"Simon Says" is a

bubblegum pop Bubblegum (also called bubblegum pop) is pop music in a catchy and upbeat style that is considered disposable, contrived, or marketed for children and adolescents. The term also refers to a rock and pop subgenre, originating in the United States ...

song written by Elliot Chiprut and originally recorded in 1967 by the 1910 Fruitgum Company, becoming their most successful chart hit. The song was based on the children's game "

Simon Says Simon Says is a children's game for three or more players. One player takes the role of "Simon" and issues instructions (usually physical actions such as "jump in the air" or "stick out your tongue") to the other players, which should be follow ...

". Produced by Jerry Kasenetz, Jeffry Katz, and Chiprut, the single was issued by

Buddah Records Buddah Records (later known as Buddha Records) was an American record label founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's foun ...

and entered the

U.S. Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming i ...

in January 1968, rising to #4 on the chart. It was also a hit in the UK, where it reached #2 on the

singles chart A record chart, in the music industry, also called a music chart, is a ranking of recorded music according to certain criteria during a given period. Many different criteria are used in worldwide charts, often in combination. These include rec ...

. It also was the title track on the first album by the 1910 Fruitgum Company. In Italy the song was covered by the group

Giuliano e i Notturni Giuliano e i Notturni were an Italian pop group, active in the late 1960s. The group was specialized in the bubblegum pop genre.Dario Salvatori. "Giuliano e i Notturni". Gino Castaldo (edited by). ''Dizionario della canzone italiana''. Curcio Ed ...

with the title "Il ballo di Simone", and charted #3 on the Italian hit parade.Dario Salvatori. "Giuliano e i Notturni". Gino Castaldo (edited by). ''Dizionario della canzone italiana''. Curcio Editore, 1990. pp.790-1. In 1968 French singer

Claude François Claude Antoine Marie François (; 1 February 1939 – 11 March 1978), also known by the nickname Cloclo, was a French pop singer, composer, songwriter, record producer, drummer and dancer. François co-wrote the lyrics of " Comme d'habitude" ( ...

also had a major hit with it under the French title "Jacques a Dit". Children's entertainers

Sharon, Lois & Bram Sharon, Lois & Bram (also known as Sharon, Bram & Friends, Sharon & Bram or Sharon & Randi) are a Canadian children's music group founded in Toronto, Ontario, 1978. The group's original lineup consisted of Sharon (née Trostin) Hampson, Lo ...

covered it on their 1995 album '' Let's Dance!'. Also in 1968 it was covered by the Greek group The Idols with lyrics by Nikos Mastorakis, becoming their most successful song. With lyrics by Uno Asplund,

Flamingokvintetten Flamingokvintetten is a Swedish dansband (; "dance band"), or in Norwegian and Danish, is a Swedish term for a band that plays ("dance band music"). ' is often danced to in pairs. Jitterbug and foxtrot music are often included in thi ...

recorded the song in Swedish as "Nynna en sång", and released it as a single in 1968, with "Hon är 16 år i dag" ( Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen as B-side).

Chart history

Weekly charts

;1910 Fruitgum Company ;Dickie Rock & Miami

Year-end charts

References

{{1910 Fruitgum Company 1967 singles 1910 Fruitgum Company songs Ohio Express songs 1967 songs Buddah Records singles RPM Top Singles number-one singles Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Number-one singles in South Africa Flamingokvintetten songs