Orange (song)
Encyclopedia
"Orange" is a song performed by Irish comedian David O'Doherty
. It was released on CD in February 2007 as part of his attempts to have a "Minor" hit single, preferably at #27 in the charts. The exploits of O'Doherty trying to have this "hit" was featured in an episode of his TV series, The Modest Adventures of David O'Doherty.
The song was written and recorded by David O'Doherty, and was recorded onto standard CD-R
discs using his own laptop to do so. His phone number was written on the back of the single's (also homemade) artwork so that if the people who bought it couldn't get it to play, they could contact him and he would play them the song over the phone.
The song received limited airplay on the radio due to profanity in the lyrics towards the end of the song. However, O'Doherty showed up to various radio stations, such as Rick O'Shea
's 2FM show, to perform a version of the single live in order to promote it.
The single was launched at the branch of Oxfam
on Parliament Street in Dublin. However, at the launch, people couldn't buy the single as it wouldn't register in the Singles chart. The CD was only available in two stores: Tower Records and Road Records, both in Dublin.
It tells the story about a man that works in a photocopy shop who makes his own badges. He has never had any luck with women and was too shy to ask any of them out on a date. At the same time, there is a woman who got fired from the Pizza
parlour where she worked, as she was a militant Vegetarian and tried to make all the pizzas vegetarian too. She never got asked out either. She was a fan of Garfield
and took a poster in to the photocopy shop where the man was working. They struck up a conversation and arranged to go out to a pub on a date. However she turned up to the date wearing a lot of badly applied fake tan. Hence, she is "Orange" in colour.
The man was seriously put off by this and wanted to end the date, but instead she leaves him when he orders a packet of Bacon Snacks
because this goes against her beliefs as a vegetarian. The song ends with the man and woman realising that they weren't meant for each other after all.
The song's lyrics reference many random orange items such as Garfield
, Fanta
, Tonka
Trucks and the Oompa Loompas from the film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
.
, Boyzone
or Johnny Logan
, usually wore white suits in their music videos. In this way, he hoped to emulate their success.
The part of the man is played by fellow Irish comedian Bernard O'Shea
. The video can be seen on YouTube
. The song famously ended with the man leaving and saying the line "that shit, that shit is fucking insane" (referring to her bad fake tan use).
's song "Chain Hang Low
". He was still happy with his "success", as it meant he had a minor chart hit. The song is now considered a cult hit by O'Doherty's many fans.
David O'Doherty
David Nicholas O'Doherty is a Perrier Award winning Irish stand-up comedian, author, musician, actor and playwright. His stand-up has won two awards at the Edinburgh Fringe, Best Newcomer first of all and the if.comedy award in 2008 for his show Let's Comedy. He has been nominated twice more for...
. It was released on CD in February 2007 as part of his attempts to have a "Minor" hit single, preferably at #27 in the charts. The exploits of O'Doherty trying to have this "hit" was featured in an episode of his TV series, The Modest Adventures of David O'Doherty.
The song was written and recorded by David O'Doherty, and was recorded onto standard CD-R
CD-R
A CD-R is a variation of the Compact Disc invented by Philips and Sony. CD-R is a Write Once Read Many optical medium, though the whole disk does not have to be entirely written in the same session....
discs using his own laptop to do so. His phone number was written on the back of the single's (also homemade) artwork so that if the people who bought it couldn't get it to play, they could contact him and he would play them the song over the phone.
Song promotion
Less than 300 singles were produced, as it usually only takes this number of single sales to enter the Irish Single Chart top 30. As such, the physical single is now a rare collector's item for fans of his.The song received limited airplay on the radio due to profanity in the lyrics towards the end of the song. However, O'Doherty showed up to various radio stations, such as Rick O'Shea
Rick O'Shea
Rick O'Shea is an Irish radio personality. He was born in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 and attended and later University College Dublin . He is a DJ on RTÉ 2fm.-Radio:...
's 2FM show, to perform a version of the single live in order to promote it.
