Ooh La La (The Wiseguys song)

"Ooh La La"
1999 re-release artwork
Single by the Wiseguys
from the album The Antidote
Released	1998
Genre	Big beat[1] ,latin
Length	5:56
Label	Wall of Sound
Songwriter(s)	Theo Keating
Producer(s)	Theo Keating
The Wiseguys singles chronology
"Casino 'Sans Pareil'" / "A Better World" (1997) "Ooh La La" (1998) "Start the Commotion" (1998)

"Ooh La La" is a song by English electronic music duo the Wiseguys from their second album, The Antidote (1998). First released as a single in 1998, it peaked at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart, but a re-release the following year proved highly successful after its inclusion in a Budweiser advertisement,[2] this time reaching number two on the UK chart. The original release also reached number 87 in the Netherlands, while the re-release peaked at number seven in Iceland.

Composition

The song has a BPM of 124.[3] It samples "Jim on the Move" by Lalo Schifrin from his 1967 album Music from Mission: Impossible.[4]

Commercial performance

Initially, the song reached number 55 on the UK Singles Chart[5] and also charted in the Netherlands at number 87.[6] Upon its re-release on 24 May 1999,[7] it re-entered the UK chart, going to number two.[8] The song spent a total of 14 weeks on the chart. In Iceland, "Ooh La La" debuted and peaked at number seven in June 1999.[9]

Music video

The first video shows a Demolition Derby Event at the now closed Arena Essex Raceway.[10]

A later produced music video was also released, set at an airport and featuring scantily-clad dancers.[11]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998) Peak position Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] 87 Scotland (OCC)[12] 68 UK Singles (OCC)[5] 55 UK Indie (OCC)[13] 9 Chart (1999) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 14 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[9] 7 Scotland (OCC)[15] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[8] 2 UK Indie (OCC)[16] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position UK Singles (OCC)[17] 75

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18]	Silver	200,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	1998	12-inch vinyl CD	Wall of Sound
	24 May 1999	12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[7]
United States	17 August 1999	Alternative radio	Ideal Mammoth	[19]

References

1. Myers, Michele (19 August 2011). "The Big Beat Revolution: 11 Essential Songs". NPR. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
2. Jones, Alan (5 June 1999). "Chart Commentary". Music Week. p. 15.
3. "MPM Search". Song BPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
4. "Ooh La La". Who Sampled. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
6. "The Wiseguys – Ooh La La" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
7. "New Releases – For Week Starting 24 May, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 22 May 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
9. "Íslenski Listinn (3.6–10.6. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 11 June 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
10. "Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
11. "Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
13. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 24. 12 June 1999. p. 8. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
16. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
17. "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. 22 January 2000. p. 27.
18. "British single certifications – Wiseguys – Ooh La La". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
19. "Alternative: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1312. 13 August 1999. p. 122.