Eurovision's Super Catchy "Jaja Ding Dong" Is a Sneakily Dirty Song

From Oprah Magazine

• Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is a new Netflix movie starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as an Icelandic singing duo.

• Already, the song "Jaja Ding Dong" has become an unabashed fan favorite.

• The melody is based on traditional Dutch folksongs—but the lyrics have a hidden, and racy, meaning.

Confession: It's been three days since I've watched Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, and I remain haunted by "Jaja Ding Dong." Just when it seems that the song has become unstuck from my head, Will Ferrell's earnest voice pops in—and it's "Jaja Ding Dong" all over again.

In Netflix's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Ferrell and Rachel McAdams play an Icelandic singing duo with dreams of Eurovision stardom. "Jaja Ding Dong" is one of Fire Saga's many songs on the movie's soundtrack that could be contenders in the actual Eurovision.

However, unlike their official submission "Double Trouble" (also a total bop), "Jaja Ding Dong" was never in the running for Fire Saga's Eurovision audition tape. That's because it's not actually a Fire Saga original. Lars Erickssong, Ferrell's character and the founder of Fire Saga, would be simmering with barely concealed rage at the idea of "Jaja Ding Dong" becoming the movie's runaway hit.

In the universe of Eurovision Song Contest, "Jaja Ding Dong" is the kind of pop song so famous that it's become a quasi-folk song. It's like the "Sweet Caroline" of Eurovision's Iceland—when the song starts, people put their beers down and sing. “We were trying to create a bar song that Fire Saga didn’t write, because in the movie, supposedly, this is just a traditional song,” producer Savan Kotech told Vulture.

Songwriters Gustaf Holter and Christian Persson drew from classic Dutch folksongs for "Jaja Ding Dong." The goal was to create a song that was "stupid catchy," and clearly, given the fan reaction to "Jaja Ding Dong" on Twitter, it worked.

Naturally, this being a Will Ferrell movie, the lyrics to "Jaja Ding Dong" contain hidden jokes. Take the chorus as an example: “My love for you is growing wide and long...I swell and burst when I see what we’ve become.” With their peppy delivery, Fire Saga breezes right past the lyrics' sexual innuendo. The song's opening is just as racy: "When I feel your gentle touch / And things are going our way / I wanna spill my love on you all day, all day." Jaja ding dong, indeed.

The lyrics are part of the song's goofy charm, which somehow gets better upon each listen. Like that one guy in the bar, fans of Eurovision are demanding endless renditions of "Jaja Ding Dong," often called "Yaya Ding Dong" on Twitter.

Given the overwhelming reaction to the movie—which now stands at the top of Netflix's Top 10 chart—we'll all be jamming out to Will Ferrell's not-so-dulcet tones. While McAdams performs the songs in the movie, her voice is blended with Molly Sandén, a 27-year-old Swedish singer, on the soundtrack. Sandén is credited as "My Marianne," which she called her "Icelandic alter ego."

If you happen to be in a local band, our advice is to learn "Jaja Ding Dong." You'll be booked for life.

"Jaja Ding Dong" Lyrics

[Verse 1: Will Ferrell, Molly Sanden, Both]
When I feel your gentle touch
And things are going our way
I wanna spill my love on you all day, all day

[Chorus: Will Ferrell & Molly Sandén]
Jaja ding dong (Ding dong)
My love for you is growing wide and long
Jaja ding dong (Ding dong)
I swell and burst when I see what we've become
Jaja ding dong (Ding dong)
Come, come my baby, we can get love on
Jaja ding dong (Ding dong)
When I see you I feel a ding-ding dong

[Verse 2: Will Ferrell, Molly Sandén]
Love expands when I'm with you
All over the Milky Way
I wanna open up to you all day, all day
Alright everyone, move your body, woo

[Chorus: Will Ferrell & Molly Sandén, Will Ferrell]
Jaja ding dong (Ding dong)
My love for you is growing wide and long
Jaja ding dong (Ding dong)
I swell and burst when I see what we've become (Come on everyone)
Jaja a-ding dong (Ding dong)
Come, come my baby, we can get love on
Jaja ding dong (Ding dong)
When I see you I feel a ding-ding dong

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