Tarzan Boy

"Tarzan Boy" is the debut single by Italian-based act Baltimora. The song was written by Maurizio Bassi and Naimy Hackett, and released in 1985 as the lead single from Baltimora's debut album Living in the Background. The song was re-recorded and released in 1993, and has been covered by several artists throughout the years.

This article is about the Baltimora song. For the Mexican professional wrestler, see Toscano (wrestler).

"Tarzan Boy"
Single by Baltimora
from the album Living in the Background
B-side"DJ version"
Released1985
Genre
Length6:15 (album version)
3:50 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Maurizio Bassi
Baltimora singles chronology
"Tarzan Boy"
(1985)		 "Woody Boogie"
(1985)
Music video
"Tarzan Boy" on YouTube

The refrain uses Tarzan's cry as a melodic line. The song is rhythmical, with an electronic melody and simple lyrics.[3] Baltimora are often considered a one-hit wonder due to the success they experienced with "Tarzan Boy".[4] It features a melodic motif that was later named the millennial whoop.[5]

The music video for the song features the frontman for the band's performances, Jimmy McShane, who according to some sources did not actually sing the song but rather lip synced it.[4]

Chart performance

"Tarzan Boy" was an international hit, debuting in the top five Italian charts and performing well in several other European countries, including Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and notably, France, where "Tarzan Boy" was most successful, topping the charts there for five consecutive weeks. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 3 in September 1985. The single had success in the United States (where it was released by EMI), with the single remaining on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six months and ultimately peaking at number 13 in early 1986.

"Tarzan Boy" would re-enter the Billboard charts as a slightly re-recorded version at number 68 and peak at number 51 five weeks later. It would spend an additional 12 weeks on the chart, exiting the Hot 100 on June 12, 1993.

Uses in sports

From January 2020 to July 2023, AEW wrestler, "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry used "Tarzan Boy" as his entrance music. As of the 2023 Major League Baseball season, "Tarzan Boy" was the walk-on song, or entrance music, played each time Mark Canha came to bat for the New York Mets.

Track listing and formats

Original version

1993 version

2010 version
Streaming single
  1. "Tarzan Boy" (Digital Remaster) – 3:49

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for "Tarzan Boy"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[40] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[41] Gold 500,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[42] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 250,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions
  • In 1989, the Hindi song "Aaya Mausam Dosti Ka", from the Bollywood soundtrack for the film Maine Pyar Kiya was heavily influenced by "Tarzan Boy".[44]
  • In 2006, the song was covered by Bango, and achieved a minor success, peaking at number 37 in France.[45]
  • In 2008, a cover by Bad Influence featuring Dyce reached number 9 in Sweden.[46]

See also

References
  1. Eddy, Chuck (8 July 2013). "Disco 101: Real '80S Italo". Rhapsody. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. Suiveng, Yannick (30 October 2013). "Flashback Top 50 : qui était n°1 en octobre 1985 ?". Charts in France (in French). Pure Charts. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  3. Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit. tubes. Alinéa Bis. p. 49. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
  4. Marx, Tommy (17 July 2009). "One Hit Wonder: Baltimora". PopMatters. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  5. Metzger, Patrick (20 August 2016). "The Millennial Whoop: A glorious obsession with the melodic alternation between the fifth and the third". The Patterning. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  8. "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0614." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  10. "Top 3 in Europe". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 33. 19 August 1985. p. 7. OCLC 29800226.
  11. "European Top 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 33. 19 August 1985. p. 10. OCLC 29800226.
  12. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Baltimora". Sisältää hitin – Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish) (2nd ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 24. ISBN 978-9-5274-6001-6.
  13. "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tarzan Boy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  15. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 4 August 2023. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Tarzan boy" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
  16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  17. "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  18. "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  19. "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  20. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  21. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  22. "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  23. "Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  25. "Baltimora | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  26. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending March 1, 1986". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012.
  27. "Offiziellecharts.de – Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  28. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1985". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  29. "Jaaroverzichten 1985 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  30. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. 28 December 1985. p. 11. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  31. Bakker, Machgiel; Inglis, Cathy (23 December 1985). "Pan-European Awards 1985". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 51/52. p. 7. OCLC 29800226.
  32. "Top – 1985". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  33. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  34. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  35. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  36. "Top 100 Singles (January 5–December 28, 1985)". Music Week. 18 January 1986. p. 10. ISSN 0265-1548.
  37. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1985" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
  38. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  39. "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  40. "Canadian single certifications – Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". Music Canada.
  41. "French single certifications – Baltimora – Tarzan Boy" (in French). InfoDisc. Select BALTIMORA and click OK. 
  42. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  43. "British single certifications – Baltimora – Tarzan Boy". British Phonographic Industry.
  44. Saikia, Priyankee (2 May 2013). "10 Bollywood Movies with Blockbuster Soundtracks". MensXP.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  45. "Lescharts.com – Bango – Tarzan Boy" (in French). Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  46. "Swedishcharts.com – Bad Influence feat. Dyce – Tarzan Boy". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
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