Format CD single Genre Eurodance | Recorded 1995 | |
Released 25 March 1996 (UK)
12 November 1996 (U.S.) Label Eternal, Warner Bros. Records Writer(s) Simon Tauber, Gina G, Steve Rodway | ||
"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" is a hit song, performed by Australian singer Gina G. It was written by British songwriters Simon Tauber and Steve Rodway. Released as a single on 25 March 1996, it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart almost two months later and was also a number one hit in Israel. Gina G also co-wrote the song but was never credited.
Contents
Background
The song was the United Kingdom's entry in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest. BBC producer Jonathan King hoped to revive interest for the contest domestically and rejuvenate the international competition. The song finished in eighth place in the contest and was very successful on the charts in Europe. The song initially entered the UK singles chart at #6 on Sunday 31 March and two weeks later climbed to #2. The song spent another five weeks in the top 3, climbing to #1 (in its 8th week) the day after Gina's performance at Eurovision and would spend a further 15 weeks in the top 75. As of 2017, the song is still the last Eurovision entry of the United Kingdom to peak at the top of the country's chart.
The song was also successful in the United States, a rarity for Eurovision entries, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 on the Rhythmic Top 40, #5 on the Mainstream Top 40, #25 on the Adult Top 40, #4 on the Hot Dance/Club Play Songs, and #11 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. It is the fourth most successful Eurovision entry in the US charts behind "Love Is Blue" (1968), "Waterloo" (1974) and "Eres tú" (1974).
Such was the song's success in the United States that in 1997, the song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for the following year's ceremony.
Performance at Eurovision 1996 final
On the night of the Eurovision 1996 final – held on May 18, 1996 in Oslo Spektrum, Norway – "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" was performed 2nd in a field of 23 songs being preceded by the Turkish entry: "Beşinci Mevsim", with the Spanish entry: "¡Ay, qué deseo!", following as the 3rd entry of Eurovision 1996.
Conductor Ernie Dunstall orchestrated and conducted "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" on stage with a minimal orchestral accompaniment. A tiny string accompaniment was added to the backing track produced by Rodway. Two female dancers dressed in pink and yellow backed up Gina G, dressed in a short thigh-skimming glittery metal dress.
United Kingdom and Gina G received 12 points from two countries: Portugal and Belgium.
Gina G's iconic Eurovision dress was originally custom made for Cher by Paco Rabanne, but she left it unused hanging in the offices at Warner Bros. Records until Gina G stumbled over it just a few days before the contest. The dress was then shortened a bit for Ms G.
In 1996, the rules required every instrument used on the backing track to appear on stage. The backing track used for the UK entry relied heavily on computer generated sounds and techno beats. As a result, two personal computers were on the stage - one beside each synthesizer.
Music video
The song's music video directed by Fruit Salad featured Gina G and several background female dancers performing in a hallway against a "lighted" backdrop, teasing a pair of guys with the aforementioned title's words in a sexually-suggestive but playful manner. While it had airtime on several music video channels globally, the video would also be the first song to be "banned" after being voted on by MTV's 12 Angry Viewers in 1998, despite never receiving much airtime on the US channel (although sister channel VH1 did give the video more moderate airplay time).
Track listings
UK: CD Maxi (WEA041CD)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (Motiv8 Radio Edit) (3:24)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (Motiv8 Extended Vocal Mix) (6:43)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (The Next Room's Rip 'Em Up Mix) (6:08)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (Motiv8 Vintage Honey Mix) (6:46)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (The Next Room's Pukka Dub Mix) (6:08)
UK: CD Maxi: Dance Mixes (WEA041CDX)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (Eurovision Song Contest Version) (3:00)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (Motiv8 Vintage Honey Mix) (6:46)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (Jon Of The Pleased Wimmin'... Chase The Space Mix) (7:40)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (The Next Room's Pukka Dub Mix) (5:00)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (Motiv8 Extended Vocal Mix) (6:43)
- Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (Jon Of The Pleased Wimmin'... Face The Bass Mix) (7:40)
Other Versions