Tiny Bubbles

This article is about the song. For the album, see Tiny Bubbles (album). For the Paul McCartney song, see Tiny Bubble.

"Tiny Bubbles"
Single by Don Ho
from the album Tiny Bubbles
B-side	"Do I Love You?"
Released	1966
Recorded	1966
Genre	Traditional pop
Length	2:45
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Leon Pober
Producer(s)	Sonny Burke

"Tiny Bubbles" is a song written by Leon Pober and performed by Don Ho.[1] It comes from the album of the same name. The single peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100[2] and #14 on the Easy Listening charts in March 1967.[3] By 1968, "Tiny Bubbles" was covered about 34 times.[4] It was considered to be Ho's signature song.

Production

The song was requested by producer Sonny Burke after Ho couldn't successfully perform the song "Born Free". "Tiny Bubbles" was originally written for Lawrence Welk, since he tended to perform "champagne music". Welk turned it down, although he later performed the song several times on his television show after it became a hit.[5]

Legacy

"Tiny Bubbles" was considered to be Ho's signature song.[1][6] During one performance, after nearly thousands, Ho reportedly quipped "God, I hate that song".[1]

• The second season of the American game show The Mole incorporated the song in a creative way - one test had a contestant confined to sleeping or staying on a bed while "Tiny Bubbles" was played on repeat in various versions (sped up, slowed down, backwards, etc). Fans believe it is an iconic moment of the short-lived series.[7]
• It was featured in the 2001 film Bubble Boy.[8]
• Alongside Ho's other songs, "E Le Ka Lei Lei (Beach Party Song)" and "Wish They Didn't Mean Goodbye", "Tiny Bubbles" was featured in the Season 7 Hawaii Five-0 episode, "Elua la ma Nowemapa".[9]
• The song alone was also featured in the Season 3 episode, "Mohai".[10]

Covers

• In 1966, Billy Vaughn released an instrumental cover and charted at #31 in the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[11]
• In 1967, Roger Williams performed a piano version on the album, Roger![12]
• In 1968, American country singer Rex Allen released a cover, which peaked at #71 in the Billboard country charts.[13]
• In 1974, Scottish country singer Sydney Devine performed "Tiny Bubbles" for his album, Encores;[14] it is considered to be his signature song.[15]
• Others who have done renditions of the tune included Al Caiola, Nora Aunor and Tiny Tim.[16]

References

1. Ryan, Tim (March 2003). "Don Ho: Beyond the Bubbles". Islands Magazine. 23 (2): 40, 42, 44. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
2. "Tiny Bubbles / Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. March 25, 1967. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
3. "Tiny Bubbles / Adult Contemporary". Billboard. February 11, 1967. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
4. Spotlight, A Billboard (May 18, 1968). "Hawaii: Evolutionary State". Billboard. p. H-10. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
5. Ho, Don; Hopkins, Jerry (2007). Don Ho: My Music, My Life. Honolulu, Hawaii: Watermark Publishing. ISBN 9780979064746. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
6. McLellan, Dennis (April 15, 2007). "Don Ho, 76; singer was best known for '66 hit 'Tiny Bubbles'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
7. Andy Dehnart (April 15, 2007). "Don Ho dies; his "Tiny Bubbles" song was part of a Mole 2 challenge". reality blurred. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
8. White, Armond (September 4, 2001). "Bubble Boy Is the Happiest Comedy Surprise of the Season; Rat Race Gives It a Run for Its Money". New York Press. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
9. "Music from Hawaii Five-0 S7E09". Tunefind. November 18, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
10. "Music from Hawaii Five-0 S3E05". Tunefind. November 5, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
11. "Bubbling Under the Hot 100" (PDF). Vol. 78, no. 45. November 5, 1966. p. 22. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
12. "Roger Williams - Ad" (PDF). Billboard. April 22, 1967. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
13. "Tiny Bubbles / Country Songs". Billboard. July 13, 1968. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
14. "Sydney Devine - Encores". Discogs. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
15. "Sydney Devine tours again despite heartbreak". BBC News. March 26, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
16. "www.secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.