Daddy Cool

Album: Take The Heat Off Me (1976)
Charted: 6 65
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Eurodance smash was the first big hit for Boney M, the creation of German producer Frank Farian. Lyrically, there's not much to it, with these lines repeated over and over:

    She's crazy like a fool
    What about it Daddy Cool?


    But the song proved very fun and danceable, making it wildly popular across Europe. The group had several other hits throughout the rest of the '70s.
  • The Boney M. lineup for this track was Maizie Williams, Marcia Barrett, Liz Mitchell and Bobby Farrell. None of them were German - Farrell came from Aruba, Williams was from Montserrat, and Barrett and Williams were from Jamaica - but they all ended up in that country and Frank Farian put them together to front the group. When "Daddy Cool" was making its ascent, Mitchell explained: "There are so few black people in Germany that we tend to not get too much competition. And we've been here long enough to speak German so we get the best of both worlds."
  • "Daddy Cool" is American slang for a guy who is really with it, as in a "cool cat." Musically, it was popularized in a 1957 song of that title by the American doo-wop group The Rays.
  • Frank Farian wrote this with his associate George Reyam. It was released initially on May 31, 1976 in both 7-inch and 12-inch formats. The group's second single, it was the one that heralded their arrival. In the UK it was released on the Atlantic Label, and in the US on Atco. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • In 2006, a jukebox musical called Daddy Cool, based on the songs of Boney M, opened in London. It closed a year later, but touring versions appeared in various other territories.

Comments: 4

  • Juan from CanadaIt's about a girl who likes her guy probably older.
    Daddy cool is simply a cool guy.
  • Boyders from Near VancouverThis song is lit.
  • George from Vancouver, CanadaIs there any interpretation of the lyrics that would make this suddenly stop being such a POS song?

    Maybe, the writer had a 5yo neighbour girl who saved her daddy's life, after he got locked in a freezer?
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandThe Late Bobby Farrell's "contribution" was actually provided by Farian...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.