And then there’s
Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto, which hit #1 in the US in June, 1963.
Discussion at this site.
That’s real talent, to be able to sing so well and convincingly, that you have a number one hit in a country in which only a tiny percentage of the population could understand the lyrics.
[Hijack] Are there any other US Top 40 songs that were completely in a foreign language? By that, I mean absolutely no English. Hmm. [/Hijack]
“Volare” comes to mind.
Eres Tu by Mocedades. Top Ten in 1974. Totally in Spanish.
An English version was recorded entitled “Touch The Wind,” which, of course, had nothing to do with the beautiful Spanish lyrics of the original. Here’s the lyrics with the English translation.
Autobahn by Kraftwerk. Totally in German.
“…jetzt schalten wir das radio an, aus dem lautsprecher klingt es dann
Wir fahr’n fahr’n fahr’n auf der Autobahn…”
Fastest Milkman in the West, I believe. I know it because it was the #1 song in the UK the day I was born. Sigh.
The #1 song in the US then was “Brand New Key” by Melanie Safka. General weirdness on both sides of the pond.
Both Nena’s “99 Luftballons” and Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus” spring to mind. Both were in German except the title in Falco’s and <maybe> the words “Captain Kirk” in Nena’s.
Does Kung-Fu Fighting qualify. If so, I would consider this the Weirdest song to hit the Top 40.
What is weirder is it hit #1 (Billboard Hot 100) & #1 (UK Singles Chart)
Jim
Lyricist Tim Rice has a few top 40 gems:
Jesus Christ Superstar
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
One Night in Bangkok
I am on record for loving terrible '70s songs and am just appalled at the lack of love for Kung Fu Fighting. It was Kung Fu! And fighting!
[aside]I was a 10-year-old kid when this song came out, presumably due to the popularity of the TV show Kung Fu (and similar movies). We kids were so unfamiliar with kung-fu, we thought that was David Carradine’s name! :eek: [/aside]
I’ve never listened closely to the lyrics of Brown Sugar and vaguely thought it was some sort of homage to hot black girls. Guess I was WRONG. 
Gah.
How about Dah Dah Dah by Trio?
Or #1 Song In Heaven by Sparks.
What about Zombie by the Cranberries?
A #1 hit that was both weird AND in a foreign language: “Dominique,” by Soeur Sourire (literally “Sister Smile,” but widely known in the USA as “The Singing Nun”)…
A musical biography of St. Dominic, sung in French.
It’s the time of the season for braaaaaains.
The best thing about zombie threads, is having no recollection of the thread or what your 7-years-ago self had to say about it.
The best part of reading an old zombie thread is getting to a post that you particularly agree with, and then realizing you wrote it!
I’ve learned to carefully read the whole zombie post so I don’t post the same damn thing twice.
Did I get to be the first to mention ‘Hocus Pocus’? I did? Good.
I, personally, find it mind-boggling that in the year 2013, the #2 spot on the Billboard charts is currently occupied by a disco track composed by two French robots who haven’t had a hit since the '90s.
I’d nominate Tiny Tim’s Tiptoe through the Tulips, everyting about it and Tim was weird.
I don’t know about a rumor, but “Ooga Ooga Chukka” was given as the alternate title on the vinyl single–I have a copy. And “Ooga Ooga Chukka” was also printed as a “back-up” lyric on the piano roll at a Shakey’s in Gardena, years ago. I think it sounded like the guys were playing choo-choo train! 