Who Let The Dogs Out? Who? Who? Who? Who?
It's been 25 years since the Baha Men dropped their epic version of the iconic track 'Who Let The Dogs Out', and ever since, it's been a firm favorite at school dances, weddings, and parties.
The band are still working on new music, with their latest track 'Smile' having dropped on March 28, but as the group marked the milestone anniversary for 'Who Let The Dogs Out', they also shared an update on the question that's been at the forefront of everyone's minds since 2000.
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But first, let's take it back before the track was released, when the Baha Men were rehearsing at the home of band member Isaiah Taylor and received a call from their record company.
The company's rep told Isaiah he wanted them to record their own version of 'Who Let The Dogs Out', which was originally written by the Trinidadian musician Anslem Douglas.
Recalling his response in a new interview with UNILAD, Isaiah said: "I just asked him if he was crazy."
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Needless to say, Isaiah's hesitation wasn't necessary, as the song went on to secure a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, a Billboard Music Awards for World Music Artist and Album of the Year, and a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for Favorite Song.
"He proved to me he wasn't crazy," Isaiah added of the record company rep.
Two and a half decades later, the Baha Men are still 'surprised' by just how popular the track continues to be.
Vocalist Dyson Knight told UNILAD: "I [thought] at some point in time people would get tired of even the question- 'so, did you find out who let the dogs out?' It's like, people never get tired of just referencing the song. It's kind of something to marvel at, really, just to know that a song can hold on to somebody and especially through generations as well."
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Vocalist Rik Carey agreed, saying: "I'm actually kind of thankful [for] being in this band for so long, and watching the impact on the public all around the world, how they react to the song, the energy they give when the song comes on. Then I hear from other artists using it in their music in their own way - I think it's really dope to see that, that's the power of influence. And I think that's a very powerful thing, it's a good thing."
So, considering people 'never get tired' of asking 'who let the dogs out', I think it's about time we find out - don't you? I asked the all-important question, and Knight revealed there is actually an update on the matter.
He said: "Have you ever watched Paw Patrol? There are some pups... they're presently on the case. We're waiting to get some feedback from Paw Patrol, because we did call them."
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Here's hoping the pups crack the case!
Knight then went on to claim that the dogs are now not only 'loose', but they're 'missing' altogether.
"They're actually missing now. We can't find them anywhere, we only see the havoc that they cause in the wake of where they've been," he said.
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Jokes aside, Knight revealed that the endless question of 'who let the dogs out' has actually been a source of aggravation from one particular community - the cat people.
He explained: "I had a complaint, it was a complaint about the dogs being out. The complaint was 'I'm not a dog person, I'm a cat person and your song is so pro-dog and, we're upset that cats never get a shout out."
Maybe it's time for a 'Who Let The Cats Out' remake?
That might be an idea for the future, but for now, the members of the Baha Men are enjoying their joint passion of making new music.
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Their new track, 'Smile', is intended to bring people together and give them a chance to be uplifted.
"No matter where you are in the world, no matter where you are, what's going on, you find time to be happy," producer Troyton Rami said.
With 'Smile' coming at a time when there is a lot of conflict, fear and anger in the world, Knight added that artists have a 'responsibility' to help 'write history' and 'tell the story as true as you possibly can'.
"You can go back in time to any era and listen to the music of that era, and pretty much be able to figure out what was going on in the world or in that space," he said, adding: "I think that's a huge responsibility, so I [want to] take the opportunity to just remind creatives that they have that responsibility and they should take it seriously."
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"Also, remain not only sympathetic but sensitive to what people need at this point in time in the world...," he continued. "People are going through some serious [stuff]... it's extremely important that we allow ourselves to feel that, to connect to that, and connect to the world, and connect to humanity, and do what is is required, because not everyone can storytell the way that artists do. So we should use that strength and that ability to try to make the world a better place."
Reflecting on their lengthy career as a whole, Carey added: "There are people who are not as fortunate to have a long lasting career. The music business is very tough, extremely tough. It's hard to keep things together. But I know for sure in this organization, because of our passion for music and how much we love playing live, hitting the stage, we love to travel, we love working together, we've got our own sound that everybody appreciates, and that is the common goal.
"It's not always a bed of roses. We argue, you know, like most organizations, like any brotherhood, we're very family oriented as well, [but] this is therapy for us, creating music, making music. None of us could escape it, even if we wanted to. We all just have a passion for just making music. And we love it. We absolutely love it."
Emily Brown