{{short description|1970 single by Lally Stott}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox song | name = Chirpy Chirpy, Cheep Cheep | cover = Lally Stott single cover Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Lally Stott | album = Chirpy Chirpy, Cheep Cheep | B-side = Henry James | released = September 1970 | recorded = 1970 | studio = | venue = | genre = Bubblegum music | length = 2:53 | label = Philips | writer = * Giuseppe Cassia * Harold Stott<ref>{{cite web |title=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep |url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?Main_Search_Text=Chirpy%20Chirpy%2C%20Cheep%20Cheep&Main_Search=Title&Search_Type=all&View_Count=50&Page_Number=0 |website=repertoire.bmi.com |publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc. |access-date=24 May 2024}}</ref> | producer = Lally Stott | prev_title = Signora Jones | prev_year = 1969 | next_title = Jakaranda | next_year = 1971 }} {{Infobox song | name = Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Middle of the Road | album = Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep | B-side = Rainin' 'n Painin' | released = October 1970 | recorded = 1970 | studio = RCA Studios, Rome | venue = | genre = Pop<ref name="Doggett 2015">{{cite book|title= Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music|first=Peter|last=Doggett|date= 1 January 2015|chapter= The Devil's Interval|page= 428|publisher=The Bodley Head|location= London|isbn=978-1-847-92218-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=guSsCAAAQBAJ|access-date= 22 February 2025}}</ref> | length = 2:56 | label = RCA Victor | writer = Lally Stott | producer = * Giacomo Tosti * Italo Greco | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum | next_year = 1971 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Hr02aGuy_wY|"Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep"}} }} }}
{{Infobox song | name = Chirpy Chirpy, Cheep Cheep | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Mac and Katie Kissoon | album = The Beginning | B-side = Walking Around | released = 28 May 1971 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * Bubblegum pop<ref name="AllMusic Rock 1997">{{cite book|last= Unterberger|first= Richie|chapter= Various Artists – ''Bubblegum Classics Vol. 3''|editor-last1= Bogdanov|editor-first1=Vladimir|editor-last2= Erlewine |editor-first2= Michael |editor-last3= Erlewine |editor-first3= Stephen Thomas |editor-last4= Unterberger |editor-first4= Richie |editor-last5= Woodstra |editor-first5= Chris|date= January 1, 1997|title= AllMusic Guide to Rock|publisher= Miller Freeman, Inc.|location= San Francisco|page= 1064}}</ref><ref name= "Bubblegum 2001"/> * soul<ref name= "Bubblegum 2001">{{cite book|first= James|last= Porter|editor1-first= Kim |editor1-last= Cooper|editor2-first= David|editor2-last= Smay|year= 2001|title= Bubblegum Music Is the Naked Truth|chapter= Bell Records|publisher= Feral House|location= Los Angeles|pages= 228–231}}</ref> | length = 2:50 | label = * Young Blood * ABC | writer = Lally Stott | producer = Miki Dallon | prev_title = Acts of Violence | prev_year = 1970 | next_title = Pigeon | next_year = 1971 }} "'''Chirpy Chirpy, Cheep Cheep'''" is a song recorded in 1970 by its composer Lally Stott,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.last.fm/music/Lally+Stott |title=Lally Stott – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at |website=Last.fm |accessdate=2016-10-03}}</ref> and made popular in 1971 by Scottish band Middle of the Road, for whom it was a UK #1 chart hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/artists/m/middle_of_the_road/located/page1.shtml |title=Top of the Pops 2 - Where Are They Now? |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2016-10-03}}</ref> That version is one of fewer than fifty singles to have sold more than ten million physical copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Arts in the 1970s: Cultural Closure|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7eWo7eGPx8AC&q=%22list+of+1970s+best-sellers%22|last=Moore-Gilbert|first=Bart|publisher= Routledge|date=11 March 2002|isbn = 9780415099066}}</ref>
{{Infobox song | name = Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Soul Control | album = ''Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep - EP'' | released = 28 July 2006 | recorded = 2006 | studio = | venue = | genre = Pop | length = | label = *Maxhybrid *Na klar! *Universal Records | writer = Lally Stott (credited as Harold Stott) <br> Giuseppe Cassia | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|9X9tUXSZR_4|"Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep"}} }} }}
Soul Control released a version of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" on 28 July 2006 as part of the EP ''Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep - EP''. The song is a cover of the original composition by Lally Stott (credited as Harold Stott), with additional songwriting credits to Giuseppe Cassia for this version.
