Ya Ya (Lee Dorsey song)
Encyclopedia
"Ya Ya" is a song by Lee Dorsey
. The song was written by Lee Dorsey, Clarence Lewis, Morgan Robinson and Morris Levy
. It was inspired by a children's nursery rhyme.
Lee Dorsey
Lee Dorsey was an African American pop/R&B singer during the 1960s. Much of his work was produced by Allen Toussaint with instrumental backing provided by the Meters.-Career:...
. The song was written by Lee Dorsey, Clarence Lewis, Morgan Robinson and Morris Levy
Morris Levy
Morris Levy was an American music industry executive, best known as the founder and owner of Roulette Records...
. It was inspired by a children's nursery rhyme.
Chart performance
The song reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the R&B singles chart in 1961.Covers
- Petula ClarkPetula ClarkPetula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
recorded the song ("Ya Ya Twist") in French (released in 1962, #1) - In 1962, DalidaDalidaDalida , born with Italian name of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, was a world-famous singer and actress born in Egypt with Italian origins but naturalised French with the name Yolanda Gigliotti. She spent her early years in Egypt amongst the Italian Egyptian community, but she lived most of her adult...
covered the song in German under the title "Ya Ya Twist" - In 1964, Joel Denis covered the song in french "Le Yaya"
- Tony SheridanTony SheridanTony Sheridan , is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist...
and The Beat Brothers (wrongly believed to be The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, who had no involvement in the track) recorded the song in 1961. It is erroneously available on the 1964 release The Beatles' FirstThe Beatles' FirstThe Beatles' First is the first British packaging of the 1962 German album by Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers called My Bonnie. It was recorded in Hamburg in 1961...
among others. - John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
included a snippet of himself and his son JulianJulian LennonJohn Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
playing the song on the 1974 album Walls and BridgesWalls and BridgesWalls and Bridges is the fifth album by John Lennon; it was issued on 26 September 1974 in the United States and on 4 October in the United Kingdom. Written, recorded and released during his 18-month separation from Yoko Ono , the album captures Lennon in the midst of The Lost Weekend...
. Lennon covered the song fully on his 1975 album Rock 'n' RollRock 'n' Roll (John Lennon album)Rock 'n' Roll is a 1975 album of late 1950s and early 1960s songs covered by John Lennon. Recording the album was problematic and spanned a year. Though critically derided, it reached #6 in both the United Kingdom and the United States.-History:...
. - Goran BregovićGoran BregovicGoran Bregović is one of the most internationally known modern musicians and composers of the Balkans. He currently splits his time between Paris and Belgrade, where he settled down during the Yugoslav Wars.Bregović has composed for such varied artists as Iggy Pop and Cesária Évora...
covered the song as "Ringe ringe raja" in his soundtrack for the 1995 film Underground. - Lee MichaelsLee MichaelsLee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:...
covered the song on his 1971 album Fifth - Steve MillerSteve Miller (musician)Steven H. "Steve" Miller is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter who began his career in blues and blues rock and evolved to a more popular-oriented sound which, from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s, resulted in a series of successful singles and albums.-Early years:Born in Milwaukee,...
covered the song on his 1988 album Born 2 B Blue - In 1994 MitsouMitsouMitsou Annie Marie Gélinas is a Canadian pop singer, businesswoman, television and radio host, and actress...
covered the song in french "Le Yaya"