Pop Goes the World (song)

For the song by Gossip, see Music for Men.

"Pop Goes the World"
Single by Men Without Hats
from the album Pop Goes the World
B-side	"The End (Of the World)"
Released	October 1987
Length	3:43
Label	Mercury
Songwriter	Ivan Doroschuk
Producers	Men Without Hats, Zeus B. Held
Men Without Hats singles chronology
"Nationale 7" (1985) "Pop Goes the World" (1987) "Moonbeam" (1987)

"Pop Goes the World" is a song by Canadian new wave and synthpop band Men Without Hats. It was released in October 1987 as the lead single from their third studio album Pop Goes the World . The song reached No. 1 in Austria and Canada as well as No. 3 in South Africa. It was originally written as an electronic instrumental. The song has been inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. ^[1]

Content

Ivan Doroschuk wrote the song as a light-hearted instrumental tune like "Popcorn" and tagged it at the end of a 10-12 track demo he sent his producer. The producer urged him to discard the other songs, put lyrics to the instrumental, and write 10-12 more songs in the same vein as the instrumental. The instrumental became "Pop Goes the World", and the other new songs turned into the rest of the album. ^[2]

The song tells the story of "Johnny" and "Jenny", the two members of a musical group called "the Human Race" on their quest for fame in the industry. However, at one point the lyrics note that they come to the realization that they could make "more money on a movie screen". The members' instruments of choice vary throughout the song, though Johnny is primarily a guitarist and Jenny is a bassist.

Music video

The music video for the song features lead singer Ivan Doroschuk who tells the story of "Johnny", played by guitarist Stefan Doroschuk (impersonating Elvis Presley), and "Jenny", portrayed by an unknown actress ^[a] playing a left-handed Höfner 500/1 bass. The two are seen dancing around a bubble-filled stage along with numerous other characters including a keyboard-playing baby and Bonhomme Carnaval (with a different hat). The word "Pop!", in writing reminiscent of a comic book, appears periodically on-screen in time with popping noises that punctuate the song. The video was released in 1988 in the CD Video format.

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Pop Goes the World" Chart (1987–1988) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) [5] 66 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [6] 1 Canada Retail Singles ( The Record ) [7] 1 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [8] 2 Italy Airplay ( Music & Media ) [9] 6 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [10] 15 South Africa (Springbok Radio) [11] 3 Spain (AFYVE) [12] 11 US Billboard Hot 100 [13] 20 US 12-inch Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [14] 24 US Dance Club Play ( Billboard ) [15] 27

Year-end charts 1987 year-end chart performance for "Pop Goes the World" Chart (1987) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM) [16] 80 1988 year-end chart performance for "Pop Goes the World" Chart (1988) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [17] 25 Canada Top Singles (RPM) [18] 42 South Africa (Springbok Radio) [19] 15

Certifications

Certifications for "Pop Goes the World"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [20]	Gold	50,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

2012 version

The song was re-recorded and released as a digital single in 2012.

Notes

1. Although one source identifies the actress as Louise Court, ^[3] others indicate that this appears to be a case of mistaken identity. ^[4] Court had previously appeared in the band's videos for "I Like" and "Safety Dance". ^[4]

References

1. Dunlevy, T'Cha (September 1, 2020). "Men Without Hats' Safety Dance, Pop Goes the World enter hall of fame". Sudbury Star. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020.
2. "Behind The Vinyl: "Pop Goes the World" with Ivan Doroschuk from Men Without Hats". YouTube . July 18, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
3. Wuench, Kevin (January 15, 2015). "Can you name the THIRD biggest hit for Men Without Hats? Here it is". Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
4. Berry, Rohan (December 3, 2011). "The Mystery of the Manic Safety Dancer". Apercu.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 198. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
6. "Men Without Hats – Pop Goes the World" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
7. "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard . Vol. 100, no. 9. February 27, 1988. p. 72.
8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0919". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
9. "European Playlist Reports: RAI - Italy" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 11.
10. "Men Without Hats – Pop Goes the World". Top 40 Singles.
11. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)".
12. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
13. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard . February 13, 1988. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
14. "Dance Singles Sales" . Billboard. December 26, 1987. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
15. "Dance Club Songs" . Billboard. December 5, 1987. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
16. "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM . Retrieved March 12, 2022– via Library and Archives Canada.
17. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1988" (in German). Retrieved March 12, 2022.
18. "Top 100 Singles of '88". RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. December 24, 1988. p. 9.
19. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1988". rock.co.za. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
20. "Canadian single certifications – Men Without Hats – Pop Goes the World". Music Canada . Retrieved March 12, 2022.