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Tarzan Boy

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This article is about the Baltimora song. For the Mexican professional wrestler, see Toscano (wrestler).

"Tarzan Boy" is the debut single by Italian-based act Baltimora. The song was written by Maurizio Bassi and Naimy Hackett, and released in 1985 as the lead single from Baltimora's debut album Living in the Background. The song was remixed and re-released in 1993, and has been covered by several artists throughout the years.

"Tarzan Boy"
Single by Baltimora
from the album Living in the Background
B-side"DJ version"
Released1985
Genre
Length6:15 (album version)
3:50 (single version)
3:37 (DJ edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Maurizio Bassi
Baltimora singles chronology
"Tarzan Boy"
(1985) 		"Woody Boogie"
(1985)
Music video
"Tarzan Boy" on YouTube

The refrain uses Tarzan's cry as a melodic line. The song is rhythmical, with an electronic melody and simple lyrics.[3] Baltimora are often considered a one-hit wonder due to the success they experienced with "Tarzan Boy".[4] It features a melodic motif that was later named the millennial whoop.[5]

The music video for the song features the frontman for the band's performances, Jimmy McShane, who according to some sources did not actually sing the song but rather lip synced it.[4]

Background

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In a 1985 interview with Manchester Evening News, McShane said of the song and its success,

"It has been a big surprise but I'm not complaining! It's pure novelty. I do have a more serious side to me and with my band I present a much more upmarket set, but I think 'Tarzan Boy' does have something. I don't know what the future will bring, but I'm a serious musician and singer. I sing all kinds of music – I'm not a novelty merchant! You'll have to hear my album when it gets released."[6][7]

In 1995, McShane announced his intention to re-record "Tarzan Boy" for release as a charity single. All proceeds were to have gone to the Northern Ireland AIDS Helpline and the AIDS clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast,[8] but McShane died of an AIDS-related illness in March 1995 before he could re-record it.[9]

Chart performance

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"Tarzan Boy" was an international hit, debuting in the top five Italian charts and performing well in several other European countries, including Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and notably, France, where "Tarzan Boy" was most successful, topping the charts there for five consecutive weeks. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 3 in September 1985. The single had success in the United States (where it was released by EMI), with the single remaining on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six months and ultimately peaking at number 13 in early 1986.

In 1993, "Tarzan Boy" was featured on the soundtrack of the American film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, both in its original form and as a new remix by Daniel Abraham.[10] It was released as a single from the soundtrack and would re-enter the Billboard charts at number 68 and peak at number 51 five weeks later. It would spend an additional 12 weeks on the chart, exiting the Hot 100 on 12 June 1993.

Critical reception

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Upon its release in the US, Billboard wrote, "Disco novelty from Italy was a summertime smash in Europe, thanks to a maddeningly catchy swinging-through-the-vines hook."[11]

Uses in sports

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From January 2020 to July 2023, AEW wrestler, "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry used "Tarzan Boy" as his entrance music. As of the 2023 Major League Baseball season, "Tarzan Boy" was the walk-on song, or entrance music, played each time Mark Canha came to bat for the New York Mets.

Czech Extraliga team HC Sparta Praha has used the chorus of the song regularly since the 1986–1987 season in its home arenas as the official celebration anthem each time the team scores a goal.[12]

Track listing and formats

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Original version

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1993 version

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2010 version

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Streaming single
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (Digital Remaster) – 3:49

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Tarzan Boy"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[49] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[50] Gold 500,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Silver 250,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

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  • In 1989, the Hindi song "Aaya Mausam Dosti Ka", from the Bollywood soundtrack for the film Maine Pyar Kiya was heavily influenced by "Tarzan Boy".[53]
  • In 2006, the song was covered by Bango, and achieved a minor success, peaking at number 37 in France.[54]
  • In 2008, a cover by Bad Influence featuring Dyce reached number 9 in Sweden.[55]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Eddy, Chuck (8 July 2013). "Disco 101: Real '80S Italo". Rhapsody. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. ^ Suiveng, Yannick (30 October 2013). "Flashback Top 50 : qui était n°1 en octobre 1985 ?". Charts in France (in French). Pure Charts. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  3. ^ Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit. tubes. Alinéa Bis. p. 49. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
  4. ^ a b Marx, Tommy (17 July 2009). "One Hit Wonder: Baltimora". PopMatters. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  5. ^ Metzger, Patrick (20 August 2016). "The Millennial Whoop: A glorious obsession with the melodic alternation between the fifth and the third". The Patterning. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  6. ^ Jasper, Tony (23 August 1985). "Jungle monster from boy in leopard skin". Manchester Evening News. p. 12. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ Jasper, Tony (1 November 1985). "It's the Baltimora boogie". Manchester Evening News. p. 12. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ McMonagle, Michael (3 January 1995). "Tarzan's Boy gets new sidekick". Derry Journal. p. 9. Retrieved 3 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Pop star "Baltimora" dies in Derry". Derry Journal. 31 March 1995. p. 5. Retrieved 3 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Biofeedback: Baltimora". Gavin Report. No. 1947. 26 March 1993. p. 22. OCLC 34039542.
  11. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 41. Billboard Publications, Inc. 12 October 1985. p. 77. ISSN 0006-2510.
  12. ^ Gibiš, Vojtěch. "HC Sparta Praha » Píseň Tarzan Boy provází Spartu již dvacet let!". www.hcsparta.cz.
  13. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. ^ "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  15. ^ "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0614." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Top 3 in Europe". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 33. 19 August 1985. p. 7. OCLC 29800226.
  18. ^ "European Top 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 33. 19 August 1985. p. 10. OCLC 29800226.
  19. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Baltimora". Sisältää hitin – Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish) (2nd ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 24. ISBN 978-952-7460-01-6.
  20. ^ "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  21. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tarzan Boy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  22. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 4 August 2023. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Tarzan boy" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
  23. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  25. ^ "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  26. ^ "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Archiwum LP3, utwór Tarzan Boy, Baltimora". LP3. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  28. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  29. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  30. ^ "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  31. ^ "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  33. ^ a b c "Baltimora | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  34. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending March 1, 1986". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012.
  35. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  36. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1985". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1985 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  38. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. 28 December 1985. p. 11. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  39. ^ Bakker, Machgiel; Inglis, Cathy (23 December 1985). "Pan-European Awards 1985". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 51/52. p. 7. OCLC 29800226.
  40. ^ "Top – 1985". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  41. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  43. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Singles (January 5–December 28, 1985)". Music Week. 18 January 1986. p. 10. ISSN 0265-1548.
  45. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1985" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
  46. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  47. ^ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  48. ^ "Eurochartbusters: The Hot 100 Singles Compiled from Music & Media's Five Year Chart Archives" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 11 (5 Years ed.). 18 March 1989. pp. 32–33. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 9 July 2024 – via World Radio History.
  49. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". Music Canada.
  50. ^ "French single certifications – Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in French). InfoDisc. Select BALTIMORA and click OK. 
  51. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  52. ^ "British single certifications – Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". British Phonographic Industry.
  53. ^ Saikia, Priyankee (2 May 2013). "10 Bollywood Movies with Blockbuster Soundtracks". MensXP.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  54. ^ "Lescharts.com – Bango – Tarzan Boy" (in French). Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  55. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Bad Influence feat. Dyce – Tarzan Boy". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
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