Uh La La La
"Uh La La La" is a song recorded by the Italian singer Alexia, released in 1997, featuring additional vocals by an uncredited male rapper. It was her fourth single from her debut album, Fan Club and written by Roberto Zanetti and Alexia herself. The song was a summer hit of 1997 in Europe and became Alexia's international breakout success. It reached number-one in Italy and Spain, and was a Top 10 hit in Austria, Finland, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden and the UK. After its success in Europe, the song was remixed for a UK release the following year, which also saw release in Australia, where it peaked at number 17. This was her last single to be released by different labels in different territories as after this all her releases would be by Sony Music.
"Uh La La La" | ||||
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Single by Alexia | ||||
from the album Fan Club (original version) The Party (Almighty edit)' | ||||
Released | 16 June 1997 | |||
Genre | Europop | |||
Length | 3:45 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Roberto Zanetti | |||
Alexia singles chronology | ||||
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Release
The song was released in Italy on CD and 12" (coded DWA 97.02), with releases in other European countries following. As before (and for the final time) the German edition would be released by ZYX, the Spanish release by Blanco y Negro, the French release by Panic (a subsidiary of Polygram), and the Finnish release by K-Tel. A full set of releases was commissioned for Europe by Sony Music, once again on their Dancepool label; a maxi CD, 2-track CD, and 12" release (Sony code 664517). Two remix releases followed; one entitled 'Remix' and a doublepack of remixes by Fathers of Sound. The Fathers of Sound remixes would contain vocals and lyrics that were not on the original version. This was the second and last single to feature radio jingles on the CD.
After officially signing to Sony for all future releases, plans were made to properly launch Alexia's career outside of Europe. In 1998, Almighty Records were commissioned to provide a remix and edit for the UK market (Sony code 665567) in order to launch her career. The remix was also used for the Australian release later that year (Sony code 665766). Due to its popularity, the Almighty edit would be released on all versions of Alexia's second album The Party. In 1999, the track was released in America under the Epidrome label.
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Tom Demalon described the song is a "jaunty, infectious number that leans a bit more to pop".[1] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "without question, "Uh La La La" is as infectious as they get—just perfect for those hot and steamy summer nights. And producer Roberto Zanetti (more commonly known as Robyx) is in ultra-fine form here. In a perfect world, this would surely be a hit."[2] Music & Media commented that the song "sounds like a surefire summer hit; a simple sunny melody, a catchy sing-a-long refrain ("Uh la la la, I love you baby"), a stomp/clap rhythm, some nice shuffle beats and a touch of rap. Another sign of success is that the song has already inspired a copy-cat version (2 Eivissa's "Oh La La La" (...) which samples Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman")."[3]
Chart performance
"Uh La La La" was a major hit on the charts on several continents, becoming one of Alexia's most successful songs to date. In Europe, it peaked at number-one in Italy and Spain. Additionally, the song managed to climb into the Top 10 also in Austria, Finland (number 2), Ireland, Scotland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it reached number 10 in its first week on the UK Singles Chart, on March 15, 1998.[4] "Uh La La La" went on becoming a Top 20 hit in France, Iceland, the Netherlands and Switzerland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it went into the Top 30, reaching number 22 in September 1997. Outside Europe, it peaked at number 17 in Australia, number 30 in New Zealand and number 39 in Canada. The single earned a gold record in France and Sweden, with a sale of 250,000 and 15,000 units.
Music video
The music video for "Uh La La La" was directed by Luca Lucini.[5]
Track listing
- CD maxi single
- "Uh La La La" (Radio Mix) – 3:45
- "Uh La La La" (Club Mix) – 7:28
- "Uh La La La" (Cellular Mix) – 6:05
- "Uh La La La" (F.O.S. Man Vocal Mix) – 6:25
- "Uh La La La" (Original Mix) – 6:30
- "Uh La La La" (F.O.S. Renaissance Dub) – 5:40
- "Uh La La La" (Radio Spot 1) – 0:10
- "Uh La La La" (Radio Spot 2) – 0:10
- "Uh La La La" (Radio Spot 3) – 0:10
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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Blog 27 version
"Uh la la la" | ||||
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Single by Blog 27 | ||||
from the album LOL | ||||
Released | 17 February 2006 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:13 | |||
Label | Kontor | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Random | |||
Blog 27 singles chronology | ||||
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"Uh La La La" was covered by the Polish pop music group Blog 27 and released as a single in February 2006. It first appeared on their debut album LOL in 2005. The song entered four international charts in early March 2006, rising to the Top 40 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. The music video for the track features teenagers skateboarding and playing the spin the bottle game.
Track listing
- Maxi single[33]
- "Uh La La La" (Short Edit) – 3:13
- "Uh La La La" (Extended) – 4:23
- "Uh La La La" (Karaoke Version) – 3:13
- "I Want What I Want" – 3:03
- "Uh La La La" (Video)
Chart performance
Chart (2006) | Peak position |
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Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34] | 23 |
Germany (GfK Entertainment Charts)[35] | 17 |
Italy (FIMI)[36] | 36 |
Italy (Hit Parade Italia)[37] | 47 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] | 36 |
References
- "Alexia - Fun Club [Sony]". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 1999-04-17. p. 16. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
- "Summer '97: beats from the beach" (PDF). Music & Media. 1997-07-12. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100 15 March 1998 - 21 March 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
- "Uh La La La - Version 1 (1997) by Alexia". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
- "Australian-charts.com – Alexia – Uh La La La". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- "Austriancharts.at – Alexia – Uh La La La" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "Ultratop.be – Alexia – Uh La La La" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- "RPM (Sep 08, 1997)". RPM. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- "Alexia: Uh La La La" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- "Lescharts.com – Alexia – Uh La La La" (in French). Les classement single.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Alexia – Uh La La La". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
- "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (10.07.1997 - 16.07.1997)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
- "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
- "HPI - Settimana del 21/06/97" (in Italian). www.hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – Alexia" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Alexia – Uh La La La" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "Charts.nz – Alexia – Uh La La La". Top 40 Singles.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Alexia – Uh La La La". Singles Top 100.
- "Swisscharts.com – Alexia – Uh La La La". Swiss Singles Chart.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- "Hit Parade Italia - Top Annuali Single: 1997" (in Italian). www.hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
- "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997". Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 September 2005.
- "Årslista Singlar – År 1997" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- "Les certifications".
- "Guld Platina 1987-1998" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-12.
- "Uh la la la - Blog 27: Amazon.de: Musik" (in German). www.amazon.de. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- "Austriancharts.at – Blog 27 – Uh La La La" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- "Italiancharts.com – Blog 27 – Uh La La La". Top Digital Download.
- "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: B" (in Italian). www.hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
- "Swisscharts.com – Blog 27 – Uh La La La". Swiss Singles Chart.