La La La (The Dancing Song)

"La La La (The Dancing Song)" is a novelty single recorded by Kuboian media personality Tone Riddles, co-written by his then-wife Chloe Wallace and Anthony Fuller of Northern Project. The song was released through Reichetto Music Group in September 1989, though Riddles has written the lyrics two years prior. Despite mixed reviews, the song was a commercial success, peaking at number one on the Karuboia charts and becoming the best-selling single in the country that year.

"La La La (The Dancing Song)" is a popular song associated with the country of Kuboia, and is popular at New Year's and Moon Sunday celebrations. In 2019, the Open Eagle jokingly called it "Kuboia's national anthem".

Background
Whilst working as a nursery assistant in 1987, Riddles made up a song title "The Singalong Song" which he would sing to children when they got upset. He said when discussing the lyrics "I had a short song I would sing to the kids when they were hurt or felt left out. I found singing helped to cheer them up. Because most of the song was just 'la la la la' over and over again, it was easy for them to remember it. Eventually they all knew it and would sing it themselves."

At some point in the spring of 1989, Riddles' then-wife Chloe Wallace suggested signing a contract with Reichetto Music Group so he could release a song for the upcoming Moon celebrations in October. "Chloe knew the folk the ran the label," he said, "and she said that I should release the song I wrote for the children. At the time, I thought it was a brilliant opportunity. In retrospect, I think it was a publicity stunt on her end." Riddles recorded his vocals for the song on 5th September, but thought the track sounded "bare" with only his vocals, so he hired a choir from Espanbute to record background vocals.

After its success in its home country, Riddles' label opted to release "La La La (The Dancing Song)" throughout the rest of the world in 1990. As Riddles' stage name is based off Mr. Riddles, a character he voices in The Incredible World of Riddles, he suggested releasing the song in the United States with his real name, Edward Reizer, as the franchise had not been released in the American market at the time. Ultimately, he and his manager agreed to release the song in the United States under the Tone Riddles name regardless, as his label wanted the song to "stand out" with a "quirky stage name".

Music and lyrics
"La La La (The Dancing Song)" is a novelty song, with a composition featuring a variety of authentic instruments, including a synth keyboard, brass, violin strings and electronic guitar. It is written in the key of C major and has a tempo of 122 beats per minute. Instrumental-wise, it has been compared to "Respectable" by Mel & Kim and the Pet Shop Boys' cover of "Go West" by Village People.

The song's chorus, sang three times, involves Riddles singing the song's notorious "la la la" hook, followed by an interchangeable line in which he cites performing a particular task "all night long", such as midnight dancing, drinking grape biz. The song only has one verse, as the first chorus is preceded by an opening phase of an ambiguous nature where Riddles sings a monologue where he tells listeners to "never forget this time of your life". Meanwhile, the second chorus is followed by a bridge involving Riddles and the background vocalists adlibbing.

Early versions of "La La La (The Dancing Song)" had the song's key changing to C flat major during the final chorus, although this was changed in the final release, where the key does not change.

Critical reception
Upon its release, "La La La (The Dancing Song)" polarised music critics. The Open Eagle showed scepticism over the idea of Riddles releasing a hit single, though later admitted the song was a guilty plessure. On the other hand, MTV described the song as "something you'd hear at an old folk's disco". A music critic from the BBC was critical over the "repetitive and nonsensical" lyrics but found Riddles' "campy" singing mildly amusing. In 2002, a poll run by Fizzpop ranked "La La La (The Dancing Song)" number five in its "Top Ten Annoying Songs" list.

Kuboian 7" single

 * 1) "La La La (The Dancing Song)" (7" edit)
 * 2) "Sing It with Me Now"

Kuboian 12" single

 * 1) "La La La (The Dancing Song)" (12" ver.)
 * 2) "Sing It with Me Now"
 * 3) "La La La (The Dancing Song)" (7" edit)