This one is "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy," originally performed by Manfred Mann, named afterv the keyboardist for this five-person Brit band back in the mid-1960's:
The Dolly Dots, a Dutch girl pop group, did a cover of this same song back in 1982. They danced so well too:
And the song was featured as a marching song in the movie "Stripes," led by Bill Murray and Harold Ramis:
It would take a patient drill sergeant to put up with that!
I haven't been able to find the Exciters' version, but these three are good versions of the same song in entirely different formats. Okay, please listen to each, and cast your vote as to which version is the best:
1. The Manfred Mann version ______
2. The Dolly Dots version ______
3. The "Stripes" version ______
Also, visit other Battle of the Band sites, enjoy the music, and cast your votes. I can assure you that this is less painful than voting in your recent primary.
17 comments:
I like the "Stripes" version best. The Dolly Dots are so cheerful too.
Manfred Mann.
Did not know that the Exciters did the original version. I don't remember them at all. That said, here they are... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn6ho_R4soA .
I couldn't watch the Dolly Dots. Digital rights management wouldn't let me. So here's a mirror if other people had the same problem... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcRppENc0j4 .
All that said I'm voting for Manfred Mann.
Like the person above, I had problems with the Dolly Dots version. It didn't work and I found the same link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcRppENc0j4
So eventually I was able to watch all three versions.
The Dolly Dots were entertaining, but it's hard to compete against a version I'm most familiar with. Had they been up against only the film version, I may have picked them.
Please give my vote to the Manfred Mann version.
How could there be a better version than Manfred Mann's? Pffft, the idea is ridiculous!
The original Manfred Mann version is best and the definitive one. The Dolly Dots are a cute bunch of chunky girls.
Mannfred Mann, please.
MM knocks this out of the park. I didn't really care for TDD. Stripes was entertaining, but it no way did it beat MM (for me).
Doo Wah Diddy is a meme in Rock & Roll that I believe can be found in many classics NOT called that as well!
Put Chris down for MM, Stripes for me.
A no-brainer: Manfred Mann.
Manfred Mann gets my vote, but did you see the episode of Moonlighting where Bruce Willis aka David Addison sings this song to Cybill Shepherd aka Maddie Haze? If not, check it out here https://youtu.be/SyfYvP-bR8k. The singing doesn't begin around 3:41, but it's worth watching the whole clip. I just loved this retro show! Good battle!
I prefer Manfred Mann's version - though to be fair, I could only compare two of them - the Dolly Dots version got blocked due to copyright issues (or so it said when I clicked on the videos).
Kim (ReInVintaged)
One of my all time favorite songs! Manfred Mann gets all of my votes!
Oh, Manfred Mann gets my vote because I love the way they sang it and love the 60's style. If they were not I the running, the guys from Stripes would get it for sure. Those gals Are fun and so great since it hardens back to the variety shows but it felt long to me
POP GOES THE EVIL TART ~
Sorry I'm late. Not TOO late, but late. I thought I voted here yesterday but I thunk rong.
I'm not really a fan of early Manfred Mann. I love some of their later ProgRock stuffs though. Favorite album is 'WATCH' which scored no hits but contains the long version of 'CALIFORNIA', one of the best songs to never make the Top 40. Their album 'THE ROARING SILENCE' with the cover of Springsteen's 'BLINDED BY THE LIGHT' is really good, too. (I did that BOTB, by the way. Springsteen versus Manfred Mann on 'BLINDED...' If I recall correctly, it ended in a tie.)
So, early Manfred Mann? No.
The Dolly Dots, AKA "The Bleached-Out Shirelles"? No.
BILL MURRAY in 'STRIPES'? All the way through the compound and OUT of the Army!
I haven't seen 'STRIPES' in decades and as I was watching that scene you posted I had a thought: Hokey-Smoke! There's a lot of Bill Murray in DAVID ADDISON. And then to my amazement I read Cathy's comment and saw that she'd made that connection, too. 'MOONLIGHTING' is one of my very, very favorite TV shows of all time and I own every single episode on DVD. But I had forgotten that Addison had actually sung 'Do Wah Diddy' on the show.
In about 6 episodes we were presented with David Addison's brother - whom he didn't get along with too well. It's too bad they hadn't hired Bill Murray to play Addison's bro. That would have been downright perfect!
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
Just discovered that you were doing this so had to pop over to check it out. Interesting comparisons.
I loved Manfred Mann's version when it came out. Used to hear it on the radio a lot when I was in junior high school. Never kept up with the group though until they blew me away with "Blinded by the Light".
I vote Manfred Mann.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
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