==History== The original recording of the song by Lally Stott was first released in September 1970 in Italy, where he had been living for several years. It was a hit, entering the Top 20 at the beginning of October. The record company, Philips, was reluctant to release it overseas, and offered it to two other groups: Scottish folk-pop group Middle of the Road, who were working in Italy at the time, and the Trinidadian brother-and-sister duo Mac and Katie Kissoon. Philips eventually released Stott's version elsewhere and it topped the charts in Australia and Rhodesia, as well as hitting the Top Ten in South Africa. It was not a hit in the US, though it peaked at number 92 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, something that Middle of the Road never achieved.<ref name=":0" />
Middle of the Road released their version in October 1970 in Italy, though it failed to chart there.<ref>{{Citation|title=Middle Of The Road – Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep / Rainin' 'N Painin (1970, Vinyl)|date=October 1970 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5879231-Middle-Of-The-Road-Chirpy-Chirpy-Cheep-Cheep-Rainin-N-Painin|language=en|access-date=2021-11-17}}</ref> It was released in the UK on 15 January 1971 and initially became a hit in continental Europe only, before later growing in popularity in the UK. It entered the UK Singles Chart in the final week of May and reportedly got a boost from DJ Tony Blackburn, who favoured this version over the one by Mac and Katie Kissoon (which had recently been released), and topped the charts three weeks later for five weeks.<ref name=ukmotr/> Mac and Katie Kissoon's version, released in May 1971, had the most success in North America, peaking at number 20 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 10 on the Canadian ''RPM'' chart.
At the time, the song was dismissed by critics{{who|date=December 2014}} as bubblegum, a view initially held by band leader Ken Andrew: "We were as disgusted with the thought of recording it as most people were at the thought of buying it. But at the end of the day, we liked it."{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}
In 2006 "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" topped a list of unintentionally creepy songs in ''The Observer''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/oct/15/6|title = This is hardcore|website = TheGuardian.com|date = 15 October 2006}}</ref> Despite its popular appeal and popular chorus, the song has a theme of child abandonment.
==Appearances== The song was featured on the ''Top of the Pops, Volume 18'' album and was also covered on Jackie Lee's second album ''Jackie's Junior Choice''
==In popular culture== The song was sampled in the Denim song "Middle of the Road" on their 1992 album, ''Back in Denim''.
It was referenced by Brian 'Brain damage' Balowski (played by Alexei Sayle) in The Young Ones episode 'Sick'.
In a sketch in ''Victoria Wood As Seen on TV'', a character telling her Forbes that her husband has been having an affair says that it must have been going on for a long time as ‘their tune was Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’.
The song's title has sometimes been parodied: * "Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep", a 1998 episode of the sitcom ''Father Ted''. * "Slurpy Slurpy Sleep Sleep", a song on Scottish band Biffy Clyro's 2022 album, ''The Myth of the Happily Ever After''.
Included on the soundtrack in ''The Guard'' (2011) performed by Middle of the Road.
The character Frank Gallagher references the Middle of the Road version in an episode of the UK TV series, ''Shameless''
Included on the soundtrack of the Shudder exclusive film, "The Power" (2021), which takes place in 1974 London.
Included in the "party scene" of the 1971 Israeli comedy film "Katz and Carrasso" directed by Menahem Golan<ref>{{Citation |last=Golan |first=Menahem |title=Katz V'Carasso |type=Comedy, Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142428/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |others=Yehuda Barkan, Gadi Yagil, Shmuel Rodensky |publisher=Israel Motion Picture Studios, Noah Films}}</ref>
==Charts== ===Lally Stott version=== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
'''Weekly charts''' {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !Chart (1970–71) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=296}}</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|Italy (''Discografia Internazionale'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1970/Billboard%201970-10-17.pdf|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|page=66|date=17 October 1970|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |11 |- !scope="row"|Italy (''Musica e dischi'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=M&D: Classifiche |url=https://musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=musicaedischi.it}}</ref> |11 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|8|artist=Lally Stott|song=Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep, Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|15|artist=Lally Stott|song=Chirpy Chirpy, Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|New Zealand (Listener) <ref>https://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1383#n_view_location search Listener</ref> |9 |- !scope="row"|Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)<ref>Kimberley, C. ''Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book''. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok)<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(S).html|website=Rock.co.za|date=2 April 1971|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> |9 |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1993|publisher=Record Research|year=1994|isbn=9780898201048|pages=577}}</ref> |92 |} {{col-2}}
'''Year-end charts''' {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !Chart (1970) !Position |- !scope="row"|Italy<ref>{{Cite web|title=I singoli più venduti del 1970|url=https://www.hitparadeitalia.it/hp_yends/hpe1970.htm|access-date=2021-11-16|website=hitparadeitalia.it}}</ref> |58 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !Chart (1971) !Position |- !scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=kmr1971>{{Cite web|title=AMR Top Singles of 1971|url=https://www.top100singles.net/2011/08/amr-top-singles-of-1971.html#show|access-date=2021-11-16|website=Top100singles.net}}</ref> |21 |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref name=dutch401971>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1971|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1971|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |83 |} {{col-end}}
===Middle of the Road version=== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
