Splish Splash (song)
Encyclopedia
"Splish Splash" is a 1958 song performed and co-written by Bobby Darin
. It was written with DJ Murray the K
(Murray Kaufman), who bet that Darin couldn't write a song that began with the words, "Splish Splash, I was takin' a bath", as suggested by Murray's mother, Jean Kaufman. The song was credited to Darin and "Jean Murray" (a combination of their names) to avoid any hint of payola
. The song helped to give Darin a major boost in his career, reaching No. 3 on the U.S. pop singles charts
. It was recorded in a session at New York's Atlantic Studios on the evening of April 10, 1958.
Original copies of "Splish Splash" (Atco 6117) feature echo in the song. For the reissue (Atlantic Oldies Series 13055), the echo is filtered out.
The lyrics mention several characters from other songs of the period, including "Lollipop
", "Peggy Sue
", and "Good Golly Miss Molly".
The song was remade in 1979 by Barbra Streisand
for her album Wet
. It features new lyrics by Streisand and backing vocals from Toto
lead singer Bobby Kimball and Chicago
keyboardist Bill Champlin.
The song was featured in the trailer for the Patrick Dempsey
film Loverboy
. The song appears in the soundtrack for the 1998 movie, You've Got Mail
, and also in an episode of Happy Days
where Richie Cunningham becomes a DJ, 'Richie The C' (possibly a play on Murray the K). It was also featured as a DTV
music video on The Disney Channel, set mostly to clips of Disney
characters bathing, particularly from the 1948 cartoon Mickey and the Seal
(illustrating the singer's bath in the first verse), but also Mickey's Birthday Party
(to illustrate the party he walks in on). Kevin Spacey
performs the song in the Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea
.
The song can also be heard in the film Because of Winn-Dixie
, in a scene where Opal (AnnaSophia Robb
) gives the title dog a bath.
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
. It was written with DJ Murray the K
Murray the K
Murray Kaufman , professionally known as Murray the K, was an influential rock and roll impresario and disc jockey of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s...
(Murray Kaufman), who bet that Darin couldn't write a song that began with the words, "Splish Splash, I was takin' a bath", as suggested by Murray's mother, Jean Kaufman. The song was credited to Darin and "Jean Murray" (a combination of their names) to avoid any hint of payola
Payola
Payola, in the American music industry, is the illegal practice of payment or other inducement by record companies for the broadcast of recordings on music radio, in which the song is presented as being part of the normal day's broadcast. Under U.S...
. The song helped to give Darin a major boost in his career, reaching No. 3 on the U.S. pop singles charts
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was recorded in a session at New York's Atlantic Studios on the evening of April 10, 1958.
Original copies of "Splish Splash" (Atco 6117) feature echo in the song. For the reissue (Atlantic Oldies Series 13055), the echo is filtered out.
The lyrics mention several characters from other songs of the period, including "Lollipop
Lollipop (1950s pop song)
"Lollipop" is a pop song written by Julius Dixson and Beverly Ross in 1958 for the duo Ronald & Ruby, which was covered most successfully by The Chordettes. Dixson's name is sometimes spelled Dixon....
", "Peggy Sue
Peggy Sue
"Peggy Sue" is a rock and roll song written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, and originally performed, recorded and released as a single by Buddy Holly in early July of 1957. The Crickets are not mentioned on the single but both Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison are known to be...
", and "Good Golly Miss Molly".
The song was remade in 1979 by Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
for her album Wet
Wet (album)
Wet is an album released by Barbra Streisand in 1979. The album is a concept album of sorts with all the songs referring to, or expressing different interpretations of, water...
. It features new lyrics by Streisand and backing vocals from Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
lead singer Bobby Kimball and Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
keyboardist Bill Champlin.
The song was featured in the trailer for the Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Galen Dempsey is an American actor, known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to Grey's Anatomy he made several television appearances and was nominated for an Emmy Award...
film Loverboy
Loverboy (1989 film)
Loverboy is a 1989 American comedy film starring Patrick Dempsey, Kirstie Alley, and Carrie Fisher.-Plot:Randy Bodek is a rebellious slacker in college, living with his girlfriend Jenny . His father, furious over Randy's lack of direction or work ethic, pulls the funding for college and requires...
. The song appears in the soundtrack for the 1998 movie, You've Got Mail
You've Got Mail
You've Got Mail is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Nora Ephron, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It was written by Nora and Delia Ephron based on the play Parfumerie by Miklós László. The film is about two letter-writing lovers who are completely unaware that their sweetheart is in...
, and also in an episode of Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
where Richie Cunningham becomes a DJ, 'Richie The C' (possibly a play on Murray the K). It was also featured as a DTV
D-TV
D-TV was a series of music videos created by Walt Disney Productions in 1984 using popular music and video footage from Disney videos, mostly cartoons, created out of the trend of music videos on cable channel MTV, which inspired the name of this series...
music video on The Disney Channel, set mostly to clips of Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
characters bathing, particularly from the 1948 cartoon Mickey and the Seal
Mickey and the Seal
Mickey and the Seal is a cartoon short created by Walt Disney in 1948. It was nominated for Academy Award for Animated Short Film, but lost to Tom and Jerry cartoon The Little Orphan.-Synopsis:...
(illustrating the singer's bath in the first verse), but also Mickey's Birthday Party
Mickey's Birthday Party
Mickey's Birthday Party is a cartoon made by Walt Disney starring Mickey Mouse in 1942, in which Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar and Clara Cluck throw a big party for Mickey where the mouse's wild rhumba dancing rules the day...
(to illustrate the party he walks in on). Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
performs the song in the Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea
Beyond the Sea (film)
Beyond the Sea is a 2004 biographical film based on the life of singer/actor Bobby Darin. Kevin Spacey, who stars in the lead role and used his own singing voice for the musical numbers, co-wrote, directed, and co-produced the film, which takes its title from the Darin song of the same name...
.
The song can also be heard in the film Because of Winn-Dixie
Because of Winn-Dixie (film)
Because of Winn-Dixie is a 2005 film adapted from the book of the same name by Kate DiCamillo and directed by Wayne Wang. It was produced by Walden Media and released by 20th Century Fox...
, in a scene where Opal (AnnaSophia Robb
AnnaSophia Robb
AnnaSophia Robb is an American film and television actress. She gained prominence in 2005 with starring roles in Because of Winn-Dixie and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and starred in Bridge to Terabithia , Race to Witch Mountain , and Soul Surfer .-Personal life:Robb was born in Denver,...
) gives the title dog a bath.