Somethin' Stupid

For other subjects, see Something Stupid.
"Somethin' Stupid"
US single A-side label
Single by Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra
from the album The World We Knew
B-side "I Will Wait for You"
Released March 1967
Recorded February 1, 1967
Studio United Western Recorders (Hollywood, Los Angeles)
Genre
Length 2:37
Label Reprise
Songwriter(s) C. Carson Parks
Producer(s)
Frank Sinatra singles chronology
"That's Life"
(1966) 		"Somethin' Stupid"
(1967) 		"The World We Knew (Over and Over)"
(1967)
Nancy Sinatra singles chronology
"Summer Wine"
(1967) 		"Somethin' Stupid"
(1967) 		"Love Eyes"
(1967)

"Somethin' Stupid", or "Something Stupid", is a song written by C. Carson Parks. It was originally recorded in 1966 by Parks and his wife Gaile Foote, as Carson and Gaile. A 1967 version by Frank Sinatra and his daughter Nancy Sinatra became a major international hit, reaching number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart. In 2001, a cover version by British vocalist Robbie Williams and Australian actress Nicole Kidman reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.

Carson and Gaile version

In the early 1960s, Carson Parks was a folk singer in Los Angeles. He was an occasional member of The Easy Riders, and also performed with The Steeltown Three, which included his younger brother Van Dyke Parks. In 1963, he formed the Greenwood County Singers, later known as The Greenwoods, who had two minor hits and included singer Gaile Foote. Before the Greenwoods disbanded, Parks and Foote married and, as Carson and Gaile, recorded an album in 1966 for Kapp Records, San Antonio Rose, which included the song "Something Stupid". The recording was then brought to the attention of Frank Sinatra.

Frank and Nancy Sinatra version

Frank (left) and Nancy Sinatra

The most successful and best-known version of "Somethin' Stupid" was issued in 1967 as a single by Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra and subsequently appeared on Frank's album The World We Knew. Frank had played Parks's recording to his daughter's producer, Lee Hazlewood, who recalled, "He asked me, 'Do you like it?' and I said, 'I love it, and if you don't sing it with Nancy, I will.' He said, 'We're gonna do it, book a studio.'" Their rendition was recorded on February 1, 1967, after Frank had finished his collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim earlier in the day. Al Casey played guitar on the recording and Hal Blaine was the drummer. Hazlewood and Jimmy Bowen were listed as the producers of the single, with arrangement by Billy Strange.

The single spent four weeks at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and nine weeks atop the easy listening (now adult contemporary) chart, becoming Frank's second gold single as certified by the RIAA and Nancy's third. In Norway the single qualified for silver disc. It was the first and only instance of a father-daughter number-one song in America. Nancy Sinatra was quoted as sarcastically saying, "Some people call (Something Stupid) the Incest Song, which I think is, well, very sweet!" . The single also reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart the same year. It was also nominated for the Record Of The Year at the 10th Grammy Awards, losing to the 5th Dimension's upbeat hit song "Up, Up And Away".

Usage in popular culture

In episode 21 of the third season of The Simpsons, Sideshow Bob and Selma Bouvier (voiced by Kelsey Grammer and Julie Kavner, respectively) perform the Frank and Nancy Sinatra version as a karaoke.

In the Breaking Bad spin-off series Better Call Saul, episode seven of season four is titled after the song, with the opening montage containing an original rendition performed by Lola Marsh.

In the movie Joy, in a flashback scene, Jennifer Lawrence's title character sings the duet with her soon-to-be husband played by Édgar Ramírez.

Personnel

Vocalists

Leaders

Instrumentalists

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA) Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Ali Campbell and Kibibi Campbell version

"Somethin' Stupid"
Single by Ali Campbell and Kibibi Campbell
from the album Big Love
Released December 1, 1995
Recorded 1995
Genre Pop, jazz
Length 4:37
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) C. Carson Parks
Producer(s) Stoker
Ali Campbell and Kibibi Campbell singles chronology
"Let Your Yeah Be Yeah"
(1995) 		"Somethin' Stupid"
(1995) 		"Hold Me Tight"
(1993)

In 1995, Ali Campbell and his then 7-year-old daughter Kibibi Campbell covered the hit as a duet. After its release on the studio album Big Love, it can also be found on the compilation Silhouette.

Music video

The music video was shot in New York City. Ali Campbell and his daughter spend an afternoon in the city. They relax on the bench in the park, also walk through the city center, look through a sightseeing telescope, watch jugglers and fire breathers in a circus, figure skaters and stroll.

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 30
New Zealand Singles Chart 13

Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman version

"Somethin' Stupid"
Single by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman
from the album Swing When You're Winning
Released December 10, 2001
Length 2:50
Label Chrysalis
Songwriter(s) C. Carson Parks
Producer(s)
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"Better Man"
(2001) 		"Somethin' Stupid"
(2001) 		"Mr. Bojangles" / "I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen"
(2002)
Nicole Kidman singles chronology
"Come What May"
(2001) 		"Somethin' Stupid'"
(2001) 		"One Day I'll Fly Away"
(2002)
Music video
"Somethin' Stupid" on YouTube

English singer Robbie Williams recorded a cover version of "Somethin' Stupid" as a duet with Australian actress Nicole Kidman. The song appeared on Williams' 2001 album, Swing When You're Winning, and was released as the album's lead single on December 10, 2001, topping the UK Singles Chart at the end of the year. The song was Christmas number one in the United Kingdom, and Williams' fifth number one overall. The single sold 400,000 copies to earn a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry. The accompanying music video was directed by Vaughan Arnell.

The song was the 30th-best-selling single of 2001 in the UK. It also gave Williams another number-one hit in New Zealand, earning a gold certification, and charted inside the top 10 in several European countries. In Australia, it became Williams' fourth top-10 single, earning a gold certification for over 35,000 copies sold.

Track listings

UK and Australian CD single

  1. "Somethin' Stupid" – 2:51
  2. "Eternity" (orchestral version) – 5:32
  3. "My Way" (live at the Albert Hall) – 7:00
  4. "Somethin' Stupid" (video)

UK cassette single

  1. "Somethin' Stupid" – 2:51
  2. "Eternity" (orchestral version) – 5:32
  3. "My Way" (live at the Albert Hall) – 7:00

UK DVD single

  1. "Somethin' Stupid" (video) – 3:08
  2. "Let's Face the Music and Dance" (audio) – 2:36
  3. "That's Life" (audio) – 3:07

European CD single

  1. "Somethin' Stupid" – 2:51
  2. "My Way" (live at the Albert Hall) – 7:00

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Swing When You're Winning album booklet.

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) Gold 20,000*
Belgium (BEA) Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP) Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI) Gold 250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) Gold 5,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) Gold 505,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom December 10, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
  • DVD
 Chrysalis
Australia January 28, 2002 CD