Scatman John: C/D?

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Inspired by the other Europop thread and the fact that I heard (and danced to) "Scatman" last friday in a nightclub. In my opinion, he was the most sympathetic of all the Europop acts, I was immensely sad when I heard he had died. Still, I always kinda wondered about the story behind him: who was the one who originally thought a 50-year old mustachioed jazz pianist/scatter from the US would make a perfect star for the European dance floors?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 25 July 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

The Scatman's dead? Woe-bub-bub-bub-bub-oe.

― Wooden, Sunday, 25 July 2004 22:24 (twenty-one years ago)

He died like in '97 or something.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 25 July 2004 22:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Absolute classic.

― de, Sunday, 25 July 2004 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

oh he is classic. those who read my blog will know why i say that. those who don't don't need to know.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I know for a fact that Scatman John's old label had plans to remix and rerelease a bunch of the old singles last year, but could not get the major label distribution they were looking for.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps this is cuz I'm american and i heard him in the context of other weird dance acts, but what does everyone think of "Tarzan Boy."

― djdee2005, Monday, 26 July 2004 01:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Classic. My feelings for him are almost perfectly expressed by Fry's brilliant Futurama quote when he gears up to save the world by playing Space Invaders:

"All right… It's Saturday night. I have no date, a two liter bottle of Shasta and my all-Rush mix tape. Let's rock!""

Substitute Scatman John where appropriate (which is anywhere).

― Slim Pickens, Monday, 26 July 2004 02:04 (twenty-one years ago)

"i'm the scatman" the song is classic, if for no other reason than it brings back fond memories of my european summer abroad in 1995 (when that song was inescapable ANYWHERE on the continent). (the same can be said for the rednex's "cotton-eyed joe," fwiw.) of course, no-one knew who the fuck scatman john or the "i'm the scatman" song were when i returned to the states. i'd also like to think that my listening to it was a beginning of sorts of my growing disillusionment w/ american indie.

i'd be interested in reading the back-story of this guy, too. i'm sure that it's interesting.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 26 July 2004 03:52 (twenty-one years ago)

classic

― lukey (Lukey G), Monday, 26 July 2004 07:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I loved the song a lot, but not the video edit, it was flat. The actual radio remix with the bouncier house-y feel was the shit, though.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 26 July 2004 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Had he lost it by the time of 'Scatman's World', though?

― Jason J, Monday, 26 July 2004 08:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Terrible, tho i suppose there is something quite endearing about someone like that having a big hit in the Europopdance vein, esp. the overall message "if the Scatman can do it, so can you"

Lying bastard (RIP)

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Monday, 26 July 2004 08:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Great! I first heard him on MTV Europe on a trip to France and was blown away. He was telling the interviewer that he'd always had a terrible stutter, but he found that this helped him sing, rap and scat with ease.

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 26 July 2004 10:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Plus, I bet you can't do that beginning of "I'm a Scatman" where he goes: "SKABOODIDDLYDABOLLYDABOLLYDABOLYDABOLLYDOWNDIDDYDODOH".

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 26 July 2004 10:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm no fan of obvious rejoinders but it does beg the question: what's Gareth Gates' fucking excuse?

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 26 July 2004 10:48 (twenty-one years ago)

the old skool....lol coz' he's a scatman..na na na na

― aaron attacker, Tuesday, 27 July 2004 14:00 (twenty-one years ago)

five years pass...

okay 00:47 or so through this is one of the greatest things i've ever seen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VaJVDHRpvA&feature=related

god bless youtube

― Jamie_ATP, Friday, 15 January 2010 23:31 (sixteen years ago)