View source for Ding-a-dong

{{Short description|1975 song by Teach-In}}
{{Infobox song
| cover        = TeachInDingADong7InchSingleCover.jpg
| caption      = French 7" single cover
| artist       = [[Teach-In (band)|Teach-In]]
| type         = single
| language     =
| B-side       = Let Me In
| album        = Festival
| released     = 1975
| label        = [[Philips Records|Philips]]
| composer     = [[Dick Bakker]]
| lyricist     = {{hlist|Will Luikinga|[[Eddy Ouwens]]}}
| misc         = {{External music video|header=Music video|{{YouTube|vkUl357Yd8k|"Dinge-dong"}} on ''[[TopPop]]''}}
{{Infobox song contest entry
| embed        = yes
| song         = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} "Ding-a-dong"
| year         = 1975
| country      = Netherlands
| artist       = {{hlist|Getty Kaspers|Ard Weeink|Chris de Wolde|John Gaasbeek|Koos Versteeg|Rudi Nijhuis}}
| as           = [[Teach-In (band)|Teach-In]]
| with         =
| language     = English
| composer     = [[Dick Bakker]]
| lyricist     = {{hlist|Will Luikinga|[[Eddy Ouwens]]}}
| conductor    = [[Harry van Hoof]]
| place        = 1st
| points       = 152
| prev         = I See a Star
| prev_link    = I See a Star
| next         = The Party's Over
| next_link    = The Party's Over (Sandra Reemer song)
}}
}}

"'''Ding-a-dong'''" is a song recorded by Dutch band [[Teach-In (band)|Teach-In]], with music composed by [[Dick Bakker]] and lyrics written by Will Luikinga and [[Eddy Ouwens]]. It {{esccnty|Netherlands|t=represented the Netherlands}} in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1975]], held in [[Stockholm]], winning the contest. It reached number 1 in both the [[Swiss Hitparade|Swiss]] and the [[VG-lista|Norwegian Singles Chart]]. Teach-In recorded the song in English, Dutch, and German.

== Background ==
=== Conception ===
"Ding-a-dong" was composed by [[Dick Bakker]] with lyrics by Will Luikinga and [[Eddy Ouwens]].<ref name="DG">{{Cite web |title=Ding-A-Dong – lyrics|url=http://www.diggiloo.net/?1975nl|website=The Diggiloo Thrush}}</ref> It is an up-tempo ode to positive thought though the song is written entirely in a minor key. It sings that one should "sing a song that goes ding ding-a-dong" when one is feeling unhappy, with the chorus proclaiming "Ding-a-dong every hour, when you pick a flower. Even when your lover is gone, gone, gone."<ref name="DG"/>

In the original Dutch version the "ding-a-dong" describes the heartbeat of the singer remembering the separation from her lover in the past. As well as "ding-a-dong", the lyrics also contain "bim-bam-bom" representing a fearful heartbeat and "tikke-(tikke)-tak" for the ticking of the clock while waiting for the lover to return.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ding-A-Dong (Dutch) – lyrics|url=http://www.diggiloo.net/?1975nl11|website=The Diggiloo Thrush}}</ref>

=== Eurovision ===
On 26 February 1975, "Dinge dong" –the original Dutch version of "Ding-a-dong"– competed in the {{esccnty|Netherlands|y=1975|t=19th edition}} of the ''[[Nationaal Songfestival]]'', the national final organized by [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting]] (NOS) to select its song and performer for the {{escyr|1975||20th edition}} of the [[Eurovision Song Contest]]. The song won the three-song competition, so it became the {{esccnty|Netherlands|t=Dutch entry}} for Eurovision. Once selected, it was performed by the three competing acts: [[Albert West]], [[Debbie (singer)|Debbie]], and [[Teach-In (band)|Teach-In]]. Teach-In received more points than their rivals, so they became the performers for Eurovision.<ref>{{cite web |title=Netherlands: Nationaal Songfestival 1975|url=https://eurovisionworld.com/national/netherlands/nationaal-songfestival-1975|website=Eurovisionworld}}</ref> Teach-In then recorded the song in Dutch –as "Dinge-dong"–, English –as Ding-a-dong–, and German –as "Ding ding-a-dong".<ref name="DG"/>

