Speedy Gonzales (song)
1961 popular music song
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Speedy Gonzales" is a 1961 song by David Hess (RCA 8056),[1] who recorded it under the name David Dante, about Speedy Gonzales, "the fastest mouse in all Mexico". It was written by Buddy Kaye, Ethel Lee and Dante/Hess. The David Dante original version briefly entered the U.S. Music Vendor chart in April 1961. It also peaked at number 2 in the Philippines. [2]
| "Speedy Gonzales" | |
|---|---|
| Single by David Dante | |
| B-side | "K-K-K-Katy" |
| Released | April 1961 |
| Recorded | 1961 |
| Genre | Pop, Novelty songs |
| Length | 2:28 |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Songwriters | Buddy Kaye, Ethel Lee, David Hill |
| Producer | Hugo & Luigi |
Pat Boone version
| "Speedy Gonzales" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Pat Boone | |
| from the album Pat Boone's Golden Hits Featuring Speedy Gonzales | |
| B-side | "The Locket" |
| Released | May 19, 1962 |
| Recorded | 1962 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 2:30 |
| Label | Dot |
| Songwriters | Buddy Kaye, Ethel Lee, David Hill |
| Producer | Randy Wood |
The song was popularized in the United States as a 1962 single by Pat Boone.[3] The Boone version peaked at the No. 6 Billboard Hot 100 position in 1962 during a total chart run of 13 weeks, doing better in many national charts in Europe, where it sold a million copies.[4] The female voice ("La-la-la...") on this song was of Robin Ward.[4] It also incorporated Mel Blanc voicing Speedy Gonzales as he did in the Warner Brothers cartoons.
Dante's version details a demand from a girl named Consuela to Speedy to stop roving about and take care of his neglected household. Boone's song adds a spoken introduction stating that he was wandering between some old adobe haciendas on a moonlit night in Mexico, where he heard the voice of a Mexican girl calling to Speedy, and Mel Blanc's inserts replace a recurring line from Dante's lyrics.
Warner Bros. Pictures sued Boone and Dot Records for $850,000 over Blanc's performance of Speedy's voice on Boone's record without their authorization. The case was later dropped.
Charts
Pat Boone version
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Argentina[5] | 1 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[6][deprecated source] | 3 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] | 1 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] | 7 |
| France (IFOP)[9] | 8 |
| Ireland (Evening Herald)[10] | 4 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] | 1 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[12] | 1 |
| Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[13] | 1 |
| Sweden (Tio i Topp)[14] | 1 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[15] | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 6 |
| West Germany (GfK)[17] | 1 |
See also
- Crocodile Rock (a song by Elton John with a similar chorus)
- Putin khuilo! (a Russian/Ukrainian football chant, as assumed by Artemy Troitsky,[18] inspired by "Speedy Gonzales" chorus)