They emerged in the early 80s with an EP called 'Folk of the 80s', a work released in 1980 that showed the Doroschuk family's interest in the electronic sounds of the progressive rock scene. After picking up some local success, the group erupted onto the international scene a couple of years later with their hit single "The Safety Dance". Parent album 'Rhythm of Youth' did very well, reaching all the way to the #13 slot on the Billboard 200 chart. Touring showed that they had captured their own distinctive audience.
Still, the band faced a tough time living up the expectations put upon them by the success of "The Safety Dance", which had a popular music video and hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up tune "I Like", similar in synthpop spirit, received far less airplay. Their 1984 album 'Folk of the '80s (Part III)' showed the group in flux, the ever shifting 80s music scene seemingly leaving them behind.
Though saddled with the 'one hit wonder' label, Men Without Hats burst back into American and Canadian popular consciousness with their 1987 release 'Pop Goes The World'. The title track reached the #20 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #2 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and, showing a return to form, the group also devised a compelling music video that had considerable interest. The songs themselves showed a mix of lyrical bite and meta-commentary on the nature of fame as well as understated, even children's music inspired instrumentation and vocals.
"Pop Goes The World" ended up being also featured in the 1987 comedy film 'Date with an Angel', and it became the fifteenth biggest selling single in South Africa for 1988, showing the international appeal of the band. Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk alongside Lenny Pinkas made-up the group at that point. The touring band incorporated Bruce Murphy on keyboards and guitar, Marika Tjelios on bass, Richard Sampson on drums, and Heidi Garcia on vocals and keyboards.
Their next album, 'The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century', was released in 1989. Though getting a bit of interest from having featured a cover of ABBA's song "S.O.S.", the commercial failure of the album showed that their audience had significantly dwindled. The musicians on the album were essentially the touring band from 'Pop Goes the World'.
The band lasted as an electronic group as such into the early 90s, but they decided to drastically change their sound for 1991's 'Sideways'. The aptly-tilted album saw them aping contemporary alternative rock. Alienating many fans, the album didn't even relieve an American release. Soon after this deep career setback, the band officially disbanded.
As time went on, the group's iconic international hits "The Safety Dance" and "Pop Goes The World" continued to receive major airplay, leading some to label the group as a 'two hit wonder'. Ivan Doroschuk and keyboardist Bruce Murphy would record several demos in 1993, for a concept album tentatively titled 'UFO's are Real'. Yet it never was released.
After a few more years, Ivan Doroschuk returned to being a solo artist with the album 'The Spell' in 2000. He decided to perform simply as Ivan. In 2003, Men Without Hats partly reformed, and Ivan self-released the album 'No Hats Beyond This Point'.
On September 24, 2010, Ivan Doroschuk reformed Men Without Hats as a full group, with three hired backup musicians, and his band appeared at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia. Performing ten songs from the Men Without Hats back catalog, the Ivan-fronted band (described by the Austin American-Statesman as "simply singer Ivan Doroschuk and some hired guns" and by Stefan as a "tribute band") began the "Dance If You Want Tour 2011" with a well attended and positively received performance at Austin's South by Southwest event in March 2011. At the North by Northeast festival in Toronto on June 18, Ivan announced that Men Without Hats would be releasing a new studio album and that it tentatively would be entitled 'Folk of the 80s: Part IV'.
On June 19, 2011, the group played at the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Stefan Doroschuk, though rumored to be returning to his brother's group, announced his intention to continue working separately. On March 6, 2012, Ivan Doroschuk's band announced via Facebook that their upcoming album would be called 'Love in the Age of War'.
On 22 April 2012, Men Without Hats released the new single "Head Above Water" from the aformentioned album. Their line-up at that time was Ivan Doroschuk, Lou Dawson, James Love and Rachel Ashmore. 'Love in the Age of War' finally came out on May 22, 2012 in Canada and on June 5, 2012 in the U.S. Their seventh album, it was also the group's first full studio release after a nine-year hiatus.
The band's 2013 tour found them traveling to San Diego, California as well as Mexico City. Going into 2014, the group is still going strong. See: http://safetydance.com/
Pop Goes the World
Men Without Hats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Men Without Hats
Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass.
Name of the band is The Human Race.
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop goes the world.
Jenny played keyboard, Johnny played drums,
Called Little Baby and a big Bonhomme
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes The World.
It goes something like this: (p p p pop)
Johnny and Jenny had a crazy dream,
See their pictures in a magazine.
Every little boy needs a girl.
Pop Goes The World.
Jenny and Johnny getting smart (it seems)
Made more money on a movie screen.
Every little nest needs a bird.
Pop Goes The World.
One two three and four is five,
Everybody here is a friend of mine.
Whatever happened to the Duke of Earl?
Pop Goes The World.
Six seven eight and nine is ten,
Send Al Gunn to see the doctor (Ben)
Say what planet are we on? The third!
Pop Goes The World.
And Every time I wonder where the world went wrong,
End up lying on my face going ringy dingy ding dong
And every time I wonder if the world is right,
End up in some disco dancing all night & day.
Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass,
Name of the band is The Human Race.
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes The World.
Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass,
Ain't nobody couldn't take their place.
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes The World...
The song "Pop Goes The World" by Men Without Hats is an energetic and upbeat tribute to the power and influence of pop music. The song begins by introducing the characters of Johnny and Jenny, who play guitar and bass, respectively, and are part of a band called The Human Race. The chorus exclaims "Pop goes the world," suggesting that pop music has the ability to unite people and create a sense of collective joy and excitement.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift to focus on Johnny and Jenny's dreams of fame and success. They envision themselves appearing in a magazine and making money from a movie deal, emphasizing the role of pop culture in shaping our aspirations and desires. The song also references the classic doo-wop hit "Duke of Earl," implying that pop music has a timeless quality that can transcend generations.
The final verse takes a more reflective tone, with the singer contemplating the state of the world and our place in it. However, even in the face of uncertainty, the song insists that "Pop Goes The World," reiterating the power of music to bring us together and create a sense of shared experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass.
The band consists of Johnny playing guitar and Jenny playing bass.
Name of the band is The Human Race.
The name of the band is The Human Race.
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop goes the world.
The song they are playing is called Pop Goes The World and the singer wants to know if everyone has heard it.
Jenny played keyboard, Johnny played drums,
Jenny now plays keyboard and Johnny plays drums.
Called Little Baby and a big Bonhomme
The band is called Little Baby and the lead singer is a big Bonhomme.
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes The World.
The song they are playing is called Pop Goes The World and the singer wants to know if everyone has heard it.
It goes something like this: (p p p pop)
The chorus goes like this: (p p p pop).
Johnny and Jenny had a crazy dream,
Johnny and Jenny had a wild dream.
See their pictures in a magazine.
They saw their own pictures in a magazine.
Every little boy needs a girl.
Every guy needs a girl in their life.
Pop Goes The World.
The song they are playing is called Pop Goes The World.
Jenny and Johnny getting smart (it seems)
Jenny and Johnny became clever.
Made more money on a movie screen.
They made more money by appearing on a movie screen.
Every little nest needs a bird.
Every home needs a pet.
Pop Goes The World.
The song they are playing is called Pop Goes The World.
One two three and four is five,
The singer is counting and 1+2+3+4=5.
Everybody here is a friend of mine.
Everyone present is a friend of the singer.
Whatever happened to the Duke of Earl?
The singer is wondering what happened to the Duke of Earl.
Pop Goes The World.
The song they are playing is called Pop Goes The World.
Six seven eight and nine is ten,
The singer is counting and 6+7+8+9=10.
Send Al Gunn to see the doctor (Ben)
Al Gunn needs to go see Dr. Ben.
Say what planet are we on? The third!
The singer is asking what planet they are on, and the answer is the third planet from the sun.
Pop Goes The World.
The song they are playing is called Pop Goes The World.
And Every time I wonder where the world went wrong,
The singer is saying that whenever he wonders where the world went wrong.
End up lying on my face going ringy dingy ding dong
He ends up falling down and making funny noises.
And every time I wonder if the world is right,
The singer is saying that whenever he wonders if the world is right.
End up in some disco dancing all night & day.
He ends up in a disco and dances all night and day.
Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass,
The band consists of Johnny playing guitar and Jenny playing bass.
Ain't nobody couldn't take their place.
Nobody else can play Johnny's guitar or Jenny's bass like they do.
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes The World...
The song they are playing is called Pop Goes The World and the singer wants to know if everyone has heard it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IVAN DOROSCHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jhonnytrujillo9271
Oh!
Vamos Nippon!
Nippon Nippon!
Vamos Nippon!
Oi! Oi!
Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi!
Oh!
Vamos Nippon!
Nippon Nippon!
Vamos Nippon!
Oi! Oi!
Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi!
🇯🇵🏟️⚽🥅🏆⭐
Greetings from Mexico, Mi Amigo, Really I love your country. 😀💖
@Eddy.Vektroid
Gracias a Men without hats por darle a las tribunas de cada estadio el mejor tema que pueda existir, el tema más universal de las gradas y el que con más pasión se canta en cada estadio
@michelleprie2854
This fantastic 80's classic still warms my heart and makes me smile. Does someone feel the same way too?!? 🎶🌞🎶
@blondegringo
Waves from Texas and yes!!!!!!
@michelleprie2854
@Jack Morris waves from Austria/Europe. Thanks a lot, dear Jack... 🌞🌈🌞
@blondegringo
I love that song, is about family and friends....
@blondegringo
I see you know Victor Hugo, his daughter went crazy over a sad love affair
@blondegringo
@my melody https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad%C3%A8le_Hugo
@visualonestudio
I was a young wannabe filmmaker on my first attempt at directing a movie. It was the second day, going terribly, I have been up for two days straight and we just ended at 2am. Exasperated, I went to my car to relax before breaking down. This song came on, never heard it ever before, and it made my stress melt and filled me with such Joy. I sat there in pure euphoria. 17 years later it still brings me back to that wonderful moment.
@sweetspleen795
I know this song is magical😊
@matthewulmen6972
Wonderful to hear it. This happy tune always, every time, makes me smile!