Cartoons (band)

The Cartoons, also known as Cartoons DK, were a bubblegum dance and country pop band from Denmark, best known for their Eurodance cover of the 1958 novelty song "Witch Doctor" by Ross Bagdasarian and their "DooDah!" song, both hits of 1998, as well as for their outlandish plastic costumes and wigs used in live performances as caricatures of 1950s American Rock and roll stars.

Cartoons
Also known as	Cartoons DK
Origin	Denmark
Genres	Eurodance techno rockabilly country pop Novelty song
Years active	1996–2006, 2018
Labels	FLEX (1996–99) EMI (Denmark) (2000–06)
Members	Toonie (Martin Østengaard) Sponge (Jesper Dukholt) Buzz (Dave Stevens) Puddy (Natasja Skov) Boop (Ines Bukic (replacing Karina Jensen))
Past members	Shooter (Erling Jensen) Boop (Karina Jensen)

The Cartoons were originally called "The Scooters" in the late 1980s , and played rockabilly music from the 1950s and 1960s. In 1994, The Scooters released the album Live at Woodstock . In 1997, the group changed its name to Cartoons, and began making "technobilly" music, which was the group's own expression of rock 'n' roll mixed with eurodance.

Career

The band has so far sold over 2 million albums, making them one of the most successful Danish pop bands ever. They have also been nominated for Danish Grammys according to their official website.

The sextet, who use the stage names:

• Toonie - Lead Vocals and Backing Vocals.
• Sponge - Bass Vocals, Saxophone and Keyboards.
• Shooter - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals.
• Buzz - Double-Bass.
• Puddy - Backing Vocals.
• Boop - Backing Vocals.

They were first signed to FLEX Records, moving later to EMI Denmark.

Their most notable single to date is "Witch Doctor", which reached number two in the UK Singles Chart;[1] with its combination of the original's "ooh-ee-ooh-aah-aah" chorus (although lacking that record's double-speed playback of the chorus), driving dance beat and occasional guitar breaks.

They had further success in the UK with the Top 10 hit, "DooDah!" (a version of the American folk song "Camptown Races"); the Top 20 hit "Aisy Waisy", which was performed on Jim Davidson's Generation Game; and a Top 20 debut album, Toonage (Later released with additional songs under the title More Toonage).

Their second album, Toontastic! did not match the success of its predecessor but several notable hits were released from it including "Diddley-Dee," "Big Coconuts," and a reworked cover of Les Humphries Singers' "Mama Loo." [2]

Cartoons rounded out their success with a greatest hits album composed of previous tracks from their two albums as well as three new tracks.

In July 2016, Karina Jensen died from cancer, after having a double mastectomy in 2012. She was survived by her husband and two children. [3] In April 2019 Erling Jensen died.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions									Certifications
		BEL [4]	DEN [5][6]	NLD [7]	NOR [8]	SPA [9]	SWE [10]	POR [11]	ITA [12]	UK [1]
Toonage	Released: 24 September 1998[13] Label: Flex Formats: CD	25	2	24	14	8	12	10	6	17	IFPI DEN: 2× Platinum[14] BPI: Gold[15]
Toontastic!	Released: 2 May 2001[16] Label: Flex Formats: CD	—	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Compilation albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		DEN [17]
Greatest Toons!	Released: 2005 Label: CMC Formats: CD	20
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Singles

Main artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Year	Title	Peak chart positions													Certifications	Album
		AUS [18]	BEL [4]	DEN [19]	FRA [20]	IRE [21]	ITA [22]	NLD [7]	NZ [23]	SWE [10]	SPA [24]	GER [25]	UK [26]	EUR
1998	"DooDah!"	31	5	3	—	21	9	56	31	10	19	—	7	15		Toonage
	"Witch Doctor"	—	9	—	22	2	—	12	31	13	—	68	2	11	UK: Gold[15]
	"Yoko"	—	41	—	—	—	—	—	—	51	—	—	—	—
	"Let's Go Childish"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999	"Aisy Waisy"	—	—	—	—	—	—	34	—	—	—	—	16	54
	"The X-Mas Single"	—	—	9	—	—	—	—	—	43	—	—	—	—		non-album single
2000	"Diddley-Dee"	—	—	—	—	—	40	—	—	46	—	—	—	—		Toontastic!
	"Mama-Loo"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001	"Big Coconuts"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2005	"Day Oh"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Greatest Toons!
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Year	Title	Peak chart positions	Album
		DEN
1999	"Selv en dråbe" (as part of a charity single in aid of Kosovo)	1	Grænseløs Greatest

References

1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 96. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
2. Archived February 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "ultratop.be - Discografie Cartoons". Ultratop. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
5. "Cartoons / Toonage" (in Danish). TOP20.dk. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
6. "Cartoons / Toontastic" (in Danish). TOP20.dk. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
7. "Discografie Cartoons - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl.
8. Hung, Steffen. "norwegiancharts.com - Discography Cartoons". Retrieved 9 March 2017.
9. "Hits of the World: Spain (AFYVE/ALEF MB) 04/17/99". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 111 (19): 47. 8 May 1999. ISSN 0006-2510.
10. Hung, Steffen. "swedishcharts.com - Discography Cartoons". Retrieved 9 March 2017.
11. "Hits of the World: Portugal (Portugal/Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa) 08/03/99". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 111 (33): 79. 14 August 1999. ISSN 0006-2510.
12. "Hits of the World: Italy (Musica e Dischi/FIMI) 04/10/99". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 111 (15): 48. 10 April 1999. ISSN 0006-2510.
13. xfactor,matia. "Cartoons - Toonage (1998)". Retrieved 9 March 2017.
14. "Listen - Danmarks Officielle Hitliste - Udarbejdet af AIM Nielsen for IFPI Danmark - Uge 52". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Copenhagen. 27 December 1998.
15. "Certified Awards Search: Cartoons". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (To access, enter the search parameter "Cartoons" and select "Search by: Keyword", with the other two set to "All") on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
16. xfactor,matia. "Cartoons - Toontastic (2001)". Retrieved 9 March 2017.
17. "danishcharts.dk - Danish charts portal". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
18. "australian-charts.com - Discography Cartoons". australian-charts.com.
19. • For "DooDah!": "Hits of the World: Denmark (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 110 (32): 51. 8 August 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
    • For "The X-Mas Single": "Hits of the World: Denmark (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 111 (51): 71. 18 December 1999. ISSN 0006-2510.
20. "lescharts.com - Discographie Cartoons". lescharts.com.
21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
22. "italiancharts.com - Cartoons - Diddley Dee". italiancharts.com.
23. "charts.org.nz - Discography Cartoons". charts.nz.
24. "spanishcharts.com - Spanish charts portal". spanishcharts.com.
25. Hung, Steffen. "Cartoons - Witch Doctor". austriancharts.at.
26. "Cartoons". UK Singles Chart. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2012.

External links

• Profile of The Cartoons at eurodanceusa.com
• Cartoons at Bubblegum Dancer