'I would now like to do something more credible...and clever'

IT IS ARGUABLY the best-known novelty pop song of all time yet party anthem Agadoo was actually named the worst track of all time in a poll in 2003.

- JAMES RAMPTON

Labelling the 1984 smash hit as "magnificently dreadful", respected music magazine Q continued: "It sounded like the school disco you were forced to attend.

"Your middle-aged relatives forming a conga at a wedding party...a travelling DJ act based in Wolverhampton...every party cliché you ever heard."

And yet the band appeared to revel in the notoriety.

On a TV programme in the 1980s, Dene was asked what he thought about being the most mocked person in music.

Grinning from ear to ear, he replied: "We are very, very honoured."

In a comic advert from the time, Dene was struck by a wrecking ball as Gary Lineker walked obliviously in front of him smiling and scoffing crisps.

Spitting Image were responsible for a biting parody of Agadoo, called The Chicken Song, in 1986. It referred to Dene and his singing partner Alan Barton as: "Those two wet gits, with their girly curly hair."

Unbelievably, The Chicken Song went to number one for three weeks that year.

Despite Agadoo being widely mocked it sold a million copies and reached number two in the charts in 1984. It was only kept off the top spot by George Michael's classic Careless Whisper.

Accompanied by an equally iconic dance routine, Agadoo remained in the UK top 75 for an eye-watering 30 weeks.

Dene recalls that when the song was released, "it was like a tiger being unleashed. Novelty music people wanted that."