# "Whatsa matta for you, hey!" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888 "2003-08-22T09:23:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![capnfutile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@capnfutile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capnfutile)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/1 "2003-08-22T09:23:47Z")
I remember hearing a song, or could have been a schoolyard rhyme - “Whatsa matta for you, hey! It’sa notsa bad, hey!” What’s it from, and am I right in thinking Italian people would find it offensive? Capn ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/2 "2003-08-22T09:30:15Z")
The song was 1981 ‘hit’ “Shaddap You Face” by Joe Dolce, who’s apparently doing quite nicely for himself. “Is there life after Shaddap You Face?” [http://www.buzzle.co.uk/editorials/11-29-2002-31271.asp](http://www.buzzle.co.uk/editorials/11-29-2002-31271.asp) I lived in a predominantly Italian neighborhood, and I don’t recall anyone saying it was offensive, but then, I was only 8 at the time. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/3 "2003-08-22T09:30:56Z")
Those are roughly the words of this ghastly song in the 1970s by Joe Dolce (think he wasn an Italian Aussie) called “[Shaddap you face](http://www.starnet.com.au/dwomen/lyrics.html)”. It got to number 1 in the UK and kept Ultravox’s brilliant _Vienna_ off the top spot. What’sa matta you, hey, Gotta no respect, whatta you think you do, Why you looka so sad? It’s-a not so bad, it’s-a nice-a place, Ah, Shaddap You Face. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/4 "2003-08-22T09:32:31Z")
Sorry, I stand corrected on the date. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/5 "2003-08-22T10:39:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by capnfutile \* > \*\*am I right in thinking Italian people would find it offensive? \*\* I think most right-thinking people found it offensive. But maybe not in the way you’re suggesting. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/6 "2003-08-22T11:31:25Z")
Brilliant, I now have this song wedged in my brain, and will likely be stuck with it there for weeks to come. I loved this song when it came out, we could go round saying “shaddupa ya face” to eachother and then claim innocence when confronted by parents (like Bart with “bastard” and “hell”). Gimme a break, I was 5, I think that is a valid excuse. Ah shaddupaya face! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/7 "2003-08-22T12:40:35Z")
The expression is certainly older: remember, Bullwinkle J. Moose graduated from Wossamatta U. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/8 "2003-08-22T12:58:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*Sorry, I stand corrected on the date. \*\* And you misspelt _CLOYING_ as _BRILLIANT_, easy enough mistake to make. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/9 "2003-08-22T13:05:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Great Unwashed \* > \*\*And you misspelt _CLOYING_ as _BRILLIANT_, easy enough mistake to make. \*\* Context dear boy, context. It’s cloying now, I concede, but then it was High Art. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/10 "2003-08-22T13:22:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*Context dear boy, context. It’s cloying now, I concede, but then it was High Art. \*\* You have got to be kidding me? Ultravox, High Art ??? The only good bit in the video was when the song paused. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/11 "2003-08-22T13:27:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*Context dear boy, context. It’s cloying now, I concede, but then it was High Art. \*\* I was dating a flat-chested girl who wore jump suits with contrasting belt and harness _a la_ Gary Newman – I remember being with her when the charts were announced and _Joe Dolce_ hit #1. I think she cried. And I still didn’t get any. Whassa madda you, hey! indeed. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/12 "2003-08-22T15:11:29Z")
I was dating a plain girl who had plain straight hair, wore plain grey jumpers and a plain grey skirt. Her name was Julie. I bought her “Oh Julie” by Shakin’ Stevens, but I never got any. Then I dumped her. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/13 "2003-08-22T15:28:46Z")
I agree with **Eve**. I think the expression has been around since way before 1981. Unfortunately, I can’t add any actual information other than, “Longer than that, neener, neener!” Sorry. Plus, I could be wrong. RR ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/14 "2003-08-22T15:34:26Z")
