Ooops Up Explained

Ooops Up
Cover:Ooops Up Snap!.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Snap!
Album:World Power
Genre:
Length:
  • 6:43 (album version)
  • 3:57 (radio edit)
Label:Logic
Producer:
  • Benito Benitez
  • John "Virgo" Garrett III
Prev Title:The Power
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Cult of Snap
Next Year:1990

"Ooops Up" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap! featuring American rapper Turbo B and American singer Penny Ford, released in June 1990 by Logic Records as the second single from the group's debut studio album, World Power (1990). The song is a re-working of "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Ooops!)", a 1980 hit by the Gap Band, with whom Ford was a former backing singer.[3] It also samples "Maldòn", a 1989 hit recorded by the Guadeloupean band Zouk Machine. The single was a worldwide hit and reached number one in Greece and on the Canadian RPM Dance chart. Its accompanying music video was directed by Liam Kan.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Andrew Hamilton noted that the song is a "remake/takeoff" of the Gap Band's nonsensical funk riff "Oops Upside Your Head".[4] Bill Coleman from Billboard magazine commented, "Sizzling hip-hop jam should help act maintain 'the power' over club and radio jocks."[2] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote that "reaching into The Gap Band songbook, this powerhouse outfit comes up with the perfect remake, giving it a glowing nineties treatment."[5] Push from Melody Maker remarked that the song "was an attempt at something a little different" than sticking around with the same formula as "The Power".[6] Another MM editor, Andrew Smith, called it "juddery funk".[1]

David Giles from Music Week felt it has "a shuffling rhythm distinctive enough to earn them another big success."[7] Gene Sandbloom from The Network Forty described it as a "powerful bass busting track combining rap and song. Already one of the most danced to songs in the country."[8] A reviewer from Newcastle Evening Chronicle named "Ooops Up" one of the best songs of the World Power album.[9] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits declared it as "one of the best attempts" in matching the brilliance of their debut, "The Power". He called it "a sort of cover of the Gap Band's 'Ooops Upside Your Head' mixed with a dodgy reinterpretation of 'Little Miss Muffet'."[10]

The closing lines about "Little Miss Muffet" were actually an ad-lib by singer Penny Ford when recording the song. Ford was unhappy with her vocal performance in the previous part of the track so began messing around so that recording wouldn’t be used. However, the producers loved it and kept Ford’s ad-lib in the track. The "Little Miss Muffet" lines are loosely based on lyrics from the George Clinton track "Let’s Take it to the Stage".

Chart performance

"Ooops Up" peaked at number-one in Greece and it reached number two in Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and West Germany. It also entered the top 10 in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, the single peaked at number five during its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 24 June 1990. It stayed at that position for two weeks. Outside Europe, "Ooops Up" reached number one on the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada, number four in Australia, number five in Zimbabwe, number eight in New Zealand and number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100. On the Billboard Dance Club Play chart, it peaked at number four.

The song was awarded with a gold record in Australia (35,000), Austria (25,000), Sweden (25,000) and the US (500,000) and a silver record in the United Kingdom (200,000).

Music video

The music video for "Ooops Up" was directed by Liam Kan and filmed in London in both black-and-white and colours.[11] [12] He would also direct the video for the group's next song, "Cult of Snap".

Track listings

  1. "Ooops Up" (Vocal) – 6:17
  2. "Ooops Up" (Other Mix) – 6:40
  3. "Ooops Up" (Instrumental) – 5:33
  1. "Ooops Up" (Vocal Edit) – 3:57
  2. "Ooops Up" (Instrumental Edit) – 3:57
  1. "Ooops Up" (Edit) – 3:59
  2. "Ooops Up" (Vocal Version) – 6:17
  3. "Ooops Up" (Other Mix) – 6:40
  1. "Ooops Up" (Vocal Edit) – 3:57
  2. "Ooops Up" (Vocal 12-inch Mix) – 6:17
  3. "Ooops Up" (Other Mix) – 6:40
  1. "Ooops Up!" (Radio Edit) – 3:20
  2. "Ooops Up!" (Extended Club Mix) – 4:03
  3. "Ooops Up!" (Oops Up 90) – 4:00

Charts

Weekly charts

Original version

Chart (1990)Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[13] 10
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 3
Greece (IFPI)[16] 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[17] 3
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[18] 3
Quebec (ADISQ)[19] 28
Spain (AFYVE)[20] 6
UK Club Chart (Record Mirror)[21] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 35
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[23]
12
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[24]
4
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[25] 18
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[26] 3
US Cash Box Top 100[27] 41
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[28] 5

"Ooops Up 2003"

Year-end charts

Original version

Chart (1990)Position
Australia (ARIA)[29] 53
Austria (Ă–3 Austria Top 40)[30] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[31] 23
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[32] 5
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[33] 10
Germany (Media Control)[34] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 16
New Zealand (RIANZ)[37] 23
Sweden (Topplistan)[38] 16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[40] 33
UK Club Chart (Record Mirror)[41] 21

