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Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit

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"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"
Song

"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" is a hit song, performed by Australian singer Gina G. It was written by British songwriters Simon Tauber and Steve Rodway. Released as a single on 25 March 1996, it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart almost two months later[1] and was also a number one hit in Israel.[2]

Background

The song was the United Kingdom's entry in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest. BBC producer Jonathan King hoped to revive interest for the contest domestically and rejuvenate the international competition.[3] The song finished in eighth place in the contest and was very successful on the charts in Europe.

Critical reception

Billboard wrote about the song: "Adorable Australian ingénue has already enjoyed massive pop success throughout Europe with this instantly infectious hi-NRG dance ditty. It's easy to predict this single scoring similarly high marks here, thanks in large part to her kewpiedoll vocals and the song's tasty, sugarcoated melody. You'll be singing along to the song's chorus before the track's close, while a bevy of meaty remixes will have you happily twitching around the room."[4]

Chart performance

"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" initially entered the UK singles chart at #6 on Sunday 31 March and two weeks later climbed to #2. The song spent another five weeks in the top 3, climbing to #1 (in its 8th week) the day after Gina's performance at Eurovision and would spend a further 15 weeks in the top 75. As of 2017, the song is still the last Eurovision entry of the United Kingdom to peak at the top of the country's chart.

In Israel the single reached #1. In Australia, Denmark, Hungary and Norway it peaked within top 5. And in Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Scotland and Sweden the song peaked within top 10. On the European Eurochart Hot 100 it peaked at #9.

The song was also successful in the United States, a rarity for Eurovision entries, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 on the Rhythmic Top 40, #5 on the Mainstream Top 40, #25 on the Adult Top 40, #4 on the Hot Dance/Club Play Songs, and #11 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. It is the fourth most successful Eurovision entry in the US charts behind "Love Is Blue" (1968), "Waterloo" (1974) and "Eres tú" (1974).

Such was the song's success in the United States that in 1997, the song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for the following year's ceremony.

Performance at Eurovision 1996 final

On the night of the Eurovision 1996 final – held on 18 May 1996 in Oslo Spektrum, Norway – "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" was performed 2nd in a field of 23 songs being preceded by the Turkish entry: "Beşinci Mevsim", with the Spanish entry: "¡Ay, qué deseo!", following as the 3rd entry of Eurovision 1996. Conductor Ernie Dunstall orchestrated and conducted "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" on stage with a minimal orchestral accompaniment. A tiny string accompaniment was added to the backing track produced by Rodway.[3] Two female dancers dressed in pink and yellow backed up Gina G, dressed in a short thigh-skimming glittery metal dress.

United Kingdom and Gina G received 12 points from two countries: Portugal and Belgium.

Gina G's Eurovision dress was originally custom made for Cher by Paco Rabanne, but she left it unused hanging in the offices at Warner Bros. Records until Gina G stumbled over it just a few days before the contest. The dress was then shortened a bit for Ms G.[5]

In 1996, the rules required every instrument used on the backing track to appear on stage. The backing track used for the UK entry relied heavily on computer generated sounds and techno beats. As a result, two personal computers were on the stage - one beside each synthesizer.

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Fruit Salad with photography directed by Peter Sinclair.[6] It features Gina G with three background female dancers performing in a passageway with a brightly lit ceiling, teasing a pair of well-dressed guys. The song's lyrics are used in a sexually suggestive, but playful manner. While it had airtime on several music video channels globally, the video would also be the first song to be "banned" after being voted on by MTV's 12 Angry Viewers in 1998, despite never receiving much airtime on the US channel. MTV's sister channel VH1 gave the video more moderate airplay time.

Track listings

UK: CD Maxi (WEA041CD)

  1. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Motiv8 Radio Edit) – 3:24
  2. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Motiv8 Extended Vocal Mix) – 6:43
  3. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (The Next Room's Rip 'Em Up Mix) – 6:08
  4. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Motiv8 Vintage Honey Mix) – 6:46
  5. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (The Next Room's Pukka Dub Mix) – 6:08

UK: CD Maxi: Dance Mixes (WEA041CDX)

  1. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Eurovision Song Contest Version) – 3:00
  2. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Motiv8 Vintage Honey Mix) – 6:46
  3. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Jon of the Pleased Wimmin'... Chase the Space Mix) – 7:40
  4. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (The Next Room's Pukka Dub Mix) – 5:00
  5. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Motiv8 Extended Vocal Mix) – 6:43
  6. "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Jon of the Pleased Wimmin'... Face the Bass Mix) – 7:40

Other versions

  • "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Soul Solution Main Vocal) – 6:49
  • "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Soul Solution Radio Version) – 3:50
  • "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Soul Solution Dub) – 6:28
  • "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Soul Solution Instrumental) – 6:50
  • "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Hysteric Ego Vocal) – 8:16
  • "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Hysteric Ego Dub) – 8:13
  • From the US promotional 12" vinyls

Charts

References

  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 593. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ Israeli Singles Chart 14.05.1996
  3. ^ a b "And the conductor is...Ernie Dunstall". andtheconductoris.eu.
  4. ^ "Billboard: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Eurovision UK: Interview with Gina G [part 1]". esctoday.com.
  6. ^ "Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (1996) - IMVDb". IMVDb. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Gina G – Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. ^ "Gina G – Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. ^ "RPM Dance (Sep 30, 1996)". RPM. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Top 10 Czech Republic" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Top 10 Denmark" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Gina G: Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  14. ^ "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (08.06.1996 - 14.06.1996)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Gina G – Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit". Top 40 Singles.
  18. ^ "Gina G – Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit". VG-lista.
  19. ^ "Scottish Singles Chart 07 April 1996 - 13 April 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Gina G – Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit". Singles Top 100.
  21. ^ "Gina G: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  22. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1997". Longboredsurfer.com. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  23. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Singles 1996". ARIA. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  24. ^ "everyHit.com - Top 10 Singles of 1996". Everyhit.com. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
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