On 22 March 1975, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at {{lang|sv|[[Stockholm International Fairs|Sankt Eriks-Mässan]]|i=unset}} in [[Stockholm]] hosted by [[Sveriges Radio]] (SR), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Teach-In performed in English "Ding-a-dong"{{efn|During broadcast, it was introduced in the onscreen titles as "Ding dinge dong"}} first on the evening preceding {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1975}}'s "[[That's What Friends Are For (The Swarbriggs song)|That's What Friends Are For]]" by [[The Swarbriggs]]. [[Harry van Hoof]] conducted the live orchestra in the performance of the Dutch entry.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1975|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1975|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=[[Sveriges Radio|SR]] / [[EBU]]|date=22 March 1975}}</ref>

At the close of voting, it had received 152 points, placing first in a field of nineteen, winning the contest. The song was the first winner under the current Eurovision voting system whereby each country awards scores of 1–8, 10, and 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-1975/final|title=Official Eurovision Song Contest 1975 scoreboard|website=[[Eurovision Song Contest]]}}</ref>

[[File:Teach-in (winnaar Eurovisie Songfestival) terug op Schiphol Teach-in na aankoms, Bestanddeelnr 927-8208.jpg|thumb|Teach-In and the songwriters arriving at [[Schipol Airport]] after Eurovision.]]
"Ding-a-dong" was notable for being one of the Eurovision winners that had quirky or entirely nonsensical titles or lyrics, following in the footsteps of [[Massiel]]'s "[[La La La (Massiel song)|La, la, la]]" in {{escyr|1968}} and [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]]'s "[[Boom Bang-a-Bang]]" in {{escyr|1969}}, and later followed by the [[Herreys]]' "[[Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley]]" in {{escyr|1984}}. As the first song was performed during the evening, the victory ran contrary to the fact that success usually went to songs performed later in the broadcast. This was the first of three occasions when the first song would win the contest, the second coming the following year in {{escyr|1976}}, and the third in 1984.<ref>{{cite book|author=O'Connor, John Kennedy|author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor|year=2007|title=The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History|location=UK|publisher=Carlton Books|isbn=978-1-84442-994-3}}</ref>

=== Aftermath ===
Teach-In performed their song in the Eurovision twenty-fifth anniversary show ''[[Songs of Europe (1981 concert)|Songs of Europe]]'' held on 22 August 1981 in [[Mysen]].<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Songs of Europe|episode-link=Songs of Europe (1981 concert)|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=[[NRK]] / [[European Broadcasting Union|EBU]]|date=22 August 1981}}</ref> On 22 May 2021, the interval act "Rock the Roof" in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2021]] grand final featured "Ding-a-dong" performed by Teach-In.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/video/interval-act-rock-the-roof|title=Interval Act – Rock The Roof|website=[[Eurovision Song Contest]]}}</ref>

==Chart history==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1975)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"| Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]] |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]] |year=1993|page=306 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| 64
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|2|artist=Teach-In|song=Ding-a-dong|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|7|artist=Teach-In|song=Ding-a-dong|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany|9|artist=Teach-In|song=Ding-a-dong|songid=344|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|8|artist=Teach-In|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|3|artist=Teach-In|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|3|artist=Teach-In|song=Ding-a-dong|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|1|artist=Teach-In|song=Ding-a-dong|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Teach-In|song=Ding-a-dong|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|13|artist=Teach-In|song=Ding-a-dong|artistid=15313|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|22|artist=Teach-In|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2021}}
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1975)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Belgium ([[Ultratop 50]] Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten 1975 |publisher= [[Ultratop]]. Hung Medien |access-date= 29 May 2021 |url= http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1975 |language= nl}}</ref>
| 54
|-
!scope="row"| France ([[Institut français d'opinion publique|IFOP]])<ref>{{cite web|title= TOP – 1975 |website= Top-france.fr |access-date= 29 May 2021 |url= http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1975.htm |language= fr}}</ref>
| 29
|-
!scope="row"| Switzerland ([[Swiss Hitparade|Schweizer Hitparade]])<ref>{{cite web|title= Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1975 |publisher= Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien |access-date= 29 May 2021 |url= https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1975 |language= de}}</ref>
| 13
|-
|}
{{col-end}}

==Legacy==
===beFour cover===
{{Infobox song
| name       = Ding-A-Dong
| cover      = Ding-a-dong.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[beFour]]
| album      = [[Friends 4 Ever (beFour album)|Friends 4 Ever]]
| released   = 17 April 2009
| recorded   = 2009
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = Pop
| length     = 3:32
| label      =
| writer     = Will Luikinga, Eddy Ouwens
| producer   =
| prev_title = [[No Limit (2 Unlimited song)#beFour cover|No Limit]]
| prev_year  = 2009
| next_title =
| next_year  = 
}}

"Ding-a-Dong" was also recorded by German band [[beFour]] for their fourth studio album ''[[Friends 4 Ever (beFour album)|Friends 4 Ever]]'' and released on 17 April 2009 as its second single in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

====Weekly charts====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2009)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Germany|61|artist=beFour|song=Ding-A-Dong|songid=555740|rowheader=true}}
|-
|}

===Other covers===
* [[Edwyn Collins]] did a cover of the song for ''[[Eurotrash (TV series)|Eurotrash]]''. 
* [[Sarolta Zalatnay]] made the first Hungarian version in 1975.

