDecember 1977
Length3:30
Songwriter(s)(Farian/Klinkhammer/Kaiser/Weigel)
Producer(s)Frank Farian

Background

[edit]

Frank Farian produced the song for Benny Schnier, and backed with "Daniela, was nun?", it was released by Hansa Records in late 1977.[22] This version was the more successful one. Benny was actually discovered by Farian.[23] It was Dieter Thomas Heck who came up with extra title, "a dangerous sport.[6]

According to the 29 December 1978 issue of Bravo, Benny hadn't had a good hit since "Amigo Charlie Brown". His producer Frank Farian thought they should take advantage of the skateboard boom in Germany. At first, he was skeptical but afterwards he was glad he recorded the song.[24]

Charts

[edit]

The record spent ten weeks in the German charts, peaking at no. 40 in 1977.[25]

In 2006, Benny released the album, Die Hits von Gestern und auch Heut’ (The Hits of Yesterday and Today) aka Amigo Charly Brown, which contained newly recorded versions of his hits such as "Amigo Charly Brown" and "Skateboard (Uh-Ah-Ah)". According to an article by Gute Laune TV, the songs had been in the Ballermann charts for some weeks.[26][27][28]

Appears on

[edit]
Albums
Artist Title Catalogue Year Notes
Va 16 Top Hits 12/'77 Club Top 13 65 943 3 1977 [29]
Va Die grossen 20 Ariola 25 697 AT 1977 Album charted in Germany
peaking at no 49, 1 week in chart.[30]
Va Super 20 - Hitparade Ariola 25 909 XST 1978 Album charted in Germany
peaking at no. 2, 9 weeks in chart
Charted in Austria,
peaking at no. 6, 16 weeks in chart.[31]
Va Du liebst nur einmal
(Die große Schlagerrückblende Vol. 5) 		Hansa 303 127 1987
Bernhard Brink / Benny Das große deutsche Schlager-Archiv Sono Cord 39 763-8 1989
Benny Amigo Charly Brown Ariola Express 74321 20714 2 1994
Va Schlager Gold Ariola Express 74321 82652 2 2001
Benny Amigo Charly Brown (2006) MCP CD 170.397 2006 Rudeboard Mix
Benny Bin wieder frei! Sony 88697907492 2011 [32]
Va Mein Herz schlägt Schlager Ariola 88875 06531 2 2015 Charted in Austria
Peaked at no. 14, 1 week in chart[33]

Television

[edit]
  • Hitparade No. 102, 06.03.1978 [34]
  • Hitparade No. 104, 01.05.1978[35]

Chart summary

[edit]
Skateboard by Frank Farian, Stefan Klinkhammer, Roland Kaiser, Hans-Ulrich Weigel
Act Country Yr Chart peak duration
Copains Deutschland 1977 38 7 weeks[36]
Copains Sverige 1977 17 3 weeks[37]
Benny Schnier Deutschland 1977 40 10 weeks[38]
Benny & Copains Netherlands 1977 8 6 Weeks[39]

Other versions

[edit]

In 1978, The Chinox released a single of the song, but with it titled as "Skateboard ooh-ah-ah".[40] Leif Bloms recorded a version of "Skateboard ooh-ah-ah" that was released in 1979.[41]

It appears on the Spelar Partyorgel Vol. 6 album by Nils Dacke as part of a medley that also includes, "Rivers of Babylon" and "Tro Vad Du Vill".[42]

In later years it was covered by Disaster Area.[43] It was apparently covered by Harpo as well. But in a review of Disaster Area's Forever album, their version wasn't much of an improvement on that.[44]