'''Weekly charts''' {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !Chart (1971) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-SQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT83|date=15 June 1985|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=83}}</ref> |2 |- {{single chart|Austria|2|artist=Middle of the Road|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=Middle of the Road|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Wallonia|1|artist=Middle of the Road|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1971/BB-1971-05-22.pdf|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|page=52|date=22 May 1971|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Timo|date=13 August 2015|title=Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit MEN - MIK|url=http://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.com/2015/08/men-mik.html|access-date=2021-11-16|website=Sisältää hitin}}</ref> |3 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|1|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Israel (Galei Tzahal) |1 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|2|artist=Middle of the Road|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Middle of the Road|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Malaysia (Rediffusion)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1971/Billboard%201971-11-06.pdf|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|page=61|date=6 November 1971|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |2 |- !scope="row"|Mexico (Radio Mil)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1971/Billboard%201971-06-12.pdf|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|page=49|date=12 June 1971|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |3 |- !scope="row"|New Zealand (''Listener'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=flavour of new zealand - search listener|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1263#n_view_location|access-date=2021-11-16|website=Flavourofnz.co.nz|archive-date=4 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204143157/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1263#n_view_location|url-status=dead}}</ref> |8 |- {{single chart|Norway|1|artist=Middle of the Road|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Singapore (Rediffusion)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1971/Billboard%201971-09-18.pdf|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|page=59|date=18 September 1971|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |2 |- !scope="row"|Spain (Promusicae)<ref name=Spain>{{cite book|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|date=September 1971|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|isbn=84-8048-639-2|edition=1st|location=Spain}}</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|Sweden (Kvällstoppen)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nostalgilistan.se/kvallstoppen/19710504|title=Låtarna från Kvällstoppen 4 maj 1971|website=NostalgiListan.se|access-date=28 May 2022}}</ref> ||1 |- {{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Middle of the Road|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|1|artist=Middle of the Road|artistid=14329|rowheader=true|refname=ukmotr}} |- {{single chart|West Germany|2|artist=Middle of the Road|song=Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep|songid=192|year=1971|rowheader=true}} |} {{col-2}}
'''Year-end charts''' {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !Chart (1971) !Position |- !scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=kmr1971/> |28 |- !scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1971|title=Jaaroverzichten 1971|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |9 |- !scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-04-13|title=danskehitlister.dk|url=http://danskehitlister.dk/?hitlist_id=10&y=1971&hitlist_item_id=910|access-date=2021-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413132847/http://danskehitlister.dk/?hitlist_id=10&y=1971&hitlist_item_id=910|archive-date=13 April 2016}}</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref name=dutch401971/> |29 |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1971&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten - Single 1971|website=Dutchcharts.nl|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |30 |- !scope="row"|Spain (Promusicae)<ref name=Spain/> |5 |- !scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|title=Swiss Year-End Charts 1971|website=Swisscharts.com|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1971|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC) |3 |- !scope="row"|West Germany (Official German Charts)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1971|title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts|language=de |work=GfK Entertainment |publisher=offiziellecharts.de |access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |2 |}
===Sales=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Sales for ''Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep'' |- ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Sales |- ! scope="row"| Belgium | 178,000<ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1974/Music-Week-1974-09-14.pdf|publisher=Music Week|title=Belgium Backs Bubble Gum Music|page=36|date=14 September 1974|accessdate=2 January 2024}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Germany | 1,000,000<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2igEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19|magazine=Billboard|title=From The Music Capitals of The World - Hamburg|page=56|date=18 September 1971|accessdate=2 January 2024}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United Kingdom | 500,000<ref name="sales">{{cite book|title=Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory|url=https://openlibrary.org/works/OL120558W/Million_selling_records_from_the_1900s_to_the_1980s|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1985 |publisher=Arco Pub.|quote=In Britain it was a slow starter, but by June began to swiftly rise on the charts. By mid-August British sales were over 500,000, German over a million, Belgian 175,000 and other European sales made a total of over four million. The song became a hit in no fewer than 20 countries, the final tally being an estimated 10 million sales.|isbn=0668064595|page=330}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Europe | 4,000,000<ref name="sales"/> |- ! scope="row"| Worldwide | 10,000,000<ref name="sales"/> |- |} {{col-end}}
===Mac and Katie Kissoon version=== '''Weekly charts''' {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !Chart (1971) !Peak<br/>position |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|10|chartid=7585|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|11|chartid=7531|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|41|artist=Mac & Katie Kissoon|artistid=14338|rowheader=true|refname=ukmkk}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|20|artist=Mac and Katie Kissoon|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|10|artist=Mac and Katie Kissoon|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19711019.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 19, 1971|website=Cashboxmagazine.com|access-date=28 May 2022}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |18 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
Category:British novelty songs Category:1970 singles Category:1971 singles Category:UK singles chart number-one singles Category:Number-one singles in Australia Category:Number-one singles in Norway Category:Number-one singles in Spain Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland Category:Number-one singles in Zimbabwe Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Category:Middle of the Road (band) Category:Schlager songs Category:1970 songs Category:RCA Victor singles Category:Songs written by Lally Stott