To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)
| "To Be or Not to Be" | |
|---|---|
 UK release artwork | |
| Single by Mel Brooks | |
| Released | 1983 |
| Format | 12", 7" |
| Genre |
Post-disco Old-school rap Satire |
| Length | 7:43 (Extended Version) |
| Label | Island (UK 12IS 158) |
| Writer(s) | Mel Brooks, Pete Wingfield |
| Producer(s) | Pete Wingfield |
"To Be or Not to Be" (also known as "The Hitler Rap") is a comedy-rap song recorded by Mel Brooks in 1983 for Island Records. The song appeared on the soundtrack album for the movie with the same name. It was derived from the burlesque show within the film but did not appear within it.[1] It also echoes Brooks' 1968 film The Producers, with the lines "Don't be stoopid, be a smarty. Come and join the Nazi Party" taken from the song Springtime For Hitler.
In the accompanying music video, Mel Brooks is dressed like Adolf Hitler and raps about the key events in Hitler's life in Third Reich.
While having limited success in the United States, the song managed to "score" in Australia and the United Kingdom, peaking at #12 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]
Track listing
- 12" single[3]
- "To Be Or Not To Be (The Hitler Rap) (Part 1)" – 7:43
- "To Be Or Not To Be (The Hitler Rap) (Part 2)" (Instrumental Mix) – 7:51
Chart positions
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | — |
| U.S. Billboard Black Singles | — |
| UK Singles Chart | 12 |
| Australian Pop Singles | 3 |
References
- ↑ James Robert Parish (2008). It's Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks. John Wiley & Sons. p. 245. ISBN 0470225262.
- ↑ Everyhit.com. UK Top 40 Hit Database. Search for Mel Brooks in the appropriate search field. Retrieved 2012-28-04
- ↑ "Mel Brooks – To Be Or Not To Be at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved April 28, 2012.