Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out?” Lyrics Meaning
“Who Let the Dogs Out?”, as you’re probably already aware, is a party song. And the Baha Men themselves are more or less taking on the role of the titular “dogs”.
More to the point, the storyline is set inside of a “pumping” party, meaning it is very-excitable. Indeed ‘everybody’s having a ball’. Then basically some dudes start (sensually) harassing some of the female attendees. And in frustration one of these ladies yells “who let the dogs out?” Thus the dogs would be these same men who are bothering them.
However, such is apparently good-natured teasing. Or viewed differently, the party itself is more important than the squabble. So in the second verse we find the singer seemingly playing the role of one the above-mentioned men. And basically his solution is to hook up with a willing lady and dance in a sensualized manner. Then the third verse is dedicated to detailing, using some pretty-unique metaphors, the singer getting down in the party like “a dog”, basically meaning that he’s wild for the night.
What the song’s writer has said is the real meaning of “Who Let the Dog’s Out?”
Ultimately the writer of this track, Anslem Douglas, has called it “a man-bashing song”, in addition to insinuating that it’s actually about a situation akin to sexual harassment.
However, that particular theme seems to be relegated pretty much to the first third of the track. For throughout most the song there doesn’t seem to be any beef at all. In fact the bridge as well as the aforementioned second verse are based on the idea of the male and female characters hooking up. But overall this track and its infectious chorus are premised on such an incident that prompts a woman to call a man a dog – and not in any kind of positive way.
Music Video
The music video to this track was filmed in Miami and had Eric Heimbold as its director.
Facts about “Who Let the Dogs Out”?
This is actually the cover of a song called “Doggie” which was dropped by a Trinidadian artist named Anslem Douglas in 1999. As such, it is he who is credited as the writer of “Who Let the Dogs Out?”
Moreover in-between Anslem Douglas’s and Baha Men’s version another artist, this one of British descent, by the name of Fat Jakk and His Pets also covered the track. In fact it was actually his rendition which came to the attention of Steve Greenberg, who produced Baha Men’s track.
And the song was produced by music producer Steve Greenberg along with Michael Mangini.
This track was a smash hit for Baha Men, a one-hit wonder band from the Caribbean nation of the Bahamas. It charted in almost 20 countries, which included scoring a number one in Australia, New Zealand and on the UK Indie Chart. Moreover in the United States it appeared on five different Billboard listings.
The track also went Platinum in the UK and Sweden, as well as in Australia.
And throughout the years it has remained quite popular, globally, at professional-sports’ venues. In fact the reason that a big hit like this is said to have only peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 is because it was more popular in varying capacities, such as sports, as opposed to people actually listening to (and purchasing) the song itself.
And outside of sports’ teams, children also tend to dig “Who Let the Dogs Out?”
And all of this is pretty amazing considering that, in 2007, “Who Let the Dogs Out?” was placed at number 3 amongst Rolling Stone’s list of “The 20 Most Annoying Songs”. And other many other music critics seem to feel essentially the same about the tune.
The member of the Baha Men who actually yells the phrase “who let the dogs out” is one Marvin Prosper Knowles.
Did “Who Let the Dogs Out?” win a Grammy?
Yes. This song took home a Grammy at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards. It won in the category for “Best Dance Recording“. In achieving this feat, it beat a number of really famous classics. One of these classic tunes was Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Be Dee)”
When did “Who Let the Dogs Out?” come out?
The song itself came out on 26 July 2000 as the lead single from the Baha Men’s sixth album, which was also after the song. And the labels that issued the track are S-Curve Records and Artemis Records.
