Who let the dogs out? Brian Schink of Langham Logistics Inc. didn't exactly answer that question, but he did know it was the song title mentioned in our September issue and was chosen as the winner of that month's "DCV Rocks" contest. For getting the answer right, he'll receive a treat—free coffee.
The headline "Who let the dogs out?" on page 1 of our "Inbound" section refers to a 2000 song by Baha Men, a group that hails from the Bahamas, as you might have guessed. The song was played widely that year and was heard at sports arenas around the world. Even Mitt Romney made a reference to it during his 2008 presidential campaign. It's a remake—actually, the second—of a 1998 record called "Doggie" by Trinidadian artist Anslem Douglas, who wrote the song. (In case you're wondering, our article covered the U.S. Postal Service's campaign during National Dog Bite Prevention Week to keep canines' canines away from letter carriers.)
Most people probably couldn't sing any of the lyrics beyond the refrain, but according to Australian radio station KIIS 1065, the song has a narrative: Men at a party are acting rudely toward the women there, and the women then taunt them by responding with the title question. The song features a barking chorus and introduces the bridge with doggy panting sounds.
It's no surprise that more than one poll has named "Who let the dogs out" as among the most annoying songs. Even its producer said it was "one of the worst songs that he'd ever heard in his whole life," according to Sports Illustrated writer Ben Reiter. Though it seemed inescapable the year it came out, it only reached number 40 on American charts, according to the website Songfacts. "While the song seemed to be everywhere, its omnipresence was due more to cultural references than to record sales or airplay," the site says. (Visit Songfacts to learn more than you ever wanted to know about the song—including why it became so popular at sporting events.)
October-issue deadline is today
You have until the end of today to win a coffee sampler from Joey Kramer's Rockin' & Roastin' Organic Coffee by identifying the song title in our October issue. Submit your answer to dcvrocks@dcvelocity.com by midnight Pacific time. If you need a clue, turn to the table of contents on page 9 of our October print issue, our digital edition, or our mobile version of DCV.