Further reading

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ultratop - Benny – Skateboard
  2. ^ Schmusa - Frank Farian in den Menschen des Tages, * 18.07.1941, † 23.01.2024
  3. ^ schlagerprofis.de, 24/01/2024 - FRANK FARIAN: Auch sein Duo-Kumpel aus alten Zeiten ist tot – Hit dank ROLAND KAISER, FRANK FARIAN: Duett-Kumpel aus Anfangszeit mit „LES COPAINS“ ebenfalls verstorben, 1978: Großer Hit mit „Skateboard“ mit Duo „LES COPAINS“
  4. ^ Smago, 15. Februar 2016 - BENNY smago! Serie "Schlager-Rückblick "vor 40 Jahren" von Stephan Imming – Teil 50: Benny – "Amigo Charly Brown"!
  5. ^ Vintage Skaterock - Vintage Skaterock Book - Skateboard Music of the 1960s and 1970s The first book ever about skateboard music
  6. ^ a b Tichler, Andreas (2020-01-31). Die Chronik der Zdf-Hitparade: Die Ära Dieter Thomas Heck von 1969-1984 (in German). Jam Music Lab University Press / Stadl Media. ISBN 978-3-96799-161-1.
  7. ^ Who Sampled - Covers of Skateboard (Uh-Ah-Ah) by Benny
  8. ^ Pop Fakta - Övergripande information, #S20072073, Titel:Skateboard ooh-ah-ah, Artist / Grupp: Chinox
  9. ^ Pop Fakta - Övergripande information, Titel: Nils Dacke spelar partyorgel, vol 6, Låtlista, Sida 21. Skateboard (UH - AH - AH) / Rivers Of Babylon / Tro Vad Du Vill
  10. ^ Schlager Profis, 24/01/2024 - FRANK FARIAN: Auch sein Duo-Kumpel aus alten Zeiten ist tot – Hit dank ROLAND KAISER, FRANK FARIAN: Duett-Kumpel aus Anfangszeit mit „LES COPAINS“ ebenfalls verstorben - Stephan Imming
  11. ^ Musixmatch - 45 År - 45 Låter 2014 Skateboard, Kjell Vidars
  12. ^ Vintage Skaterock - Vintage Skaterock Book - Skateboard Music of the 1960s and 1970s The first book ever about skateboard music
  13. ^ Trust, nr 95 / 04 August/September 2002 - skateboard dancin, The History of skaterock, partII: the 70ies
  14. ^ Stern, 23. August 2021 - Skateboard Uh-Ah-Ah
  15. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Copains – Skateboard
  16. ^ schlagerprofis.de, 24/01/2024 - FRANK FARIAN: Auch sein Duo-Kumpel aus alten Zeiten ist tot – Hit dank ROLAND KAISER, FRANK FARIAN: Duett-Kumpel aus Anfangszeit mit „LES COPAINS“ ebenfalls verstorben, 1978: Großer Hit mit „Skateboard“ mit Duo „LES COPAINS“
  17. ^ Muzilla - Copains – Skateboard
  18. ^ Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Copains, Skateboard
  19. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Copains – Skateboard, Weltweit
  20. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Copains – Skateboard Verfügbar auf
  21. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Super 20 International - Hitstation, Weltweit
  22. ^ Ultratop - Benny – Skateboard
  23. ^ schlagerprofis.de, 24/01/2024 - FRANK FARIAN: Auch sein Duo-Kumpel aus alten Zeiten ist tot – Hit dank ROLAND KAISER, FRANK FARIAN: Duett-Kumpel aus Anfangszeit mit „LES COPAINS“ ebenfalls verstorben, 1978: Großer Hit mit „Skateboard“ mit Duo „LES COPAINS“
  24. ^ Bravo, 29 Dec - Page 63 Benny Warum seine erste große Liebe platzte
  25. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Benny – Skateboard
  26. ^ Gute Laune TV - - Programm, BENNY SCHNIER
  27. ^ Discogs - Benny (4) – Amigo Charly Brown - Die Hits Von Gestern ... Und Auch Heut'
  28. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - [2006-381851 Benny – Amigo Charly Brown (2006)]
  29. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Benny – Skateboard, Verfügbar auf
  30. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Die großen 20, Weltweit
  31. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Super 20 - Hitparade, Weltweit
  32. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Benny – Skateboard, Verfügbar auf
  33. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Mein Herz schlägt Schlager, Weltweit
  34. ^ Hitparade.at - HITPARADE Nr. 102, 06.03.1978, Benny Schnier - Skateboard (Cover, Skateboard (Uh-ah-ah) - Copains (Frank Farian))
  35. ^ Hitparade,at - HITPARADE Nr. 104, 01.05.1978, Benny Schnier - Skateboard (Cover, Skateboard (Uh-ah-ah) - Copains (Frank Farian))
  36. ^ Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Copains, Skateboard
  37. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Copains – Skateboard, Weltweit
  38. ^ Schweizer Hitparade - Benny – Skateboard
  39. ^ Top 40 - Tipparade-lijst van week 11, 1978 Skateboard, Benny and Copains, 9 > 8 6 WEKEN
  40. ^ Pop Fakta - Övergripande information #S20072073, Titel: Skateboard ooh-ah-ah, Artist / Grupp: Chinox
  41. ^ Apple Music - Skateboard-Ooh-Ah-Ah Dansbandsdisco . Leif Bloms
  42. ^ CLiGGO - Nils Dacke Spelar Partyorgel Vol. 6
  43. ^ Underdog, Sommer 2009 #28 - Page 34
  44. ^ Plastic Bomb, 052 2005 - Page 40 DISASTER AREA-forever-CD
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skateboard_(song)&oldid=1299180499"