"Old Pop in an Oak" is a song recorded by the Swedish band Rednex. It was released in 1994 as the second single from their debut album, Sex & Violins. The song reached number-one in many countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.
British newspaper Lennox Herald wrote that "Old Pop in an Oak" is a "similar sounding song" to their previous single, "Cotton Eye Joe".[1] A reviewer from Manila Standard described it as "techno-pop fun".[2]Music & Media viewed it as a "C&W/dance mixture".[3]Music Week noted that "Rednex regurgitate Cotton Eye Joe – give or take the odd twang – and set out to prove that successfully following up a novelty number one isn't impossible."[4]James Hamilton from the magazine's RM Dance Update declared it as a "speak of the devil, another thumbs in braces, boot stompin', high steppin' moonshine swiggin' gingham swirling Swedish disco hoedown much too much like their last one".[5] Also Chuck Campbell from Scripps Howard News Service deemed the song as a "very similar re-take" on the band's first hit.[6]
Chart performance[]
"Pop in an Oak" was very successful on the charts in Europe, remaining one of the group's biggest hits to date. It peaked at number-one in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Additionally, the single made it to the Top 10 also in Belgium, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Scotland and Switzerland, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number two. In the United Kingdom, "Old Pop in an Oak" went to number 12 in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on March 19, 1995.[7] In France, it was a Top 50 hit. Outside Europe, the single peaked at number seven in New Zealand, number 17 on the RPM Dance/Urban chart and number 53 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada, and number 70 in Australia. It earned a gold record in Switzerland and a platinum record in Austria, Germany and Norway.
Music video[]
The music video for "Old Pop in an Oak" was directed by Swedish director Stefan Berg, who also directed the music video for "Cotton Eye Joe". The video was uploaded to YouTube in August 2013. In August 2020, it has got more than 6,8 million views.[8]
Track listing[]
CD maxi
"Old Pop in an Oak" (Original Radio Edit) – 3:30
"Old Pop in an Oak" (Doug's Klub Mix) – 5:25
"Old Pop in an Oak" (Original Extended Mix) – 5:38
"Old Pop in an Oak" (Doug's Phantom Dub Mix) – 3:50
"Old Pop in an Oak" (Original Instrumental) – 3:20