Release history

RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
GermanyOriginal4 June 1990Logic
United KingdomArista[42]
11 June 1990CD[43]
18 June 199012-inch remix vinyl[44]
Australia6 August 1990[45]
2003 remix3 November 2003CDMinistry of Sound

Notes and References

  1. Andrew. Smith. Melody Maker. Albums. 5 May 1990. 24 February 2023.
  2. Bill . Coleman . Single Reviews . . 4 August 1990 . 71 . 28 October 2020 .
  3. Web site: Charts.de: Top 100 Single Official Media Control (09.04.1990). https://web.archive.org/web/20150105114039/http://www.officialcharts.de/charts.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1990&date=19900409&x=20&y=10. dead. 5 January 2015. Charts.de . Media Control. 5 January 2015.
  4. Web site: Andrew. Hamilton. Snap! - World Power. AllMusic. 16 February 2020.
  5. Dave . Sholin . Gavin Picks > Singles . . 1821 . 24 August 1990 . 48 . 17 April 2018 .
  6. Push. Albums. Melody Maker. 25 January 1992. 28. 22 February 2023.
  7. David . Giles . Singles . . 16 June 1990 . 21 . 30 October 2020 .
  8. Top 40: Music Meeting. Gene. Sandbloom. The Network Forty. 24 August 1990. 25. 22 February 2018.
  9. "Snap: World Power". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 12 June 1990. page 14.
  10. Tom . Doyle . Review: LPs . . 299 . 55 . 16 May 1990 . 15 October 2020.
  11. Web site: Snap!: Ooops Up (1990). IMDb. 21 October 2019.
  12. Web site: Snap - Ooops Up music video 1990. Eurokdj.com. 24 January 2026.
  13. Danish Singles Chart. 24 August 1990.
  14. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 7. 27. IV. 7 July 1990. 10 February 2021.
  15. Book: Nyman, Jake. 2005. Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja. 1st. Tammi. Helsinki. 951-31-2503-3. fi.
  16. Top 3 Singles in Europe. Music & Media. 7. 39. VII. 29 September 1990. 22 March 2018.
  17. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Snap".
  18. http://www.umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=F&ChDate=19900617&ChMode=N Radio Luxembourg Singles. 24 June 1990.
  19. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20151129063315/http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf. Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec. BAnQ. fr. 27 October 1990. 11 September 2019. 29 November 2015. dead.
  20. Book: Salaverri, Fernando . Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 . 1st . September 2005 . Fundación Autor-SGAE . Spain . 84-8048-639-2 . es.
  21. The Record Mirror Club Chart. Record Mirror. 37. 28. 14 July 1990. 41. 1 September 2025.
  22. Billboard Hot 100 . . 20 October 1990 . 1 May 2025 .
  23. Dance Singles Sales . Billboard . 3 November 1990 . 1 May 2025 . subscription.
  24. Dance Club Songs . Billboard . 18 August 1990 . 1 May 2025 . subscription.
  25. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs . Billboard . 27 October 1990 . 1 May 2025 . subscription.
  26. Hot Rap Songs . Billboard . 10 November 1990 . 1 May 2025 . subscription.
  27. https://www.popmusichistory.co.uk/_files/ugd/b4848d_4f9128176360450ba51be67a0468e9fa.pdf Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  29. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
  30. Web site: Jahreshitparade 1990 . austriancharts.at . 5 January 2015 . de.
  31. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1990 . . 5 January 2015 . nl.
  32. Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1990. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 10 February 2021.
  33. Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990. Music & Media. 7. 51. 60. 22 December 1990. 29800226. 15 January 2020. World Radio History.
  34. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1990. GfK Entertainment. de. 10 February 2021.
  35. Web site: Single Top 100 over 1990 . . 5 January 2015 . nl.
  36. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990 . . 5 January 2015 . nl.
  37. Web site: End of Year Charts 1990. Recorded Music NZ. 3 December 2017.
  38. Web site: Ă…rstopplistan 1990, Singlar. Grammotex. sv. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20010216102929/http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm. 16 February 2001. 7 April 2025.
  39. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990 . hitparade.ch . 5 January 2015 . de.
  40. 1990 Top 100 Singles . . London, England . 41 . 2 March 1991.
  41. The Record Mirror Year End Club Chart. Record Mirror. 38. 1. 5 January 1991. 41. 1 September 2025.
  42. New Singles. Music Week. 41. 2 June 1990.
  43. New Singles. Music Week. 33. 9 June 1990.
  44. New Singles. Music Week. 31. 16 June 1990.
  45. New Release Summary: Singles. The ARIA Report. 30. 17. 5 August 1990.

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