Deep, Deep Trouble

"Deep, Deep Trouble"
Single by The Simpsons
from the album The Simpsons Sing the Blues
B-side	"Springfield Soul Stew"
Released	1991
Recorded	1990
Genre	Hip hop
Producer	John Boylan DJ Jazzy Jeff
The Simpsons singles chronology
"Do the Bartman" (1990) "Deep, Deep Trouble" (1991) "God Bless the Child" (1991)

"Deep, Deep Trouble" is a rap song from the 1990 Simpsons album The Simpsons Sing the Blues. It is sung by the fictional character Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright) and is about his trouble-making antics. The song was written by Matt Groening and DJ Jazzy Jeff. "Deep, Deep Trouble" was released as the second single from the album in early 1991 and an accompanying music video was released on March 7, 1991. It charted in several countries, including the top ten in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Critics have given the song positive reviews, praising it for its humorous lyrics.

Background

"Deep, Deep Trouble" appeared on the successful 1990 album The Simpsons Sing the Blues that features songs sung by the characters from the American animated television series The Simpsons.^[1] The song was written by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and DJ Jazzy Jeff,^[1] and produced by Jazzy Jeff and John Boylan.^[2] Jazzy Jeff provided the drum programming, keyboards, and scratches on "Deep, Deep Trouble".^[3]

The song is a rap performed by the character Bart Simpson about his trouble-making antics.^[4] The Simpsons cast member Nancy Cartwright provided the voice of Bart.^[5] The characters Homer Simpson and Maggie Simpson are also featured, with Homer ranting at Bart and Maggie sucking on her pacifier to the beat of the song.^[6] Groening has described the song as "the tragic story of Bart Simpson, a bad youth gone worse."^[1] "Deep, Deep Trouble" was released in early 1991 as the second single from The Simpsons Sing the Blues, after "Do the Bartman".^[7][8]

Music video

The music video for the single premiered on the Fox network in the United States on March 7, 1991 together with the episode "Bart's Dog Gets an F" of the show's second season.^[1] On March 6, Joanne Ostrow wrote: "Not nearly as clever as the cartoon, the musical spinoff has 'promotional gimmick' written all over it. Then again, I never thought the video of the dance rap 'Do the Bartman' would be a ratings hit when it aired in December. So what do I know?"^[9] The video features both original animation and old animation from the series and the Simpsons shorts that aired on The Tracey Ullman Show before they were spun-off into The Simpsons in 1989.^[10] Gregg Vanzo directed the music video, which according to him features quicker character poses than in episodes of the show to match the hip-hop beat.^[10] The music video was later included on the 2002 DVD boxset The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season, with audio commentary from the producers.^[11][12]

Critical reception

The song has received positive response from critics. Sommer Swindell of the Observer-Reporter commented that "after listening to [The Simpsons Sing the Blues] once, no one will forget 'Deep, Deep Trouble' [...] It would be hard not to crack a smile while listening closely to the lyrics, as they are very creative and humorous."^[4] Thor Christensen of The Milwaukee Journal wrote that Bart "gets in a few good yuks" in the song,^[5] and Walt Belcher of The Tampa Tribune commented that Bart "raps out an amusing story about his misadventures while mowing the lawn".^[13] The Orange County Register's Cary Darling noted that "Bart turning his life into a hip-hop autobiography on 'Deep, Deep Trouble' is an absolute joy."^[14] Cartwright's rapping was praised by Tom Hopkins of Dayton Daily News.^[15]

Chart performance

The single was a commercial success, charting in the top ten in New Zealand and the United Kingdom,^[8][16] and outside the top ten in Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States.^[17][18][19]

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[17]	35
Netherlands (Nationale Top 100)[18]	37
New Zealand (RIANZ)[8]	10
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19]	13
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[16]	7
US Billboard Hot 100	69

Track listing

CD single

1. "Deep, Deep Trouble" (LP Version)
2. "Deep, Deep Trouble" (Dance Mix edit)
3. "Deep, Deep Trouble" (Full Dance Mix)
4. "Springfield Soul Stew" (LP Version)

CD promo single

1. "Deep, Deep Trouble" (LP edit)
2. "Deep, Deep Trouble" (Dance Mix edit)
3. "Deep, Deep Trouble" (LP Version)
4. "Deep, Deep Trouble" (Full Dance Mix)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Kubasik, Ben (1991-03-07). "TV Spots". Newsday. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/102585706.html?dids=102585706:102585706&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+07%2C+1991&author=By+Ben+Kubasik.+STAFF+WRITER&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=TV+SPOTS&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
2. ^ "Deep Deep Trouble". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/deep-deep-trouble-r18053/credits. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
3. ^ Crouse, Richard (2000). Big Bang, Baby: Rock Trivia. Dundurn Press Ltd. pp. 265. ISBN 9780888822192. http://books.google.com/books?id=dYFv3ifE0f4C&pg=PA265&dq=%22Deep,+Deep+Trouble%22+simpsons&hl=en&ei=GNxsTsizEaP74QSzmMCIBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22Deep%2C%20Deep%20Trouble%22%20simpsons&f=false. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Swindell, Sommer (1991-01-17). "'Simpsons Sing' is a surprise chart topper". Observer-Reporter. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=arBdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vV0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3083,1899867&dq=deep-deep-trouble+simpsons+rap&hl=en. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Christensen, Thor (1990-12-11). "'Simpsons' recording is just an earful". The Milwaukee Journal. 
6. ^ Johnson, Peter (1991-03-06). "CNN's Peter Arnett has filed his last report from Baghdad for a while". USA Today. 
7. ^ Graham, Jefferson (1991-01-31). "Simpsons' Homer get more attention". USA Today: p. 3D. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} Miller, Andrew. "Chartbitz: Wednesday, June 1, 2005". Scoop. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0506/S00011.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
9. ^ Ostrow, Joanne (1991-03-06). "Savvy 'Simpsons' slips in a plug for latest music video". The Denver Post: p. 1F. 
10. ^ ^{a b} The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season DVD commentary for the music video "Deep, Deep Trouble".
11. ^ "Video & DVD". Now. August 8-15, 2002. http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/story.cfm?content=133099. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
12. ^ "The Simpsons - The Complete 2nd Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Simpsons-Complete-2nd-Season/1107. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
13. ^ Belcher, Walt (1990-12-04). "'The Simpsons' go on record - A new album, to be released today, taps the angst that made the animated TV series a hit". The Tampa Tribune: p. 1F. 
14. ^ Darling, Cary (1990-11-30). "'Simpsons' gimmicky but good". The Orange County Register. 
15. ^ Hopkins, Tom (1991-03-05). "Channel hopping". Dayton Daily News: p. 10B. 
16. ^ ^{a b} "Simpsons". The Official Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/simpsons/. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
17. ^ ^{a b} "The Simpsons Feat. Bart & Homer - Deep, Deep Trouble". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Simpsons+feat.+Bart+%26+Homer&titel=Deep%2C+Deep+Trouble&cat=s. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
18. ^ ^{a b} "The Simpsons Feat. Bart & Homer - Deep, Deep Trouble". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Simpsons+feat.+Bart+%26+Homer&titel=Deep%2C+Deep+Trouble&cat=s. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
19. ^ ^{a b} "The Simpsons Feat. Bart & Homer - Deep, Deep Trouble". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Simpsons+feat.+Bart+%26+Homer&titel=Deep%2C+Deep+Trouble&cat=s. Retrieved 2011-09-11.