* Russian musicians [[Alyona Apina]] and [[Murat Nasyrov]] recorded "{{lang|ru|Лунные ночи}}" ("''Lunnyje nochi''", "Moonlight nights") to the melody of "Ding-a-Dong" in 1997.<ref>{{YouTube|oa2l_iUC4qY|Алёна Апина И Мурат Насыров – Лунные Ночи}}</ref>

* [[Bessy Argyraki]] sang a cover in Greek, included in her LP ''Robert & Bessie'' (1975).<ref>{{YouTube|a2aG-PLRu6I|Ding a Dong – Μπέσσυ Αργυράκη}}</ref>

* [[Füsun Önal]] covered this song as "Söyleyin Arkadaşlar" ("Tell me friends") in Turkish, included in her first LP ''Alo... Ben Füsun'' (1975).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/F%C3%BCsun-%C3%96nal-Alo-Ben-F%C3%BCsun/release/4407362|title = Füsun Önal – Alo.... Ben Füsun (1975, Vinyl)| website=[[Discogs]] | date=1975 }}</ref>

* [[Ayla Algan]] covered this song as "Dünya Tersine Dönse" ("If the world turns back") in Turkish, included in firstly her 45rpm ''Dünya Tersine Dönse/Sen De Katıl Bize'' (1975),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Ayl%C3%A2-Algan-D%C3%BCnya-Tersine-D%C3%B6nse-Sen-De-Kat%C4%B1l-Bize/release/8215001|title=Aylâ Algan – Dünya Tersine Dönse / Sen de Katıl Bize (1975, Vinyl)|website=[[Discogs]] |date=1975 }}</ref> laterly in her second LP after ''Yunus Emre''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Ayla-Algan-Yunus-Emre/master/808390|title = Ayla Algan – Yunus Emre| website=[[Discogs]] | date=1970 }}</ref> and the first commercial one ''Ayla Algan'' (1976).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Ayl%C3%A2-Algan-Ayla-Algan/release/6966270|title=Aylâ Algan – Ayla Algan (1976, Vinyl)|website=[[Discogs]] |date=1976 }}</ref>

* András Csonka recorded a Hungarian language version "Ding Dong" in 2001.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GDmCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA363|title=Encyclopedia of Hungarian rock. Volume one|first=Alexandr|last=Zhuk|date=September 5, 2017|publisher=Litres|isbn=9785457918016|via=Google Books}}</ref>

* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/644201-Hanne?anv=Hanne+%28Eija+H%C3%B6yn%C3%A4l%C3%A4%29&filter_anv=1 Hanne] recorded a Finnish language version "Ding-a-Dong" in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9960543-Hanne-Kai-Hyttinen-Silloin-Ding-A-Dong|title = Hanne & Kai Hyttinen – Silloin / Ding A Dong (1975, Vinyl)| website=[[Discogs]] | date=1975 }}</ref>

* The Dutch language television series, ''{{ill|Schaep Ahoy|nl}}'', featured a version of the song sung by the cast members in its first episode in 2015.

* 1984 & [[Dana Winner]] released a dance/pop [https://open.spotify.com/album/4ZeToSqCpfAW0iMTN56XYg version] on 8th November 2024.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs master|128023|Ding-a-dong|type=single}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|
 before = "[[Waterloo (song)|Waterloo]]" by [[ABBA]]|
 title = [[Eurovision Song Contest winners]]|
 after = "[[Save Your Kisses for Me]]" by [[Brotherhood of Man]]|
 years = {{escyr|1975}}|
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 1975}}
{{Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{List of Eurovision Song Contest winners}}
{{Songs of Europe (Eurovision)}}
{{BeFour}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:BeFour songs]]
[[Category:CNR Music singles]]
[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest-winning songs]]
[[Category:Eurovision songs of 1975]]
[[Category:Eurovision songs of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Norway]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Philips Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Eddy Ouwens]]
[[Category:1975 singles]]
[[Category:1975 songs]]
[[Category:2009 singles]]