Who Let The Dogs Out – Baha Men | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#40); 2000
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
The 2000 Grammy award for Best Dance Recording went to the Baha Men, from the Bahamas of course, and their infectious tune Who Let The Dogs Out.
The Baha Men signaled their intention to stray from traditional island Junkanoo music early on when they recorded a Lenny Kravitz song and a medley of hits by KC and The Sunshine Band.
1998’s Doong Spank offered up a cover of the Caribbean-lite Beach Boys hit Kokomo, yet, nothing to date hinted at the future success awaiting the Bahas. Guided by Desmond Child – who’d worked with Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, and Ricky Martin, to name just a few – Who Let The Dogs Out, the album, sold over three million copies, topped the world music list, and reached #5 on the mainstream chart.
The single’s popularity spread across the Top 40, Latin, and Dance lists, and became a “must play” at sporting events. Dogs made the inevitable movie appearances in Rugrats In Paris and Men In Black II.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Steve Greenberg
- Matthew Traynor
Lyrics Written by:
- Anslem Douglas
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).