JOE DOLCE - SHADDAP YOU FACE

Released: 1980

Charted:  UK: #1 (3 weeks)   US: #53 

"Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce Music Theatre is a humorous novelty song released in late 1980, capturing the antics of a rebellious Italian boy. The song quickly gained popularity, setting sales and longevity records upon its release under Mike Brady's Full Moon Records label.

"Shaddap You Face" playfully lampoons Italian Americans, featuring thick accents and exaggerated gestures. Joe Dolce, born in Ohio to Italian-American parents, penned the song in the late '70s during a train journey from Ohio to California, where he wrote poetry, including the humorous "Shaddap You Face." After moving to Australia in 1979, Dolce formed the Joe Dolce Music Theater and adopted the persona of Giuseppe to perform the song. Drawing from childhood memories of familial kitchen banter in broken English, Dolce incorporated audience participation into the song, with crowds shouting "Hey!" after each line during early performances.

Despite initial criticism from BBC Radio 2 DJ Terry Wogan, who famously dubbed it the worst thing he'd ever heard, "Shaddap You Face" became a sensation. Wogan's disparaging remark inadvertently fueled publicity for the song, prompting CBS to fly Dolce to the UK for three TV appearances. The track swiftly climbed charts worldwide, reaching the top spot in over 15 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. In the UK, it dethroned Ultravox's "Vienna" to claim the #1 position. With global sales exceeding 6 million copies and over 35 foreign-language cover versions, "Shaddap You Face" remains the most successful Australian-produced single in the nation's music history.

In the United States, "Shaddap You Face" reached modest chart positions, peaking at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 43 on the Cash Box Top 100, and number 24 on Record World in 1981. Despite its moderate commercial success, the song gained significant exposure on the Dr. Demento show, where it became a favorite and ranked number six on the year-end Funny 25 chart. In the Canadian province of Quebec, "Shaddap You Face" enjoyed remarkable popularity, spending twelve weeks at number one on the charts.