Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe

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"Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe"
Whale-Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe.jpg
Single by Whale
from the album We Care
B-side
  • "Lips"
  • "Eye 842"
Released1993
Genre
Length
  • 3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)Whale
Producer(s)Whale
Whale singles chronology
"Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe"
(1993) 		"Pay for Me"
(1995)
Music video
"Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" on YouTube

"Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" is a 1993 song recorded by Swedish alternative rock band Whale, released as their debut single from the album, We Care. It achieved success in Europe, peaking within the Top 10 in both Denmark and Norway, and the Top 20 in Belgium, the Netherlands, Scotland and the UK, where it peaked at number 15. In the US, the single charted on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, peaking at number 24. The music video was played frequently on MTV.

Critical reception[]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Enigmatic trio from Stockholm, Sweden, comes on like a frantic hybrid of Björk, the Beastie Boys, and Onyx on this concoction of wailing guitars, live hip-hop beats, male gang chants, and jiggly female warbling. A truly left-of-center, wildly contagious gem that demands instant attention from college and alternative formats. Once popsters take a moment to get used to it, they'll find it a more than worthy playlist addition."[1] Dave Sholin from Gavin Report stated that "their video, like the song, is totally fresh".[2] Ross Jones from The Guardian deemed it a "fantastic debut single", noting its "loud, heavily distorted guitars, synth-bass, and cooing girlie vocals".[3] Music & Media commented, "Forget about "Jaws" and save the whale! An anarchic school of fish is swimming in an ocean of super heavy funk. Confidently in the middle is a weird hightone female singer with the impact of a spoilt brat."[4] British magazine Music Week rated it five out of five, calling it a "quirky, sleezy debut". They added that "it's ace, and the extra mixes are a bonus."[5]

Leo Finley from the magazine wrote that it "was about a woman who sleeps with tramps for a laugh. It was one of the best singles of the year, crossing the groove of Dee-lite with the power of the Beastie Boys at their best".[6] James Hunter from Rolling Stone said, "That single, a roar of uprooted funk and hoarse cheerleading, had people all over the world wondering just who the hell Whale were – perhaps a band that sounded like it should have its own jersey? What they are is three Swedish kids who confuse the rah-rah boisterousness of European sports events with the sonic and sexual abandon of American rock & roll."[7] Sacha Jenkins from Vibe wrote that "it was bright with obtuse lyrics, poppy symphonics, and a third-grade-ish shout-along chorus. Needless to say, "Hobo" and the trio soon crept into my subconscious's subconscious."[8]

Music video[]

A music video was made to accompany the song, directed by American film director, writer, and producer Mark Pellington. Leo Finley from British magazine Music Week commented on the video, "They were the Swedish outfit with the shapely female lead singer baring her teeth braces to the world while the boys behind her showed off their Y-fronts."[9] Sacha Jenkins from Vibe wrote, "I can remember a time, about a year ago, when my local request-a-video station was blazing–over and over again–with the mindlessly juvenily escapades of this naive looking, lusty, churning chanteuse, and these two dudes who jumped up and down around her like they were playing some frantic game of one-on-one, with the girl's head serving as rim and back-board."[10] It was played frequently on MTV and was also awarded the first MTV Europe Music Award for "Best Video" in 1994.

Track listing[]

  • 7" single, UK (1994)
  1. "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" — 4:00
  2. "Lips" — 5:01
  • CD single, Europe (1993)
  1. "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" — 3:59
  2. "Lips" — 5:01
  3. "Eye 842" — 4:25
  • CD single, France & Benelux (1993)
  1. "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" — 4:00
  2. "Lips" — 5:01
  • CD single, UK (1995)
  1. "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" (Doggy Style) — 4:36
  2. "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" (Sniffin' Plankton Mix) — 6:45
  3. "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" (Skorpio Mix) — 5:10

Charts[]

Chart (1993–95) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 66
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 17
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[15] 17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 22
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 15
US Billboard Hot 100 102
US Alternative Songs (Billboard) 24

References[]

  1. ^ Flick, Larry (16 April 1994). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 63. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  2. ^ Sholin, Dave (13 May 1994). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 54. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  3. ^ Jones, Ross (11 November 1995). "Reviews: Singles". p. 33. The Guardian.
  4. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 February 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 4 November 1995. p. 32. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  6. ^ Finley, Leo (22 April 1995). "Whale – Hut Has High Hopes" (PDF). Music Week. p. 17. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  7. ^ Hunter, James (19 October 1995). "Whale". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  8. ^ Jenkins, Sacha (September 1995). "Whale: We Care". Vibe. 3 (7): 174.
  9. ^ Finley, Leo (22 April 1995). "Whale – Hut Has High Hopes" (PDF). Music Week. p. 17. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  10. ^ Jenkins, Sacha (September 1995). "Whale: We Care". Vibe. 3 (7): 174.
  11. ^ "Ultratop.be – Whale – Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 March 1994. p. 20. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whale" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Whale – Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 19 November 1995 – 25 November 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Whale – Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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