Din Daa Daa

"Din Daa Daa"
Single by George Kranz
from the album My Rhythm
Released	1983
Genre	Dance
Length	4:06 (original version)[1] 3:23 (radio edit)[2] 6:21 (US mix)[2]
Label	Pool Personal
Writer(s)	George Kranz
Producer(s)	Christopher Franke George Kranz
Alternative cover 2001 remix

"Din Daa Daa" (also released as "Trommeltanz (Din Daa Daa)"^[3] or as "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz)"^[4][5]) is a song written and performed by Berliner musician George Kranz, released as a single in 1983. His only international success, "Din Daa Daa" became a club hit which peaked at number one for two weeks on the US Dance chart. It also charted in several European countries.

The song title loop, the echo between Kranz's onomatopoeia and his drum solos and the synth sounds which can be heard afterwards are the main characteristics of this song.

Regarded as a dance classic and as a precursor of human beatboxing, artists still refer to this song today. The song has been sampled, covered or remixed by many artists, including M|A|R|R|S, Kevin Aviance, Pulsedriver and Flo Rida.

Background

From 1980 to 1983, George Kranz was a drummer in the NDW Berliner band Zeitgeist, founded at the end of the year 1980, which emerged from another band called Firma 33. In 1983, Zeitgest disbanded and Kranz began a solo career.^[6][7]

Developed from a drum solo, "Din Daa Daa" was produced by the Tangerine Dream musician Christopher Franke and co-produced by Kranz.^[8][9]

Composition and description

"Din Daa Daa" is probably best remembered for its characteristic, repetitive "Din Daa Daa" lyrics.^[10] While these lyrics are looped up throughout the song and while he is playing a heavy backbeat, Kranz sings busier and busier drum figures — which sound like "Rat-ta-ta-ta-toom!"^[11] — he then duplicates identically on his drum kit.^[11][12] The track later explodes with a strident synth chord.^[11] The song's tempo is 122 bpm and its original title, Trommeltanz, means "drum dance" in German.^[6][13]

Its peculiarity is often highlighted; the song has actually been described by The Police's Stewart Copeland as "a dialogue between a chimpanzee and a drummer"^[12] while The Guardian's presentation of the song points out that Kranz has a "serious case of onomatopoeia".^[11]

Chart performance

"Din Daa Daa" saw most of its success in Europe, where it charted in several countries. The single peaked at number 25 in Belgium and at number 45 in France, where it spent three weeks on both national charts. It also peaked at number 88 in UK at the end of the year 1983. In Kranz's native Germany, the track peaked at number 28 and spent 12 weeks on the charts, from February to May 1984.

In the United States, the single became a club smash, spending two weeks at number one on the Dance Club Play chart on January 1984, before being knocked off by Laid Back's "White Horse".^[14] It also charted on the Black Singles chart, peaking at number 61, and on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, peaking at number ten. It also became a club hit in France, peaking at number three on the clubs chart.

Remixes

Following its initial release, "Din Daa Daa" has been remixed several times and new versions of the song were released in 1991, 1996 and 2001.

• A first remix of the song, called "Din Daa Daa '91",^[5][15] was released as a single on 7 June 1991.^[16] This version peaked at number eight on the Dance chart and at number 33 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. It features vocals by Doug Lazy.^[15]
• On 10 June 1996, other remixes were released on the same CD single.^[5][17]
• In 2001, Pulsedriver remixed the song under the name "Pulsedriver vs. George Kranz – Din Daa Daa". This remix charted in Austria and in Germany, peaking at number 42 in both countries.

Weekly charts

Chart (1983–1984) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 25 France (Clubs WRTL)[18] 3 France (SNEP)[19] 45 Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 28 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[21] 88 US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles[4] 10 US Billboard Hot Black Singles[22] 61 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[22] 1

Chart (1991) Peak position US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[22] 8 US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[22] 33 Chart (2001)^1 Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 42 Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 42 ^1Pulsedriver vs. George Kranz

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)	Rank
US Top Dance Singles/Albums[25]	5

Track listing

• 7" Single (Pool 6.14033) (1983)

1. "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz) (US Mix)" – 3:29
2. "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz) (Dub Version)" – 3:11

• 7" Single (Ariola 105 993) (1983)^[9]

1. "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz)" – 3:00
2. "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz) (Dub Version)" – 3:08

• 12" Single (Pool 6.20268 AE) (1983)^[9]

1. "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz)" – 4:11
2. "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz) (Dub Version)" – 3:08
3. "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz) (US Mix)" – 6:20

• Maxi-Single (Zeitgeist 587 348-2) (2001)^[26]