**jjimm** , Do you think we should start another thread, _“Girls who never put out to us despite the many compelling reasons and related songs”_? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/15 "2003-08-22T16:38:47Z")
Anybody remember Bugs Bunny singing this song (transcribed phonetically; also, food order may be wrong but I think I’m capturing the essence): Whatsamadda whatsamadda hey! Whatsamadda with you? I give-a you ravioli And-a pasta pazooli too I make-a you the spaghetti And-a pizza that’s good to chew You no like-a me hey! Thatsamadda for you! This cartoon could date from anywhere in the 50s-70s. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/16 "2003-08-22T16:59:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*The expression is certainly older: remember, Bullwinkle J. Moose graduated from Wossamatta U. \*\* Older, indeed. Chico said something equivalent to this in every Marx Brothers movie. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/17 "2003-08-22T17:26:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sattua \* > \*\*Anybody remember Bugs Bunny singing this song (transcribed phonetically; also, food order may be wrong but I think I’m capturing the essence): > > Whatsamadda whatsamadda hey! > Whatsamadda with you? > I give-a you ravioli > And-a pasta pazooli too > I make-a you the spaghetti > And-a pizza that’s good to chew > You no like-a me hey! > Thatsamadda for you! > > This cartoon could date from anywhere in the 50s-70s. \*\* I remember a Warner Brothers cartoon with a dog as a smart-alec waiter in an Itaian restaurant, saying or singing “watsamatta.” Could that be what you’re thinking of? ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/18 "2003-08-22T18:38:23Z")
I also remember the Bugs song, but I remember it as Bugs dressed like an Italian waiter. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/19 "2003-08-22T20:21:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sattua \* > \*\*Anybody remember Bugs Bunny singing this song (transcribed phonetically; also, food order may be wrong but I think I’m capturing the essence): > > Whatsamadda whatsamadda hey! > Whatsamadda with you? > I give-a you ravioli > And-a pasta pazooli too > I make-a you the spaghetti > And-a pizza that’s good to chew > You no like-a me hey! > Thatsamadda for you! > > This cartoon could date from anywhere in the 50s-70s. \*\* I remember from one of the early cartoons with the Tasmanian Devil (that should narrow it to the early 50s in this case). ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888/20 "2003-08-22T20:36:23Z")
I found the one I was thinking of. The character is Charlie Dog, the cartoon is “A Hound for Trouble.” From here: [http://daffydoc.topcities.com/charlie.html](http://daffydoc.topcities.com/charlie.html) (bolding mine) In the 1950’s, Charlie was so successful, that Chuck Jones arranged for Charlie to have his own series without Porky. However only two films were made. One of them being “A Hound for Trouble” (1951) with **Charlie’s classic song and dance, "At’sa matter, at’sa matter."** A HOUND FOR TROUBLE (Jones-1951) At’sa matter, at’sa matter?? Hey!! At’sa matter for you? You eata my raviola And my pasta fagiole too I’mma give you caccitore And a pizza that’s good to chew At’sa matter you no like me?? Hey!!! At’sa matter for you?? * * * On this site, there’s a question about a character, possibly Bugs, singing something like “I’ll Take Your Order.” [http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Questions\_About\_Toons\_C17/Mystery\_Cartoon\_F15/Which\_cartoon\_is\_this\_P4128/](http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Questions_About_Toons_C17/Mystery_Cartoon_F15/Which_cartoon_is_this_P4128/) Which might be the following–but since it doesn’t particularly sound like a restaurant scenario, I’m doubtful: I’D LOVE TO TAKE ORDERS FROM YOU (Avery - 1936) Hello Pa, did ya have a busy day Yes I did Ma, scared ten crows away Now while I go and cook your supper Get to this little cutter-upper He wants to play scarecrow, Pa Beats anything I ever saw I’ll be teacher I’ll cook the stew Well, come on Dad, I’ll take orders from you Now here’s the first pose I’ll try it too Because I’d like to take orders from you Here’s one to try that’ll make crows fly, I use it everyday When a crow flies down he’ll get this frown It’ll scare any crow away Now you try this one That’s what I’ll do 'Cause I’d just love to take orders from you Now, son, I’ll be the Major and I’ll give you the gong That is, if you do any of 'em wrong Let’s go through them all and I’ll try to do them well But remember Pa, take it easy on the bell! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatsa-matta-for-you-hey/196888.md?page=2)