"Double Dutch" is a 1983

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

by Malcolm McLaren. It is taken from his debut album ''

Duck Rock ''Duck Rock'' is an album released by British impresario Malcolm McLaren. It was originally issued in 1983 by Charisma Records, Virgin Records, and Chrysalis Records, and later re-released on CD in 1987. The album mixes up styles from South Afric ...

''. "Double Dutch" is the follow-up to his successful debut single, "

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", and reached number 3 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, making it his highest-charting single release. The album version is a slight re-edit of the single, with part of the original

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moved to the end of the track. The song concerns the skipping game of the same name, with McLaren's narration mentioning several New York double Dutch troupes by name, notably the Ebonettes, whose name is also used as a chant in the chorus. The music video for the song features McLaren and troupes from the American Double Dutch League performing in a school gymnasium. The South African

Mbaqanga Mbaqanga () is a style of South African music with rural Zulu music, Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s. History Historically, laws such as the Natives' Land Act, Land Act ...

group, The Boyoyo Boys, sued McLaren over the similarity of "Double Dutch" to their own 1975 hit "Puleng". After a lengthy legal battle in the UK, the matter was settled out of court, with payment made to the South African copyright holders, songwriter Petrus Maneli and publisher

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, but

Trevor Horn Trevor Charles Horn (born 15 July 1949) is an English music producer, label and recording studio owner, musician and composer. He is best known for his production work in the 1980s, and for being one half of the new wave band The Buggles (wit ...

and McLaren retained their songwriting credits. The track was heavily

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by British

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group Dope Smugglaz on their 1999 track "Double Double Dutch". The lyrics of the song are referenced in

Liz Phair Elizabeth Clark Phair (born April 17, 1967) is an American singer-songwriter. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phair was raised primarily in the Chicago area. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1990, she attempted to start a musical career ...

's song "

Whip-Smart ''Whip-Smart'' is the second album by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair, released in 1994, the follow-up to Phair's critically well received debut, 1993's ''Exile in Guyville''. Despite not being as critically well received as her previous rec ...

". The song was featured in the 2013 film '' The Wolf of Wall Street''.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/soundtrack/?ref_=tt_trv_snd

Track listings

7" # "Double Dutch" – 3:40 # "She's Looking Like a Hobo" – 3:31 7" (US) # "Double Dutch" – 3:20 # "Radio Show (D'Ya Like Scratchin')" – 3:46 12" # "Double Dutch" (with the Ebonettes) – 8:21 # "She's Looking Like a Hobo" (with

the World's Famous Supreme Team The World's Famous Supreme Team was an American hip hop radio show duo and recording group active from 1979. The original members were Sedivine the Mastermind (Larry Price) and Just Allah the Superstar (Ronald Larkins Jr.). Career The group's ...

) – 2:58 # "D'Ya Like Scratchin'" (with the World's Famous Supreme Team) – 3:45 12" (US) # "Double Dutch" (long version) – 8:25 # "Hobo Scratch (She's Looking Like a Hobo)" – 9:15

Charts

References

1983 singles Songs written by Trevor Horn 1983 songs Malcolm McLaren songs Songs written by Malcolm McLaren Song recordings produced by Trevor Horn {{1980s-single-stub