1. "Din Daa Daa (Single Version)" – 3:48
2. "Din Daa Daa (Club Edit)" – 3:47
3. "Din Daa Daa (Original 2001 Version)" – 3:46
4. "Din Daa Daa (Extended Mix)" – 7:54
5. "Din Daa Daa (Club Mix)" – 7:04
6. "Din Daa Daa (Jam X & De Leon Remix)" – 6:46
7. "Din Daa Daa (Potatoheads Remix)" – 7:27
8. "Din Daa Daa (Dub Mix)" – 6:54

Influence

Despite its peculiarity, the track remains a dance classic^[6] and a European single which has extended the artistic boundaries of modern dance music, along with "Beat Box" by the Art of Noise.^[12] Also regarded as a precursor of human beatboxing, breakdancers and hip hop artists from all over the world still refers to "Din Daa Daa" and to Kranz vocals today.^[27]

Samples and interpolations

"Din Daa Daa" has been sampled in several songs since its release, including M|A|R|R|S' "Pump Up the Volume" (1987),^[28] Nicolette's "Single Minded People" (1990),^[29] and Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull's "Shake" (2005).^[30] In 2010, Flo Rida used elements of "Din Daa Daa" in his song "Turn Around (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)".^[31]

Cover versions and other uses

• "Din Daa Daa" was featured on the soundtrack to the 1984 film Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.^[32]
• In 1997, Kevin Aviance remade the song. It became his first of three number-one dance hits on the Dance chart and peaked at number 22 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart^[33] and at number 65 on the UK Singles Chart.^[34]
• In 2004, The Roots covered the song as a hidden bonus track on their album The Tipping Point.^[32][35]
• In 2012, the song was used during synchronized swimming competitions at the Summer Olympics in London by Canadian swimmers duet Marie-Pier Boudreau Gagnon and Élise Marcotte.^[36]

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1984 (U.S.)
• List of number-one dance singles of 1997 (U.S.)

References

1. "Various Artists – Voguing and the House Ballroom Scene of New York City 1989-92". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
2. "George Kranz – The Very Best of George Kranz". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
3. Whitburn, Joel (1983). Joel Whitburn's Music Yearbook. Record Research. pp. 125, 166 and 172.
4. "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz)". MusicVF.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
5. "George Kranz – Discography" (in German). Retrieved 19 June 2013.
6. "George Kranz – Vita" (in German). Retrieved 19 June 2013.
7. "George Kranz" (in French). Laurentpons.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
8. "George Kranz – Biography" (in German). Retrieved 19 June 2013.
9. "Ultratop.be – George Kranz – Din daa daa (Trommeltanz)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
10. Van Isacker, B. (8 April 2013). 80sObscurities presents: George Kranz – 'Trommeltanz' at the Wayback Machine (archived 10 April 2013). Side-Line.
11. "1000 songs everyone must hear, Part seven : Party songs". The Guardian. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
12. "George Kranz: (12-inch single) Trommeltanz (Din Daa Daa)". High Fidelity. Vol. 34. 1984. p. 208.
13. Brusca, Donald (2005). The Bpm List: A Music Reference Guide for Mobile Djs. Lulu.com. pp. 141, 247. ISBN 978-1-4116-4211-9.
14. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 149.
15. "Din Daa Daa '91". MusicVF.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
16. "George Kranz – Din Daa Daa (91 Remix)". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
17. "George Kranz – Din Daa Daa (96 Remix)". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
18. "Chart N°84-34 – Semaine terminant le / Week ending August, 19. 1984" (in French). Black Music Collectors. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
19. "Lescharts.com – George Kranz – Din daa daa (Trommeltanz)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – George Kranz – Din daa daa (Trommeltanz)". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
21. "Archive Chart: 1984-01-29" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
22. "George Kranz – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
23. "Austriancharts.at – Pulsedriver vs. George Kranz – Din Daa Daa" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
24. "Offiziellecharts.de – Pulsedriver vs. George Kranz – Din Daa Daa". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
25. "Top Dance Singles/Albums". Billboard. Vol. 96 no. 51. 22 December 1984. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510.
26. • "Kundenbilder für Din Daa Daa" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
    • "Din Daa Daa [Single]" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
27. "George Kranz – Videos" (in German). George Kranz. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
28. Buskin, Richard (August 2012). "MARRS 'Pump Up The Volume'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
29. Shapiro, Peter (1999). "Shut Up and Dance". Drum 'n' Bass: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. p. 188. ISBN 1-85828-433-3.
30. McAdmin, Addy (24 August 2006). "Crunk Goes "Din Daa Daa"". The Stranger. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
31. TC (12 August 2010). ""Club Can't Handle Me" – Review Of Flo Rida's Only One Flo (Part 1)". Uproxx. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
32. Henderson, Eric (11 July 2004). "The Roots – The Tipping Point". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
33. "Kevin Aviance – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
34. "Kevin Aviance". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
35. Jeffries, David. "The Roots – The Tipping Point". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
36. Harris, Beth (5 August 2012). "London 2012 synchronized swimming: Russia leads duet at London Games". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 15 May 2016.