The single was launched at the branch of Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
on Parliament Street in Dublin. However, at the launch, people couldn't buy the single as it wouldn't register in the Singles chart. The CD was only available in two stores: Tower Records and Road Records, both in Dublin.
Song content
The song itself features a catchy, bouncy beat combined with a calmly sung verse and a drumming chorus.It tells the story about a man that works in a photocopy shop who makes his own badges. He has never had any luck with women and was too shy to ask any of them out on a date. At the same time, there is a woman who got fired from the Pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
parlour where she worked, as she was a militant Vegetarian and tried to make all the pizzas vegetarian too. She never got asked out either. She was a fan of Garfield
Garfield
Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since June 19, 1978, it chronicles the life of the title character, the cat Garfield ; his owner, Jon Arbuckle; and Arbuckle's dog, Odie...
and took a poster in to the photocopy shop where the man was working. They struck up a conversation and arranged to go out to a pub on a date. However she turned up to the date wearing a lot of badly applied fake tan. Hence, she is "Orange" in colour.
The man was seriously put off by this and wanted to end the date, but instead she leaves him when he orders a packet of Bacon Snacks
Bacon
Bacon is a cured meat prepared from a pig. It is first cured using large quantities of salt, either in a brine or in a dry packing; the result is fresh bacon . Fresh bacon may then be further dried for weeks or months in cold air, boiled, or smoked. Fresh and dried bacon must be cooked before eating...
because this goes against her beliefs as a vegetarian. The song ends with the man and woman realising that they weren't meant for each other after all.
The song's lyrics reference many random orange items such as Garfield
Garfield
Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since June 19, 1978, it chronicles the life of the title character, the cat Garfield ; his owner, Jon Arbuckle; and Arbuckle's dog, Odie...
, Fanta
Fanta
Fanta is a global brand of fruit-flavored carbonated soft drinks from the Coca-Cola Company. There are over 90 flavors worldwide. The drink debuted in Germany in 1941 and originally sold only in Europe.-History:...
, Tonka
Tonka
Tonka is an American toy company most known for its signature toy trucks and construction equipment.-History:On September 18, 1946 Mound Metalcraft was created in Mound, Minnesota with three men as partners, Lynn Everett Baker , Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch. The first products produced by...
Trucks and the Oompa Loompas from the film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, directed by Mel Stuart, and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy...
.
Music video
The music video features the story of the song being acted out, interspersed with scenes of O'Doherty singing in a white suit on a beach. On his TV show, he noted how the biggest selling Irish artists like WestlifeWestlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
, Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
or Johnny Logan
Johnny Logan (singer)
Johnny Logan , is an Australian-born Irish singer and composer. He is regarded as "Mister Eurovision", having participated in the Eurovision Song Contest many times since the 1970s, and, since 1992, has been the most successful artist in Eurovision history.Logan has won the international contest on...
, usually wore white suits in their music videos. In this way, he hoped to emulate their success.
The part of the man is played by fellow Irish comedian Bernard O'Shea
Bernard O'Shea
Bernard O'Shea is an Irish comedian.O'Shea started out in entertainment at an early age playing traditional Irish music, touring Europe with several groups. While at college he studied Theatre and went on to star in several theatrical productions. He also worked in the National Theatre of Ireland,...
. The video can be seen on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. The song famously ended with the man leaving and saying the line "that shit, that shit is fucking insane" (referring to her bad fake tan use).
Chart performance
The song reached #30 in the Irish singles charts. O'Doherty had been hoping it would reach #27, but this position was held by JibbsJibbs
Jovan Campbell , better known by his stage name Jibbs, is an American rapper. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, but raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He had one top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, which was his debut single "Chain Hang Low"...
's song "Chain Hang Low
Chain Hang Low
"Chain Hang Low" is the debut single by Jibbs from his debut album Jibbs Featuring Jibbs. The song went on to rack up more than 20,000 ringtone downloads in a span of two weeks. The video shows adolescents doing the snap dance...
". He was still happy with his "success", as it meant he had a minor chart hit. The song is now considered a cult hit by O'Doherty's many fans.