Hello Mr. Monkey

"Hello Mr. Monkey" is the debut single by German all-girl trio, Arabesque. Initially released only in Germany in 1977, it was released worldwide the following year in 1978.

"Hello Mr. Monkey"
Single by Arabesque
from the album Friday Night
B-side	"Buggy Boy"
Released	25 October 1977
Genre	Pop, Europop, disco[1]
Length	3:27
Label	EMI (Germany) Victor (Japan) Papillon Records (Netherlands) [2]
Songwriter(s)	Ben Juris Benny Lux
Producer(s)	Wolfgang Mewes
Arabesque singles chronology
"Hello Mr. Monkey" (1977) "Friday Night" (1978)

Track listing

1. A. "Hello Mr. Monkey" - 3:27
2. B. "Buggy Boy" - 2:55 ^[3]

Background

Written in 1977 shortly before the Arabesque lineup was finalized, "Hello Mr. Monkey" was the debut single of the West German group. The song is about a performer "Mr. Monkey" who was once famous, but has now lost his fame and "should've been a clown".^[4][5] It features Mary Ann Nagel on lead vocals, with Karen Ann Tepperis and Michaela Rose as backup singers.^[6] The song was a huge hit in Asia, particularly Japan and South Korea, spending weeks at number one.^[7][8] However, it failed to chart in Germany and other European countries.^[9] Arabesque gave their first ever public appearance on October 16, 1977, performing the song on the German Pop '77 program on ARD.^[10]

Samples and covers

• Pink Lady performed the song for their 1978 live album '78 Jumping Summer Carnival. It was released as the B-side of their 1979 single "Pink Typhoon (In the Navy)".
• Denki Groove sampled the song for "Hello! Mr. Monkey Magic Orchestra", the final track from the 2000 album Voxxx.